View Full Version : Danger Signs
Old Grouse
07-09-2008, 13:25
In another current thread it was suggested that if you carry paper and a pencil you can leave other hikers a warning note about an upcoming danger.
More years ago than I want to admit, I was taught that three of something is a "universal" danger signal. For example, three rocks piled up in the middle of the trail. Plainly not as information-filled as an itemized note, but something, at least.
Is that still done, or are we too sophisticated now in this age of alerts texted to our GPS-enabled cell phones?
3 shots. 3 toots of a car horn. 3 whistle blasts. Still acknowledged here.
3 rocks in the trail = some kid or tourist.
Interested in others take on this. Good question.
That was common when I was in the scouts but that was 50 years ago. I would think that at least the scouts still use that sign though. Scoutmasters are sure to reply.
Odd Thomas
07-09-2008, 13:33
My Grandfather said every hiker should learn hobo signs.
http://www.slackaction.com/signroll.htm
Never heard the 3 thing before, other than "bad things come in three's"
The thinking in Maine is one noise catches your attention. Second helps you locate. Third allows you to zero in on where it came from.
I'm not too keen on having a bunch of notes scribbled on paper littering the trail. Bad Idea.
A warning sign I've both used and seen myself is to tie something red to a tree ahead of the danger, from both directions.
I've seen the red flags used a number of times for collapsed sections of trail, etc. I used a strip of bandana once to flag a yellow jackets' nest that was in the middle of the trail.
My Grandfather said every hiker should learn hobo signs.
http://www.slackaction.com/signroll.htm
Never heard the 3 thing before, other than "bad things come in three's"
those are awsome...but it reminds me of all the 10/4, 10/20 stuff you hear on a CB radio..there are a few older road warriors out there that know what they all mean...will say something like "you gotta 10-33 jsut ahead"........but most of the time you are scratching you head wondering what those codes or symbols mean
here are the CB codes in case anyone is interested
http://www.cbradio.org.uk/cb10codes.htm
Hammock Hanger
07-09-2008, 14:05
That was common when I was in the scouts but that was 50 years ago. I would think that at least the scouts still use that sign though. Scoutmasters are sure to reply.
That was the same signal we used in the Girl Scouts some 45 years ago. (Wow! That long....)
Old Grouse
07-09-2008, 14:08
Hey, I told you it was longer ago than I cared to admit!
Hammock Hanger
07-09-2008, 14:08
My Grandfather said every hiker should learn hobo signs.
http://www.slackaction.com/signroll.htm
Never heard the 3 thing before, other than "bad things come in three's"
Some of those are quite funny!!!:p
cannonball
07-09-2008, 14:11
Boy Scouts still use it. BTW, Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts, developer a sign signifying that he had broken camp and gone home. a small circle of rocks with a single rock placed inside. As I understand it, that same sign is on his grave.
Odd Thomas
07-09-2008, 14:15
Some of those are quite funny!!!:p
This one's more complete.
http://www.worldpath.net/~minstrel/hobosign.htm
I've never seen any of these signs in the wild. :)
leeki pole
07-09-2008, 14:17
Thirty-five years ago as Scouts we used it. I'm glad to hear the practice still exists.
that may be a way to signal danger, leaving three stones, but who's to say the person coming behind you knows what those rocks mean? Pretty useless to leave a signal that people can't interpret. That'd be like leaving a note in another language. I say, leave a note, but at least date it.
WalkingStick75
07-09-2008, 17:20
3 shots. 3 toots of a car horn. 3 whistle blasts. Still acknowledged here.
3 rocks in the trail = some kid or tourist.
Old scout here so I remember this. Most hikers would pickup on a branch placed over the wrong trail. Not so sure if most would recognize three rocks, if I were to use this one I would do several, several feet away from each other so another hiker would think twice if it was a kid stacking rocks. Notes are nice but don't last long in the weather.
A warning sign I've both used and seen myself is to tie something red to a tree ahead of the danger, from both directions.
I've seen the red flags used a number of times for collapsed sections of trail, etc. I used a strip of bandana once to flag a yellow jackets' nest that was in the middle of the trail.
what happened to the bandana strip once the danger was over?