Summer Fun: Trails

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

National Trails Day is June 7, 2009. Hiking, horseback riding, and biking can be enjoyable forms of exercise. It is a wonderful way to explore and experience God’s creation. Taking the proper precautions can keep these activities fun and safe. Neglecting to do so can lead to an emergency.

The most important thing to bring is water. Never go on a hike, no matter how short or easy you may think it is, without a water supply. It is a good idea to bring water purifying tablets or some other means of purifying water along as well. No matter what the weather is like, you can easily become dehydrated or suffer from heat exhaustion if you do not drink plenty of water. In addition, it is a good idea to bring food along. It will help give you energy for the hike and in the event of an emergency (i.e. getting lost), it can help sustain you. These things as well as the other essentials should be stored in a backpack.

10 essentials (besides food and water) are:
1. Map
2. Flashlight/headlamp. Make sure you have extra batteries. Better yet, have some that are not battery operated but that you wind up instead.
3. Compass or hand-held GPS
4. First aid supplies. Bring extra of any medicines you must take.
5. Matches (stored in a waterproof container)
6. Fire starter
7. Pocket knife
8. Extra clothing
9. Sturdy hiking boots that grip the ground well and don’t hurt your feet.
10. Hat

Other things to bring include:
sunglasses, sun screen, rain gear, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, trash bag, insect repellent, rope, and more. Depending on the terrain you will be hiking in, other essentials may apply. Hiking in cold climates and on mountains requires special care. You do not want to get hypothermia or frostbite. Find out if you are in an avalanche prone area. Research the necessary equipment and make sure you are well equipped! Some things you might need include: gloves, ice picks, special kinds of warm clothing, special spiked boots, etc.

If you plan to take dogs along, check to see if the trail allows dogs. Also, is the trail appropriate for dogs? Some may be too dangerous for a dog to come along on; the dog may pull you over a cliff or may accidentally run off the cliff itself. The normal rule for trails that allow dogs is that dogs must be on a leash and the owner must clean up after the dog.

Most of the recommended supplies for hiking would also apply to horseback riding and biking. If you want to ride on horseback or bicycle, please check first to see if the trail is suitable. The trail should be as flat as possible, wide enough, and of course, allow horses or cycling.

Hiking trails range from easy to strenuous and from safe to dangerous/risky. Babies and little kids should, as a general rule, not be taken on strenuous or risky hikes. I personally have hiked a trail where a few steps to the left would have sent me plummeting to the ocean hundreds of feet below. I definitely clung to the natural rock wall on my right! At the end of the hike, the view of the ocean and skyline was gorgeous but I still would not do it again especially with a young one! Most of our hikes have an element of danger to them but that one was just too dangerous. Please use common sense while hiking. If it begins to grow dark, you run out of water, or some other mishap occurs and you have not reached the end of the hike yet, do not hesitate to turn back, return to your vehicle, and try again a different day. It is not worth risking your life over.

Some final safety tips:
Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. Once you return, be sure to call the person and let him/her know you are safe.
Do not wander off the trail.
Do not eat any mushrooms (or other plants) along the trail; most of them are poisonous.
Make a moderate amount of noise (talking, singing, etc.) when walking in bear territory; bears are not likely to approach you and this way neither you nor the bear will be caught by surprise.
Pay attention to weather reports and the conditions you will be hiking in.
Stay together. Keep a close eye on little ones and hold their hands while hiking.