Stay Safe

• Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return. Use registration boards where provided.
• Weather conditions can change rapidly in the mountains. Before heading out always check avalanche and weather reports from the Forest Service and the National Weather Service.
• Mobile devices may not work in some areas. Develop a safety plan in case you cannot phone for help.
• A paper topographic map and compass are recommended for unmarked trails
• Don't go alone, always use the buddy system!
• Skiing over frozen lakes and rivers may be hazardous, is not recommended and is at your own risk!
• Be prepared with the proper clothing by dressing in layers and wearing waterproof footwear. If you get warm, take off the top layer. When you stop, put it back on. By controlling your body temperature you will be comfortable and avoid hypothermia.
• Hypothermia is a rapid and progressive mental and physical collapse resulting from lowering the inner temperature of the human body. Hypothermia can cause death. Prevent it with proper clothing, food and water. Avoid overexertion, eating snow or drinking alcohol.
• Frostbite is caused by exposure of flesh to subfreezing temperatures and can be a precursor to hypothermia. If it is cold enough to freeze flesh, you should reconsider your ski trip.
• Are you physically fit? Make each trip a comfortable and fun excursion. Don't go so far you struggle to get back.
• Rockslides and avalanches happen throughout the winter. Check Sierra Avalanche Center often for the latest conditions, and learn how you can mitigate avalanche risk and get proper training. Helpful information can also be found at National Avalanche Center and Know Before You Go: Avalanche Awareness.
• Conditions can change rapidly depending on weather and time of day. You are responsible for evaluating and determining if weather and conditions permit safe travel.
• Dress for the cold. With unpredictable conditions and strenuous activity, it is hard to know what you will need. Dress in layers. Starting with insulating fabrics and use a final layer of protective fabrics on top.
• Do not forget Sunscreen. Although it is cold the sun's rays are just as strong as summer months, and the snow's reflectiveness and the higher altitude amplifies them. Use sunscreen and lip balm. Sunglasses or goggles will help prevent snow blindness.
• Bring additional essentials. There are more than you might think. Pack and drink lots of water. It is easy to get dehydrated in the higher altitudes. Bring at least an extra day's supply of food. Do not forget a navigational tools and spare charger for your cell phone. Bring matches or a lighter and a flashlight.

Know Before You Go

Always know before you go by visiting Know Before You Go for more tips on staying safe in your National Forest.

Recreate Responsibly

Join the movement and recreate responsibly! Learn more at Recreate Responsibly.

• Never consume alcohol or drugs before snowmobiling.
• Keep to the right at all times, especially in turns.
• Operate at safe and responsible speeds.
• Use your lights at all times to improve visibility.
• Stay out of areas where snowmobiling is prohibited.
• Avoid travel on unfamiliar frozen bodies of water.
• Using extra caution at night.
• Become familiar with the snowmobile you are going to ride.
• Keep your snowmobile properly maintained.
• Always wear a helmet, proper clothing, and footwear.
• Become familiar with the terrain.
• Check the weather forecast before you leave.
• Never ride alone.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.
• Carry emergency supplies and learn survival techniques.
• Know where you are at all times by carrying a map and knowing how to read it.

More Snowmobile Information

• Snowmobile Registration Information
• Snowmobiling Near Residential Areas
• Winter Over-Snow Vehicle Restrictions Order No. 19-24-01
  (PDF 189 KB)
  • Winter Over-Snow Vehicle Restrictions Order No. 19-24-01 Map
    (PDF 1,154 KB)

Backcountry Use and Inherent Risks

Backcountry winter recreation is similar to other high-risk outdoor activities, such as mountaineering and white-water kayaking because participants must match their skill level to the prevailing conditions. Going into the backcountry involves inherent risks. Risks can be minimized when individuals take personal responsibility to educate, prepare and equip themselves to deal effectively with changeable backcountry conditions.

Avoid Avalanche Hazards

• For current avalanche conditions and advisories, visit Sierra Avalanche Center.
• Visit Know Before You Go Avalanches for safety tips.
• Avalanche information is updated as conditions change.
• Large or small, avalanches are deadly! Terrain, weather and your judgment are important factors to avoid getting caught in an avalanche.
• Avalanches are most common on 30 to 45 degree slopes.
• Smooth slopes without tree cover are more dangerous.
• Generally, avalanches occur in the same areas year after year. Watch for avalanche paths, steep open gullies and slopes, pushed over small trees, and tree with limbs broken off.
• South facing slopes are more dangerous in the spring and on warm sunny days.
• High marking (climbing very steep slopes) significantly increases the risk of being buried in an avalanche!

Avalanche Likelihood

• 80 percent of all avalanches occur during and shortly after storms.
• Snow falling at a rate of 1-inch or more per hour increases avalanche danger.
• Storms starting with low temperatures and dry snow, followed by rising temperatures are more likely to cause avalanches (the dry snow creates a poor bond and cannot support the weight of heavy, wet snow on top.)
• Sustained winds of 15 miles per hour or more increase the danger of an avalanche on the leeward (usually north) slope due to heavy accumulation of snow caused by wind deposition.

Avalanche Safety

The Lake Tahoe Basin is avalanche country. Always check the latest avalanche and weather conditions before heading into the backcountry! Visit the Sierra Avalanche Center website for daily advisories, be prepared with proper equipment and training, and always travel with a buddy, monitor conditions and weather, educate yourself on safety tips and park legally and safely.

• Avalanche Safety Tips
• Sierra Avalanche Center
• National Avalanche Center
• Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness
• Know Before You Go Avalanches

Storms

A pleasant outing can turn into a life-threatening situation if a winter storm catches you unprepared. Weather in the mountains can change quickly and trail markers may not always be visible. Be prepared to backtrack if you lose the trail. Always check weather forecasts before starting out, tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return, and always travel with a buddy, never alone.

The Lake Tahoe Basin is avalanche country. Always check the latest avalanche and weather conditions before heading into the backcountry! Visit the Sierra Avalanche Center website for daily advisories, be prepared with proper equipment and training, and always travel with a buddy, monitor conditions and weather, educate yourself on safety tips and park legally and safely.

• Avalanche Safety Tips
• Sierra Avalanche Center
• National Avalanche Center
• Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness
• Know Before You Go Avalanches

Backcountry Access

The beauty and peacefulness of the forest may make you feel carefree, but you must remain vigilant for potentially dangerous situations. Backcountry users should take extra precautions, carry appropriate avalanche equipment, travel in groups if possible, and check the avalanche report before heading outside.

Safety
Backcountry enthusiasts should always tell a family member or friend where they are going, when they expect to return and then stick to the plan. Always check the weather before heading out on the trail. Sturdy footwear, proper clothing, gear and training is essential, and an old-fashioned paper map and compass can come in handy on snow-covered trails. Always travel with a buddy, never alone. Keep in mind that mobile devices may not work in remote areas. Develop an emergency plan in case you cannot call for help.

Search & Rescue

• Alpine County Search & Rescue
• Douglas County Search & Rescue
• El Dorado Back Country Ski Patrol
• Placer County Search & Rescue
• Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol
• Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue
• Washoe County Search & Rescue

Avalanche Courses and Safety Groups

• Alpenglow Expeditions
• Sierra Avalanche Center
• Tahoe Backcountry Alliance
• Tahoe Jacks
• Tahoe Mountain School

• Do Not Enter Closed Areas
• Wear a Helmet
• Stay in Control
• Look Out for Hazards and Obstacles
• Look Out for Over the Snow Vehicles
• Avoid Tree Wells
• Ski/Board with a Buddy

National Safety Council - Sledding Safety

• Make sure all equipment is in good condition, free of sharp edges and cracks
• Sled on spacious, gently sloping hills with a level run-off at the end so the sled can safely stop
• Check slopes for bare spots, holes and obstructions, such as fences, rocks, poles or trees
• Do not sled on or around frozen lakes, streams or ponds
• Sit on top of the sled with feet pointing downhill; never sled head first
• Dress warm, and wear thick gloves or mittens and heavy boots to protect against frostbite and injury

The backcountry is beautiful, but also primitive. Keep in mind that you are responsible for your safety. Always check weather conditions before starting your hike, tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return, and always travel with a buddy.

• Giardia. An intestinal disorder called Giardiasis (gee-ar-dye-a-sis) is a disease that may be contracted from drinking untreated "natural" water. The disease is caused by a microscopic organism, Giardia lamblia, the cystic form of which is often found in mountain streams and lakes. Such waters may be clear, cold, and free-running, and look, smell, and taste good, but you should be aware of possible danger. Although Giardiasis can be incapacitating, it is not usually life-threatening. Symptoms usually include diarrhea, increased gas, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps and bloating. These discomforts may appear a few days to a few weeks after ingestion of Giardia, and may last up to six weeks. Most people are unaware that they have been infected and have often returned home before the onset of symptoms. Other diseases can have similar symptoms, but if you drank untreated water you should suspect Giardiasis and inform your doctor, who can prescribe medicine to cure Giardia.
• Water Treatment. The most certain means of destroying Giardia and other organisms is to boil your water. Water should be boiled at least five minutes at sea level. Add one minute for each additional thousand feet of elevation. Chemical treatment with iodine or chlorine effectively kills bacterial organisms, but the same treatment will not reliably kill Giardia, a protozoan. Filters designed to eliminate Giardia are available but exercise care in storing the filter to prevent the contaminated parts from contact with the clean water outlet. Containers can also be contaminated by rinsing prior to holding filtered water.
• Sanitation. Giardiasis and other diseases can be readily transmitted between humans and animals. Human or animal feces can contain the organism, and good sanitary practices should be followed to prevent spreading disease through food handling. Waste should be buried six inches deep and 200 feet away from water sources and any water course.
• Hypothermia. Hypothermia, which is caused by a rapid loss of body heat, is the most dangerous illness of backcountry travel. It can strike even when temperatures are well above freezing, under unexpected conditions. Drastic lowering of the inner body temperature causes rapid, progressive mental and physical collapse. Victims often don't recognize the symptoms, and don't suspect hypothermia under mild conditions. All backcountry travelers should be aware and alert to the symptoms of hypothermia, and be able to act to ensure recovery. Symptoms include fits of shivering, vague and slurred speech, memory lapses, fumbling hands, a lurching walk, drowsiness and exhaustion, and apparent unconcern about physical discomfort. Hypothermia victims must be removed from wind and wetness. Remove all wet clothing articles, and place the person in a dry sleeping bag to restore body heat. If the victim is conscious, he should be given warm drinks, but not coffee or other stimulants. Victims of hypothermia should be carried out of the back country in windproof and waterproof coverings. To prevent hypothermia, choose clothing and equipment carefully. Rain clothes should protect against wind-driven rain and cover all body parts. Wool and some synthetic fabrics will retain heat when wet; cotton does not retain heat when wet, and can contribute to body chill.
• Altitude Sickness. Altitude sickness occurs at high altitudes, where the air contains less oxygen than at sea level. Victims of altitude sickness should stop and rest, breathe deeply and slowly return to lower elevations. The chance of being affected by altitude sickness can be reduced by spending a day at altitude to become acclimated before performing any strenuous activity. All persons should be aware of the need to drink additional fluids at high elevations, to avoid becoming dehydrated.
• Hyperventilation. Hyperventilation is caused by breathing too rapidly and a decrease of the carbon dioxide level in the blood. This causes lightheadedness and a cold feeling. The victim should be calmed, and should breathe into a bag, hat, or glove until normal breathing is restored. Exhaustion may occur when a member of a group is trying too hard, but is embarrassed to ask the group to move more slowly. A good principle of back country travel is to move slowly, rest often, and drink and snack frequently to restore energy.
• Emergencies. If you become lost, stay calm and don't panic. Try to figure out where you are: use your head and not your legs! Carry a whistle and small mirror for emergency use. Three of anything (shouts, whistle blasts, flashes of reflected light from a mirror) are a sign of distress.
• Rodent Burrows. Avoid setting up camp near rodent burrows. Fleas from rodents, if they bite you, can transmit the bubonic plague.
• Pack Stock. When encountering travelers with horses or pack stock, move off the trail on the uphill side and allow them to pass. Horses are easily frightened and have the right-of-way on trails.
• Campfire Safety. If you plan to use a portable propane appliance, such as a stove or lantern, you must obtain a CA Campfire Permit. Wood and charcoal fires are only permitted within metal fire rings in developed campgrounds.
• Leave No Trace Camping. Wilderness and backcountry areas can provide breathtaking vistas and quiet solitude. They are special places that require special behavior from each of us. Regulations alone will never guarantee protection of these special places, that will come only with your understanding of what to do when visiting. Please educate yourself and your family and friends about Leave No Trace and Outdoor Ethics.

For more information on hiking in the wilderness or backcountry, visit Know Before You Go: Hiking.

Whether you're roughing it in a tent at a campground or in the back country, there are many ways to make sure your experience is fun and safe.  Consider the following safety tips when you are camping in your national forest.

• Pack a first aid kit.  Your kit can prove invaluable if you or a member of your group suffers a cut, bee sting or allergic reaction.  Pack antiseptic for cuts and scrapes, tweezers, insect repellent, bug spray, pain relievers, and sunscreen.
• Bring emergency supplies.  In addition to a first aid kit, this includes: a map, compass, flashlight, knife, waterproof fire starter, personal shelter, whistle, warm clothing, high energy food, and water.
• Learn the ABC's of treating emergencies.  Recognizing serious injuries will enable you to attend to a victim until medical help arrives.
• Before you leave, find out the weather report.  When you arrive at the site, watch the skies for changes and carry a compact weather radio.  In inclement weather, find shelter until the worse passes.  Stay dry - wet clothes contribute to heat loss.  Also, keep sleeping bags and important gear, dry at all times.
• Arrive early.  Plan your trip so that you arrive at your actual campsite with enough daylight to check over the entire site and to set-up camp.
• Check for potential hazards.  Be sure to check the site thoroughly for glass, sharp objects, branches, large ant beds, poison ivy, bees, and hazardous terrain.
• Avoid areas of natural hazards.  Check the contour of the land and look for potential trouble due to rain.  Areas that could flood or become extremely muddy can pose a problem.
• Inspect the site.  Look for a level site with enough room to spread out all your gear.  Also, a site that has trees or shrubs on the side of prevailing winds will help block strong, unexpected gusts.
• Build fires in a safe area.  Your open fires and fuel-burning appliances must be far enough away from the tent to prevent ignition from sparks, flames, and heat.  Never use a flame or any other heating device inside a tent.  Use a flashlight or battery-powered light instead.
• Make sure your fires are always attended.  Be sure you have an area for a fire that cannot spread laterally or vertically - a grill or stone surface is ideal.  When putting the fire out, drown it with water, making sure all embers, coals and sticks are wet. Embers buried deep within the pile have a tendency to reignite later.
• Pitch your tent in a safe spot.  Make sure your tent is made of a flame-retardant fabric, and set up far enough away from the campfire.  Keep insects out of your tent by closing the entrance quickly when entering or leaving.
• Dispose of trash properly.  Remember to recycle - use the proper recycling bins if available.
• Be cautious when using a propane stove.  Read the instructions that come with the stove and propane cylinder.  Use the stove as a cooking appliance only - never leave it unattended while it's burning.
• Watch out for bugs.  Hornets, bees, wasps, and yellow jackets are a problem at many campsites.  Avoid attracting stinging insects by wearing light-colored clothing and avoiding perfumes or colognes.  Should such an insect approach, do not wave wildly and swat blindly - instead use a gentle pushing or brushing motion to deter them.
• Beware when encountering wildlife.  To ward off bears, keep your campsite clean, and do not leave food, garbage, coolers, cooking equipment or utensils out in the open.  Remember that bears are potentially dangerous and unpredictable - never feed or approach a bear.  Use a flashlight at night - many animals feed at night and the use of a flashlight may warn them away.
• Beware of poisonous plants.  Familiarize yourself with any dangerous plants that are common to the area.  If you come into contact with a poisonous plant, immediately rinse the affected area with water and apply a soothing lotion such as calamine to the affected area.
• Practice good hygiene.  Make sure you wash your hands, particularly after using the toilet and before handling food, to prevent everyone in your group becoming ill.

Many vacationers are unaware of the measures they can take to lower their risk of being struck by lightning.  Educating yourself about lightning strikes can minimize the risk.  Seek safe shelter and try to avoid high terrain, golf courses, and bodies of water during high lightning activity (late morning to evening).

• If you are caught above the tree line when a storm approaches, descend quickly.  Avoid isolated trees.  It is better to run into the forest.
   
• Electric storms can also develop in the middle of the night.  To lower your odds, don't pitch your tent near the tallest trees in the vicinity.
   
• Outdoor activities.  Hikers, golfers, and others should run into the forest if a shelter or car is not nearby.
   
• Avoid metal objects.  Drop metal objects like golf clubs, tennis rackets, umbrellas, and packs with internal or external metal frames.
   
• Get off bicycles, motorcycles, horses, and golf carts.  Metal bleachers at sports events, metal fences, and utility poles should also be avoided.
   
• If you are caught in an open field, seek a low spot.  Crouch with your feet together and head low.
   
• If Someone Is Struck.  People who have been hit by lightning carry no electric charge and can be safely tended to.  Also, victims who appear dead can often be revived.  If the person is not breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.  But if a pulse is absent as well and you know cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), begin CPR.  Stay with the victim until help arrives.
   
• Don't sit or lie down, because these positions provide more contact with the ground, providing a wider path for lightning to follow.  If you are with a group and the threat of lightning is high, spread out at least 15 feet apart to minimize the chance of everybody getting hit.
   
• Don't return to an open area too soon.  People have been struck by lightning near the end of a storm, which is still a dangerous time.
   
• Swimmers, anglers, and boaters should get off lakes or rivers and seek shelter when storms approach.  Drop any fishing rods. Boaters who cannot get off the water before the storm hits should crouch low.  Once on land, get at least 100 yards away from shore.
   
• Remember:  This information is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment.  If you have a health-related concern, consult a physician.  Also, the tips discussed here may lower injury risk, but the unpredictability of lightning affords no guarantees.