Hiking Comfort and Safety

Hiking is a wonderful way to explore nature.  But, like any other outdoor activity, there are some risks and you need to prepare yourself by dressing properly, using good hiking form, and paying attention to your environment.  You should also be in good health.  Many of the tips provided in this post are also applicable to other outdoor activities, such as horseback and OHV riding.

One of the most important pieces of equipment for hiking is proper footwear.  You need sturdy shoes or boots, preferably with high tops to provide ankle support and protection from snakes and insects and an appropriate sock system.   Yes, I said "sock system".  You might get by wearing one good pair of socks, but for best results you may need multiple layers, even in warm weather.  In cold weather you need to keep your feet warm.   In warm weather, you need material close to your skin that will quickly wick away perspiration to keep your feet dry.  Sock systems often include layers to control chafing.  If you're going to be doing a lot of hiking it is worth investing the time and money to get good boots/shoes and socks.  Bruised or blistered feet will put a very quick and painful end to any hike -- but the pain may last for days.   I learned to wear a pair of light dress socks under my thick motocross socks for dirt biking, even in hot summer months to avoid chafing and blisters.  You need to make sure your boots fit well and are broken in.  Ill fitting boots or shoes will cause extreme discomfort.  In case you do get blisters, first aid in the form of something called moleskin (tape or padding) can provide a lot of relief and give your blisters a better chance to heal.  Lacking moleskin, even Bandaids may help.  Left untreated and unprotected they will just get worse and could get infected.

Access to many trail heads often involves hiking or walking along narrow rural roads where there are no sidewalks or pedestrian lanes.  Sometimes this is the most dangerous part of the hike. When walking along a road with no pedestrian lanes, always walk facing traffic.   That way you can see approaching vehicles and jump out of the way if they don't see you -- or don't have room to move over due to oncoming traffic.  We have had two serious accidents in our rural neighbor hood in the last few years involving youth who were walking along a rural highway at night.   One of our neighbors, a 14 year old boy, died at the scene of the first accident.  He and his friend were walking along the right hand side of the road with their backs to traffic on their side of the road and didn't see the approaching car and the driver didn't see them (dressed in dark clothing) until it was too late.  A similar situation happened a second time.  Fortunately, that victim survived but was seriously injured.

On the trails, watch where you're stepping.  Avoid stepping over rocks or logs without knowing what is on the other side.  Snakes and poisonous insects often hide under such obstacles and they can also mask dangerous holes that could cause you to sprain or break an ankle.  Watch out for loose rocks or logs that may give way and cause you to fall or twist an ankle.  Also be aware that prey travels on trails, predators travel beside trails.  Hiking on a trail may make you look like prey to wild animals.  That is not to say you should hike off the trail, just pay attention to your surroundings. Watch and listen for nearby movement that might indicate you are being stalked by a predator.   Most wild animals are normally frightened of humans and will stay out of your way if you give them a chance.  Let them know you're there by making some noise.  Wearing "bear bells" might be a good idea when hiking in bear country.   Injured, starving, or sick animals may behave more aggressively, as will mothers with young if you appear to be a threat to their cubs.  You should also be aware that running tells a predator that you are prey.  In most, but not all cases, your best action if faced with a predator is to make yourself appear as large as possible and make as much noise as you can.  Then back away slowly if you can.  Check with local rangers to find out what kind of predators, if any, you might encounter on the trails you hike and how best to deal with them.

One of the best ways to ensure your safety on the trails is to check in with the local ranger before striking out.  From them you can learn about especially difficult sections of the trail you may need to watch out for and find out about recent animal activity.  Rangers can give you excellent advice about choosing trails that match your skills, physical condition, and desired level of adventure.   They can tell you how long it should take to hike a particular route so you can plan your day(s) appropriately. You don't want to start out on a 16 hour trek if you're only planning a half day hike.  On the other hand, back packing with overnight stays can a wonderful adventure -- if you're properly prepared, plan to do it,  and are equipped appropriately for it.  Checking in with the rangers will also alert them to come looking for you if you don't return at the expected time.  Getting a search started early can be essential to finding lost, sick, or injured hikers before it is too late to help them.

Know your surroundings.  Be able to identify major landmarks.   Know in what direction you would need to go to find your way back to civilization if you wander off the trail.   It is WAY too easy to loose track of your route when hiking in unfamiliar forests.   Believe me, all the trees look alike, especially when it starts to get dark!  Add a measure of panic and you're really in trouble!  Check out maps of the area before you start out.  Just finding a road, power line, or railroad track won't do you much good if you don't know which direction to go once you find it.   Civilization and safety may be just around the next bend -- if you go the right direction -- but could be hundreds of miles if you make the wrong choice.

Proper hiking equipment is essential for a safe and comfortable outing.  While people do a lot of trekking in canvas shoes, sturdy leather hiking boots (as mentioned above) are a better option.  They protect your ankles from sprains and protect your feet from injury from sharp objects, snakes, and insects.  Your boots should fit properly and be broken in BEFORE you begin your hike.  Wear them around home for a while to break them in.  Make sure you check them out on the terrain you'll be hiking.  It won't do you much good to just walk around on level concrete sidewalks when you'll be hiking up and down hills on sometimes rocky or sandy ground.  If you can't walk at least a couple of miles around your neighborhood in your boots without discomfort you have no business wearing them out on the trail.  The right socks will make a world of difference in your hiking comfort. Sometimes you need a "sock system" -- multiple layers that protect from blisters, cushion your step, maintain the right temperature, and keep your feet dry.  In warm weather you will want to avoid sweaty feet.  Wear socks that will wick moisture away to help keep your feet dry.  In cold weather you'll want to keep your feet warm.  Wear insulated socks or even heated socks or add chemical "toe warmers"  Dress appropriately for the weather.   If it is cool when you start out, dress in layers so you can lighten up when either sun or exertion raises your body temperature.  A light, long-sleeved shirt and long pants will protect you from sunburn and from scratches from bushes and branches.  A broad-brimmed hat will help protect your head, face, and neck from sunburn and help keep you cool in hot weather.  A walking stick can add stability in difficult sections and ease the overall effort, reducing fatigue.  Given that any physical activity like hiking, horseback riding, or even riding an OHV will raise your body temperature, you should probably dress so you feel just a little cool (not cold or chilled) before starting out.   In cold weather, be sure to wear or bring along waterproof rain gear if there is any chance of rain.  Nice, warm, cozy winter coats that work great in cold and snow are not always water resistant and you'll quickly find yourself freezing if your clothing gets wet from rain or melting snow.

Hiking or walking sticks or trekking poles aren't essential but will had a lot of comfort and stability when hiking.  Walking sticks are a single staff used mostly on fairly level trails.  Trekking poles come in pairs, like ski poles, and can be used to good advantage in any kind of terrain.  Some folks even use old ski poles as trekking poles for summer hikes.  To get the right size, stand in your hiking boots on level ground and hold the stick or poles in front of you.  Your arm should form a 90° angle at the elbow.  Sometimes you can pick up a dead branch and trim it to the right size for a temporary walking stick but bringing your own assures you will have one and that it will be the right size and will already have a comfortable grip and a tip that will make a secure connection with the ground.  Commercial versions are available include some that telescope to make them easy to carry when you're not using them, can be adjusted easily to just the right height.  Some that have internal springs that act as shock absorbers, and some that are adjustable so you can shorten them when going up hill and lengthen them when going down hill.  Walking sticks and trekking poles won't reduce the total amount of energy you'll use when hiking but they will help improve endurance by distributing the effort over more muscles and relieving some of the strain on your legs and back.  They might even be used as a weapon to defend yourself against an animal attack.  Hand made wooden walking sticks can sometimes be found for around $10.  Adjustable, shock absorbing commercial models can run $150-200 but you can also find adjustable aluminum models at Walmart for around $25-30.  I have hiked without a hiking stick and with both fixed wooden and telescoping aluminum models.  I can assure you hiking with a hiking stick feels easier than hiking without one, regardless of what kind you use.  I did find the telescoping aluminum stick handy because I could easily store it on or in my pack if when I wasn't using it.  I've managed to leave more than one wooden walking stick leaning against a tree after stopping.

Hydration is essential.   Always wear a hydration pack like a Camelbak or carry a canteen or water bottle.   Don't wait until you feel thirsty to take a drink.   You are already getting dehydrated if you wait until you  feel thirsty.  It is better to take frequent sips of water than to gulp down a whole bunch at once. Dark urine is also a sign of dehydration.  You can begin hydrating yourself the day or evening before a hike by drinking plenty of water or sports drinks with a balanced electrolyte mix.   Drinking copious amounts of water alone can lead to a condition sometimes known as water intoxification.  Technically it is called hypnotatremia.  What happens when you drink too much water is you flush out all the electrolytes (the chemicals your body needs) and then what you drink just ends up in your urine without doing you any good.  Dark urine is usually a sign of dehydration telling you you need to drink more.  Pale urine is what you normally want to maintain.   However, hypnoatremia is one time pale urine isn't a good sign and could be misleading.  If you're drinking plenty of water and still feel symptoms of heat illness, you need to balance your electrolytes so your body and make use of the water you're drinking.  Sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade are designed to provided balanced electrolytes.  If you don't have access to sports drinks, take some salt tablets or drink a little salt water or pickle brine to replace some of the basics.

Routine hazards are usually more of a nuisance than a danger, but you still want to avoid unnecessary discomfort and some minor problems, if left unattended, can lead to serious problems. Some typical examples are sunburn, splinters, and insect bites.   Minor sunburn is painful but really bad sunburns can deliver 2nd and even 3rd degree burns. Splinters are painful and often cause infection.    Often the human body is allergic to some of the natural chemicals in some woods (redwood, for example) and will cause adverse reactions.  I once had a redwood splinter that required surgery because of such a reaction.   The inflammation was so severe that Novacaine injects for the surgery wore off in just a few minutes.  Insect bites are mostly annoying, with minor pain and itching, but some insects carry disease.  Those pesky mosquitoes sometimes carry West Nile disease.  Ticks can be a problem in many areas with brush and they can carry Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants and use a good insect repellent to deter all the little beasties you can.  Avoid perfume and cologne that might attract insects."Bite sticks" and anti-itch creams can help relieve your suffering and some contain antiseptics to kill germs.   Forget to bring some along?  Ordinary household ammonia is the active ingredient in many insect bite products.  Plain old tooth paste (not gel) can also help with the itch.  Blisters on your hands and feet are quite common.  Wear light weight gloves to protect your hands.  Heavy gloves may be too warm and might cause blisters.  Gloves should be soft with smooth seams and should fit, well, like a glove!  Make sure your boots fit properly and wear the right "sock system" for the weather.   Have some "moleskin" in your first aid kit to cover blisters if still get them.  Moleskin is particularly effective if you apply it to tender spots before they turn into blisters.  Carry at least a small (pocket size) first aid kit and treat all injuries, even minor ones, quickly to avoid infection.  Make sure you have a needle in your first aid kit to remove splinters.  Another handy tool for splinters, according to a surgeon friend of mine, is a pair of ordinary fingernail clippers.   The jaws can grip a splinter and pull it out or can be used to cut tough skin away so you can remove the splinter.  It would be a good idea to sterilize them with alcohol before using them.  A pocket sized hand sanitizer should do the job.

Back packs are handy for carrying supplies, clothing, etc. but don't over load them.  A pack that is too heavy will dig into your shoulders and put a strain on your back and legs.   Having an appropraite waist or hip belt can also take some of the load off your shoulders.  Take care in how you arrange things in your pack.   Put soft things like towels and clothing next to your back and hard things like camp stoves and flashlights on the out side.   Having a pack with ample outside pockets will allow you to organize things to avoid losing track of small items while keeping frequently used gadgets close at hand.  The basic rule I was taught was your pack should never exceed  half your body weight but recent research strongly recommends the lighter the pack, the better.  They defined 4 categories, ranging from minimalist (under 12 lbs) to plush/deluxe (over 30 lbs) and pointed out that soldiers carry 40-90 lbs on military missions.  When I was hiking with my sons in Boy Scouts, I weighed around 160 lbs and my pack was about 75 lbs.  My hip joints felt like there were on fire the first hundred yards or so of my first  hike with that pack but I eventually got used to it and was fairly comfortable by the time we reached our camp site for the night.  But also very grateful to be able to take the pack off!

Always bring along your first aid kit and basic survival tools.  You never know what might happen and it is always better to have resources and not use them than to need them and not have them.   You don't have to go overboard.  A pocket first aid kit, a BIC lighter, and a good hunting knife should be adequate for most situations.  I like to toss in a survival blanket, one of those aluminized mylar things that fold up to about the size of a handkerchief and I like to have a flint and steel in case my Bic gives out.

Always let someone (family member, neighbor, park ranger, local sheriff) know where you are going and when you expect to return.  That way, if something should happen to you out on the trail someone will know where to come looking for you when you don't return.  Even the most experienced hikers can have accidents or even become disoriented and lost.   Leaving your plans with someone is not the sign of a a wimp, it is a sign of wisdom.  Even Survivorman has a safety crew that will come looking for him if he doesn't show up at the designated rendezvous on time.  If you change your plans, let your contact know! It isn't going to do you any good at all if they come looking for you where you aren't or where you were last week!

Happy hiking!