Montrose - Daily Press

John
Unger
Outdoors
Columnist

The sheriff in that small desert town leaned back in his chair and listened to the search volunteers from Montrose. The friends they sought were a missing couple, both marathoner runners, and the only clue as to their whereabouts was a previous message left on an answering machine. The voice said only that they would be running and hiking “in the Blanding, Utah area.”

The sheriff’s desire to help was necessarily tempered by his experience, pragmatism, and his county’s search and rescue budget. “Look,” he said, “we have 7,000 square miles here in San Juan County. They might not even be in this county. I hope you understand that we can’t put our resources in to a search with just that one clue.”

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Listening to him, I knew he was right.

Ever since that spring day, I have valued the importance of a flight plan for outdoor adventures.

The definition of a “flight plan” from Webster’s dictionary is:  a usually written statement … of the details of an intended flight … usually filed with an authority.

Three of the many definitions of “flight” are: a passing through the air; a brilliant, imaginative, or unrestrained exercise or display; an act or instance of running away. 

All three of these definitions may apply to a mid-autumn run on a mountain trail, or even a steady hour on a slippery in-town bike path newly covered in snow, as Montrose just received on Wednesday and Thursday.

Who needs it?

Especially when running or riding alone or in winter, an ounce of forethought may save your friends a barnload of hassle. In the unlikely event of a badly sprained ankle or a head injury, having shared a bit of route planning may keep even a fit endurance athlete from a night spent shivering. Or a night without a morning to wake up to.

A flight plan can be something as simple as a note left on your vehicle’s dashboard at the trailhead, stating what time you hit the trail, your intended route, and your expected time of return. 

On the other extreme, for an all day solo hike or run in the mountains or desert, for a flight plan you might leave a second copy of your topo map with a trusted friend, noting where you plan to park your rig. Maybe you would state whether or not you are carrying your bivouac gear and water filter. The spotty cell phone coverage in our surrounding mountains and sandstone canyons means it may not be useful, but writing your cell number takes only a moment, too.

Don’t bring me down

But wait! One major reason we seek out a lonesome trail is to leave the cares of the world behind for a few hours. “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing,” said Helen Keller. How daring of an adventure can we have if we have announced painstakingly detailed information on our planned route and timing? What if we end up altering our route along the way? Are we not limiting our freedom by leaving a flight plan?

In a word, no. A plan can be altered as situations arise. You are leaving a copy of your flight plan in paper and ink, not carved in stone. It’s just a safety belt, not a ball and chain. 

Mountaineers far more experienced than me have stated that a rescue is welcomed by those who are truly in need. The favor may be returned in some later year. Which outdoor adventurers have never once sustained an injury on an outing, or never got trapped in a bad spot by a freak storm, or have never gone far enough off established trails to get themselves lost? Given enough years of vigorous outings, it is not a question of “if” one will end up in such a challenge, but “when.”

What kind of flight

A mountain runner or biker often experiences the feeling of near-flight on the downhill part of the trail. One misstep can actually send them into true flight briefly, either head over heels or everything over the handlebars. 

The second definition of “flight” listed above has been felt by most altitude athletes who have hit their stride or felt themselves in the flow or the zone. That word “unrestrained” accurately describes the sensation of many a rhythmic multi-mile trail outing.

Certainly taking flight from the rat race temporarily is a time-honored tradition in our multitasked, solitude forsaken modern world.

As for the two marathon runners who had been lost in the Utah canyons those five days, they ultimately were found by the searchers. They then experienced another form of flight.

A helicopter finally carried them up and out of the canyons, back to the welcome land of hot showers and hot chow.

John Unger is a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, in his twenty second year of keeping athletes and families healthy and active. By stating his flight plan for backcountry outings, he hopes to avoid an unplanned helicopter ride. Your feedback and ideas for future columns are welcomed at www.sportsdocunger.com.

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