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
Primary Method: Relay Through Logistics Contact
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
📡 EMERGENCY CONTACT PROTOCOL: Using Your Garmin InReach Effectively
DAILY CHECK-IN SYSTEM
Your Home Contact:
- Name: ______________________
- Phone: ______________________
- Email: ______________________
Daily Protocol:
- ✅ Send check-in message by 7 PM every day (even if brief)
- ✅ Include: Location (shelter name or mile marker), status (good/tired/sore), plan for next day
- ✅ Example: "Mile 327, Hot Springs tonight, all good, headed to Damascus next"
If You Miss Check-In:
- Home contact waits until 9 PM
- If no message by 9 PM, you send: "Delayed but safe, checking in tomorrow"
- If NO contact for 24 hours → home contact calls local ranger station
🚨 SOS BUTTON: When to Press It
PRESS SOS FOR:
- ❌ Life-threatening injury (can't move, severe bleeding, head trauma)
- ❌ Medical emergency (chest pain, severe allergic reaction, hypothermia)
- ❌ Immobilized (broken bone, can't walk)
- ❌ Lost + no way to navigate (rare with GPS, but possible in whiteout)
DO NOT PRESS SOS FOR:
- ✅ Blisters, sore muscles, fatigue
- ✅ Running low on food (you can always bail to a road)
- ✅ Bad weather (unless GO/NO-GO says bail)
- ✅ Feeling lonely or scared (use regular messaging)
What Happens When You Press SOS:
- GEOS (rescue coordination) receives alert with your GPS coordinates
- They contact you via InReach to assess situation
- They dispatch rescue (helicopter, ranger, SAR team) if needed
- Cost: Rescue can cost $10,000+ if not life-threatening
Before Pressing SOS, Ask:
- Can I self-rescue? (hike out, treat injury myself)
- Can I contact a friend/shuttle for pickup?
- Is this TRULY life-threatening?
💬 MESSAGING PROTOCOL
Types of Messages:
1. Daily Check-In (Every Day by 7 PM):
- "Mile 327, Hot Springs, all good"
- "Neels Gap, taking zero, knee sore but okay"
2. Itinerary Update (When Plans Change):
- "Staying extra day in Damascus for gear swap"
- "Skipping Franklin, heading straight to Hot Springs"
3. Weather Delay:
- "Bailing to shelter, wind too high for ridge"
- "Zero day due to ice storm, safe in town"
4. Injury/Issue (Non-Emergency):
- "Knee pain, taking nero tomorrow, will update"
- "Blisters, hiking slow, still on track"
5. Emergency (Before SOS):
- "Injured but stable, need shuttle pickup at [road crossing]"
- "Sick, hiking out to nearest town, will call"
📞 ESCALATION PLAN
Level 1: You're In Control
- Minor issue (blister, fatigue, weather delay)
- You message home contact with update
- You continue hiking or take nero/zero
- Home contact does nothing unless you ask
Level 2: You Need Help But Not Rescue
- Injury that requires town visit (bad blister, knee pain)
- You message home contact: "Need shuttle pickup at [location]"
- Home contact arranges shuttle or advises on options
- You hike to pickup point
Level 3: You Need Rescue
- Can't move, severe injury, medical emergency
- You press SOS button
- GEOS coordinates rescue
- You message home contact: "Pressed SOS, [brief description]"
- Home contact monitors situation, stays in touch with GEOS
📋 PRE-TRAIL PREP WITH HOME CONTACT
Before You Leave, Your Home Contact Needs:
- ✅ Copy of this guide (so they understand your plan)
- ✅ Your Garmin InReach login (so they can see your tracking map)
- ✅ Ranger station phone numbers (from Field Quick-Reference Card)
- ✅ Your insurance info (health insurance card photo)
- ✅ Emergency contact protocol (this section)
Have a Conversation:
- "If I miss a check-in, wait until 9 PM, then try messaging me."
- "If 24 hours with no contact, call [ranger station for my last known location]."
- "If I press SOS, GEOS will contact you. Stay calm, follow their instructions."
- "I'll check in every day by 7 PM. If I'm delayed, I'll say why."
🗺️ BACKUP NAVIGATION PLAN
Primary: Garmin inReach Mini 2 (GPS + messaging)
If Garmin Fails:
- ✅ Download FarOut maps offline (on iPhone)
- ✅ White blazes (follow the trail)
- ✅ AT shelter signs (show mileage to next shelter)
- ✅ Ask other hikers
- ✅ Worst case: hike to nearest road, flag down car, ask for ride to town
You Won't Get Lost:
- AT is one of the most well-marked trails in the world
- White blazes every 50-100 feet
- Shelters every 8-15 miles
- Other hikers (NOBO bubble) will be nearby
But If You DO Get Disoriented:
- STOP. Don't keep walking.
- Look for white blazes (2.5" × 6" white rectangles)
- Check your last known location on Garmin
- Backtrack to last shelter or landmark
- Message home contact: "Disoriented but safe, backtracking"
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 – ~471)
| 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 ~471 – ~1,020)
| Mile | Exit Point |
|---|---|
| ~471 | 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 – 2197)
| Mile | Exit Point |
|---|---|
| ~1,964.5 | ME-27 (Stratton) |
| ~2,012.3 | Kennebec River (ME-201) |
| ~2,089.6 | Jo-Mary Road |
| ~2197.4 | Katahdin Stream Campground Road |
Note: Some forest roads may be seasonally gated—verify with FarOut when conditions matter.