Hiking alone? Pack these essentials

SALT LAKE CITY — Solo hiking exhilarates some people and scares others. Regardless, there are risks associated with venturing into the great outdoors alone. 

Utah Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Capt. Chase Peele said he enjoys solo hiking. When he goes, he accounts for the limitations the activity presents. 

As with any trip outside, packing the right gear should be your first step. Along with a first aid kit, food, water, and extra clothes, Peele said you need to carry an emergency beacon, especially if you’ll be venturing out of cellular service or into the backcountry. 

Beacons emit distress signals for group, solo hiking emergencies

The Washington Trails Association explained there are two types of emergency beacons: a personal locator and a satellite messenger. Although either device can be beneficial when hiking alone or with a group, there are some differences. 

Even if you’re going with a group, these devices can be a life-saving tool if things take a turn for the worse. 

Personal locator beacons only send a signal for help, potentially attracting rescuers. They do not allow two-way communication and you do not need to pay a subscription fee. They emit a signal via a global satellite network, providing a highly accurate location. Note that they don’t guarantee rescue, as other factors, such as location, can influence the outcome. Additionally, if the device isn’t used, the battery may last for years.  

Contrarily, WTA explained that satellite messengers allow you to send and receive messages, enabling direct communication with rescuers. Although they use private satellite networks, they require a subscription plan to operate. Some also include GPS and Bluetooth features. 

Regardless of which device you use, WTA said you will need to register it. For best results, make sure you have an unobstructed view of the sky. 

iPhone 14 and later models are equipped with an “SOS” feature, which allows messaging with emergency personnel when the phone is out of cellular service. However, they have some limitations—the service doesn’t work everywhere and iPhone batteries may not function in extreme cold or heat. 

“It’s giving the opportunity to get a little bit further, maybe take a little … less of an assumed risk when you’re going out on hikes with the technology,” Peele said.  

In the last few years, search and rescue crews have experienced increased calls. However, these have also resulted in better efficiency and more caution from hikers. 

Peele also said he uses satellite messaging to communicate with his loved ones, letting them know where he is, that he’s okay or that he’s running behind. 

“I’ve had some learning lessons in the past and I’ve had some abilities to message friends and family [when] I may have been out there a little bit longer than I wanted to. However, I let them know I was okay and that I would be back within the next couple hours.” 

Have a plan B, C and D when hiking alone

“I’m all for a plan A, but I sometimes rely on plans B, C, D and so forth,” Peele said. 

Planning begins before you start solo hiking. For example, pack extra food, water, and clothing in case you get stranded. 

“It kind of eases the mind too, when you know how to use those things.” 

Similar to emergency beacons, backup plans are also helpful when hiking with others. In some situations, they may decrease your need for rescue services. 

More hiking reading: Spring hiking is arriving in Utah. Use these tips to have fun during mud season

Uinta Triangle explores disappearance of man who was hiking alone

KSL’s new podcast, “Uinta Triangle,” hosted by Dave Cawley, dives into the disappearance of Eric Robinson, an Australian hiker who disappeared in the High Uintas Wilderness while hiking alone in 2011. 

 

He’d begun solo hiking on July 28 with plans to be done by Aug. 7. But somewhere along the Highline Trail, he went missing.

Five years later, his remains were found just above Allsop Lake. 

In each episode, Cawley examines Robinson’s footsteps and hunts for answers with the late hiker’s wife, Marilyn Koolstra. 

Listen on KSLPodcasts.