Do you leave a trip itinerary with someone?

[MaryinColorado]

I always do and say just cal 911 to report a missing hiker, for those that leave specific number to call how do you know which number to call, I’ve always found that confusing so felt best just always saying call 911 and let the authorities sort it out based on my itinerary.

I look up the county I'll be in and then Google the sheriff's number. However, I do say "this number or 911" because I don't know that all sheriff's offices have 24/7 answering.

[GuiGirard]

I might need to up my game!

I always text my girlfriend (of the time lol) the trailhead, route, estimated summit time, and my “start to worry” time and the “call authorities” time. She knows the description of my vehicle.

“Longs Peak East Trailhead, Longs Peak East Trail to Longs Peak via Keyhole Route. Summit by 10am. If you haven’t heard from me by 3, start to worry. If you haven’t heard from me by 6, call SAR.”

I typically just text when I am back in cell service, and I’m not great at using the built in, Inreach text features. I will start using it for that, too!

It's probably fine too; depends on your degree of risk taking compared to your zone of comfort.
And connectedness while hiking is definitely a generational thing as well (and I would argue, not for the better in the big picture of things, with the notable two exceptions of making SAR job easier and having access to weather forecast updates).
I've hiked mountains before cellphones were common, and definitely before InReach was a thing, and the only way to get a hold of someone would be not just to walk back to the trailhead but to actually drive to the nearest town and find a pay phone.

[SnowAlien]

For those of you who leave such detailed itinerary, how do you deal with change of plans? Let's say you have a # of peaks to hike in the area and depending on weather, conditions, sleep, etc, you decide to change the order of them or do another peak (not on the itinerary). Happens to me all the time!
I'm definitely more comfortable hiking with Delorme (tracking is on), but I generally don't bother with a very detailed itinerary as it can change the night before or even in the morning.
I just got a new Inreach (as my old one finally went kaput after 8 years - the lithium battery apparently doesn't last more than 6 years on average), and it was a big concern when the device would stop working unexpectedly in the middle of the hike. Hopefully the new device will alleviate this problem, at least for a few years.

[HikerGuy]

For those of you who leave such detailed itinerary, how do you deal with change of plans? Let's say you have a # of peaks to hike in the area and depending on weather, conditions, sleep, etc, you decide to change the order of them or do another peak (not on the itinerary). Happens to me all the time!

I will list alternate hikes in my Caltopo map itinerary for each day. I check in each evening, so based on my check in location my wife knows which route I will be on. For day of route changes, I try to avoid them. I will include alternate ascent and descent tracks on my map if I am unsure of my exact route. Otherwise, I have tracking always on, so I have that to fall back on.

I just got a new Inreach (as my old one finally went kaput after 8 years - the lithium battery apparently doesn't last more than 6 years on average), and it was a big concern when the device would stop working unexpectedly in the middle of the hike. Hopefully the new device will alleviate this problem, at least for a few years.

My charging port went bad on my old inReach Mini, the battery on the new Mini is WAY better, seems to last forever.

[mtree]

I'm with KState. I just leave my lifeline a departure time, destination, route, expected return time and SAR time. I never know exactly what I'm wearing on any given day. I don't have any high tech whatchamacallits and would rather ignore the rest of the world when I'm up there so only take a few pics if needed and call it good. Everyone knows my vehicles and its not hard for authorities to run a plate number. I'll ping my lifeline when I'm down.

If I'm parked overnight I used to leave information on the dashboard, but I decided not to tip off thieves and weirdos anymore.

[sooshee]

I've gotten in the habit of really detailed itineraries for my long solo trips (i.e. 8 days in Yellowstone, 8 days solo in Iceland, southern CO national park road trip, etc) to leave with my parents. I have the stops I am planning on making, overnight camping plans, etc, all broken out by each individual day. They aren't computer savvy, so I do it all on a Google doc that I print out for them. My mom also enjoys them for "following along" with me with her paper road atlas each day, hah! The few times I went to Iceland they were texted photos of rental vehicles, and also had my passport information, US consulate contact information, etc.

I am getting better about my smaller trips and day hikes. For summit hikes I will let my parents know the trailhead, route, and check in as I can. I've had a SPOT for years, and just upgraded to an inReach a few months ago, which has definitely increased what I can communicate. Luckily it seems most summits have okay cell service so I can get some texts out that way as well, or even a call. I really know I need to do better with providing my parents a list of my common gear I carry (specific clothing I think is tough as I often decide on the fly based on weather, but things like my hardshell, pack, etc, never really change), and letting them know about every hike I go on (because even the popular ones can be sketchy... see the reports about the person attacking solo women hikers in Evergreen). The idea of providing the local Sheriffs' information is great, and I think I need to start incorporating things like that, because once again, my parents don't use the internet so telling them "oh, I'm climbing Mount XXX" means nothing to them and they wouldn't know how to google what county/jurisdiction it is in.

[dr_j]

I don't. I don't think I ever have, actually, and I've been to plenty of countries all over the world, been up some of the Cascades peaks, the 14ers, etc. Plans change, I tend to be spontaneous and don't plan too far ahead. And honestly, being single, no kids, etc., my life doesn't matter that much in the grand scheme of things.

[Boggy B]

I don't. I don't think I ever have, actually, and I've been to plenty of countries all over the world, been up some of the Cascades peaks, the 14ers, etc. Plans change, I tend to be spontaneous and don't plan too far ahead. And honestly, being single, no kids, etc., my life doesn't matter that much in the grand scheme of things.

If he dies.. he dies.

[daway8]

While it's certainly a good practice and no doubt appreciated by SAR when they have details like that, I can't help but think some of these replies are maybe just a wee bit OCD...

I mean it's Thursday night and I'm still trying to nail down plans for Saturday. On more than one occasion I've found myself on a friend's couch at 9pm Friday night still debating what peak we're going to start climbing at 3am...

Being also in the bachelor category it's not so urgently pertinent to have constant communication with folks like those with spouses/kids might feel obligated to do.

I mean should I do at least some of this stuff? Probably. Maybe. I occasionally at least mention to someone what peak I'm climbing (if I've determined that before midnight and they're not hiking with me). I do always have my InReach with me in case needed - which should work great as long as I'm not dead.

And if I am dead... well my family knows my vehicle will be parked out somewhere in the mountains on Saturdays. From there just go find whatever wickedly cool scrambles are on the peak and then look down...

But my primary plan in the mountains is: don't die.

[-wren-]

I don't. I don't think I ever have, actually, and I've been to plenty of countries all over the world, been up some of the Cascades peaks, the 14ers, etc. Plans change, I tend to be spontaneous and don't plan too far ahead. And honestly, being single, no kids, etc., my life doesn't matter that much in the grand scheme of things.

I can kind of understand this point of view, and I can’t tell you to start leaving an itinerary and sending updates, but I would just like to say (not in particular to you, but in general) that, if you go missing, someone will eventually know there’s a problem, and somebody is going to have to do something about it. It makes SAR’s job easier and safer when your rough whereabouts are known. Unfortunately when something goes wrong for you out there, resources, time and effort are going to be expended in an effort to save you or at least recover your body and by leaving info you are helping out with that process a lot.

[JChitwood]

Wow the bar is technologically pretty high here. I leave a sticky note with the trailhead, peak, and probable route. I used to project likely summit and back to the car times but I’ve gotten so slow that’s useless. I do check in via text as soon as possible after returning to the car.

[cfoster]

I typically make a google sheet with my rough plan for each day of my trip including rough campsite area, peak, and which route I'm planning to take and I send it to my brother. I'm single and in the mountains by myself most of the time, so I figure if he hasn't heard from me by the end of the trip he can send the document to SAR if needed. I'll even make notes if I know there is something interesting or side trails I might also hit up in the area. It doesn't take too much time and if ever actually needed it will make it easier on all involved.