Before you leave: the 15-minute setup
Share your rough itinerary (trailhead, route, return window) with one responsible contact—not the whole internet.
Set check-in times aligned with when you'll likely have signal: end of hiking day, hotel check-in, or before boarding.
Scheduled check-ins beat live GPS on the trail
Continuous location drains battery and overshares. Scheduled "I'm OK" taps fit spotty coverage: check in when you can; your circle reacts only if you don't.
Still OK alerts your emergency contacts when a check-in is missed—useful when you're solo and off-grid part of the day.
Emergency communication when networks fail
Text often works when voice doesn't. Include an out-of-area contact in your Emergency Communication Plan—they may be reachable when local lines aren't.
Document ranger stations, lodging front desks, and medical facilities along your route.
What your contact should do if you're overdue
Agree in advance: wait one missed window, attempt contact, then escalate (call park services, lodging, or local authorities with your last known plan).
Don't assume silence means disaster—a dead battery is common. Two consecutive misses warrant action.
Quick checklist
- Share itinerary and return time with one primary contact
- Schedule check-ins at realistic signal windows
- Add a backup out-of-area contact
- Pack Emergency Communication Plan summary (PDF or printout)
- Define escalation steps after one vs. two missed check-ins
Put this into practice with Still OK
One-tap daily check-ins, missed-check-in alerts, and a built-in Emergency Communication Plan—no constant GPS tracking.