Most in Northern Nevada love the outdoors.
"I try and get in 5 hikes a week," said Roleigh Martin, a member in the Reno division of the Sierra Hiking Club.
Cold temperatures doesn't stop members of the club from taking to the hills. Martin said they've only canceled one hike in the 22 months he's been in Reno.
Why haven't they canceled hardly any hikes? Because they've figured out a crucial element in staying safe when traveling the back country.
"You sign a form when you sign in and that means you agree to stay between the lead and the sweep while signed in," said Martin.
The Washoe County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team has been getting more calls this year than last for missing hikers.
November and December of 2014 saw 5 total searches. Those same months in 2015 saw 18 searches, more than triple what 2014 saw in the same time frame.
The harsh winter season Northern Nevada has seen in comparison to years past is a major catalyst.
Deputy Jeff McCaskill with the Washoe County Sheriff says one of the most important things you can do is tell people where you are going before heading out.
"Lay out a detailed plan for someone who has a land line, someone that you know. Kind of a call the authorities if you're not back at a certain time, if you're not reported back by a certain time," said McCaskill.
