Safety and Outdoor Ethics
The best way to fully enjoy your trip on the Forest is to come prepared, have the right equipment and think safety. In backcountry areas, visitors face inherent risks of weather conditions, isolation, physical hazards, encounters with animals and lack of communications.
Please understand that in many areas of the forest, there is no cell reception. Even if you have an ability to make a call, search and rescue operations may not be as rapid as in an urban setting.
As a forest visitor, you assume responsibility for your personal safety during any activity you pursue.
Safety Tips
- Leave a trip itinerary with someone who will check in with you regarding your return time.
- Carry the 10 Essentials which includes a map, extra food & water, extra clothing, a flashlight & first aid kit. Check batteries.
- Be prepared for extreme temperatures and storms, heat, snow or rain. Hypothermia is the #1 killer of outdoor enthusiasts. During lightning storms avoid bare ridge tops.
- Learn basic first aid so you will know how to treat injuries and illnesses. Learn the symptoms of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hypothermia, and dehydration.
- Do not rely on your mobile device. Although GPS devices and cell phones are helpful, do not rely on them. There is no cell phone reception up many trails and batteries wear out at the most inconvenient times.
- Know your limitations. Make sure you are fit for the type of outing you are planning.
- If hiking with others, stay together; it is recommended that you hike with at least one other person.
- Always treat water found along the trail if you decide to drink it.
- Leave plenty of daylight for travel. Set up an emergency camp while there is still daylight if needed.
- Learn to identify poison ivy to keep it away from you and pets. Leaves of three, let it be.
Be considerate of others
- Public lands are for everyone. Respect other visitors and their outdoor experience.
- Yield to horseback riders. Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
- Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices, noises and music.
Camp responsibly
- Creating new campsites leads to soil erosion. If possible, use an existing site.
- Keep campsites small. Never dig a trench or build a tent platform.
- Pick a spot without much vegetation on the ground.
- Respect living trees. By carving or chopping into the trunks of trees, people damage the tree by slitting veins right below the bark. These veins transport nutrients and water throughout the tree.
- Choose your campsite at least 200 feet from rivers, streams, lakes or wetlands.
- Use biodegradable soap or plain water when washing.
Answering nature’s call
Bacteria and viruses found in human feces are known to cause hepatitis, salmonella, giardia, and other diseases. Please follow these simple steps if a public restroom is not available:
- Find a spot at least 200 feet from any water source.
- Dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and bury human waste. Learn more here.
- Pack out used toilet paper and feminine products. Animals dig up those products and scatter them around.
- Consider purchasing waste-disposal enzymes that immediately begin breaking down solid waste.
- A leak-proof bag, like a doggy bag, is always an option to pack out your waste and TP.
Keep forest creatures wild
- Do not approach wildlife—observe from a distance.
- Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
- Leash your dog to keep it and wildlife safe.
- Do not feed wildlife. Store your rations and trash securely and out of reach.
Tread Lightly!
- Tread Lightly! is a nonprofit organization that offers educational materials, ethics training, restoration funding, and many other tools. As a current partner with the National Forest, it is a great resource for education training and materials.
Forest visitors are encouraged to view the Recreate Responsibly Winter Toolkit, which provides resources on weather conditions, avalanche awareness, and Leave No Trace principles.
Before You Leave
Notify someone of your planned route. Mark it on a map. Give your planned time of departure and return. Be sure to check with that person when you get back.
Bringing a printed map is the most secure option. You may want a GPS device, but those sometimes do not receive a signal or the battery fails. Cell phones also likely will not work because of a lack of signal.
Where to Go
Some National Forest System land is open for winter travel; however, some parts have restrictions. These restrictions include motorized vehicle closures, avalanche area closures, and hazardous roads. Know that Forest Service roads are not plowed in the winter.
Check local weather forecasts. Avalanches may occur so check the avalanche advisories.
Driving Safely
Check road conditions, chain control, and potential road closures. Don’t get lured into taking alternative routes around closures as travel apps and related online map services have likely not been updated to the winter conditions.
Check your tires’ tread and pressure; top off windshield fluid; and carry tire chains, an ice scraper, an extra blanket and provisions in your car in case you become stuck or stranded on the roadside.
Clothing and Equipment
Take extra socks, gloves, warm hat, matches in a waterproof container, candle, fire starter (000 steel wool works well when pulled apart), nylon cord, general purpose knife, high-energy food, plastic tarp, space blanket, signal mirror, first aid kit, wide tape for repairs, metal container for melting snow, map, compass, and hatchet.
Snowmobilers should have tools for emergency repairs, extra spark plugs, extra gas, flares, and drive belt.
Water
Water is often difficult to find in winter. All that is available may be what you carry in or melt from snow. The body loses as much as 2 to 4 quarts of fluid per day under exertion. Eating snow provides only limited water (10 to 20 percent), drains energy, and cools the body temperature. Avoid melting snow by body contact. Travel with equipment to melt snow.
Snowmobile Routes
Snowmobiles are not permitted on developed ski trails for cross-country skiing or in Wilderness areas.
Operate snowmobiles at minimum speed near skiers or snowshoers. Travel slowly until well beyond those on foot. Snowmobilers should be able to stop within half of the visible distance ahead.
Skiers and snowshoers should realize that snowmobile operators generally can't hear other approaching trail users. On steep slopes snowmobilers are generally limited to the developed trail surface, so give them the right of way. Use common courtesy and respect.
Lost or Injured
Build a fire and shelter. Stay warm. Mark your base camp so it is visible from the air.
Distress Signals - Three smokes, three blasts of a whistle, three shouts, three flashes of light, three of anything that will attract attention.
Ground to Air Signals - Emergency signals are visible in large open areas. SOS can be stamped in snowfields or grassy meadows. Brush piles or evergreen boughs can also be used.
Overdue Party
If someone is overdue, notify the County Sheriff in the trip area. They will take steps to alert local search and rescue. If the missing person returns later, be sure to advise the Sheriff.
Portions of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest are located in these four counties—Okanogan, Chelan, Kittitas, and Yakima.