Tell Someone, Hike Calmer

A One-Page Route Card and Smart Check-Ins Remove Guesswork

Trips feel lighter when someone at home knows where you’re headed and when you plan to be back. A simple one-page route card plus quick, waypoint-based check-ins turn uncertainty into a plan. This isn’t drama—it’s kindness to your future self and to the people who’d come looking.

Why It Works

• Clarity under stress: If plans change, you already decided who to notify and when.
• Faster help, if needed: A clear last-known plan shrinks search areas dramatically.
• Better decisions: A preset turn-back time keeps you from chasing sunk miles at dusk.

What to Include (One Page, Always Accessible)

• Route & options: the planned path plus two bailouts (shorter return, lower route).
• Times: start time, turn-back time, and latest finish/exit.
• Party: names, headcount, color of outer layers/tent, any medical notes (short).
• Contacts: who to call if you miss check-in (park/ranger, local SAR non-emergency).
• Check-in method: SMS first; satellite (PLB/messenger) if out of cell.
• Vehicle info: make, color, plate, trailhead name.
• Map refs: GPX file name/link, paper map number/grid if applicable.

How to Check-In (Waypoint, Not Hourly)

• Ping by waypoint: “TH ➜ Pass 1 ➜ Lake Camp.” Signal is fickle; tying to hours fails, tying to places works.
• Text first: “At Pass 1, on time. Next: Lake Camp ETA 18:00.”
• Satellite if needed: short preset: “Ok @ Pass 1. Next Lake.” Conserve battery.
• If you deviate: send the new plan (“Storm; bailing via Creek Trail. Latest finish 19:30.”), then move.

Simple Escalation Rule (Share This With Your Contact)

1. Grace window: 60–90 minutes after latest finish/last planned ping.
2. Call sequence: your phone ➜ trip partner (if split) ➜ ranger number on card ➜ local SAR.
3. What to say: route name, vehicle info, last waypoint received, medical notes if any.

Template (Copy, Fill, Screenshot)

ROUTE: ________  OPTIONS: (1) ________  (2) ________
START: __:__    TURN-BACK: __:__    LATEST FINISH: __:__
PARTY: ________ ( __ people )  COLORS/TENT: ________
CHECK-INS: Waypoints = [ TH → ____ → ____ ]; SMS first, SAT if no cell
VEHICLE: ________  PLATE: ________  TRAILHEAD: ________
CONTACT IF LATE: ________ (___-___-____)  RANGER/SAR: ________ (___-___-____)
MAP/GPX: ________
  

Digital vs Paper (Use Both if You Can)

• Paper card: lives on the dashboard or with your at-home contact; works when phones don’t.
• Digital share: send the GPX and the card as a photo; favorite the thread so you can reply fast.

Solo, Pairs, and Groups

• Solo: two separate contacts (primary/backup). Redundancy matters.
• Pairs: cross-carry each other’s emergency info; decide who sends pings.
• Groups: leader sets times; sweep carries the PLB. Agree on the turn-back time at the trailhead.

Privacy & Safety

• Share just enough detail (routes, times, contacts) with trusted people.
• Don’t post live locations publicly; recap after the trip if you want to share.

Quick Checklist

• Route + two bailouts written
• Start / Turn-back / Latest finish set
• Waypoint check-ins planned (SMS ➜ SAT)
• Contacts saved; card sent & screenshot kept
• Vehicle & trailhead info included

Plans change. Clarity shouldn’t—tell someone, then go enjoy the miles.

TrailHaven carries lightweight notebooks, bright pens, and reliable PLBs that make this easy and repeatable.