Hiking safety begins at home. When you’re planning a hike, you want to make thorough preparations, from researching your route to packing the and wearing good to help you tackle tough terrain. But even the best-laid plans can result in a , or taking a wrong turn, and if you find yourself in a situation requiring , don’t think it’s as simple as firing off an alert using the and then making yourself comfortable until the cavalry arrives.
One of the biggest challenges that rescue teams face is locating parties who have gone missing or sent out a distress call. Even with your coordinates, searching for you on a is a lot like looking for a needle in a haystack. For that reason, Colorado’s recently sent out a series of helpful tips for mountain users on making themselves searchable.
The ART is a group of highly trained volunteer rescue mountaineers and this simple advice is easy to execute and might save your life. As we’ve previously explained, leaving a detailed trip plan with someone else is a simple act that could save your life if you find yourself in hot (or very cold) water on an adventure. If you fail to make it back to the trailhead, someone who knows exactly what trail you were planning to be on and what time you left can really speed up the time it takes for your rescuers to narrow down your location.
Learn exactly what details you should provide in our article on , pick a responsible person, and make sure they know when and how to call for help if you need it..
