Safety & Emergency Procedures
Core Principle
Act early. Most trail emergencies are not sudden disasters—they are delayed decisions.
Rapid Weather Change Recognition
Visual Warning Signs
- Dark clouds moving quickly, especially low and rolling
- Clouds dropping into ridges or saddles
- White haze forming on ridgelines
- Sudden loss of visibility
- Fast temperature drop over minutes
Wind-Based Warnings
- Sudden wind direction change
- Rapid increase in wind speed
- Wind funneling hard through gaps or saddles
Sound & Sensory Warnings
- Any thunder (even distant)
- Metallic or sharp smell in the air
- Tingling, buzzing, or hair standing up
Lightning protocol immediately. Get off ridges and summits.
Hypothermia Indicators
Shelter or bail immediately if:
- Wet + cold + wind present
- Hands stop working normally
- Violent shivering OR shivering stops
- Slurred speech or slowed thinking
- Loss of coordination
Terrain-Based Abort Signals
Turn around if:
- Ice on rocks or roots
- Snow covering trail tread
- Fast-rising streams after rain
- Slips increasing in frequency
Emergency Exit Strategy
Emergency Call Priority
- Call 911 FIRST — Always the primary emergency number for life, limb, or weather danger
- National Park Service dispatch: 1-866-677-6677 — For non-emergency follow-up or coordination within NPS lands (Smokies, Shenandoah)
- If no service: 3 short whistle blasts, repeat
Note: 911 dispatchers can coordinate with local SAR teams. The NPS number is supplementary, not a replacement for 911.
Emergency Location Script
Use this verbatim when calling:
'I am on the Appalachian Trail.'
'State: [STATE]'
'Nearest named point: [ROAD/SHELTER/LANDMARK]'
'I am hiking northbound.'
'Approximate mile marker: [MILE]'
'GPS coordinates: [LAT/LONG]'
'Can I walk: Yes/No/Limited'
'Nature of problem: [ISSUE]'
InReach Bail-Out Method
Message a trusted person at home. They:
- Call hostels
- Call shuttle drivers
- Coordinate rides
- Message instructions back to you
Example Message
'Bad weather. Need off-trail help. I'm near AT mile 725 (McAfee Knob area).'
When to Press SOS
- Injury prevents movement
- Hypothermia risk is real
- Flooding traps you
- You are lost and disoriented
- Self-rescue is no longer possible
Primary Emergency Exit Points (NOBO)
Always know the next exit ahead and the last exit behind. Road name + gap name matters more than mile number.
GEORGIA (Mile 0 – ~78)
| Mile | Exit Point |
|---|
| 0.0 | Springer Mountain / FS 42–58 access |
| ~8.8 | Nimblewill Gap Rd |
| ~20.6 | Woody Gap (GA-60) |
| ~30.7 | Jarrard Gap Rd |
| ~31.3 | Neels Gap (US-19 / US-129) |
| ~42.1 | Hogpen Gap (GA-348) |
| ~52.9 | Unicoi Gap (GA-75) |
| ~60.6 | Indian Grave Gap Rd |
| ~69.4 | Dick’s Creek Gap (GA-76) |
NORTH CAROLINA / TENNESSEE (Mile ~78 – ~470)
| Mile | Exit Point |
|---|
| ~86.7 | Winding Stair Gap (US-64) |
| ~102.7 | Nantahala Outdoor Center (US-19 / US-74) |
| ~135.7 | Fontana Dam Road |
| ~164.6 | Newfound Gap (US-441) |
| ~198.6 | Davenport Gap (I-40) |
| ~241.3 | Standing Bear / Green Corner Rd |
| ~274.4 | Hot Springs (NC-209) |
| ~299.1 | Allen Gap (NC-212) |
| ~321.3 | Sam’s Gap (US-19W) |
VIRGINIA (Mile ~470 – ~1,020)
| Mile | Exit Point |
|---|
| ~469.1 | Damascus (US-58) |
| ~500.5 | Elk Garden (VA-600) |
| ~534.6 | Kimberling Creek Rd |
| ~635.3 | Pearisburg (VA-460) |
| ~639.8 | New River Bridge (US-460) |
| ~726.3 | VA-311 (McAfee Knob / Catawba) |
| ~785.9 | James River (US-501) |
| ~863.7 | Rockfish Gap (I-64 / US-250) |
| ~909.6 | Swift Run Gap (US-33) |
| ~934.5 | Thornton Gap (US-211) |
| ~971.1 | Front Royal (US-522) |
WEST VIRGINIA / MARYLAND (Mile ~1,020 – ~1,100)
| Mile | Exit Point |
|---|
| ~1,024.4 | Harpers Ferry (US-340) |
| ~1,040.6 | Weverton Road |
| ~1,061.0 | Gathland State Park |
| ~1,067.3 | Pen-Mar Park (MD-550) |
PENNSYLVANIA (Mile ~1,100 – ~1,350)
| Mile | Exit Point |
|---|
| ~1,136.5 | Caledonia (PA-16) |
| ~1,166.5 | US-30 |
| ~1,195.8 | Pine Grove Furnace (PA-233) |
| ~1,249.3 | PA-34 |
| ~1,309.4 | Port Clinton (PA-61) |
| ~1,343.0 | Wind Gap (PA-33) |
NEW JERSEY / NEW YORK (Mile ~1,350 – ~1,550)
| Mile | Exit Point |
|---|
| ~1,368.5 | Delaware Water Gap (I-80) |
| ~1,390.7 | Culvers Gap (NJ-206) |
| ~1,421.1 | Bear Mountain Bridge (US-202) |
| ~1,455.7 | NY-22 |
CONNECTICUT / MASSACHUSETTS (Mile ~1,550 – ~1,650)
| Mile | Exit Point |
|---|
| ~1,545.0 | US-7 (CT) |
| ~1,591.6 | MA-23 |
| ~1,640.6 | MA-2 (North Adams) |
VERMONT (Mile ~1,650 – ~1,750)
| Mile | Exit Point |
|---|
| ~1,651.8 | VT-9 (Bennington) |
| ~1,706.4 | VT-4 (Killington) |
| ~1,747.4 | VT-11 / VT-30 |
NEW HAMPSHIRE (Mile ~1,750 – ~1,905)
| Mile | Exit Point |
|---|
| ~1,796.6 | Glencliff (NH-25) |
| ~1,820.7 | Kinsman Notch (NH-112) |
| ~1,869.2 | Crawford Notch (US-302) |
| ~1,888.1 | Pinkham Notch (NH-16) |
| ~1,904.8 | Gorham (US-2) |
MAINE (Mile ~1,905 – 2,197.9)
| Mile | Exit Point |
|---|
| ~1,964.5 | ME-27 (Stratton) |
| ~2,012.3 | Kennebec River (ME-201) |
| ~2,089.6 | Jo-Mary Road |
| ~2,197.4 | Katahdin Stream Campground Road |
Note: Some forest roads may be seasonally gated—verify with FarOut when conditions matter.