Lightning Safety Please remember: If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning! Seek shelter immediately! If Above Treeline: Find the lowest point of open area and move there quickly. Make sure the place you pick is not subject to flooding and no water is running through it. On open ground, squat low on something dry (non-metal), keep your feet close together, make yourself the smallest possible object with the least contact with the ground. Do Not Lie Down! If Below Treeline: Move to a sturdy building or inside a hard topped car with the windows rolled up. Get out of boats and away from water. Avoid low spots with water running through or pooling. In the woods, with no other options, take shelter under the shorter trees. Groups—Have everyone be aware of changing weather and appoint someone to be a lightning and thunder lookout. Plan extra time to get everyone below treeline before a storm is upon you. If caught above treeline, spread out to avoid multiple victims through side flashes. Avoid During Lightning: Alpine areas or mountaintops Objects that stick up from the ground, such as single trees Water—either running through an area/campsite or pooling Metal objects (in/on your pack, pots, tent poles, stove and pack frame) Open areas Shallow caves Overhangs Cell phones Wildnotes Do You Have a Turnaround Time? ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Figure how many hours of daylight you have. For example, if you start hiking at 7 am and sunset is 6 pm, you have 11 hours of daylight for your hike. Divide the 11 hours in half = 5.5 hours and add it to your start time = 12:30 pm. This would be the time to turnaround and head back down even if you haven’t reached the peak. If you keep this in mind, you will come back from your adventure in daylight and with a feeling of pride, not only in your physical accomplishment, but in your backcountry judgment! Sunrise/sunset is listed each day on the weather report posted daily at park gates and all park duty stations. 2017 hikeSafe Hiker Responsibility Code: Date Sunrise Sunset May-15 5:04 AM 8:00 PM Jun-15 4:45 AM 8:26 PM Jul-15 5:00 AM 8:21 PM Aug-15 5:35 AM 7:42 PM Sep-15 6:13 AM 6:46 PM Oct-15 6:52 AM 5:49 PM (All times are listed as Daylight Savings Time, Millinocket, ME) Leave No Trace Principle #1: Plan Ahead and Prepare - Be prepared for your trip. Bring proper gear and clothing. Per BSP Regulation, carry a working flashlight and extra batteries, just in case you are stranded in the dark. You Are Responsible for Yourself, So Be Prepared: 1. With Knowledge and Gear. Become self reliant by learning about the terrain, conditions, local weather, and your equipment before you start. 2. With Your Plans. Tell someone where you are going, the trails you are hiking, when you’ll return and your emergency plans. 3. To Stay Together. When you start as a group, hike as a group, end as a group, pace your hike to the slowest person. 4. To Turn Back. Weather changes quickly in the mountains. Fatigue and unexpected conditions can also affect your hike. Know your limitations and when to postpone your hike. The mountains will be there another day. 5. For Emergencies. Even if you are headed out for just an hour. An injury, severe weather or a wrong turn could become life threatening. Don’t assume you will be rescued, know how to rescue yourself. 6. To Share The Code With Others. hikeSafe: It’s Your Responsibility. hikeSafe is a joint hiker educational effort created by the White Mountain National Forest and NH Dept of Fish & Wildlife. Baxter State Park encourages all visitors to learn and practice the Hiker Responsibility Code on all outdoor adventures. 6
20184SG
To see the actual publication please follow the link above