Planning (days before)

Pick a route matched to the slowest person's fitnessRough pace math: 2 mph on trail, plus one hour per 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Work backward from sunset.
Check the forecast for the trailhead and the summit, not your cityMountain weather can differ by 20°F+ and turn in an hour. Check again the morning of, and pick a bail-out point in advance.
Check trail conditions, closures, and permit requirementsLand manager websites and recent trip reports catch washouts, snowfields, and fire closures that maps don't.
Download offline maps and print or photograph a paper backupAssume no cell coverage. A phone map with a dead battery is a brick.
Tell someone your route, trailhead, and return timeName the trail, where you'll park, and when to call for help if they haven't heard from you. Then don't change plans without telling them.

02

Pack the Ten Essentials

03

Recheck the weather and confirm your turnaround timeSet a hard clock time to turn around regardless of how close the summit feels. Getting caught out after dark starts here.
Leave a trip plan visible in your car only if the lot is attendedA note on the dashboard also tells thieves how long you'll be gone; the person at home is your real safety net.
Put your phone in airplane modeSearching for signal all day can drain the battery you'll need for the map or an emergency call.
Sign the trail register if register presentIt's the first place searchers look.

04

Eat and drink on a schedule, not by thirstA few sips and a bite every 30–45 minutes. By the time you feel thirsty you're already behind, and dehydration reads as fatigue.
Note landmarks and junctions, especially looking backwardThe trail looks different in reverse. A photo at each confusing junction costs nothing.
Turn around at your turnaround timeThe summit is optional; getting home is not. Most hiker fatalities involve pushing on past the plan.
Stay put if you get lostStop, stay warm, make yourself visible and audible. A stationary subject is found far faster than a moving one.

05

Check in with your contact personDo this first, before the shower — an overdue call can trigger a search.
Check yourself for ticks if tick seasonScalp, waistband, behind knees, armpits. Removal within 24 hours dramatically lowers Lyme risk.
Restock the first aid kit, food, and batteries you usedDo it now, while you remember — the kit only works if it's full at the next trailhead.