Emergency Location Markers (ELMs)

2 min readJun 22, 2018

{Rev 2, 9/14/19}

Trails are historically marked with mile markers in the US to provide the hiker with some reference of how far they have come and how far they need to go. Mile markers are unfortunately near worthless to emergency responders approaching from any direction that does not include being ON the trail. The paradigm mile marker system can easily be augmented by placing geolocation ELMs on existing mile marker posts and at other locations.

The ELM system described <link<

A source for ELMs <link<

Where should ELMs be installed? Well, here are the six(6) recommended locations;

Trailheads
Where a trail crosses a road
Where trails intersect
Known accident areas
Shelters, lookouts, and other special points on the trail system
At a frequency along trail that is agreed to by all entities involved. Examples are: every 1/2 mile, 500 meters, 1 mile, 1 kilometer, etc.

Where are ELM programs in-service?

Minnesota

Hawaii

Iowa

Georgia

> Cobb County on multiple trails (explanation video)

Florida

> Brevard County on the C2C Trail, north of Titusville. Here is an sample emergency response process specific to the C2C: bit.ly/C2C_19–5–24

> Kennedy Space Center to include Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore

> Volusia County on the C2C Trail, north of Brevard County line

Finally, if you wish to see what an ELM would look like at your present location, just open website USNGAPP.org on a GPS-enabled smart phone.

For further information about geolocation on trails,