The mountains are forgiving — until they aren't. Almost every hiking accident traces back to a small decision that seemed harmless at the time. These ten rules cost nothing and cover nearly every situation you'll face.
- 1. Tell someone your plan — route, start time, expected return. Always.
- 2. Check the weather the night before AND the morning of, and believe it when it says storms.
- 3. Start early. Daylight is a resource; budget it like water.
- 4. Stay on marked trails. Shortcuts cause most falls and most rescues.
- 5. Turn around when conditions change. The summit is optional; coming home is not.
- 6. Drink before you're thirsty, eat before you're hungry.
- 7. Never hike a new trail alone — a group of three or more means someone can stay with an injured person while another gets help.
- 8. Know the emergency numbers where you're hiking, and save them offline.
- 9. Carry a whistle. A shout lasts minutes; a whistle carries for hours.
- 10. Respect your fitness honestly. Choose the hike your body can do today, not the one your ego wants.
If something goes wrong
Stop. Sit down. Breathe. Most situations improve with water, warmth, and ten minutes of calm thinking. If you need rescue, stay where you are — moving makes you harder to find. Signal with three of anything: whistle blasts, flashes, shouts.
Hiking with an organized club adds another layer of safety: certified guides, route reconnaissance, first-aid training, and a group that counts heads at every stop. It's why so many of our members started as nervous first-timers.
