Hiking

“Hi Bear,
Here are a few pointers on Safe hiking in the mountains. When you are hiking mountains that are large, and at a distance away there is much greater chance of things going wrong. (twisted ankle, missed a trail marker, blisters, shit attack, etc) so you have to be prepared. This means in gear you carry, and more importantly using your head. Keep in mind almost no one follows these rules.. But the ones that get in trouble wish they had.

A) Things you should carry in your pack with you. (The Ten Essentials)
1) Map and Compass (of the area you are hiking)
2) Knife (your Swiss army knife)
3) Water bottle (filled)
4) Rain Jacket
5) Wool shirt or Fleece jacket
6) Extra food (trail mix is good)
7) Flash light (with extra batteries)
8) Sun Screen and Sun Glasses
9) Matches / fire starter
10) First Aid Kit (with second skin)

B) Rules for safe Hiking
1) When planning a hike err on the less ambitious side. It’s better to do a hike that the whole group can do rather than only the most fit can.
2) Hike as a group. You should travel only as fast as the slowest group member.
The two most problematic hikers in the group are the fastest member and the Slowest, because they are the two most often out of contact with the rest of the people. If you hike at the slowest members rate this won’t happen.
3) Sign it at all register booths.
4) Have a planned turn around time and stick to it.
5) Where good solid foot wear. On long hikes your feet get tired. Not only must you think about the trip up the mountain but the trial back down.. Most hikers get injured on the way down because they are tired. The best foot wear is a good hiking boot with a heel.. This gives support and keeps your foot from slipping when going downhill. If you wear lighter foot wear like sneakers, they should be ones with good cushioning under foot, as your feet will take a pounding holding your weight back against gravity going down the mountain.
6) Keep hydrated, (drink even when you’re not thirsty)
7) Stay as a group.. (I put this in again because it is important)
8) The mountain will always be there (except for Mt St. Helens) - if the weather turns bad, it gets too late, or you’re just too tired turn around. It is foolish to push yourself into harms way just to get to the top of a big rock.
9) Never leave the group and head off alone. The safe number to travel with is 3.

Hiking in the ADK is really fun and safe. You just need to use your head…” — My father sent me this email; he is concerned that I will be hiking with people that… aren’t so wise, to say the least. One of the things he speaks very intelligently about is camping/hiking/related.