Talking about wilderness navigation techniques (!) is just ludicrous in the context of a ride where every junction is marked, and you'll be following thousands of other cyclists anyway.
In 2011, I went off route once following other riders, and a local driver soon shooed us back onto the route. At another point, me and a German cyclist weren't sure whether we were on the route, and I suggested that we stop, and wait. Within 30 seconds a bunch of lights came down the hill behind us - even at night, you'll rarely be alone on the road.