Trip Planning for Safer Adventures
A trip planning tool is a simple but powerful way to prepare for time outdoors—whether you’re heading out for a short day hike or climb, or embarking on a multi-day backcountry trip. By recording key details such as your route, objectives, group size, and expected return time, you help ensure that important information is available if it’s ever needed.
This tool is designed to be flexible and easy to use for a wide range of activities, from front-country outings to complex wilderness objectives. While it’s commonly associated with trips in Yosemite, it can be used anywhere you recreate—not just in national parks or in one specific location.
Privacy and trust are central to how this tool is used. Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue (FOYOSAR) does not store or monitor trip planning information. Details from a trip plan would only be accessed in the event of an emergency, and only at the request of the individuals reporting a missing or overdue party. The information is used solely to support search and rescue efforts—nothing more.
Thoughtful trip planning helps rescuers respond more quickly and effectively, while giving you and your loved ones added peace of mind. It’s one small step that can make a meaningful difference when it matters most.
Why Trip Planning Matters
When a trip goes off schedule, time and information are critical.
A completed trip plan can help search and rescue teams:
Narrow search areas faster
Understand your objectives and experience level
Identify likely routes, turnaround points, or hazards
Reduce delays during the early stages of a response
For friends and family, a trip plan provides clear guidance on when and how to raise concerns if someone is overdue—removing uncertainty during a stressful moment.
Most trips end safely and as planned. But in the rare event something goes wrong, having accurate information available—only when needed and only at your request—can make a meaningful difference for both rescuers and those awaiting answers.