Be Smart

Heading into the backcountry this summer? Read on

BY JESSE JAMES McTIGUE

Everything about Telluride is extreme. Its mountains, its trails, its culture, its beauty, its parties and, yes, its people. With this hardcore ethos, the influence of Instagram, the constant chatter about expeditions and the increase in visitors to mountain towns, the real risks inherent to exploring the backcountry can be trivialized.

So too can the preparedness, awareness and fitness levels necessary for successful expeditions. Both the

Colorado Search and Rescue Association (CSRA) and

San Miguel County Search and Rescue (SAR) have reported an uptick in rescue calls in the last two years.

Josh Orintas, a veteran member of SAR, observed,

“People get themselves into trouble when they overestimate what they are capable of in the outdoors.

This not only includes your physical ability, but your hard skills and what your psyche can handle.” With this in mind, the Colorado Tourism Office and the CSRA have some useful advice.

Check the weather. Weather comes in fast in the mountains; it can change from sunny and hot to cold and wet within minutes. Avoid expeditions above the tree line if there is a chance of a lightning storm. Weather is the most significant factor that can negatively affect an expedition.

Map it out; prepare your pack. Study your route before you go and talk to people who have done it. Map and route-finding apps work if you know how to use them and your phone is charged, but remember to bring a pocket charger and physical map. Pack multiple clothing layers including rain gear, as well as food, water, a headlamp, lighter and first-aid kit. “The most common rescue we encounter is lost hikers,” Orintas says. “Couple that with inadequate gear for changing weather or no flashlight with burning daylight and things can get scary.”

Use the buddy system. Go with a buddy or if you must go alone, let someone know the area you plan to explore. Apps such as Strava and MTB Project allow you to share your location in real time. Strava will also alert an emergency contact

if you stop suddenly and don’t start moving again for an elongated period.

Read the signs. Look at the signage at a trail head, an important note for 4x4 enthusiasts, as well as hikers and bikers.

Check your ego. The San Juan Mountains are steep, rugged and exposed. Be honest with yourself and your physical fitness level. Take time to acclimatize; start with small missions and build your stamina. Make sure you know the technical elements and have the skills required to successfully complete all routes. When in doubt, turn around. And consider using a local outfitter for more complex outings; their guides will have expert local knowledge.

Support SAR. Working in conjunction with the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office, SAR operates free of charge and its personnel are largely volunteers. Local groups are reimbursed for services related to rescue missions from funds raised from the sale of Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue cards. Buy one at the CSRA website and donate to San Miguel Search and Rescue.

For many, the mountains are an addiction offering benefits to one’s physical, mental, and social wellbeing that are immeasurable. But being “extreme” includes being extremely well prepared. Successful expeditions are the ones you return from, so you can wake up the next day and do it again.

STUDY YOUR ROUTE BEFORE YOU GO AND TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE IT.

Sustainable tourism requires visitors, as well as residents, committed to good behavior in the backcountry. Thankfully, the Telluride Mountain Club has drafted Trails Etiquette 101, common-sense tips designed to keep the natural environment happy and healthy, and enthusiasts safe and well.

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LEAVE NO TRACE

Pack out what you pack in. Dispose of trash and waste properly (that goes for pet waste too). Remember that toilet paper is also trash. Pack it out.

SHARE THE TRAIL

Slow down, communicate and be courteous to other trail users.

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STAY ON THE TRAIL

Keep singletrack single and respect the surrounding environment and landscape.

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YIELD TO OTHERS

Let fellow trail users know you are coming. Strive to make each pass safe and courteous.

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BE A GOOD TRAIL STEWARD

Only use open, legal trails. Encourage your friends and family to be good trail stewards.

BE PREPARED

Plan ahead and be selfsufficient. Bring water, food, layers, start early and have a Plan B.

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL

We are a small community with a big heart. Let’s all do our part to take care of one another and our planet.

The Telluride area has a rich history of outlaws. Don’t find yourself on the wrong side of the law like Butch Cassidy and heed all of the local laws and ordinances: Telluride Municipal Code Sec. 7-04-230, 7-12-030, 7-6-350, 8-2-20; Mountain Village Municipal Code 08-04 § 1, 07-11 § 3-5, 8.01.005 purpose, 2011-02 § 3C, 09-06 § 7