Outdoor Tips: When Should You Turn Back? Recognizing Red Flags in the Outdoors
Heading into the backcountry is thrilling, but knowing when to turn back can mean the difference between a fun day out and a dangerous situation. At Routt County Search and Rescue, we sometimes respond to incidents because someone ignored important warning signs, pushed beyond their own limits, or lost their way and refused to turn back or ‘not finish’.
Be prepared, recognize these red flags early, and always be willing to turn around. The mountains will be waiting for you next time—safe and ready for another adventure. Here’s how you can recognize those critical moments.
Red Flags You Should Never Ignore:
1. Sudden Weather Changes:
Mountain storms move fast and unpredictably. Be alert for dark clouds building quickly, sudden gusts of wind, colder than anticipated temperatures, and approaching thunder and lightning. Mountain storms can be deadly, especially at high altitudes or exposed areas. Trust your instincts and head back before conditions deteriorate.
RCSAR Rescue: Two hikers set off on a springtime hike on a popular trail in Routt County. As it was earlier in the day when the runoff was lower, they were able to cross the first creek they came to by hopping from rock to rock. It started out as a warm day and the hikers wore light clothing. Unfortunately, cold and wet weather moved in as the hikers continued and when they arrived at a second stream, they were unable to cross it due to increased water levels, cutting off their loop and the shortest way back to the trailhead. The hikers retreated the way they had come, but by the time they reached their first stream crossing, the water had also risen making it also impassable. RCSAR was able to rescue these cold and wet hikers before any significant injury occurred, but it is always best to turn around at the first sign of bad weather when you do not have the gear to manage the worst case scenario.
2. Feeling Unwell or Overly Tired
Even the fittest adventurer can have an off day. Symptoms like dizziness, headaches, nausea, mood changes, lack of coordination, or fatigue shouldn't be ignored. These symptoms rarely improve by pushing further and could be indicative of more life-threatening conditions like Acute Mountain Sickness or a cardiovascular issue.
Blisters, abrasions, minor sprains, and bee stings should not be written off as insignificant and ignored. You may feel okay to keep walking early on, however, these injuries can worsen quickly and become so painful that they require rescue.
Returning when things go awry can prevent situations from becoming dangerous emergencies.
RCSAR Rescue: A group of hikers set out for Gilpin Lake in October 2021. As they progressed to higher elevations the trail conditions deteriorated. Rather than turning back, the group continued to push forward through knee deep snow until they were exhausted and no longer able to retrace their steps back to the trailhead. RCSAR was able to rescue the uninjured party and escort them to safety. When trail conditions deteriorate, consider whether to turn around rather than pressing on to the point of exhaustion.
3. Lost or Unsure of the Route
One misstep can lead you off the path, even in an area in which you are familiar. It is so easy to think you will ‘figure out where you are’ around the next corner, or at the top of the next hill. Each step may be taking you farther from your destination and farther from safety. If you lose your trail or are not sure where you are, stop, study your navigational tools, observe where you are, and establish a plan to get to where you want to be. If you cannot determine where you are, call 911 on your phone or emergency messaging device to seek assistance and Search and Rescue will be notified. We may be able to guide you to safety on the phone and, if not, early notice enables us to send out a rescue team while it is still light and much safer for our team. Once a call for assistance has been made, stay put unless notified otherwise by SAR.
RCSAR Rescue: On a cold day in January, a skier out-of-bounds in Fish Creek Canyon became separated from his partners and was unable to find his way back inbounds. Rather than calling for assistance, the skier aimed to self rescue and ended up below Hell’s Wall injured and extremely cold after falling into the creek. RCSAR did not receive a call for assistance until 6:15 pm, necessitating a night time rescue that was not completed until 3:00 am the following day due to an extremely difficult evacuation. The lesson here is to call for assistance as soon as you think that you may need it.
4. Lack of Equipment and Equipment Failures
Not having proper equipment or failure of equipment should make you consider turning around. Whether it's a broken ski binding, a malfunctioning headlamp, insufficient food or water, forgotten gear (maps, layers, first aid, puffy coat), small problems can quickly add up to become life-threatening.
RCSAR Rescue: A hunter hiked to a remote location and set up camp. When night fell, temperatures were colder than the hunter had anticipated, and the hunter did not have sufficient cold weather gear to stay warm. Additionally, the hunter lacked a means to start a fire or a light source to be able to hike out safely to their vehicle. RCSAR received a page at 1:00 a.m. to assist the hunter out of the backcountry.
5. Running Out of Time
Time management is crucial outdoors. If your planned turnaround time has passed, especially if you haven’t reached your intended destination, you should consider heading back. Darkness makes navigation challenging and increases the risk of accidents.
RCSAR Rescue: A Reporting Party (RP) called to report that 2 backpackers in the Flat Tops Wilderness had missed their planned return time, and had not checked in. There had been thunderstorms in the area that afternoon and the team was concerned about the backpackers' well-being, since they were overdue. While the search operation was being planned and additional details were gathered, the missing subjects made it safely back to the trailhead and called the RP. The storms had delayed their itinerary, but they made the right choice to stay in sheltered terrain and wait for the danger to pass before crossing the exposed alpine tundra. Their trip planning paid off when the check-in time elapsed, the RP was able to notify SAR and a search was initiated.
The mountains will always be there, waiting for your safe return.
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