Emergency contact info - what you need to share

When you head out for a climb, it’s good practice to let a responsible someone know the details of your trip. In the last minute rush to leave, all that might get said is, “I’m heading to Rainier, back on Tuesday!”  A more detailed written notice you leave with a person not going on your trip might include:

• Destination (peak to be climbed, trail to be hiked
• General Route you plan to take
• Campsites If overnight, list campsite locations for each night
• Names of climbing partners, and names and phone numbers for their emergency contacts
• Times Hike / climb is to begin at ________ a.m. / p.m. on _______________________________ (date), Planned return to base camp ______ a.m. / p.m. on _______________________________ (date)
• Make and license of car(s) your team will drive
• Trailhead where car(s) will be parked
• Bivy gear (stove, tent/bivy bag, sleeping bag, food for # days) the team will carry
• List of Communications gear (cell phone, ham radio, GPS) the team will carry
• Emergency phone numbers for the climb area (usually Nat Forest District Office, County Sheriff or Nat Park Service)
• Important: Estimated time off the peak. Consider a “yellow-red” system of times: “We plan to call to check in with you by 4:00 pm. If you don’t hear from us by 9:00 pm, call the sheriff”.

Here’s a link to an Outdoor Trip Itinerary that you can print out before your next adventure. (.pdf file )

Some of this tip is from Philip Kollas, of the Columbia River Orienteering Club