Stay Safe
- Plan Ahead
- Plan your trip from start to finish at home.
- Use topographic map and trail guides.
- Check elevations and total distance to be traveled.
- Talk to people experienced in the area you will be visiting.
- Allow plenty of time for moving over hilly, rugged terrain.
- Carry a map and compass and know how to use them.
- Leave your itinerary with a friend or relative. Include a full account of who is in your party, where you are going, when you will be back, where you will exit, and the approximate location of each overnight campsite.
- Stick to the planned route.
- Essentials : The following items should be taken on trips into the wildernesses and on day hikes.
- Sturdy boots, warm jacket and extra clothing
- Canteen and extra food
- Whistle
- Dark glasses, sunscreen and insect repellent
- Pocket knife
- Waterproof matches and candle for fire starter
- First aid kit
- Flashlight
- Map and compass
- Trowel for sanitation and fire
- Toilet paper
- Travel with a companion. You don't want to be by yourself in case of an emergency. Tell someone where and when you are going, when you expect to return, and how many individuals are in your party.
- Be in good physical condition. Set a comfortable pace as you hike. A group trip should be designed for the weakest member of the group.
- Think about your footing while traveling near cliffs. Trees and bushes can't always be trusted to hold you.
- Stay on developed trails or dry, solid rock areas with good footing. Wear appropriate clothing for the trail conditions and season.
- Check your equipment. Keep your equipment in good working order. Inspect it before your trip. Do not wait until you are at the trailhead.
- Be weather wise. Keep an eye on current and predicted weather conditions. In this area, weather can change very quickly. Know the signs for approaching storms or changing weather conditions. Avoid bare ridge tops, exposed places, lone trees, streams, and rocks during lightning storms. Find shelter in a densely forested area at a lower elevation. Even in the summer, exposure to wind and rain can result in hypothermia. Expect the unexpected. Be prepared for extremes.
- Lightning. Sudden, unexpected mountain storms are common during the summer, especially in the afternoons and evenings. When there is lightening activity, avoid open areas such as potreros, ridges and mountain tips. Stay away from isolated trees. Find safe shelter among dense, small trees at lower elevations, in a boulder field or a cave. If this is not possible, lie down flat on the ground. In all cases, remove metal frame backpacks and metal tent poles. Summer thunderstorms may cause lightning fires. Be on the lookout for smoke after a storm.
- Stream Crossing. Don't underestimate the power of moving water. Stream crossings can be dangerous during periods of high runoff. Even when water levels are low, sure footing can be a problem on slippery moss and algae-covered rocks.
- Winter Travel. Harsh winds, cold temperatures, rain and snow can quickly turn a pleasant outing into a tragedy. Knowledge of the area, weather and the limitations of your body and equipment are essential.
- Hypothermia. The rapid loss of heat caused by fatigue, wetness and exposure to the wind if the number one killer of outdoor recreationists. It can happen at any time in the high country. Symptoms include shivering, slurred speech, memory lapse, fumbling hands lurching walk, drowsiness, and finally unconsciousness.
Get the victim out of the wind and wet clothing. Restore body temperature by placing the victim in a dry sleeping bog. Skin to skin contact is the quickest way to restore temperature and should be used in extreme cases. If the victim is conscious, give him/her a warm drink and energy food.
- Learn basic first aid so you will know how to identify and treat injuries and illnesses. Carry a first aid kit with you. Learn how to identify the symptoms of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hypothermia, and dehydration, and know how to treat them.
- Make camp before dark. Traveling after darkness has resulted in many accidents from falls, so travel only during daylight. Set up camp well away from the edge of cliffs, and learn the terrain during daylight. If you have to leave camp after dark, stay in areas you have seen in daylight, go with a friend, and always use a good flashlight.
- Be alert for slippery areas and take your time to avoid tripping. Low-hanging branches and variable terrains make running unsafe, and leaves can hide slippery areas underneath.
- Alcohol and cliffs don't mix! If you drink, stay away from the cliffs. Judgment, agility, and balance are all reduced by alcohol consumption.
- Think before you drink! No matter how clean or pure stream water looks, it's likely to contain water-borne parasites and microorganisms that can cause discomfort and sometimes serious illness. Pack your water in, or purify through chemical treatment.
- Getting Lost. If you are lost, take it easy and keep calm. Sit down and figure out where you are. Three of anything (shouts, whistles, gunshots) are a signal of distress.
- Dehydration. Adults require two quarts of water daily and up to four quarts at high elevations. To avoid dehydration, simply drink liquids as often as you are thirsty. Water is scarce in many portions of the Forest, so make sure you take along enough water.
- Drinking Water. Even though mountain water appears to be clear, cold an free-running, it should always be treated before drinking or cooking. The recommended way to purify water is to bring it to a rolling boil for at least five minutes.
- Keep Water Clean. Use biodegradable soaps and keep wash water at least 200' from the water source.
- Dispose of human waste properly.
- Select a location 200' or more away from water.
- Dig a hole 8' deep.
- Cover wastes with loose soil then tamp in sod.
- Dig one latrine, even if there are several in your group.