Preparation is the Key to Safe Hiking
Careful preparation is the key to hiking safety, ensuring you have a safe and enjoyable hike. Below are five important guidelines to follow:
1. Know and understand the area and your gear. Become self reliant by learning about the terrain, conditions, local weather and your equipment before you start.
2. Leave your plans. Tell someone where you are going, the trails you are hiking, when you’ll return and your emergency plans.
A travel plan is a basically a list of the possible places you are going to cover during your hiking excursion. You can even just use a map and mark the places you’re going to be. That way, in case you do become lost, searchers will know the areas where they ought to concentrate their efforts.
3. Stay together. When you start as a group, hike as a group, end as a group. Pace your hike to the slowest person.
4. Be prepared to turn back. Weather changes quickly in the mountains. Fatigue and unexpected conditions can also affect your hike. Know your limitations and when to postpone your hike. The mountains will be there another day.
5. Be prepared for emergencies, even if you are hiking for just an hour. An injury, severe weather or a wrong turn could become life threatening. Don’t assume you will be rescued; know how to rescue yourself.
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July 24, 2007 5:46 pm 
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