TRIP PLAN ELEMENTS

The more detail you provide, the more useful the plan will be for those providing help should you need it. Good trip plans help search and rescue to help you more quickly!

A trip plan is a written note, left with someone you trust, that contains the important details of your trip.

At minimum, it tells them where you’re going, when you’re expected back, and when they should report you overdue (when they should call 911 for help). It also helps the trusted person relay important information about you and your trip because the details Search and Rescue will need to know will be written down in one place.

A complete trip plan will address these eight questions:

  1. When are you leaving? 

  2. What are you doing?

  3. Where are you going?

  4. Why are you going?

  5. Who are you with?

  6. Does anyone have any medical conditions?

  7. What are you taking?

  8. If and when will you communicate?

  9. When are you coming back? 

  10. When do I need to call for help?

The last part (number 8 above) is the tricky part. You have to set a deadline for yourself and stick to it. This is serious. You should be quitting your trip early and heading back to cell service or sending some other message to avoid triggering this. This is a time when it is absolutely clear you’re in trouble – if you had telepathic powers, you’d tell your responsible friend/ spouse to call for help. This is the date and time someone should report you overdue.

For short (day) trips, you might just jot down “Hiking up to PopoAgie Falls, back in time for dinner, bringing a raincoat and water bottle.” Longer trips usually warrant a complete trip plan, especially if communication is difficult or not possible.

Think about worst-case scenarios as you plan and consider bringing an extra layer and gear to help should this happen while still packing light enough to enjoy yourself.

Recap:

Who to file with:

Someone you trust. Someone who will call for help when they need to.

What to file:

Written information (paper, email, text, marker board at home, etc). Level of detail will be dependent on the length and hazards of the trip.  Don’t rely on memory.

Why to file:

To ease the burden on the person at home. Also, you might need help. But really, this helps the person sitting at home immensely. 

Elements of a trip plan:

  • Your name, contact information, medical conditions and the same for those traveling with you. 

  • What is your transportation plan?

    How will you get to and from the trailhead- include flight numbers, vehicle descriptions, shuttle names and phone numbers, and other details. 

  • Start date, time and location. 

    Example - Leaving Big Sandy Trailhead August 3, around 10 am. 

  • What are you doing?

    Example: Running, climbing, skiing, camping, fishing, hunting, exploring, etc.

  • What is your primary route- describe the trail names/numbers if they have them, if not use cardinal directions, distances, and named landmarks. 

    Is there a secondary route?

    Is there another secondary route?

    Is there a bail out if someone is injured or the weather changes?

  • Are there areas of interest on route?

    Examples:

    • Campsites you’ll use

    • Points of interest

    • Objectives- things you want to see/do

      1. Overlook

      2. Peak

      3. Waterfall

      4. Fishing spot, etc.

  • Who are you with?

    Is there someone with you if there's an injury?

    Stay together!!!! 

  • Communication gear- how will you contact the outside world if you need help? 

    • Phone

    • inReach

    • Sat Phone

    • Survival gear- 

      1. Insulation

      2. Shelter

      3. Tent/tarp

      4. Rain gear

      5. Water

      6. Stove

      7. Food

      8. First aid supplies

    • Medications, medical conditions?

  • When are you coming back?

    What is your Exit plan?

    1. Same or different trailhead?

      1. Is someone picking you up?

    2. Date and time of return

      1. When will you check in with the person you are leaving this plan with?

      2. Might be different time than date/time out if no cell service, etc.

  • When will it be clear you need help?

    1. This is a time when it is absolutely clear you’re in trouble and if you had telepathic powers, you’d tell your friend/ spouse to call for help.

      1. This is serious. You should be quitting your trip early in order to avoid hitting this time without being able to communicate.

      2. This is the date and time someone should call 911 to  report you overdue and trigger a volunteer response..

      3. If you plan to check in regularly, also think about these steps for what should happen if you don’t check in regularly. For example, if you plan to send an in reach message each night at camp, when should people be concerned if they haven’t heard from you. Give this some thought. Sometimes a missed message is an emergency, others it is a dead battery, or a message that was sent to a wrong number or was very delayed in its delivery. 

Sample Trip Plan:

Hiking in with Mark Smith to climb Pingora (NE Face). Leaving Big Sandy at 10am, Friday, hiking in to base of Pingora, camping, climbing on Saturday, and hiking out on Sunday. We’ll be home in time for dinner on the 5th, or I’ll text you.

What is missing?


Mark and I are backpacking in to fish Blue Lake on Saturday. Spending the night and probably hiking out after fishing Sunday morning. I’ll call when we’re out (before 5pm).

What’s wrong with this plan?

Ten Essentials

The 10 Essentials are a collection of first aid and emergency items that can help you in the event of minor injuries, sudden weather changes, or unexpected delays. The 10 Essentials are only the basic items to have with you. You may need additional items depending on the activity in which you participate (e.g. life jacket, bear spray, trekking poles, bug spray, personal locator beacon).

  • Navigation: Map, Compass, and GPS system. Know how to use it!

  • Sun protection: sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, hat. 

  • Insulation: jacket, gloves, rain shell, thermal underwear. 

  • Illumination: flashlight or headlamp with good batteries. 

  • First aid: First aid kit. 

  • Fire: matches and fire starter. 

  • Repair kit & tools: knife and gear repair. 

  • Nutrition: snacks and meals. 

  • Hydration: water bottles and water treatment.

  • Emergency shelter: Tent, tarp, or bivy

Dress for Success: Winter Recreation in the Mountains

Essentials

  • Extra insulation

  • Food

  • Water

  • Headlamp and batteries

  • First Aid Kit

  • Phone/Communication device

  • Fire starter

  • Sun Protection

  • Repair Kit

  • Beacon

  • Probe

  • Shovel

Knowledge

  • Map/GPS

  • Compass

  • First Aid

  • A Plan

  • Your Limits

  • Avalanche Awareness