flying at MSA...MSA is for emergency use only...otherwise, in absence of proper radar vectors, you should either be:
on a published portion of the approach, or a published feeder route with alitude listed.
IF you have an RNAV chart, you might have the Minimum Off Route Altitude for a lat long Grid and you might use that altitude, provided you know which grid you are in .
all in all, follow published procedures to the letter.
now, one might do a 90/270 course reversal on the same side as a published procedure turn.
and you must do a racetrack/holding pattern in lieu of procedure turn when it is published, IE 1 min from OM.