Have a Plan for When Things Don’t Go to Plan
By the ACC Safety Committee
Hiking, climbing, skiing, biking: when things go to plan, our days are filled with adventure, good times, and great memories. But we don’t live in a world where everything always goes to plan. Everyone understands that they have a responsibility to themselves and their party to make good decisions in the field and to be as safe as possible. Perhaps less understood is the responsibility that we also have for those who would come looking for us.
When things go sideways and we need help getting out of a jam, our job is to make things as easy as possible for the people helping us. That’s not just good practice, it’s being responsible. The good news? There are three simple things you can do before every trip to make a real difference: make a trip plan, have a communication plan, and be searchable.
1. Build a Trip Plan and Share It
A trip plan is the single most valuable thing you can leave behind before heading out. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. For a day hike, it might be as simple as telling a friend: “I’m parking here, hiking up this trail, should be home by 6 pm.” For a multi-day alpine route, it might look more like a written itinerary with map waypoints, alternative bail-out options, and expected check-in times. The point is that if something goes wrong, search teams can narrow their search area to where you’re most likely to be. A faster search is safer for everyone, including the SAR volunteers putting themselves in the field to help you. Adventure Smart has a free online trip plan tool that makes this easy – you fill out the details and send it to your emergency contact directly from your browser.
2. Know How You’ll Communicate Out There
Cell phones are great, right up until you’re deep in the backcountry and have zero bars. Cell service in the backcountry is limited and can be further affected by mountains or cliffs (block signal), trees (absorb signal), and large bodies of water (reflect signal). Don’t assume the best. If you’re heading somewhere remote, consider a satellite communicator that gives you the ability to call for help from almost anywhere. Our Safety Bulletin from November 2025 lays out the basics.
Your communication plan should also include a check-in schedule with an emergency contact and clear instructions on what that person should do if they don’t hear from you. And don’t forget to let them know when you’re safely back. Unnecessary searches waste resources and put SAR teams at risk.
3. Be Searchable with RECCO Technology
Even with a solid trip and communication plan, there are scenarios where rescuers need to physically find you. That’s where RECCO comes in, and it’s one of the easiest safety steps you can take. RECCO is a two-part system: a passive reflector that you carry or wear, and an active detector used by SAR teams. The reflector has no batteries, needs no activation, and lasts a lifetime. A SAR helicopter equipped with a RECCO detector can sweep one square kilometre of terrain in just six minutes, covering in minutes what would take a ground team hours on foot. Many outdoor brands already build RECCO reflectors into helmets, packs, jackets, boots, and more. Check your gear for the RECCO logo. If you don’t have one, standalone reflectors are available at recco.com/shop for a very reasonable cost. The ACC has partnered with RECCO in 2026 to help get more of our community searchable. It’s a small step that could make an enormous difference. None of this prevents accidents from happening. But taken together, these three steps give rescuers the best possible chance of finding you quickly. That’s good for you, and it’s good for the SAR volunteers who always have our backs.
