Take extra food and water- even if you pack just a few extra energy bars or some trail mix; that can mean the difference between being hungry or not. I don't know about you but when i'm hungry I can tend to get grumpy which is probably more of a problem for the people i'm with but remember trying to keep a positive mental attitude is extremely important!
Being lost is a very bad feeling, I've experienced it once and got lucky because I knew the area and was able to climb up to a high ridge and get my bearings; but the moment I realized I had got turned around I felt my blood pressure rise and heart beat start to race. If you cannot get your bearings you should set up camp and stay put. If someone is expecting you they will look for you and hitting a moving target is a lot harder than a stationary one. Remember what they taught you in elementary school, "If you get lost, Hug a Tree"! It is really ok to be a tree hugger!!
So I think that about covers it. If you follow the above steps you will be well on your way to staying safe and alive every time you visit the Mountains in our backyard.
Stay safe and alive until next time...