Trail Safety

We love that Pocahontas State Park can provide an authentic back country riding or hiking experience, but this also means that being safe has to be a paramount concern for riders and hikers alike.  Almost every month rescue crews and/or park law enforcement have to locate and extract an injured visitor.

Even with the best of intentions, accidents do happen.  Most are thankfully relatively minor, but others are quite serious both here at the park, and in other of the region's trail locations.  Sadly, many of us know of friends who have injured themselves permanently, often under seemingly routine conditions.

To set the stage for the discussion it is important to recognize that, if injured, you may be many miles and potentially many hours from rescue.  Unlike an urban trail system (such as the James River Park system) rescue personnel cannot drive to within a couple of hundred feet of the trail.  Instead, rescue personnel will need to be guided to your location by park personnel and may, depending upon terrain, have to walk in to find you and then carry you out.  A typical daytime rescue of a non-walking visitor can take a couple of hours.  A night time rescue can take considerably longer.

Here's what you can do to be prepared when out on the trail:

1. When cycling in the park, always wear a helmet, eye protection, and gloves.
2. Ride within your ability.
3. Carry enough food and water - bonking, overheating and dehydration are big problems in the summer months.  You should drink before you're thirsty and eat no less often than once every 45 minutes.
4. Always ride in a group of at least two (preferably three) riders.
5. If you have a medical condition that might crop up during a ride, make sure your buddies are aware of it.  Ideally, wear an upgraded RoadID with medical info.
6. Make sure that every rider has a cell phone with GPS with them.
7. Carry a repair kit including tube(s) - yes, even for you tubeless guys, patches, levers, air source, and a cyclist multitool.  Ideally you would also include a spare derailer hanger and a quick link chain repair link.  
8. Be self aware and pay attention to landmarks as you ride.  "Somewhere on the Blue Trail"  is a lot harder to find than "A quarter mile past the Mile 2 marker ...".  Tip:  Download the Trailforks app - it has mapping features and an emergency locator:  https://www.trailforks.com/apps/map/
9. Bring a light in the late afternoon - particularly in the fall and winter months. 
10. Carry a basic first aid kit and know how to use it.  In addition to wound dressings, a thermal blanket (space blanket) is very important.
11. Never leave an injured or otherwise incapacitated (including breakdown) alone on the trail - not even to get help.
12. Carry the park phone number with you so you can call for help (911 also works).  That number is (804) 796-4255

If  you come across an injured rider (or hiker) and feel that they need medical attention:

1. Call the park office at (804) 796-4255 or call 911.  
2. Tell them exactly where you are on the trail.  If your phone has a GPS function provide that information as well.
3. Follow the instructions rescuers give you regarding how best to care for the injured rider or hiker.