Hiking Safety Tips

Hiking is a very fun and challenging activity that anyone can enjoy. When you hike, you get the time to exercise and witness the beautiful hiking trails that run across all over the place where you see the scenic spots. For people who like to go on hiking activities, they know that this is a very physically demanding activity since you need to walk for hours. And since you carry with you your bag that has supplies and other things that you need, it is not easy when you are carrying a heavy load. If you are also not a highly practiced hiker, hiking for miles while bringing with you a heavy load can be difficult and at the same time dangerous. To prevent any accident, hikers should learn safety while they are on a hiking excursion.

Photo Credit: Royer_Dirt on flickr

This guide teaches you the necessary safety tips in order to stay safe while you are on a hike. As with any other physical activity, you need to follow these tips prior, during and after your hiking. Hikers need to make preparations before they set out on a hike. Familiarize yourself with the usual hazards and be knowledgeable with the safety tips.

Common Mistakes

Hikers need to be aware of the common mistakes that hikers do when they are on the trails. Any mistake can cause discomfort. Although you really cannot avoid making one, it is always good to at least be cautious and aware so you can avoid them. The usual mistakes occur when people are careless. For instance, if you are going on a hike and you forget to bring a map on the actual hiking date. This can be a big problem especially if you do not have other tools to know where you are specifically heading. Another mistake is when you select the wrong path. With just one mistake, the result is you will end up losing hours or worse your group might also be at risk of getting lost.
Experienced hikers can avoid these common mistakes and even if you are a newbie, you can definitely learn from them too.

Plan And Prepare

Hikers tend to commit backcountry mistakes. Before you go out on a hiking activity like for instance hiking in the backcountry, you need to plan your activity and make the necessary preparation.

Wear The Right Attire

When hiking, you should wear the right attire. Wear the right clothing and footwear that is suitable for walking long distance and also the weather.
Before the Hike

Hiking is a healthy activity that anyone would surely love. But apart from getting the most out of your hiking experience, you should never forget the importance of safety. Outdoor organizations provide a list of the basic safety tips. You need to have survival items for outdoors including food, gear, lighter, water, compass and map. You also need to bring with you your mobile phone and other safety gear. Be mindful of the possible danger.

Before the hike, one of the most important things to do is to have knowledge about the location where you want to hike. If you are going on a super long hike, be prepared with your water supply. With long distance trekking, you may experience dehydration and fatigue. So, make sure that your body is at least ready. You should also be aware of other potential danger. For example, hikers are at risk of animal attacks, hypothermia and insect borne diseases among many others. Being completely prepared before the activity and staying aware helps you to stay safe all throughout the hiking activity.

When preparing for your hike, have the right equipment. You need to wear the right shoes and clothing. You should also be aware of the hiking essentials. And although you are not anticipating the bad, you should always be prepared for the worst. Learn about survival and safety in the wilderness. Create a checklist so you would not forget the items that you need.

During the Hike

When you are fully prepared before the hike, you can avoid the common mistakes that people make they go hiking. This is very important thing among hikers. With hiking, you will be traveling to new territories. So, you should know where you are going and you should always be precautious. As much as hiking can be fun when you are alone, it is highly risky. Invite friends and other hikers so you can have companions. When you are in a large group, you won’t have to worry as much even if you are going on a long distance hike.
During your hike, never go off the trail. Always follow the marked trails so you would not end up getting lost. Hiking allows you to be with nature so you must also follow your instincts. Wherever you go, you should use your best judgment and be careful at all times.

Safety Tips for Families

Are you going out on a hike with your family? This is the perfect activity that brings families together and promotes health and fitness. At the same time, kids can enjoy the beauty of nature. Compared to hiking with friends who enjoy hiking, hiking with family is a bit different since they have varying physical abilities especially if it long-distance hiking. There are factors that you need to consider when hiking with your family like for instance weather, elevation, environment and distance. If you are hiking with older people, you cannot go on difficult trails that are highly elevated. When hiking with children, you need to be sensitive as they tend to get tired easily and bored. Parents should be mindful of the guidelines in order to keep them safe. Children should always stay close with their parents or adults. Young kids are also prone to problems like dehydration and fatigue so you should rest once in awhile and bring enough food and water.

After the Hiking Activity

After your hiking activity, you feel rejuvenated and at the same time, physically drained and tired. After the hiking activity, you should watch for any body signs so you would not going beyond your limit. One of the most common mistakes that hikers make is when they overstretch their capacity. Conditioning can help you last long but you also need rest to gain some energy. If you have injury, you should seek medical help right away. If you experience soreness, you can take time to massage the area or to relax. It is also important that you monitor your progress. Have a list where you can track your goals, health and other experiences.