inmused wrote:I almost always walk alone, but in doing so I follow the same rules every time:
I leave a copy of my plan at home with full detail fo route and time.
I leave a copy of my plan and my emergency contact persons details on the dash of my car
I don't deviate from my planned route
If possible I sms my location and status at pre determined locations
All good tips
Plus tell somone else reliable of your plans and ETA, and remember to ring them when you bget back to let them know all is well
Plus trip intention notes in a log book and/or police station if appropriate - remember to sign out when you return
Remember log books aren't checked unless someone reports a person is late getting back
I bought a SPOT for hubby for the specific purpose of getting the 'I'm OK' message, after a worrying weekend with bad weather and no word from him. Definitely peace of mind for a longer walk. I also recetly bought a dedicated ResQLink bouyant PLB. He now has a proper GPS (Magelllan 710 - we're still learning how to drive it though!), as well as his phone.
Decent first aid kit
Pen/pencil and paper
Whistle (a lot of US packs have this incorprated on to the sternum strap)
Map, compass
Enough food for an additional day longer than expected (OSM packs - 'one square meal' - easy emergency food) PS I aapprove of their name
Appropriate warm weather and rain gear and some sort of a shelter even for a shortish walk, like a lightweight tarp, in case of sudden bad weather
Leaving the route details on the dash of your car sounds like a good idea, as it seems that often other people aren't aware someone hasn't returned until a car has been sitting somewhere for several days
I'd just worry a bit that it means anyone checking out your car as a potential break in target would know you're not suddenly going to return back in the next 5 minutes, but that's a risk you'd just have to take. I'd make sure there were no home address details, old addressed envelopes etc left in there so someone couldn't target your empty house in the time specified that you'd be away.
Am I a worry wart?