National Park Week and the Importance of Preparedness
National Park Week celebrates the stunning wild places that make up our national park system—a chance to explore, reflect, and reconnect with nature. But if there’s one consistent truth about nature, it’s this: it doesn’t care how prepared you meant to be.
That’s why, as millions of Americans lace up their boots and head into the backcountry this week, we’re reminding our community to enjoy the wild responsibly—which means going in prepared.
Here are three essential ways you can do that:
1. Be Prepared for Medical Emergencies
Whether you’re hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park or camping in Zion, medical help is often hours away—if it’s available at all. A fall, a snake bite, or a bad burn from the camp stove can quickly turn into a crisis.
Don’t be the group that didn’t pack a trauma kit.
Mountain Man Medical is offering a National Park Week Sale on some of their most trusted trauma kits—including the compact Tracker Kit, the Wind River Kit, and the group-ready BaseCamp Kit. These kits are built for real-world use and field-tested by professionals.
2. Be Prepared to Communicate
Cell service? Forget about it. Once you’re a few miles down the trail, even a text message might be out of the question. That’s why serious outdoor adventurers don’t rely on cell towers—they carry redundant communication gear.
Two smart options:
- Handheld Ham Radios like the ever-popular Baofeng UV-5R are affordable and powerful tools for backcountry communication. While a license is normally required to transmit on ham frequencies, FCC rules allow unlicensed operation in a genuine emergency. That said, we strongly encourage everyone to earn their license and pre-program important local frequencies before heading out.
- Garmin inReach devices let you text via satellite, track your trip, and even send an SOS in true emergencies. It’s a growing favorite among serious hikers, backpackers, and hunters. You need an inReach compatible device and then to activate a service plan.
Image courtesy of Garmin.com
Don’t rely on your phone being your lifeline. When comms go down, gear like this can make all the difference.
3. Be Prepared to Defend Yourself
Wild places are beautiful—but they’re also wild. Every year, hikers and campers report dangerous encounters with both human and animal threats. I've paid some attention over the years to bear attack stories and data and bear attacks are increasing in frequency. We've already had a bear-attack-related death this year.
Todd Orr, an experienced outdoorsman, took these selfies after surviving a bear attack back in 2016
Carrying a firearm in the wilderness isn’t just a legal possibility—it might be your best line of defense.
Not sure what the rules are in national parks? We’ve got you covered. This guide, which I wrote a few years ago breaks down exactly how to stay both legal and safe when carrying a firearm into National Parks specifically:
👉 How to Safely Travel with Your Firearm to National Parks
Final Thoughts
Adventure is what draws us to national parks, but preparedness is what makes those adventures safe and memorable. Don’t just hope for the best. Plan for the worst, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with being ready.
Happy National Park Week. Be safe, stay armed, and protect what matters.
