Outdoor Safety

Use the online Hiking Guide from Washington Trails Association or one of the available guidebooks to Olympic Peninsula trails and climbs to research where you are going. Some of the guidebooks we use are listed on the Training Resources page. Choose something within the capabilities of your group, and have a good expectation of how long it will take you.

Start with a general weather forecast from your choice of reputable sources, such as the National Weather Service. But do not stop there. Depending on your destination and the season, there may be several more essential sources of information you need to know before you go.

1. NWAC avalanche forecast (seasonally available)
2. Mountain- or national-park-specific forecast (may be available online for popular mountains and parks)
3. NWAC Mountain Weather Forecast (seasonally available)
4. Mountain-Forecast.com

Point forecasts from the National Weather Service and commercial providers and from MountainForecast.com are based on models and algorithms. In nearly all cases, a forecaster does not write a specific forecast for your intended route or destination. Therefore, forecasts should be just part of your preparation for backcountry activities, and you should always prepare for worse.

Also check for alerts from the land-management agencies in the area, such as the Olympic National Park Alerts and Conditions and the similar page for Olympic National Forest.

Leave a written trip plan with a responsible adult before venturing into the backcountry. Be sure to include the following:

1. Name of trail and destination
2. Plan and purpose (hiking, fishing, etc.)
3. Any possible alternate trailheads, destinations or plans
4. Make, model, year, color and license plate of vehicles left at trailhead
5. Any pre-existing medical conditions
6. Date and time of departure and anticipated return
7. Date and time you want to be reported overdue if you have not returned
8. Any communication devices you will be carrying
9. Color and description of your pack and outerwear

Our partners at Olympic Mountain Rescue offer a downloadable Backcountry Itinerary Form on their Resources page.

Last-minute change of plans? Take the time to park your vehicle in a safe place before leaving cell service and text or email the changes to the person who has your trip plan.

1. Navigation: map, compass, GPS
2. Sun protection: sunglasses, sunscreen
3. Insulation: extra clothing, rain gear
4. Illumination: headlamp, flashlight, spare batteries
5. First-aid: a well-stocked kit and training
6. Fire: waterproof matches, a lighter, candles, fire starters
7. Tools: knife, multipurpose tool, repair kits
8. Nutrition: extra food
9. Hydration: extra water, method of purification
10. Emergency shelter

Regardless of the forecast, dress in layers. Rain gear, a stocking cap, signal whistle and leather work gloves are useful any time of the year. Don’t forget prescription medications and insect repellent. Carry large plastic bags for improvised shelter or rain gear.

Consider bringing communication devices into the backcountry. Cell service, even to call 911 in an emergency, is unavailable in most of the Jefferson County backcountry. Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), satellite communicators (inReach and SPOT) and amateur radio can allow you to report an emergency throughout much of the backcountry.

Each device has its advantages and drawbacks — purchase cost, subscription cost, size and weight, battery life, availability of two-way text messaging, coverage, licensing, etc. — so do some research before purchasing a communication system. That said, in an emergency always try your cell phone, because it may work for a 911 call.

Traveling in avalanche-prone terrain requires a different set of communications equipment. Carry avalanche transceivers — plus probes, shovels and training using all of them.

Some of our searches begin with a group that started together but failed to stay together, and separated parties ended up on different trails with no way to communicate with each other. While some people prefer solo trips, please consider hiking with and staying with a partner.

If you have to leave a sick or injured partner to seek help, mark the area clearly so it can be spotted from the ground and the air, if possible, and obtain GPS coordinates for the site before leaving. If you do not have a GPS or a smartphone mapping application, install a simple GPS-information app on your smartphone so you can quickly take a screenshot of your coordinates.

While this may be more an issue of considerate backcountry recreation, please don’t forget to pack out what you packed in and practice the LNT principles! Plus, sticking to trails limits damage to sensitive vegetation while keeping you from getting lost and making you easier to find.