Geocaching

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

• Choose synthetic clothing rather than cotton, they will dry faster and keep you warm even if they are wet
• Bring enough water (1 litre minimum) and a snack
• Bring a small backpack with a headlamp, matches, sunscreen lotion, a first aid kit and a trail map
• Plan your itinerary on a map and let someone know of your plan, including departure and return time
• Make sure your GPS batteries are charged and bring spare batteries with you
• Don’t forget that a GPS does not replace a map and a compass; bring those along on your trip
• Choose a trail that fits your capacities (average speed of 3 km/h) taking into account the sunshine duration
• Warm-up and stretch to reduce risks of injuries during your hike
• Check the weather forecast before leaving

WHILE GEOCACHING

• For your own safety, never leave alone
• Geocaching will bring you outside of the signed areas; Prepare accordingly and make sure you always know where you are
• Drink water often and in small quantities
• Carry your trash with you to dispose of it in a garbage bin
• Don’t hesitate to evaluate your itinerary during the day and to turn around if necessary

What to do if you are injured and cannot move?

• First, if you have a cellphone with you, see if you have cellphone signal where you are. If so, call the visitor center at 418-469-2228 extension 101. Explain your situation and ask for help.
• If you don’t have cellphone signal where you are, but you’re not alone, protect yourself from the cold, the wind and the ground. Once you are in a stable position, ask your partner to go get help at the visitor center.
• If you are by yourself, cannot move and don’t have cellphone signal, try to stay as warm as possible and protect yourself from the ground with some form of insulation. Stay close to the trail and try to be easy to see by other users or the rescue team.

In any case, never leave the signaled areas.

What to do if you are lost?

• If you left the signaled area and you don’t know where you are, turn back following your footprints until you reach the signaled area.
• If you cannot see your footprints, and are on a slope, slowly make you way down: most of our trails follow rivers or streams in the valleys. If you reach a river or a stream, follow it until you reach a trail.
• If you cannot see your footprints, and even by going down into the valley you cannot find any stream, river or trail, but you have a cellphone, see if you have cellphone signal where you are. If so, call the visitor center at 418-469-2228 extension 101. Explain your situation and ask for help.
• If you don’t have cellphone signal where you are, you cannot see your footprints and are lost outside of the signaled area, try to orientate yourself: try to find a summit or another clue to where you might be. Move only if you are sure of the direction you’re heading to.
• Otherwise, the best thing to do is to stay where you are, to protect yourself as much as possible from the elements, to make sure you are easy to see using any colorful object (clothing, tent, tarp, etc.) and, if you have one, by using your whistle, or calling for help. If night falls, turn a headlamp on or start a fire to ensure you are easy to spot.

In any case, it is preferable to wait for help rather than spending your energy going around in circles in the woods.