10 Tips for Staying Safe While Hiking

Blog
12 Aug, 2021
Posted By: Patrick Long

Hiking is a very fun pastime for many of us, but if you are not careful it can turn dangerous. It does not take much for a hiking trip to go awry, but with a few basic steps we can make sure we are safe. Read on for ten things to think about for safety on your next hike.

1 | Let Friends & Family Know

The worst thing that could happen is if you have an emergency and no one knows where you are. Just sending a small text and letting your friends and family know where you are going and when you should return could make all the difference.

2 | Bring a Friend

On top of letting friends and family know, bring at least one person with you. Hiking is a great group activity, and traveling in groups is exponentially safer than going at it alone. Plus if there is an incident you have someone right there with you to help in any way that you need.

3 | Talk to a Park Ranger

If you have never been to a particular trail before, it does not hurt to talk to an expert. A park ranger’s job is to help the public, so go ahead and ask them for the rundown of that trail. They could tell you all sorts of important information. Park rangers will probably tell you things like iffy spots in the trail, park restrictions, recent accidents, and many other things that could help keep you safe.

4 | Watch the Weather

The weather is very important while hiking. You do not want to get caught a few miles into a trail when a storm comes through. Keeping an eye on the forecast can keep this from happening. You even need to check it the morning of the hiking as well. Weather can change quickly, and so can your safety.

5 | Bring the Essentials

You should never go on a hike without the essentials. Things like navigation, first aid, water, food, etc. Luckily we have a hiking essentials checklist for you right here.

6 | Wear Quality Boots

When hiking, ankle and foot injuries are by far the most common injuries. So you want to make sure you not only have comfortable boots or shoes for the hike but ones that have good tread and ankle support. Investing a little extra into a good set of hiking boots is definitely worth it.

7 | Bring Plenty of Water

Water is incredibly important. If you like to watch survival shows as I do, you have seen that people can go for a long time without food. Although they can only go a couple of days without water until there are serious repercussions. So you need to make sure you bring plenty of water in case anything goes wrong or if it is hot out. Staying hydrated will keep you hiking longer and it will keep you from potentially passing out from the heat.

8 | Stay on The Trail

Chances are if you like hiking you are an adventurous type. There is a time and a place for off-trail adventures, but in many popular hiking areas the trail is there for a reason. Going off the trail can be dangerous and also puts fragile environmental features at risk. So for everyone’s safety, stick close to the trail.

9 | Go on an Appropriate length Hike

A mistake some beginning hikers make is biting off more than they can chew. Hiking is a lot of strain on your body and it is hard work. So you can not expect to be able to hike ten miles one way if you have never hiked before.

Additionally, most accidents on hikes happen on the way back, when hikers are tired. So work your way up. Start off with a mile hike and then try a three-mile hike a few times. You will eventually be able to work up to whichever length of hike you want.

10 | Bring a Weapon

Lastly I suggest bringing a weapon of some sort. A lot of hikers say that you do not need a firearm while hiking, but you will never catch me anywhere without a pistol. Even when I go to extremely safe public places I always carry, so you can bet that when I am in the woods I will carry.

I always suggest having at least one person in your hiking party carrying a firearm, but at the very least you should have some sort of bear spray or pepper spray. If you really get into hiking and start going on trails that do not have an overabundance of people on them, there is a higher chance of a threat. Whether that be a bear or a malicious person, it is always best to be prepared.

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