Plan Ahead and Prepare

This will help to mitigate risks and minimize your impact. This includes checking regulations/permits, which exists to keep people and the environment safe. Think through group sizes, waste management, trail conditions, and emergency preparations.

-Lightning/Thunderstorms

When you hear thunder or see lightning count the intervals between the flash of lightning and the crack or rumble of thunder. If the interval is 10 seconds or less, you must immediately take precautions:

· On water —Get off the water and find shelter/go into lightning position (see below)

· On land— Get away from the tallest tree, find lower grounds if possible and/or go deep into forested area with smaller trees and bushes. Get into lightning position once you've found a shelter

Lightning position: (you should also google image lightning position)

Crouch down, be on your toes, cover your ears with your hands, make sure your heels are touching each other. Do not lay on the ground.
Use sleeping pads or other synthetic material below you create additional layer of protection.

-Water Crossing

You should examine the strength of the current as well as the depth of stream. Rule of thumb, it's a bad idea to cross any streams deeper than your knee. This rule becomes even more critical if the current is strong. Further, look downstream to ensure there are no additional hazards, such as logjams or waterfalls, just in case you are carried downstream by the current. Never cross above a waterfall or log jam.

Once you've decided the stream is navigable, follow these rules. 1 - UNBUCKLE /UNHOOK your pack. If you fall in the water, you don't want your pack to weight you down. 2 - Never take a leap of faith onto rocks and logs. They might be slippery or unstable/unbalanced, so take it slow and utilize tracking poles. 3 - Keep your shoes on or change into fast drying shoes (well fitted Cros are great...so bring your crocks along on your backpacking trip) 4- Always know you can turn around. If the stream get deep in the middle or the current is stronger than you thought, turn around and look for an alternate route. waste management, trail conditions, and emergency preparations.

-Earthquake:

In the event of an earthquake:

1. Make sure you are away from hills (rolling rocks/boulders), trees (tree falls), and/or any other objects that can hurt you.

2. Get away from campfires or any flammable items until it is safe to put out fire or pack away stoves.

3. Find shelter under a table or car. If in the back country, find an open field.

4. Prepare for an aftershock as you plan an evacuation.

- Forest Fire

Despite the fact that WA is wet most of the year, from June-September, we get to enjoy amazingly dry and clear summer adventures. The flip side of this coin is that we also experience large forest fires every year. It is important for you to check the weather and research forest fire areas before you go on any extended trips. Never go anywhere close to an area with known active fire.

If you are caught in a wild fire while camping/backpacking, follow the protocol.

Flee from the fire immediately. Hike downhill and upwind, and avoid dense areas of forest.
If you hear crackling or you are able to see sparks flying through the air, and you are not close to your car, it's probably too late to out run it/avoid it. Change your tactics and prepare for the fire. Find a lake, pond, streams, river, or large open areas. Avoid areas of swampy vegetation...You should google why, but swamps can be deadly in forest fire depending on the vegetation make up or the peat content.
If no body of water is available, seek out the lowest spot in the area you have chosen and dig a ditch if possible. The deeper you can go, the better.
Remove all synthetic clothing... and cover yourself with clothing made from natural fibers such as wool. Wet your clothes, cover your face to shield from fire and smoke. Try to collapse the ditch onto yourself so that are you are covered with dirt and rocks. Stay calm and ride out the wave.
Even after fire is passed, the ground around you will still be hot. Take caution and do your best to keep dirt away from any burns or wounds and seek help asap.

When nature calls

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Plan Ahead and Prepare

This will help to mitigate risks and minimize your impact. This includes checking regulations/permits, which exists to keep people and the environment safe. Think through group sizes, waste management, trail conditions, and emergency preparations.

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