Safety and Outdoor Ethics
Staying Safe
Know Before You Go!
It's critical for your safety to "know before you go" when planning a visit to your national forest. Here are a few tips:
- Learn as much as you can about the area you plan to visit.
- Always carry a map, know your travel routes, and visit TripCheck for highway conditions.
- Contact the nearest district office for the most current conditions.
- Check the weather before you leave and be observant of changing weather conditions.
- Learn and bring the 10 essentials.
It's recommended that for day hikes and backpack trips into federal wilderness or backcountry that each person carry:
- a map of area
- compass
- flashlight/with extra batteries
- sunglasses
- extra food
- extra clothing
- pocket knife
- first aid kit
- matches in waterproof container
- candle or fire-starter
Mt. Hood National Forest Roads are not plowed during the winter and many are impassable or closed in winter. Forest Roads can be bumpy, muddy, and travel to high elevations - they simply are not maintained in the same way as highways.
Learn more about Travel Management of the Forest Service road system.
Areas that provide safe, easy expeditions in the summer may be dangerous in the winter. Pay attention to closures and warnings in effect and prepare for hazardous conditions.
Basics for Backcountry Winter Recreation
Avalanches
Avalanches are common in the Cascade mountains and it's absolutely critical that people know how to prepare for them, what gear to bring, know where to find forecasts, and generally stay current on avalanche education.
- Check the Mt. Hood Avalanche Forecast if you're traveling in the backcountry.
- Carry and know how to use avalanche rescue gear.
- Be aware of the terrain and take avalanche training courses.
Snowmobiling
- Snowmobilers should respect uphill policies, yield to non-motorized recreationists and snowcats, and maintain the ability to stop.
- Stay out of wilderness areas, big game winter range, and other special areas where snowmobiles are not allowed, and know the rules for off-trail snowmobile travel.
- Learn more about snowmobiling on Mt. Hood.
Frostbite
Frostbite can appear as a robust reddened area, often mistaken as a bite. However, it is body tissue that is frozen by severe weather conditions. Most often frostbite affects exposed parts such as fingers, toes, nose, chin, and earlobes. Frostbite occurs frequently when temperatures drop below freezing and there is prolonged exposure to these temperatures. Signs and symptoms of frostbite include a loss of feeling and a pale appearance of the affected extremity. Treatment of frostbite includes seeking medical attention and a slow rewarming of the affected areas.
Hypothermia
Prevention
- Stay Dry. Wet clothes lose about 90% of their insulating value. Make sure your rain gear works.
- Beware of the Wind. Wind carries heat away by driving cold air through clothing. Wear a wind breaker. Protect your skin.
- Prevent Exhaustion. Exercise drains your energy reserves. Stop and rest frequently while you still have energy. If hypothermia develops, STOP TRAVELING. Help the victim reserve energy and heat. Send for help.
- Eat and Drink. Drink and eat throughout the day. Dehydration and insufficient energy lead to fatigue and depression, poor circulation and lousy decisions.
- End Exposure. Seek shelter if conditions are bad. If you can't stay warm and dry, turn back. Give up your objective, not your life!
- Watch for Symptoms. Watch for these symptoms: uncontrollable shivering; vague, slurred speech; memory lapses; incoherence, or irrational behavior; fumbling hands; frequent stumbling; drowsiness or exhaustion; hallucinations; blueness of skin; dilation of pupils; weak or irregular pulse; unconsciousness.
Take Action - Believe the Symptoms, Not the Victim
- Prevent further heat loss. Get the victim out of the wind and precipitation. Change out of wet clothes and into dry, warm clothes. NEVER give the victim alcoholic beverages.
- Increase heat production. If the victim is conscious, give warm, sweet drinks. Keep the semi-conscious victim awake. Put the victim in a warm sleeping bag. Attempt to warm the victim by providing heat to the chest area. Do NOT attempt to warm extremities first.
- Seek medical help. Heart and lung failure are significant threats to hypothermia victims
Hikers are encouraged to use extreme caution when crossing glacial rivers and know when to turn around. Remember: you are responsible for your own safety. The PCTA has great tips on how to cross a river safely.
Check river conditions for known hazards by visiting the Boat Oregon Map, which is monitored by the Oregon State Marine Board.
Recreational target shooting is an appropriate use of the forest, when done safely and with respect to the land and national forest property.
When target shooting is done in the right way, it poses little threat to people’s safety or to natural resources. However, careless, unsafe shooting can cause wildfires and natural resources damage as well as pose serious threats to human life – both to forest staff and visitors.
The best tool needed for survival in the event you get lost outdoors is your skill of advanced planning. You must expect the unexpected and plan accordingly. Even if you are going out for just a few hours, pack enough essentials that you can stay hydrated, fueled and prepared for any type of weather.
- Bring the 10 essentials - even on shorter day hikes. You could fall, injure yourself, or get lost and that extra food, water, and layers will be your savior.
- Study the terrain and your planned route. Know where you are going and how you will return. Don't just wing it.
- Check with the local ranger district or forest office for special warnings, such as fires in the area, bear sightings, flooding, trail or road closures, etc.
- Tell someone where you're going before your trip - give them exact details, like the trailhead you're parking at, the trail plan, and when you plan to return.
S.T.O.P.
If you do become lost your most important tool is keeping a positive mental attitude. Follow the "STOP" acronym: Stop, Think, Observe, and Plan.
STOP
- As soon as you realize you may be lost: stop, stay calm, stay put. Panic is your greatest enemy.
THINK
- Go over in your mind how you got to where you are. What landmarks should you be able to see? Do not move at all until you have a specific reason to take a step.
OBSERVE
- Get out your compass and determine the directions based on where you are standing. Do not walk aimlessly.
- If you are on a trail, stay on it. All trails are marked with signs (where intersections meet) and with diamond blazers or markers. However, signs are sometimes vandalized or stolen.
- As a very last resort, follow a drainage or stream downhill. This is often a difficult path but could lead to a trail or road. Again, this could be very dangerous.
PLAN
Based on your thinking and observations, come up with some possible plans, think them through then act on one of them.
- If you are not extremely confident in the route, then it’s always better to stay put.
- If it’s nightfall, you are injured or you are near exhaustion, stay in place.
Self-rescue tips:
If after careful planning and consideration you decide that you should try to rescue yourself, here are some tips to remember:
- Stop and rest when you start to feel tired. Don’t wait until you are exhausted.
- Your body can’t hike hard and digest food at the same time. Rest in the shade for at least 30 minutes when you stop to eat. If you are still tired after 30 minutes, continue to rest.
- Make sure to drink enough water to avoid dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration could include thirst; dry/sticky mouth; not urinating very much or dark yellow urine; dry, cool skin; headache; muscle cramps.
- Stop and fix small problems while they are still small. If you ignore your body and keep pushing, the pain or illness will only get worse and make recovery more difficult.
- Avoid hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on hot days. If you are on a trail between those hours, find a shady spot and stay there until the temperature cools down. Adjust your hiking pace to one you can comfortably maintain and rest when you feel the need.
Visitors should expect changes to the landscape after a wildfire. This could include hard-to-navigate stands of burned trees, eroded slopes, or missing sections of trail. Burned areas can also have an increased likelihood of landslides, mudslides, flash floods, and debris flows.
Mt. Hood National Forest has seen several substantial wildfires in the last several years, especially on Clackamas River Ranger District. Hikers always assume risks when entering trails in natural areas, but in burned areas those risks are greater.
When in Doubt, Stay Out!
Warmer weather can cause toxic blue-green algae blooms to lakes. Cyanobacteria, more commonly called blue-green algae, are not algae at all but a primitive single celled bacterium found naturally in fresh and saltwater.
Under ideal conditions, cyanobacteria can multiply into a large visible mass called a "bloom." These blooms can be associated with toxins produced by the cyanobacteria and can cause harm to humans and animals. Beginning in May and throughout the summer, blue-green algae blooms can occur.
The following are risks from recreating where there is a blue-green algae bloom:
- Water contact can cause skin irritation or rash
- Swallowing water can result in diarrhea, cramps, vomiting and dizziness
- More severe reactions occur when large amounts of water are swallowed
- Children and pets are at the greatest risk
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) recommends the following guidance: “Don't go into water that looks foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish red. A good rule of thumb for you and your pet is: When in Doubt, Stay Out!”
Information about Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms from the OHA
Outdoor Ethics
The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace provide simple steps for anyone visiting the outdoors to impact the environment as little as possible. The Principles can be applied anywhere — from remote wilderness areas, to local parks and even in your backyard.
A few basics:
- Pack out everything you brought with you! Dispose of your garbage properly off the Forest if no dumpster is available.
- The 7 Principles apply to virtually every outdoor activity and help increase your safety and enjoyment of the Forest.
- The Mt. Hood National Forest belongs to all Americans - including those who will come long after us. Please do your part to keep the Forest clean every time you visit.
Expect Others | Respect Others | Connect with Others
Sharing and stewarding our public lands means taking care of them and looking out for each other. Hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, snowshoers, skiers, and OHVs all use parts of Mt. Hood National Forest. Sometimes, these trails need to be shared with several different groups. It's important to know how to interact with others safely and respectfully.
Who Yields? Trail courtesy says:
- Hikers yield to horses.
- Bikes yield to both hikers and horses.
- Downhill bikes yield to uphill bikes.
Oregon Equestrian Trails has some great resources on trail etiquette.
Here are some tips and resources to know about trail etiquette:
- Obey all posted signs and restrictions. These exist for a reason - public safety, wildlife safety, and resource protection are often why restrictions may exist.
- Make sure pets are kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet in designated recreation areas. Pets can spook horses or other pack animals, impact others' camping experiences, and more. We love dogs - help us keep them and others safe and happy!
- Share the trail! The outdoors is for everyone. Be aware that other recreationists are likely to be present in the area. Be sure to yield when necessary, be considerate of other users by parking to allow the maximum number of vehicles, communicate, and be kind and say hello!
- Hikers should yield to horses. Call out a friendly greeting as soon as you see an equestrian - horses spook easily and will be relieved to hear you're a human and not a predator. Although bikers should generally yield to hikers, know that they might not see you in time and you should be prepared to step off trail.
- Bicyclists should yield to all other non-motorized trail users - hikers and horses - unless the trail is clearly signed for bike-only travel. Bicyclists traveling downhill yield to ones headed uphill, unless the trail is clearly signed for one-way or downhill-only traffic. Stay safe and communicate with other recreationists on the trails at all times!
- ATV/OHV users should respect uphill policies, yield to non-motorized recreationists, and always stay in control and maintain the ability to stop. Please use established pick-up and drop-off areas and don't stop where you could obstruct roads or not be visible. Motorized vehicles are prohibited in wilderness areas; pay attention to where motor vehicle travel is allowed on roads and trails.
- Equestrians should do their best to control their horse, avoid cross-country riding, and avoid tying stock to trees for prolonged periods. Weed-free feed is required in all Oregon & Washington National Forests and Grasslands.