Hiker Safety Programs

Current

Satellite Communicators Giveaway

Each year the Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation is committed to donating up to 12 InReach Mini 2 devices, complete with activation and up to seven months subscription. These units are donated in the name of missing hikers.

Hiker Safety Cards

How to Help Search and Rescue Find You

Our Hiker Safety Cards were designed with hikers in mind. They are tear-proof, waterproof, weather-resistant, and made with rounded corners so they can easily be tossed into a backpack and forgotten about until they’re needed.

The cards include simple but important information about how to help search and rescue find you if something goes wrong. They also include pre-hike safety reminders that hikers can review before heading out on the trail.

Being able to participate in your own rescue can help search and rescue teams, provide valuable clues, and could save your life. Knowing what to do — and what not to do — matters.

Request Hiker Safety Cards

These cards are free and available to hikers, hiking groups, schools, outdoor programs, and organizations. To request cards, email us at hikersafetycard@fofound.org with your name, mailing address, and how many you would like.

Email Us

FREE

Recycled Satellite Communicators

Through this program, we collect gently used satellite communicators that might otherwise be sitting unused in a drawer and place them into the hands of hikers who need them most. We currently accept:

Donate

Before donating, owners must deactivate the unit from their personal account. Once that’s done, devices can be mailed to:

Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation
℅ Scott Kastner
P.O. Box 8
Big Bend, WI 53103

Nomad Ventures & Kahtoola

Funded by the Laher Family, the Fowler-O’Sullivan Foundation, Nomad Ventures, and Kahtoola, all PCT Class of 2026 thru-hikers may purchase a new set of Kahtoola MICROspikes, while supplies last, through Nomad Ventures at a 20% discount.

Orders can be made at www.nomadventures.com/trevor-spikes. Your purchase will be waiting for you at Paradise Valley Cafe when you arrive. (Please note: there will be no shipping through this program). The Trevor Spikes discount program runs while supplies last.

This program was formed in memory of Trevor “Microsoft” Laher, who slipped on snow-covered ice and fell to his death while traversing Apache Peak in 2020. A participant in the program for the last five years, the Foundation is covering 10% of all microspike purchases (up to 200 orders).

PSAR on the PCT

In honor of those missing on the PCT, we provide financial support to PSAR initiatives providing safety and trail information to PCT thru-hikers.

San Jacinto Trail Report

We are proud supporters of the San Jacinto Trail Report

https://sanjacjon.com