Tips to stay safe in the backcountry
In Grand County, a rescue may be a long wait. How long it took you to get where you are? A 2-hour hike? If you need to be rescued, consider the time necessary for communications, mission prep, transportation, and at least a 2-hour hike from the trailhead. It may take a team at least 2.5 to 3 hours to reach or find your lost or injured party. Other factors may extend the time that we can respond to your needs. What time of day is it? Did it start raining or snowing?
We always tell people to be ready to spend the night in case of any unexpected situations. One of the most common statements we hear from people who need rescuing is, "I didn't expect to wait as long as it took."
How prepared are you to handle a mishap with what you carry in your pack? Can you help another member of your party self-rescue if something goes wrong? Do you have the gear to help prevent mishaps in the first place? Layers of non-cotton clothing are important in preventing frostbite or hypothermia? And in a worst-case scenario, can you survive a night or two out? Carrying the 10 essentials is a good start.
We also tell backcountry users to carry some sort of communications device besides the 10 essentials. A cell phone is a good idea but Grand County has many “dead” cell phone areas. You can't rely on getting a reception everywhere, sometimes even at the trailhead. There are many reasons why you may not be able to make a 911 call when you need to: a dead battery, technological failures, lack of reception, or an injury. Take steps to conserve your phone batteries and consider carrying a two-way satellite communication device. These devices can alert rescue teams in minutes, give your exact coordinates, and allow for two-way communication.
We recommend creating a detailed trip plan and sharing it with a responsible person who can contact help if you don't return as expected. Before you leave consider changing your voicemail to include:
Who you are
Where you are
How did you get there
Are you prepared to spend the night
Your emergency contact
Written with assistance from Colorado Search and Rescue
The point of the Ten Essentials list (developed by The Mountaineers, with origins in the climbing course taught by the American Alpine Club since the 1930s) has always been to help answer two basic questions: First, can you respond positively to an accident or emergency? Second, can you safely spend a night or more out? The list has evolved over time from a list of individual items to a list of functional systems; the updated Ten Essential Systems list is included in Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 9th Edition.
Ten Essentials: The Classic List
Map
Compass
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Extra clothing
Headlamp/flashlight
First-aid supplies
Firestarter
Matches
Knife
Extra food
Ten Essential Systems
Navigation (map & compass)
Sun protection (sunglasses & sunscreen)
Insulation (extra clothing)
Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
First-aid supplies
Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candle)
Repair kit and tools
Nutrition (extra food)
Hydration (extra water)
Emergency shelter (tent/plastic tube tent/garbage bag)
1. Navigation
Always carry a detailed topographic map of the area you are visiting, and place it in a protective case or plastic covering. Always carry a compass. Climbers may also choose to carry other navigational tools such as an altimeter or global positioning system (GPS) receiver; other aids include route markers, route descriptions, and other types of maps or photos.
2. Sun Protection
Carry and use sunglasses, sunscreen for the lips and skin, and clothing for sun protection.
3. Insulation (Extra Clothing)
How much extra clothing is necessary for an emergency? The garments used during the active portion of a climb and considered to be the basic climbing outfit include inner and outer socks, boots, underwear, pants, shirt, sweater or fleece jacket, hat, mittens or gloves, and raingear. The term “extra clothing” refers to additional layers that would be needed to survive the long, inactive hours of an unplanned bivouac.
4. Illumination
Even if the climbing party plans to return to their cars before dark, it is essential to carry a headlamp or flashlight, just in case. Batteries and bulbs do not last forever, so carry spares of both at all times.
5. First-Aid Supplies
Carry and know how to use a first-aid kit, but do not let a first-aid kit give you a false sense of security. The best course of action is to always take the steps necessary to avoid injury or sickness in the first place. At a minimum, a first-aid kit should include gauze pads in various sizes, roller gauze, small adhesive bandages, butterfly bandages, triangular bandages, battle dressing (or Carlisle bandage), adhesive tape, scissors, cleansers or soap, latex gloves, and paper and pencil.
6. Fire
Carry the means to start and sustain an emergency fire. Most climbers carry a butane lighter or two, instead of matches in a waterproof container. Either must be absolutely reliable. Fire starters are indispensable for igniting wet wood quickly to make an emergency campfire. Common fire starters include candles, chemical heat tabs, and canned heat. On a high-altitude snow or glacier climb where firewood is nonexistent, it is advisable to carry a stove as an additional emergency heat and water source.
7. Repair Kit and Tools
Knives are so useful in first aid, food preparation, repairs, and climbing that every party member needs to carry one. Leashes to prevent loss are common. Other tools (pliers, screwdriver, awl, scissors) can be part of a knife or a pocket tool, or carried separately—perhaps even as part of a group kit. Other useful repair items are shoelaces, safety pins, needle and thread, wire, duct tape, nylon fabric repair tape, cable ties, plastic buckles, cordage, webbing, and parts for equipment such as tent, stove, crampons, snowshoes, and skis.
8. Nutrition (Extra Food)
For shorter trips, a one-day supply of extra food is a reasonable emergency stockpile in case foul weather, faulty navigation, injury, or other reasons delay the planned return. An expedition or long trek may require more. The food should require no cooking, be easily digestible, and store well for long periods. A combination of jerky, nuts, candy, granola, and dried fruit works well. If a stove is carried, cocoa, dried soup, and tea can be added. There are many possibilities.
9. Hydration (Extra Water)
Carry extra water and have the skills and tools required for obtaining and purifying additional water. Always carry at least one water bottle or collapsible water sack. Daily water consumption varies greatly. Two quarts (liters) daily is a reasonable minimum; in hot weather or at high altitudes, 6 quarts may not be enough. In dry environments, carry additional water. Plan for enough water to accommodate additional requirements due to heat, cold, altitude, exertion, or emergency.
10. Emergency Shelter
If the climbing party is not carrying a tent, carry some sort of extra shelter from rain and wind, such as a plastic tube tent or a jumbo plastic trash bag. Another possibility is a reflective emergency blanket. It can be used in administering first aid to an injured or hypothermic person, or can double as a means of
shelter.
Adapted from Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, published by Mountaineers Books