Info on gear, conditioning, and preparation for hiking/climbing.
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If yes, good on you. If no, you really should get into the habit of doing so. I thought I would share what I do and would love to hear from others about what you do and if there is anything missing that I should include.
I email a Caltopo Map to my wife for each trip I make. The map contains all of the information she would need to send to authorities in case I am overdue; she only needs to forward the map link. It includes my clothing description, a link to my Garmin InReach tracking, my vehicle description and my cell phone number. I also include sheriff numbers for her to call. I break down the trip into folders for each day showing where I am camped and the route I am taking. If the route is not an out and back, I include directional arrows on my track. While I am hiking, I send inReach checkins from the top of each peak and when I return to the car. I also leave tracking on, easier to find my body in the worst case scenario
Always! My itinerary is very detailed and I send InReach messages to my wife from each summit, again when I’ve descended to solid ground, and then finally when I return to my campsite or the trailhead.
Last edited by Mtnman200 on Wed Jul 26, 2023 7:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Adventure without risk is not possible." - Reinhold Messner
Mtnman200 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 7:07 pm
Always! My itinerary is very detailed and I send InReach messages to my wife from each summit, again when I’ve descended to solid ground, and the finally when I return to my campsite or the trailhead.
I never use my third check-in message, only on top of peak and back at camp/car. I think I might change the third one to "back on solid ground/easy terrain/trail". She has said she really appreciates the text check-ins. Thanks, Eddie!
Troy: My down-to-solid-ground message is a two-word preset: “Down safely.” It means I’ve descended to the point that the only way I can get hurt is if I’m an idiot.
"Adventure without risk is not possible." - Reinhold Messner
I always send the 14er route link to whomever is watching over me plus I use my Spot to send check-ins at the trail head, tree line, summit, tree line and trail head. In addition, I give them a time I think I will be back and a time to call for help if I have not checked back in at the "panic" time.
"Just because you love the mountains doesn't mean the mountains love you."
-Lou Whittaker
Yep, I leave one with a family member and then check in when I'm done. If I die I die, but I don't want my cats to starve as a result.
My itinerary uses a template with the following section: general plan, route/trailhead, rough times, weather forecast, objective hazards, relevant SAR/LE agency, picture of me, picture of car with description, my InReach IMEI number, local contact info, cat and vet info
Absolutely! My itinerary covers everything SAR would need to know if anything happened, route info, county/sheriff info, and a "call time" (call authorities) if I have been MIA. Having been on the "deciding to call" side of things once before, I think the call time is important for setting an expectation and removing the guesswork for the safety contact.
I carry an InReach and send a preset message with coordinates about once an hour.
In addition to what's been mentioned, I include an 'identifying gear' description with the colors and brands of the gear/clothes I'll be wearing. I also like the 'back on solid ground' or 'done descending the upper mountain' inReach messages. It's a relief for me to send those too, because at that point it's just easy hiking or running back to the car.
I always text my girlfriend (of the time lol) the trailhead, route, estimated summit time, and my “start to worry” time and the “call authorities” time. She knows the description of my vehicle.
“Longs Peak East Trailhead, Longs Peak East Trail to Longs Peak via Keyhole Route. Summit by 10am. If you haven’t heard from me by 3, start to worry. If you haven’t heard from me by 6, call SAR.”
I typically just text when I am back in cell service, and I’m not great at using the built in, Inreach text features. I will start using it for that, too!
I always do and say just cal 911 to report a missing hiker, for those that leave specific number to call how do you know which number to call, I’ve always found that confusing so felt best just always saying call 911 and let the authorities sort it out based on my itinerary.
