Some people may ask: “What’s so special about hiking and exploring the countryside?” With this, I usually reply that there’s a special feeling that comes from reaching the summit of a mountain and viewing the landscape below. Hiking is a noncompetitive sport that provides great exercise and allows you the chance to momentarily get away from it all. Before I go very far with posting hikes and treks I’ve been on, I would like to share a few wise guidelines I use whenever I venture outdoors. Some of these guidelines I have learned from my own “trial and error” experiences.
1. Go Prepared. Wear the proper kind of clothing. I usually wear sturdy hiking boots that extend over the ankles, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. Experience has taught me that hiking poles are wise items to take. I also wear a full-brimmed hat to protect my face and neck from too much sun. Sun screen lotion is also useful, particularly when hiking across snowfields or near large bodies of water. Bug repellent is a wise thing to carry with you, or you can carry a couple of fresh dryer fabric softener sheets, which are known to ward off bugs. A small first-aid kit is a “must” to have along that includes bandages, antiseptic solution, aspirin, gauze, medical tape, and so forth. Packing a snake bite kit is also wise along with a small signal mirror in the event you become stranded. Additional items include a pocketknife, a lighter for starting a fire, a working flashlight with fresh batteries, a raincoat or waterproof poncho, a thermal blanket, a map of the area going to, compass, and a GPS (global positioning system) unit if possible. Know how to use the GPS. Always bring plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. A little too much water is always better than not enough, even though the weight may be a little cumbersome. Quick energy trail mix snacks that contain some salt are good for replenishing the body’s electrolytes. On extended hikes, I always pack a couple of sandwiches that won’t spoil quickly and some fruit.
2. Exercise Wise Judgment. This includes pre-hike planning as well as decisions made on the hike itself. If venturing into a particular area for the first time, do your homework! Consult guide books, maps, and other hikers’ accounts of the area to gain a better understanding of what you might be up against. When going on the outing, it never hurts to take a copy of this information with you. Another item to pay close attention to is the local weather conditions. More than once, I have been chased off high mountain ridges by thunder and lightning storms. A day that starts out clear and sunny in the morning may become cloudy and stormy by afternoon. Pay attention to cloud build-up as you hike and listen to the weather forecast before you hike. I also tend to avoid excessive heat as much as possible. If it’s going to be a hot day I will generally hike at higher altitudes where the air is cooler. Starting hikes early in the morning during the coolest part of the day is another way to avoid the heat at lower altitudes. Use extreme caution when traversing areas of steep terrain and exposure. If you fear heights, don’t venture into these areas. Know your body’s limits and don’t exceed them. While this may be difficult when you’re close to reaching a desired point, it could spell the difference between success and disaster. Also, keep an eye on the time and the amount of daylight you have left in the day. Most hiking injuries tend to occur during the descent from a mountain versus the ascent. A couple of factors play into this: 1st – Decreased strength from ascending the mountain and 2nd – Less stability from the heels of your feet, increasing the chance for slips and falls. Ed Viesturs, a well-known mountaineer, has stated: "Getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory."
3. Share Your Itinerary with Someone Else. It’s always wise to let someone else know where you are going in the event trouble develops. If possible, leave them with a copy of a map with your planned route plotted on it. You should also indicate your estimated time of return to the responsible person. Though service may not be available in some areas, it’s always wise to carry a cell phone with you. Generally, you can receive service from the summit of a mountain or along the top of a ridgeline. Some trailheads have registries that you can put your name on – alerting authorities that you’re in the area. Be sure to sign out when you leave if there is space to do so. On less-popular hikes it is always wise to take another person with you. This is one area that I need to do better at. Most often my reasoning for going alone is due to the unavailability of people to go with me, or fear that I will burden them because they are stronger at hiking than I am. There have been a few remote hikes that I’ve been on alone where I never saw another living human soul – hikes that I later realized I shouldn’t have gone on alone. So far, I’ve been lucky that nothing serious has happened to me. Even on the more popular hikes, it never hurts to take someone else along with you.
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