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. Miles are calibrated to the official 2026 northbound frame (see docs/trail-data-provenance.md) and remain approximate—verify against FarOut/AWOL when conditions matter.

GEORGIA (Mile 0 – ~78)

Mile	Exit Point
0.0	Springer Mountain / FS 42–58 access
~20.5	Woody Gap (GA-60)
~25.7	Jarrard Gap Rd
~31.3	Neels Gap (US-19 / US-129)
~38.3	Hogpen Gap (GA-348)
~52.8	Unicoi Gap (GA-75)
~55.4	Indian Grave Gap Rd
~69.4	Dick's Creek Gap (GA-76)

NORTH CAROLINA / TENNESSEE (Mile ~78 – ~471)

Mile	Exit Point
~109.6	Winding Stair Gap (US-64)
~136.9	Nantahala Outdoor Center (US-19 / US-74)
~164.7	Fontana Dam Road
~208.0	Newfound Gap (US-441)
~239.4	Davenport Gap (I-40)
~242.3	Standing Bear / Green Corner Rd
~275.2	Hot Springs (NC-209)
~290.3	Allen Gap (NC-212)
~319.9	Sam's Gap (US-19W)

VIRGINIA (Mile ~471 – ~1,024)

Mile	Exit Point
~471.0	Damascus (US-58)
~495.5	Elk Garden (VA-600)
~605.5	Kimberling Creek Rd
~636.4	Pearisburg (VA-460)
~638.2	New River Bridge (US-460)
~710.6	VA-311 (McAfee Knob / Catawba)
~787.9	James River (US-501)
~865.1	Rockfish Gap (I-64 / US-250)
~910.4	Swift Run Gap (US-33)
~945.4	Thornton Gap (US-211)
~973.3	Front Royal (US-522)

WEST VIRGINIA / MARYLAND (Mile ~1,024 – ~1,068)

Mile	Exit Point
~1,026.5	Harpers Ferry (US-340)
~1,030.8	Weverton Road
~1,037.5	Gathland State Park
~1,068.1	Pen-Mar Park (MD-550)

PENNSYLVANIA (Mile ~1,068 – ~1,298)

Mile	Exit Point
~1,070.6	Caledonia (PA-16)
~1,085.5	US-30
~1,105.0	Pine Grove Furnace (PA-233)
~1,114.1	PA-34
~1,220.7	Port Clinton (PA-61)
~1,281.6	Wind Gap (PA-33)

NEW JERSEY / NEW YORK (Mile ~1,298 – ~1,462)

Mile	Exit Point
~1,297.4	Delaware Water Gap (I-80)
~1,326.0	Culvers Gap (NJ-206)
~1,409.1	Bear Mountain Bridge (US-202)
~1,455.0	NY-22

CONNECTICUT / MASSACHUSETTS (Mile ~1,462 – ~1,605)

Mile	Exit Point
~1,496.8	US-7 (CT)
~1,535.4	MA-23
~1,600.4	MA-2 (North Adams)

VERMONT (Mile ~1,605 – ~1,755)

Mile	Exit Point
~1,618.0	VT-9 (Bennington)
~1,658.6	VT-11 / VT-30
~1,708.2	VT-4 (Killington)

NEW HAMPSHIRE (Mile ~1,755 – ~1,916)

Mile	Exit Point
~1,798.3	Glencliff (NH-25)
~1,808.4	Kinsman Notch (NH-112)
~1,852.0	Crawford Notch (US-302)
~1,877.8	Pinkham Notch (NH-16)
~1,898.9	Gorham (US-2)

MAINE (Mile ~1,916 – 2197)

Mile	Exit Point
~2,009.0	ME-27 (Stratton)
~2,046.0	Kennebec River (ME-201)
~2,140.6	Jo-Mary Road
~2197.4	Katahdin Stream Campground Road

Note: Some forest roads may be seasonally gated—verify with FarOut when conditions matter.