Good communication is a quick and easy way to avoid a multitude of complications
while you venture into the outdoors. Poor communication has been contributor for many sad endings of wilderness incidents.
Why skip this vital step? Before
embarking on any adventure (small or large) leave detailed information about your plans with a responsible person. This
should even be done when you will be accompanied by others. The following information should be written down, explained
and understood by, at least, one person:
- What time you will leave and
when you plan to return.
- The entrance, planned route and exit of
the area you will be at.
- What water sources you will resupply at.
- Where you plan to camp.
- Alternate trailheads or locations you may go to if would need to cut the trip short due to any problems.
- What medications you are currently taking.
- Relevant medical history.
- The names of folks that you
may be traveling with and their contact information.
- What you plan
to do if you get lost or injured.
These are items that you
should already be planning and thinking about. There's no reason not to write them down (or copy/paste) and share
them with someone. [Contact me if you would like an Excel spreadsheet that I use to plan hikes with.]
If you will have companions, make sure you
spend time discussing your plan together in detail before you leave. Good communication means taking responsibility
to see that everyone understands and is of one mind; both at home and away.
I would like to share some additional thoughts
while we are on the subject of communication:
Nothing will diminish the wilderness
experience more than staying in constant cellular contact with civilization. Explain to those back home that you plan
to keep your cell phone turned off unless you have an emergency. I have three main reasons for this.
- The benefits outweigh the risks of being disconnected. It is impossible to
receive the designed benefits of communing with nature if you are connected to civilization.
- If you are in an area where there is no signal coverage, someone at home may freak-out and think
there is a problem. Then there will be a problem when rescue crews spend thousands of dollars just to find you happily
cooking an omelet.
- It is normal to panic if there is an
emergency back home. The incident will probably be under control (or over) by the time you even get out of the forest.
There is a strong possibility you will severely injure yourself while franticly trying to shorten a day or two worth of hiking
back to the car.
