30 Essential Hiking Safety Hacks For Safe And Well-Organized Adventures

Those of us who soaked upward the Oprah-recommended book called "Wild" got to live vicariously through author Cheryl Strayed's adventures as she white-knuckled her way through a precarious hike upwards the Pacific Coast Trail.

Those of u.s. who don't desire to experience the human foot-bleeding, skin-peeling, moose-fleeing drama that she faced during her arduous journey would do well to follow these 30 hiking safety hacks.

1. Get dandy-fitting boots

Boots that fit improperly can make you lot suffer from unnecessary blisters and lost toenails. Grabbing a pair (or two) of the best-reviewed hiking boots on Amazon that aren't too tight or way too big for your anxiety is critical.

2. Walk effectually with your backpack earlier leaving

If you pack too many items in your backpack, you'll needlessly endure from carrying a heavier load that necessary. Examination out picking up, toting and putting down your intended load on your back while still at domicile, before embarking on your journey.

three. Send yourself supply boxes ahead of time

Instead of trying to conduct everything just the kitchen sink on your back, send yourself boxes full of supplies at pre-planned points at post offices along your trail hike – especially if it's an extended walk.

4. Make sure to learn what's poisonous and what'south edible

As chronicled in the pop book and film chosen Into the Wild , Christopher McCandless died most probable as a event of eating a mold-filled plant or from confusing wild sweet pea seeds with those of another flora. The crucial lesson to be learned is to ensure what yous're eating is safe.

5. Give up if the hike becomes likewise unsafe

Don't exist so set in stone on following your hiking programme that y'all're non willing to make changes. Certain seasons bring inordinate snowfall and water ice or other treacherous weather to some trails, making them impassable.

half-dozen. Take a buddy if you lot experience led to do and so

At that place's condom in numbers. Though nosotros love to read the tales of folks brave enough to venture off on solo hikes, it helps to consider bringing others – specially more experienced hikers – forth on your trip.

seven. Know your trail

Use a map, GPS device and compass to effigy out where you're going, but make sure you've besides studied every dash of the area y'all're planning to hike – and that you know how to utilize landmarks to determine where yous're going, only in instance all of those devices become lost.

8. Bring sufficient snacks

Keep consuming enough high-quality calories to requite y'all energy for your hike. Stuff your bag with freeze-stale foods that are both lightweight and nutritious.

ix. Check out a menstrual sponge

Yeah, I'd never heard ane either until I read the report of Strayed, the female person hiker who used a menstrual sponge to collect her monthly menses. She'd wash it and reuse information technology instead of dealing with sanitary napkins and tampons.

10. Hang your food

Always hang your food or use a bear canister in order to proceed it safe from animals, and to help forestall critters from sniffing around near yous, advises the Washington Trails Association.

11. Take plenty water

Even if you anticipate running into potable, fresh-h2o sources along your path, realize that information technology's healthy to bring a water bladder full of liquid in order to keep yous well hydrated each twenty-four hours.

12. Sunscreen is disquisitional

Even if it's the dead of wintertime, the sun can still beat down on you in dangerous ways. Protect your pare with sunscreen balm that contains a high SPF gene.

13. Acquire how to safely start a burn

Fifty-fifty if it's raining, it helps to follow the Boy Scout rules on how to still use collected woods, your handy pocket knife and starter accessories to become a burn going that tin can keep you warm, requite light and cook your food.

fourteen. Bring extra Ring-Aids

Experienced hikers say that you lot can rarely take plenty Band-Aids – fifty-fifty more than than are found in the standard first-aid kits. Because backpacks tend to rub confronting shoulders and backs, they can cause blisters that need to exist covered.

15. Call up the first-help kit

Speaking of beginning-assistance kits, REI has a bully one that includes things like Moleskin for cicatrice protection and other wound-care specifics that might not be institute in other non-hiking related kits.

xvi. An water ice pick can exist your all-time friend

As dramatically chronicled in Wild , learning to properly employ an ice selection can assist yous navigate precarious trails by offering surer footing in the case of icy surfaces.

17. Take something adept to read

Although safety is very of import, it doesn't mean you tin can't bring fun items along with you. During the downtime and slow hours when you're not staring at the sunrise, you might desire to pull out your favorite Divergent book or a compact re-create of the New Attestation to go on yous visitor.

18. Inform others of your hiking plan

Instead launching off without letting whatsoever family members or friends know where you lot're going, leave your detailed hiking safety plan with at to the lowest degree one person you tin can trust – and plan to check in with them at appointed times.

nineteen. Do shorter hikes first

Earlier setting out on the monumental hike of a lifetime, programme to complete several smaller hikes offset in order to acclimate yourself to the process.

20. Learn how to gear up your tent earlier you leave

It can be tempting to permit your tent stay nice and tidy, planning to unpack it and read the rules when you're on your hike. It's better, notwithstanding, to learn the intricacies of tent setup – which tin be daunting – in the safety of your own backyard get-go, instead of in the wild.

21. Keep as dry as possible

Dampness and cold can exist the enemy to a adept hike. Fifty-fifty pelting jackets may need to exist put through an extra waterproofing process.

22. Utilize your fingers to gauge the remaining daylight

Sort of like using a sundial to tell time, there'south a peachy way you can utilise your fingers to determine if you have enough hours of lite left to hike on or whether you lot should hunker down for the evening.

23. Look up to the moon and stars.

In order to find your true north and south directions, without needing a compass you lot can discover the moon and the stars.

24. Bring a quality knife

Not that you want to employ information technology like Aron Ralston had to use his when he cut off his own arm in club to free himself after getting trapped in rock canyons equally shown in the movie 127 Hours , only a expert pocketknife can do everything from provide protection to help prepare food.

25. Pack extra dress

Realize that if you're hiking in a common cold climate, you tin still sweat and soak through your apparel. Make sure you lot have enough extra gear to alter into whilst your other soggy clothes are drying

26. Double-check last minute weather reports

Even if the location you lot're planning to hike is predicted to exist filled with sunny skies and pleasant weather condition, make sure you're aware of up-to-the-minute storms or other approaching factors than tin adversely affect your hike.

27. Enquiry all the potential animals you lot may run across

Bring bear repellant spray, and acquire the proper way to react if y'all're suddenly faced with a big grizzly bear versus a blackness bear. Determine beforehand the types of wildlife your hiking expanse contains – be information technology teeming with coyotes, snakes, mountain lions or whatever – along with the best ways to keep safe from them.

28. Duck Tape can be very valuable

Duck Tape tin can serve a multitude of purposes, from taping up wounds to covering blisters to helping to remove a tick, so stock upwards.

29. Protect your smartphone in a waterproof example

If yous can get a indicate when you need information technology the well-nigh, a waterproof instance for your jail cell telephone can serve every bit a lifeline past keeping the electronic dry and usable. Life Proof makes a neat one.

30. Stay calm, keep your wits nigh you and have fun

Remember the main reasons y'all have embarked upon the journeying. Even if you come across unexpected adventures, don't give in to fear. Enjoy the practise and continue at-home. Remain visible and send distress signals in case of an emergency.

Featured photo credit: Travel to Mount Cook National Park by ZIVOTNACESTACH.CZ via picjumbo.com

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Source: https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/30-essential-hiking-safety-hacks-for-safe-and-well-organized-adventures.html

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