If you are about to go on a hiking or backpacking trip (either alone or with friends) make sure you have taken all the necessary safety precautions before embarking on your journey. I have created a checklist of questions that you should ask yourself before you leave for your trip! Answer each question and follow the appropriate steps to complete the requirement.
- Have you done research on the difficulty of the trail, and is it suited for your physical fitness level?
- What is the forecasted weather, and is there a possibility it will change for the worse?
- Have you packed all the 10 Essentials? (If wondering what this is, check out my other post “Packing Essentials”).
- Have you informed a close family member or friend of your trip, and given them an itinerary of where you will be and how long you will be gone?
- If you are going out of service, have you packed a GPS messaging device? If not, have you informed a close friend or family member about the duration of the trip, and how long to wait without hearing from you until they must contact emergency services? (Search & Rescue).
- If applicable, have you obtained the proper permits or permissions to access this trail?
- Do you have all the necessary gear/equipment to be safe on this trail?
Always better to be safe than sorry! The world is beautiful to explore, but ensuring you and your party will be safe should be your top priority! Never compromise your safety in the hurry to experience a trail 🙂
