Hiking is all about rediscovering solitude and heading out into the wilderness without the ties and obligations that tether us to society. So having to give someone a detailed itinerary might feel like a bit of a burden – but even in a high-tech world of satellite communicators and emergency blankets, it remains one of the most important survival tools at your disposal as a hiker.
I’ll admit, I hike a few times a week and I can sometimes get a bit sloppy about this. A few years ago, my ex and I were just about to rappel into a canyon in Utah when we realized we hadn’t told anyone what we were doing. We had left our home in Colorado on a week-long road trip and while our roommates knew how long we were away for, there was no one to call for help if a flash flood occurred. Instead of risking it, we hopped back in the truck, drove until we got cell service and sent a message to our roommates communicating our plans. Then we got on with our canyoneering adventure, it didn’t rain, and we had a great time.
