One of my favorite activities is hiking. I have been hiking in the mountains of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina for well over a decade and have loved every minute of it. While hiking is a great activity, there are safety tips that you must follow. These safety tips aren’t suggestions. These safety tips are meant to improve your hiking experience by making sure that you make it back from your hike in one piece.
Hiking Safety Tips #1: Never Hike Alone
Hiking is an activity that you must not do alone. The reason for this safety tip is simple. If you get hurt, you will need someone there to help you back down the trail. You may think that it will be impossible to get hurt while hiking, but it happens all the time. It’s easy to slip on rocks, trip over tree roots, and even get bit by snakes.
Hiking Safety Tips #2: Choose the Proper Trail
Trails are graded by their amount difficulty. If you have just started hiking, you will not want to pick a trail that is long and difficult to maneuver. When planning a hiking trip, follow this safety tip by going online and looking for trails that fit your experience level.
Hiking Safety Tips #3: Know the Trail
You can either carry a map of the trail, go with friends who know the trail, or stick to trails you have completed several times before. This safety tip will make your hiking experience much more enjoyable. Once you have completed a trail several times you will know which obstacles to avoid and how quickly you can complete the hike.
Hiking Safety Tips #4: Never Go Off the Trail
This is one of the most important hiking safety tips. Under no circumstances should you go off trail. It’s very easy to get lost, especially in heavily wooded areas. The farther you go in, the harder it will be to find your way out. This is how many hikers get lost each year.
Hiking Safety Tips #5: Know Poisonous Plants
Nothing is worse than coming back from your hike with an itchy rash. Before going hiking, take time to study pictures of poisonous plants, like poison ivy and poison oak. Included in the resource section is a great link to a website all about poisonous plants that you may encounter while hiking.
Hiking Safety Tips #6: Wear the Proper Clothing
Hiking is not about being fashionable. Short shorts and tank tops are not proper hiking gear. When you wear such clothing you will get scratched from tree branches and make it easier for poison ivy to get to your skin. Wear clothing that covers you limbs. For example, wear long pants that are made of a thick material that is hard to tear.
Hiking Safety Tips #7: Wear the Proper Footwear
This is another tip you must pay close attention to. Sandals and flip-flops are not the proper footwear for hiking. Not only do these types of footwear leave your feet open to the elements, but they also lack the proper traction. You need to wear hiking boots, preferably hiking boots that are waterproof. If you can’t find hiking boots that are waterproof, you can also buy a spray that will make any boots waterproof. For your safety, you will need to spend a good amount of money on boots that will protect you on your hike.
Hiking Safety Tips #8: Avoid Wildlife
Deer and baby bear cubs are adorable, but they are not safe. You must follow this safety tip not only to stay safe, but because in many areas it is the law. Whenever you come upon wildlife stay extremely still until the wildlife has moved on. Avoid any actions that could provoke an animal to attack.
Hiking Safety Tips #9: Always Pack Food
You may think that you won’t need food on a two hour hike, but some trails will take a lot out of you. Also something may happen that leaves you stranded on the trail. If this happens, you will need food. The best foods to pack are foods high in protein, such as beef jerky and nuts. You must also pack water.
Hiking Safety Tips #10: Always Carry a First Aid Kit
Always carry a first aid kit when hiking. You will want to include an ankle brace (twisted ankles can happen on difficult trails), bandages, ibuprofen, heat patches (for strained muscles), antibiotic ointment, and above all take along any medication that you must take on a daily basis. If you do get stranded, you will need your medication.
