An avid hiker is cautioning anyone hitting the trails that there are certain items they should always have with them – no matter the time of day.
Jack Hickey, who also volunteers with Rovers Search and Rescue, says it is important to always have a flashlight, knife, phone, and change of clothes on hand.
As an example, Hickey explains that there is a trail known as Torbay Point that he likes to hike.
Retired Firefighter and SAR Volunteer Jack Hickey (Via Jack Hickey on Facebook.)
It takes 15 minutes to walk in, and 15 minutes to walk out, but he always goes prepared because anything could happen.
He says if he rolls his ankle or goes down over an embankment, and he can’t get cell phone reception, he could be stuck there for a while.
Hickey stresses the importance of bringing a flashlight. He says after a recent search on The Spout trail outside Bay Bulls he got every member of his team to turn off their flashlights so they could see what it would be like to be stuck there with no light.
He says the darkness was “frightening,” and could only imagine what it would be like for someone who only has a cell phone – the battery for which is being worn down by also using it to try to call for help.
