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Coming Back Home in One Piece
You want to come back home better than when you left it. That should be the objective for anyone heading outside. More so when embarking on a nature trek.
Hiking can be therapeutic! It can also be horrifying; which way it swings depends on how prepared you are for it.
Why Hiking Safely is So Important
Your life! That’s as far as it goes. Hiking safely is important because your life depends on it. The same can be said for the life of anyone that is hiking with you. Frequent hikers know how perilous the wilds can be.
You have to keep in mind that dangers are aplenty year-round. Each season brings with it its own problems. Heat exhaustion and lightning strikes, to name a few. An early afternoon outdoors should be a blessing. You should be fixated on letting go of all your worries.
However, all it takes is for at least one person to suffer an injury or, worse, for your peaceful afternoon to turn into a nightmare.
Safety Tips to Help You Prepare
Consult a national or state park
Calling ahead can provide you with invaluable information. National and state park staff are obliging! They get paid to help you get the best experience possible. You can expect to learn about trail conditions. Appropriate clothing information will also be provided. The help is there for you. Why not use it?
Check the weather forecast and prepare accordingly
How do you get your weather forecast? Whether by mobile phone or your local news station, you should look this information up. I check the forecast any time I head out.
A change in conditions will morph a familiar trail into unfamiliar terrain. Thunderstorms typically develop rapidly. To avoid getting caught out, you’ll want to be informed.
Share your Hiking route with some outsider
By far, telling someone where you are headed is the best thing you can do, even if you’re trekking with a group! Misfortune could befall you all, but you still have a chance at being rescued as long as somebody else knows where you are. Text a friend or, better yet, a family member before you hike.
Always make a plan B for any emergency
We don’t like to think about worst-case scenarios. But having a contingency in case of an emergency doesn’t hurt. Fret not! Your plan b doesn’t have to be extensive. All that’s required is a list of steps to follow should you find yourself in a precarious situation.
Include friends in your hiking trip
It’s time for me to divulge something. Hiking alone is my deliverance! It sets my mind at ease from all my problems. Despite that, even I must acknowledge the benefits of bringing someone along. The more feet on the trail with you, the more options you can count on. Strength in numbers, as the old adage goes!
Safety Tips to Follow When in the Great Outdoors
Extra layers/insulation
Bad weather and flash floods occur more frequently than you realize. Don’t abide by the weather report alone. Packing along extra layers for insulation is a must. Long pants should be at the top of your list.
The reason is that it could save you from one of nature’s most annoying creations. Poison ivy!? You’ll also want to avoid bringing along too much cotton clothing. Avoid cotton because it absorbs water. This will cause you issues when trying to keep yourself warm or dry.
Take Your Rain Gear
Extra clothing is great, but rain gear is optimal. Your expedition will be fraught with slippery areas! Aside from stream water, rain, and moisture will also be factors to consider. The one remedy to all these ailments is proper rain clothes.
Rain clothes grant you enough time for you to locate safe shelter. Flooded marked trails are much more manageable with rain boots on. Rain clothing doesn’t weigh much. Bringing it along can only help you, so there should be no reason to neglect it.
Hiking boots and socks
With solid rock areas all around you, specialized hiking boots are required. Don’t skimp on these! Especially if you hike early. The proper arch support and safety features are a blessing for your feet. Hiking boots are a true multi-purpose tool!
Thicker socks are also available. Thick socks make it harder for water to seep in. They wick moisture and are surprisingly breathable. I say surprisingly because you’d think that something that thick would be airtight!
With the two combined, your feet and lower legs will be secured and supported. If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience that will leave you with a lasting sense of accomplishment, then hiking and climbing the Grand Teton would truly be a fulfilling experience for you!
First aid kit
I’ve written and raved about first-aid kits for years. They are the handiest tool available. By far! First-aid kits are diminutive. Since they don’t take up much space, they are easy to transport. Hauling them around is no problem, and small injuries and bumps can be taken care of.
Even serious wounds can be handled much better with a first-aid kit. There’s no good reason why you shouldn’t want a kit with you. The disinfectant wipes and sanitary strips available in most justify its presence alone.
GPS/Navigation
Don’t rely on your cell service. Amongst the trees, a cell signal can be easily lost. Besides your cell phone, a GPS device should be brought along. Navigation systems don’t just give you a detailed overview of your area. Many even provide topographical information!
Your current altitude and any changes to it. Drop-offs and sheer cliffs are also clearly marked. These devices could save your life, and they are easily portable to boot!
Most GPS devices have a long battery life. Although, packing extra batteries shouldn’t be discouraged.
Sunscreen
The omnipresent sunscreen. It seems no matter where you are headed: the beach, the ski resort, or hiking, sunscreen should tag along. Remember, just because you can’t see the sun doesn’t mean its rays aren’t poking through.
Should you forget your sunscreen, the best-case scenario is you suffer mild sunburns. The worst-case scenario is you raise the probability of developing a malignant tumor. Worse yet, skin cancer!
Either way, it’s going to be painful! Don’t play with those odds. In the end, you win nothing at all.
Torchlight and whistle
Think of a torchlight as a flare. You can use one to light your way or help someone locate you. A whistle serves the same purpose, just like in the movie Titanic. If you don’t know where you are, periodically blowing on a whistle will help rescuers locate you.
Don’t get lost
Being aware of your surroundings isn’t just about avoiding any snags in the ground. When you keep track of your location, you can better retrace your steps. Even if you have a bad memory, landmarks, and odd-looking formations aren’t difficult to remember.
Nature’s visual oddities can serve as cues. Cues that center us and show us the way back home.
Matches/lighter for fire
Unless you want to rub two sticks the old fashion way, caveman style, bring along some matches. Matches and a lighter are the fastest way to a fire. A campfire can be used to cook and keep warm.
Nutrition and hydration
Granola bars don’t cost much, and they won’t take up much space. A one-half liter of water won’t last long in the summer heat. Both items are essential for staving off a heat stroke.
While a healthy meal before your walk is necessary, pack along some snacks. Healthy snacks that’ll save you in a pinch.
Repair tool kit
Your sleeping bag could tear. Perhaps your GPS device is on the fritz? Whatever the case, the more you hike, the more quickly you realize that things break down. They may break apart on their own, or they will malfunction after you have taken a tumble.
The reason doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you now have gear or a tool that is no longer operational. Having a repair tool kit on hand can be useful for quickly mending your gear. Like a first-aid kit for your tools!
Emergency shelter
Being aware of your surroundings is important for locating one thing. An emergency shelter. Emergency shelters will protect you from the worst conditions. Disaster-level weather and storms or even a predator. A temporary shelter doesn’t have to be perfect, only adequate.
Keep in mind that different scenarios will require different shelters. For example, if you hear thunder, avoid isolated trees! They act as lightning rods. Just the kind of thing you want to avoid in a storm.
This information comes straight from the National lightning safety institute’s manual.
Make a small trial walk on the trail before starting your hike
It’s called preemptive scouting! A strategy that sets you up for success. Preemptive scouting as you visit the area or trail as you plan on hiking through. The goal isn’t to scout out the entire area. Rather, you are there to gain some first-hand experience.
You’re drawing a mental map. A basic plot that will provide you with valuable information about the area. This helps you better prepare for the day of the actual hike. You don’t even have to physically be there. Preemptive scouting can be done through online maps and images.
Maintain your focus throughout
Naturally, we’ll be more alert as soon as our hike begins. But what happens after a few minutes or an hour on the beaten path? That’s when we settle in. As we grow more accustomed to our environment, that is when the danger escalates.
The second leg of a trek is far more perilous than the first. The reason why is that we stop being ready for anything that comes our way. Suddenly, holes and snags on the ground blur away. Next thing you know, you’re on the ground with a sprained ankle. Remain alert!
Make sure you return back
We all want some form of escape! Occasionally. However, returning home should be your main objective. Being able to return home to a safe place is a luxury that shouldn’t be taken for granted.
As you venture out into the woods or on the trail, keep that in mind. Furthermore, if you wish to leave the outdoors, well… outdoors, then take some bug spray with you. Mosquitos and ticks are not for the faint of heart!
Neither are sunburns, but we’ve been over that already.
What to do in an Emergency
Find yourself in an emergency? Seek shelter! Even when fully strapped into your rain gear. You must seek protection from the elements. Exposure is your number one enemy in the great outdoors because it messes with your body’s internal temperature.
What this means is that you could end up sick. Once you fall ill, all problems quickly escalate. Not only will you have to deal with your current predicament, but also your illness. Seeking a suitable shelter aside, you’ll need to plan your next steps. Upon this time, your emergency plan should kick in. Provided that you have one!
My Final Thoughts
National parks make for an enjoyable trip. Avoid hiking unprepared. When you head out fully prepared for the changing weather and mountainous areas, you’ll find that your trip becomes a lot more satisfying. With that said, pack your trail mix (preferably an extra day’s supply) and throw on some warm clothing. It’s time to head out!
