Build a Solid Emergency Plan

What information, considerations, and gear is included in a solid emergency plan? While it’s impossible to predict the future, the unexpected does happen. Stack the deck in your favor, plan for the worst, and ensure your team has sufficient skills to deal with an emergency. Review the list below with intent — one of these considerations could be the difference between getting back to the car and spending a night amongst the elements of the harsh winter environment.

Write down team member names and emergency contacts. Write down relevant emergency numbers local to where you are traveling, such as the ski area, government agency dispatch, and search and rescue numbers. Research ahead of time where cell coverage is available or expected in the areas where you will be traveling. For areas without cell coverage, investing in a satellite communication device should be strongly considered. A satellite device, like a Spot or InReach, will send an SOS signal from almost anywhere in the world. Also, radios have become a mainstay for backcountry users in recent years. Store frequencies of all the local entities mentioned above. Consider carrying an extra battery for longer trips.

The first step of this important checklist is sharing the trip plan with someone at home and that you trust. This person needs to understand what the group is doing and how to get help if the group is not back by a predetermined time. If your backcountry communication strategy breaks down and you’re stranded, this step ensures outside help will eventually arrive or at least begin searching in the right area.

Your exit point in the case of an emergency might not be the same as where your trip began. Route options provide adaptability if conditions change or are not what we expected. The same goes for an emergency plan. Identify simple routes and terrain that will make travel much easier if a team member is injured or ill.

Sometimes you get to a place while planning or in the field where you realize that the intended objective requires skills beyond the capacity of your team. Maybe you all feel confident in executing your intended route, but the skills required to manage an emergency seem intimidating. Check in with the group often and be sure folks are comfortable and confident in the route or objective. Also, will there be other backcountry users? Will you have cell service at the trailhead? Also, examine how cell service changes along your route. Often, service is lost upon dropping over a ridge or traveling through low valleys.

When your team plans its trip, consider the weather forecast and the expected duration of the trip. This allows team members to pack adequate food, water, and warm layers. If you lose your way or someone gets injured, does your group have the endurance and supplies to weather the night in the cold? What steps can you take to ensure you can protect yourselves from hypothermia or cold injury (frostbite, etc.)?

Like your plan, the gear you bring should be appropriate for the conditions, length of trip, and activities you are engaging in. Emergency gear for snowmobilers, skiers and riders, winter climbers, and hikers will be different. A more robust first-aid and repair kit may be required for longer trips. Your group should be capable of self-rescue in the event of an injury in the backcountry. You can't put a price on peace of mind.

Items that the group should have at least one of includes but is not limited to:

1. First-aid kit

2. Repair kit (duct tape, skin repair, ski straps, fire starter w/lighter, pole splint, bailing wire, extra pack buckle, extra batteries, etc.)

3. Emergency shelter

4. Two-way communication device, satellite phone, or personal locator beacon (InReach or Spot)

5. Multi tool

6. Rescue Sled

7. Foam pad

8. Map and compass

Items that are required for all members of the party to carry. This includes but is not limited to:

1. Beacon, shovel, probe

2. Headlamp

3. Food and water (hot drinks!)

4. Adequate clothing for the forecasted conditions

5. Cell phone with downloaded digital maps

6. Two-way radios

You probably already have some basic navigation skills from planning your trip, but navigating in the field requires a paper map, compass, and probably a GPS.

The paper map and compass function no matter what. Consider printing maps on waterproof paper so they’ll withstand snow and moisture. You can also store maps in a sealed plastic bag. Don’t skimp on your compass—it should be high quality and have a mirror for more accurate sighting and taking your bearings.

There are several reliable GPS apps available for smartphones. Choose one that works for you and then know its functionalities. If you rely solely on your phone or GPS device, however, your ability to navigate depends solely on your battery life. Keep in mind that batteries of many cell phones and other electronic devices drain faster in the cold.

With a topo map you can get an estimate of your location, but adding an altimeter, which measures your altitude, will give you even more detailed information that will greatly aid your navigation with a map.

Any navigation tool is only as good as the person using it, so practice and familiarize yourself with whatever tools you have at your disposal.

Group communication and a solid team dynamic are the keys to managing risk. Discuss the overall plan, the team, the route, and the avalanche danger once more with your team. Try to identify any gaps in the team’s knowledge and determine what is necessary to carry out the travel plan safely. Discussions like these offer great opportunities to invite a devil’s advocate into the conversation. Look at all angles of the plan and consider what can potentially go wrong.

The pre-mortem (as opposed to a post-mortem) conversation allows you and your teammates to view potentially dangerous scenarios before they happen, giving the team the ability to glean insight into an accident that hasn’t occurred yet. Conduct a pre-mortem by imagining a situation where something goes wrong or a part of the plan fails. This can be a powerful tool in exposing gaps in the team’s plan, strategy, or mindset. It also gives the group an opportunity to understand how well it is prepared for unexpected events.

Remember, the goal is to get back to the car looking almost as good as you did when you left. Small mishaps can quickly add up and become a serious situation. Recognize this before the pot boils over and turn the group around. The mountains aren't going anywhere — come back when they are open and inviting.