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The secret to a great hiking trip isn’t about the brand of boots you buy, the temperature of the air, or what you’ve packed in your picnic. To experience a truly great outdoor trek, you need to know how to pick a trail. The safety of the trail you select can be compromised by nature, and by fellow hikers.
In order to pick an amazing trail, you need to understand that hiking trails vary greatly depending on where you’re planning to trek. There’s a big difference between a peaceful vineyard stroll and a rugged backcountry hike through rainforests and over rocky cliffs. These differences can be intense, and they are what draw backpackers to trails around the world. For all the adventure, fun and excitement that hiking offers, the trails can lead to dangerous situations. In fact, the majority of outdoor survival situations that happen each year are due to the hiker’s lack of foresight and preparation for potential dangers.
Being an experienced hiker, however, doesn’t mean that you’re immune to the hazards of hiking. Beginners and seasoned trekkies alike face struggles that can swiftly develop into dangerous predicaments. Natural hazards are only a small fraction of the problem. When hiking unknown terrain, or traveling far from home, the perils you confront can come from the people you encounter.
The following tips can help you to realize, avoid or overcome the safety risks that you can encounter as you choose a trail:
Hike with a Good Buddy
The dangers of hiking are immensely increased when you travel alone. On the flipside, hiking with at least one partner can help you to evade potentially disastrous situations, and enable you to overcome them. Hiking alone can surely get your adrenaline rushing and bring an extreme element to your trek. However, with a friend, you’re guaranteed help if you need it, and you’ve got backup should you run into harassing individuals on the trail. Simply because you feel you’re in a natural solitude, you still have the potential of running into unsavory individuals. Having a friend with you is a great idea, whether you run into the good, the bad, or the ugly.
File a Clear Itinerary
It’s essential that you leave some information with your family and friends if you plan to pick a trail that’s not familiar. Tell your friends where you will be hiking, and include the specific trail if possible. If you’re registering with a camp or park to use a trail, be sure to leave emergency contact information. You should also have the phone numbers for park rangers, local law enforcement, and land managers.
Keep it Quiet
Create your itinerary, but don’t broadcast it. Don’t discuss your trip plans with suspicious strangers, the bloke at the bar or even the good-looking young fellow you met at the outdoors store. Even though you’re traveling an uncharted course, you shouldn’t tag along with the travel plans of unknown fellow hikers. On the other hand, if you’re hiking alone, pretend that you’re leading a group of hikers that have trailed behind. Remember, tell your friends where you’ll be, and report your itinerary when you register. These are safety measures that must be taken in the event that you run into trouble on the trail.
Dress Conservatively
You never know who you’ll meet on the trail, so make sure not to bring yourself any unwelcome attention. This is no place for your a roll of cash or a Rolex watch. When hiking an unknown trail, you have to assume that you’re leaving yourself vulnerable to the ill attentions of anyone you meet.
Be Sociable
Of course, not all stranger equals danger. You just need to exercise caution and use common sense when you meet a stranger or group of strangers. Avoid anyone provocative, acting strangely, openly hostile, or drunk. Pay attention to details about their behaviour, appearance, and your location. Still, although you shouldn’t broadcast your itinerary to strangers, you don’t necessarily need to be anti-social. You can make some lasting and solid relationships with fellow hikers.
Any of life’s roads can usually lead to danger. Whether hiking in a remote wilderness or considering a career move, select the right path and pick a trail wisely.
Tagged with: mountain hiking • mountain hiking tips
Filed under: Hiking