Hiking Safety Tips
Every year, hundreds of Americans get lost, injured and even die while hiking through remote sections of national parks and other wild spots in the United States. The members of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (CNPSR) are sharing their 5 survival tips for safer hiking. And these outdoors experts know what they are talking about. The group's nearly 400 members – most of whom spent their entire careers working outdoors – account for a total of more than 11,000 years' worth of National Park Service (NPS) experience.
"A summer or fall hiking adventure does not have to result in injury, death or a search-and-recovery mission," says Coalition Spokesperson Roger Rudolph, the former chief ranger of Yosemite National Park. "While the members of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees are thankful that [a] Utah Boy Scout was found alive ... after being lost for several days, we know most incidents like this are preventable and often with just a little planning."
Here are 5 tips to assist with planning your summer or fall hiking adventures from the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees:
1. Have a plan and share it.
Whether hiking solo or in a group, you need to become familiar with the area
you will be hiking, the hazards and the expected weather. The process of getting
ready will include obtaining maps to review the area you will hike, briefing all
members of the group on route selection, having a turn-around time and developing
alternate route selections. Let someone know where you are going, when, your departure
point, your planned route and expected time of return. A tip for when you are
under way: It is always a good idea to pay attention to landmarks from all angles,
as these "markers" sometimes will change dramatically in appearance depending
on light, elevation and your angle of observation.
2. Make sure your equipment, clothing and food are up for the trip.
Test your equipment before leaving. Having a little extra clothing, especially
for inclement weather, may weigh a bit more, but it is worth it when things go
sour. The same rule of "a little extra can't hurt" applies to food and drink.
Better to lug around more than to be stranded with less than you need to survive.
3. Know your limits – and those of the other individuals in your group.
A military unit travels at the speed of its slowest member, and that is a good
way to think about how to hike. Constant communication is also key. If traveling
in a group, you should use a buddy system. Checking your partner for energy levels,
blisters, food consumption and fatigue can prevent problems down the trail.
"Almost every park ranger knows of rescues or body recoveries that resulted from poor conditioning and bad judgment," says Jim Brady, a coalition member and the former chief ranger of the National Park Service and Superintendent of Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. "Hiking is supposed to be fun, not a life-and-death struggle."
4. Always bring along proper emergency equipment.
When hiking by yourself, ensure that you have, at a minimum, a first aid kit.
Some recommended items include Band-aids, medical tape, over-the-counter pain
relievers, moleskin, anti-bacterial ointment and a compress or two and spare headlamp
batteries. If traveling in a group, have a "community" first aid kit with additional
splints, pads and braces.
"EMT gear is a good idea if you have someone along who knows how to use it," says Tony Bonanno, a CNPSR member and the former chief ranger of the NPS Intermountain Region. "Mine includes extra matches, needle and thread, a flare, mirror and whistle. Remember that splints often can be improvised using what nature or innovation provides, such as branches, pack frames, blankets, coats, sleeping bags, etc."
5. Know in advance what to do if things go bad.
Park rangers typically encourage hikers in genuine distress to "hug a tree,"
which means staying where you are until help comes to you. You can last a long
time with the gear you have with you. Whistles, mirrors, cell phones (when they
work) are priceless. A lost person who wanders around aimlessly – especially in
inclement weather – can turn a merely bad situation into a truly tragic situation.
It is better to be lost and then found (even if a little embarrassed) than to
be carried out of the wilderness in a body bag. When traveling in a group, if
someone sustains an injury, good judgment is required to determine if it is safe
to proceed; better to send someone (two people, if possible) back for help; or
"hug a tree" and wait for help.
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