Create a Trip Plan and Leave It with Someone
Before you head out, write down your trip plan and leave it with someone you trust – a friend, a family member, or a neighbour. If you don’t return when expected, they’ll know who to call and what to tell them. It’s one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to improve your chances of being found quickly.
Your trip plan should include your estimated departure time, the names and contact details of everyone in your group, your planned route and final destination, your expected return time, and any relevant medical information. Leave a photocopy in your vehicle as well. If your plans change, call your contact before you set off and give them the update.
The Alaska State Troopers provide a free Wilderness Trip Plan form you can download, fill out, and leave with your designated contact.
Download the Alaska State Troopers Wilderness Trip Plan
Check the Weather Before You Go
Weather in this area can change dramatically and quickly. What starts as a straightforward trip can turn into a survival situation if conditions shift unexpectedly. Check the forecast well in advance, and check again on the morning of your departure. In fall, winter, and spring, also check the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center for current snowpack and avalanche reports.
NOAA National Weather Service – Anchorage
Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center
If You Get Lost – S.T.O.P.
When travelling in the backcountry, check your map regularly, even if you are on an obvious trail. Make sure to keep your group together, and if you do get lost, the most important thing you can do is STOP:
Stop: Pause, take a breath, drink some water, and assess your situation calmly.
Think: Where were you last certain of your location? Can you navigate back to a recognisable landmark?
Observe: Can you return to a known trail? If not, stay where you are. It’s much easier for rescuers to find you near your original path.
Plan: If you’re with others, discuss your next steps together. If you’re alone, it can help to say your plan out loud.
Carry a whistle within easy reach at all times, and make sure every child in your group has their own. Three short blasts is the universal signal for help.
Cell Phones and Calling for Help
If you need assistance – Dial 911. Describe your location and your route of travel as clearly as you can, then stay put. Even with no signal bars, a 911 call may still connect, or your phone may transmit your location to nearby cell towers. If a call doesn’t go through, try texting 911.
Keep in mind that cell phones are not a substitute for preparation. Signal is unreliable in the backcountry, batteries drain, and devices fail at the worst possible times. Start every trip with a fully charged phone and treat it as emergency equipment, not a navigation crutch.
If you have an iPhone 14 or later, or a Google Pixel 9 or later, you can use Emergency SOS via satellite in the US and Canada – a valuable backup when there’s no cell coverage at all. For more information, visit Apple iPhone SOS or Android Pixel Phone SOS.
Once you’ve called for help, position yourself in a clearing away from trees so you are visible from the air. If you make camp while waiting for rescue, stay away from rushing water as it can obscure the sound of rescuers calling for you.
Before every trip, it’s worth downloading these two tools:
FindMeSAR: A useful tool for pinpointing your coordinates in an emergency.
CalTopo: A mapping application useful for planning and navigation.
Stay Hydrated and Keep Your Energy Up
Always carry more water than you think you’ll need as running out in the backcountry is a serious risk. Dehydration is caused by the loss of water and electrolytes, and it’s one of the most common factors in backcountry incidents. Most people succumb to it through overexertion, but vomiting or diarrhea can also make a person vulnerable quickly.
Drink water before you feel thirsty and increase your intake at higher elevations. Avoid alcohol and caffeine on the trail. If someone in your group shows signs of dehydration, encourage them to drink at least a few sips every 10 to 15 minutes rather than trying to take in large amounts at once.
Eat regularly too. Aim for carbohydrate-rich food at least every hour during strenuous activity. Keep both water and snacks easily accessible, not buried at the bottom of your pack.
Be Aware of Cold Weather and Heat Risks
Alaska’s conditions demand respect. Hypothermia is a significant drop in the body’s core temperature caused by prolonged or sudden exposure to cold. It’s a potentially life-threatening condition that is common among backcountry travelers. It can set in even at mild temperatures, and wind and wet clothing can cause rapid onset. Symptoms include shivering, slurred speech, and apathy. To prevent it, stay warm, dry, and well hydrated. If someone’s clothing gets wet, change it immediately for dry, warm layers, including a hat, and get them warm food and beverages as soon as possible.
Frostbite is the freezing of skin and tissue. When afflicted, the skin will appear ashen with an odd discolouration and a hard texture. Treat frostbite by soaking the affected area in very warm (not hot) water. Do not use a fire to thaw, do not massage the area, and do not allow treated areas to refreeze.
In summer months, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real risks during strenuous activity. Heat exhaustion is usually characterised by muscle cramps, strong thirst, and sudden extreme fatigue, accompanied by excessive sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, and a rapid heart rate. Heat stroke is far more serious — it involves a total breakdown of the body’s heat control system and can be fatal. Symptoms include severe confusion and the inability to sweat. If you suspect heat stroke, have the affected person lie down with their feet elevated to keep blood flowing to the brain. Place anything cold directly on the armpits, groin, and neck where major arteries run, add a wet cloth to the forehead, and fan them. Seek emergency help immediately.
