Safety and Outdoor Ethics
The best way to fully enjoy your trip on the Forest is to come prepared, have the right equipment and think safety. In backcountry areas, visitors face inherent risks of weather conditions, isolation, physical hazards, encounters with animals and lack of communications.
Please understand that in many areas of the forest, there is no cell reception. Even if you have an ability to make a call, search and rescue operations may not be as rapid as in an urban setting.
As a forest visitor, you assume responsibility for your personal safety during any activity you pursue.
Safety Tips
- Leave a trip itinerary with someone who will check in with you regarding your return time.
- Carry the 10 Essentials which includes a map, extra food & water, extra clothing, a flashlight & first aid kit. Check batteries.
- Be prepared for extreme temperatures and storms, heat, snow or rain. Hypothermia is the #1 killer of outdoor enthusiasts. During lightning storms avoid bare ridge tops & exposed places.
- Learn basic first aid so you will know how to treat injuries and illnesses. Learn the symptoms of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hypothermia, and dehydration.
- Do not rely on your mobile device. Although GPS devices and cell phones are helpful, do not rely on them. There is no cell phone reception up many trails and batteries wear out at the most inconvenient times.
- Know your limitations. Make sure you are fit for the type of outing you are planning.
- If hiking with others, stay together; it is recommended that you hike with at least one other person.
- Always treat water found along the trail if you decide to drink it.
- If you think you are lost, do not panic. Stop and plan your next action, which often is to stay in one place, especially if darkness is near.
- Leave plenty of daylight for travel. Set up an emergency camp while there is still daylight if needed.
- Learn to identify poison ivy to keep it away from you and pets. Leaves of three, let it be.
Outdoor Safety | Water Safety | Wildlife Safety | Weather Safety |
Be considerate of others
- Public lands are for everyone. Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their outdoor experience.
- Yield to horseback riders. Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
- Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises (this includes playing music loudly)!
Camp responsibly
- Creating new campsites leads to soil erosion. If possible, use an existing site.
- Keep campsites small. Never dig a trench or build a tent platform.
- Pick a spot without much vegetation on the ground.
- Respect living trees. By carving or chopping into the trunks of trees, people damage the tree by slitting veins right below the bark. These veins transport nutrients and water throughout the tree.
- Choose your campsite at least 200 feet from rivers, streams, lakes or wetlands.
- Use biodegradable soap or plain water when washing.
Answering nature’s call
Bacteria and viruses found in human feces are known to cause hepatitis, salmonella, giardia, and other gastro-intestinal diseases. Please follow these simple steps if a public restroom is not available:
- Find a spot at least 200 feet from any water source.
- Dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and bury human waste. Learn more here.
- Pack out used toilet paper and feminine products. Animals dig up those products and scatter them around.
- Consider purchasing waste-disposal enzymes that immediately begin breaking down solid waste.
- A leak-proof bag, like a doggy bag, is always an option to pack out your waste and TP.
Keep forest creatures wild
- Do not approach or follow wildlife—observe from a distance.
- Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
- Leash your dog to keep it and wildlife safe.
- Do not feed wildlife. Store your rations and trash safely, securely, and out of reach.
Tread Lightly!
Tread Lightly! is a nonprofit organization that offers educational materials, ethics training, restoration funding, and many other tools. As a current partner with the National Forest, it is a great resource for education training and materials.
Most people are aware of winter's hazards. But it's easy to forget how wind, cold, snow, or whiteout can turn an outing into a tragedy. Knowledge of the area, weather, route, and the limitations of your body and equipment - plus a little common sense - can help ensure safe and enjoyable outings.
Forest visitors are encouraged to view the Recreate Responsibly Winter Toolkit, which provides resources on weather conditions, avalanche awareness, and Leave No Trace principles.
Before You Leave
Notify a responsible person of your planned route of travel. Mark it on a map. Give your planned time of departure and return. Be sure to check with that person when you get back. Get back before dark.
You must expect the unexpected and plan accordingly. Even if you are going out for just a few hours. Know ahead of time the location of the nearest telephone or ranger station in case an emergency does occur on your trip. You may want a GPS device, but those sometimes do not receive a signal or the battery fails. Cell phones also likely will not work because of a lack of signal.
Where to Go
Some National Forest System land is open for winter travel; however, some parts have restrictions. These restrictions include motorized vehicle closures, avalanche area closures, and hazardous roads. Specific winter information is available from Forest Offices.
Weather and Avalanche Information
Check local weather forecasts. Avalanches may occur at any time during the winter so check local avalanche advisories.
Backcountry users should take extra precautions, carry appropriate avalanche equipment, travel in groups if possible, and check the avalanche report before heading outside.
Driving Safely
Check road conditions, chain control, and potential road closures of your route. Don’t get lured into taking alternative routes around closures as travel apps and related online map services have likely not been updated to reflect the current situation and you may get lost or stuck. Recommended resource.
Be prepared – check your tires’ tread and pressure; top off windshield fluid; and carry tire chains, an ice scraper, an extra blanket and provisions in your car in case you become stuck or stranded on the roadside.
Clothing and Equipment to Take Along
Layers of clothing which can be adjusted to prevailing conditions are best. A good quality windbreaker jacket and wind pants are excellent. Avoid tight-fitting clothes and boots which may restrict circulation. Take extra socks and gloves or mittens, warm hat, matches in a waterproof container, candle, fire starter (000 steel wool works well when pulled apart), nylon cord, general purpose knife, high-energy food, plastic tarp, space blanket, signal mirror, first aid kit, wide tape for repairs, metal container for melting snow, map, compass, and hatchet.
Snowmobilers should be certain to have tools for emergency repairs, extra spark plugs, extra gas, emergency flares, and drive belt.
Food and Water
A good rule is "lightweight but loaded," meaning loaded with calories. Plan your meals to ensure a diet of high-energy foods.
Water is often difficult to find in winter. All that is available may be what you carry in containers or melt from snow. The body loses as much as 2 to 4 quarts of fluid per day under exertion. Replacement of fluid loss is very important for maintaining physical condition. Eating snow provides only limited water (10 to 20 percent), drains energy, and cools the body temperature. Avoid melting snow by body contact. Travel equipped to melt snow. Save your energy.
Litter and Sanitation
Litter and debris can mar the quality of a recreation experience - particularly when viewed against a mantle of white snow. Help others enjoy winter travel in National Forests by carrying out what you carry in. Take food in easily compressed packages that require little space in your pack.
Avoid leaving human waste near any water course. If you are in a group, avoid concentrating wastes. Nature can assimilate only small quantities at a time.
On and Off the Trail
All winter travelers should:
- Match trail difficulty and length of trip to your physical condition and ability. Be physically fit, top physical condition may be required to walk out if equipment fails.
- Know storm warning signs. Mountain weather is unpredictable. Pay attention to changing conditions.
- Stay on safe routes and avoid avalanche terrain.
- Cross-country ski trails are not regularly packed or groomed. Stumps, rocks, and other obstructions are sometimes present. Ski under control.
Dogs can ruin ski tracks, especially those that have been groomed. For the benefit and enjoyment of others, consider leaving your pet at home. If you do take your dog, consider skiing in non-groomed or lightly-used areas.
Snowmobiling
Travel in a group using at least two machines. Avoid sudden dips (washouts) at stream crossings and (blowouts) around the base of trees.
Sharing Routes Safely
In some areas of the National Forests, those traveling by skis, snowshoes, and snowmobiles must share the same routes and areas. The following suggestions will help provide safe routes for everyone.
Operate snowmobiles at minimum speed near skiers or snowshoers. Travel slowly until well beyond those on foot. Snowmobilers should be able to stop within half of the visible distance ahead.
Skiers and snowshoers should realize that snowmobile operators generally can't hear other approaching trail users. On steep slopes snowmobilers are generally limited to the developed trail surface, so give them the right of way. Use common courtesy and respect so that all trail users can enjoy their winter travel.
Snowmobiles are not permitted on developed ski trails used for cross-country skiing or in Wilderness areas.
Maps
Snowmobile route maps are available at the Wenatchee River Ranger Station or online.
Hypothermia
Be aware of the danger of hypothermia - subnormal temperature of the body. Lowering of internal temperature of the body leads to mental and physical collapse. Hypothermia is caused by exposure to cold and it is aggravated by wet, wind, and exhaustion. It is the number one killer of recreationists. Learn about hypothermia before recreating in the forest.
Lost or Injured
Avoid becoming lost by taking a good map. Learn to use a compass and believe it. Check weather forecasts and avoid storms. It is easy to become disoriented in the whiteouts of winter or when physically exhausted.
If you are lost, injured, or your equipment fails - KEEP CALM.
Decide on a plan. Trust your compass. Backtrack if possible, but if it's not practical, remain in place. Stay together if possible. If not, send at least two people for help.
Don't abandon your snowshoes or skis. Build a fire and shelter. Stay warm. Mark your base camp so it is visible from the air.
Distress Signals - Three smokes, three blasts of a whistle, three shouts, three flashes of light, three of anything that will attract attention.
Ground to Air Signals - Visible emergency signals are easily made in large open areas. SOS can be stamped in snowfields or grassy meadows. Brush piles or evergreen boughs can also be used.
Overdue Party
When someone is overdue - KEEP CALM. Notify the County Sheriff in the trip area. They will take steps to alert or activate the local search and rescue organization. If the missing person returns later, be sure to advise the Sheriff.
Portions of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest are located in these four counties—Okanogan, Chelan, Kittitas, and Yakima.