TIP #10 - Avoid Sky Sparks

What

Don’t get injured by lightning.

Why

You’ll be shocked to know, but getting hit directly or being close to a lightning strike can be deadly.  According to NOAA.gov, each year in the United States, lightning kills 20-30 people on average and injures 100s more.

Studies have shown that most people struck by lightning are struck not at the height of a thunderstorm but before and after the storm has peaked. Most people are unaware of how far lightning can strike from its parent thunderstorm or what to do. Lightning can strike more than 10 miles away from the location of rainfall.  In addition, putting up an antenna when thunder storm activity is close can increase the risk of a lightning strike.

SOTA Safety TIP #9 - Layer for Safety and Comfort

What

Use the layering method when packing for an expedition to ensure you can survive unexpected cold conditions.

Why

Hypothermia can be life-threatening and it doesn’t have to be super cold to start cooling your body below 95 degrees f. Even in the summer, summits can be much colder than you think, especially when it’s windy.

The temperature drops 3.5 to 5 degrees f  per thousand feet of elevation gain.  Our hobby means you’ll most likely be climbing up in elevation and it will probably be cooler than the trailhead.  The weather can change unexpectedly; arriving on a windy summit while covered in sweat will cause you to chill fast. Additionally, you could be stuck on the mountain longer than expected if you or someone else gets hurt, you become lost, or other unforeseen events cause a delay. 

SOTA Safety TIP #8 - Reduce Your Navigation Risk

What

Build redundancy into your navigation capabilities and execution.

Why

As to the “why”, well, getting lost is no fun and could be deadly.  Our phones are super capable, and with GPS navigation, it takes the work out of figuring out where you are and how to get somewhere.  It also makes us a little too dependent on our phones.  Breaking your phone, or running out of power can put you in danger if you don’t have a backup plan. 

If your hike is on a well established trail, like the PCT, you may feel like your navigation risk is low but if a fire sparks up, or a flash flood closes off your return route, that won’t be the case.

Hikes that seem simple can look completely different on the way back under different lighting or become a real adventure if you are forced to take a different path.

SOTA Safety TIP #7 - Tell People Where You Are Going

What

Tell people where you are going before you start your hike.

Why

If you leave and don’t come back, hopefully people will start looking for you.  If you don’t tell anyone where you are going, they will have no idea where to start. You could be lost or injured and unable to ask for help.  (See my earlier tip on having backup emComms)

SOTA Safety TIP #6 - Be Able To Communicate Your Location

What

In an emergency, you need to be able to tell people where you are located.  The best way to do that is to communicate your latitude and longitude (lat/long).

Ham2K PoLo A Rock'n Logging For Portable Opps

I found a new Logging tool for SOTA & POTA, and it ROCKS!

I started using a phone to log contacts for SOTA not long after I started because I can’t read my own writing.  I used a very rudimentary app for the first two years but when I started doing multiple summits per day, I needed something different.  Outd was an excellent replacement and had some new features that were awesome,  I’ve been a bit (a lot) resistant to change when support started to wane and some features quit working and it was removed from the App Store.  I tried switching to another popular logging app a while back but it that alternative just wasn’t up to the SOTA task and not approved for my kit.  Que the new solution, Ham2K PoLo (PoLo).  I was sold after using it on the very first summit.  

SOTA Safety TIP #5 - Have Backup EmComs

What

All of us depend on our cell phones for.... well EVERYTHING, especially for emergencies which requires cell service and a working phone. Don’t depend on cell service in the back country!