“Help…I’ve fallen and broken my ankle. Can you send help?”

“Where are you?”

“Uh…”

We all know that this conversation doesn’t have to take place if you take a few precautions.

I would say the first precaution to take is simply telling someone where you’re going hiking, and approximately for how long you’ll be gone. Sticking to that game plan is imperative if you expect to be found quickly. If nobody’s around, leave a note with the information.

Now I know not everyone owns an iPhone, but for those that do, the next option is using a downloaded navigational app, and more importantly, knowing how to use it. One that comes to mind that I’ve used here and abroad is called Maps.me. The most important aspect of this app (besides its costing $0) is that it uses satellites to track your location, not data. That alone means it will work virtually any place, and it won’t use up costly data. When you open the app, it’s already found and mapped you! Another very cool aspect is that it has all the Woodland and Forest Park trails identified, so talking to someone and leading them to your location should be relatively easy.

Now, let’s just say you don’t have that app loaded, and don’t want it. Well, you can do one of two things. Find a copy of the new Jacksonville Woodlands map, open it and take a picture of it. There! It’s in your photo album whenever you need it. Or, if you’ll open this link: https://a9h.5c3.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/JWA-Trail-System-Map-for-Online-darker-grid.pdf, and save the map, you’ll have the same thing. What we’ve added to this map that will be available with either of these last two options are grid lines, with letters down both sides, and numbers across the top and bottom. When you phone someone for assistance, you can give them the alpha-numeric location (F6 or H4 for example). That will put your location within 528’, which is much better than, “I’m just up the trail from the junction of these two other trails where that tree is.” Staying safer on the trails is easy—so take a few precautions. You never know when you’ll need it, or come across someone else that does. Happy trails!