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Welcome To Our Hiking Tips Page
This page contains tips on hiking and camping. Most of the tips are for overnight hiking trips, but they can be applied to day hikes. Click on top to come back here from the tips.
Hiking With A Crowd
If your hiking group contains ten people or more, break up into smaller groups to walk, rather than wandering up the trail in a long line. This increases your chances of spotting wildlife and it keeps your noise levels down. This also allows smaller groups to stop for just a few minutes without yelling out to the entire group about what they're doing. Of course, on an off-trail area where it's necessary to keep the group within sight of each other, this may not be possible, but it works just fine on well-marked trails.
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Planning A Safety Route
When you're mapping out your hiking route, remember to think about how you will exit in case of an emergency. For example, if you've planned a three-day trip that will take you back to your transportation, each day's route should have an obvious, and hopefully shorter and easier, method of getting back to the road or back to your vehicle. You need to plan a easy escape route in case the accident victim needs to be carried out. One method of mapping an escape route is to draw your hiking route in a solid line and use a dashed line for the safety routes that will lead quickly and easily back to the road. Hopefully, you will not need to use those alternate routes, but it's much easier planning them ahead of time than when you're in the middle of an emergency.
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Where Did The Trail Go?
You just wandered off the trail for a moment to take a look at that beautiful tree and now you're not entirely sure where that trail is. In some places, even just a few feet from the trail you can turn around to look at it and it just blends into the rest of the forest. Use the same technique that you would if someone else were lost. Walk in a gradually larger spiral until you hit the trail. If you haven't wandered far, this should take just a few minutes. When you get back to the trail, locate that tree again to put you in the proper perspective on exactly where you were when you left the trail.
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Where Not To Hike
After a recent death in a park due to hiking off-trail, this should be a timely reminder. Some parks and recreation areas do not allow off-trail hiking. Please obey these rules, because they are there to keep you safe. Especially in smaller parks, the trails are clearly marked, often with guard rails or ropes to keep you from falling off of cliffs or over waterfalls. Although the scene from the top of a waterfall or cliff might be even better than the one you can get from a trail's lookout point, it isn't worth your life to climb over those ropes to see. Whoever put the guard rails in place knew there were slippery rocks or a sharp drop-off that wasn't readily visible, so trust their judgment and stick to the marked trails in those areas.
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And Watch What You're Looking At
If you're hiking in a place that does allow you to go off-trail whenever you like, always remember to look where your feet are first, then at whatever it was you wanted to see. It's natural to think of the view as you head toward it, but what you might be missing is the half-hidden rock beneath the leaves that could send you headfirst into that view you're looking at. Fix in your mind the thing you are trying to reach, such as a particular tree or the view from the top of a cliff. Then watch your feet as you approach your goal. The most able-bodied hiker can still fall victim to an unseen root, so even though it's a very simple rule, it's still a good one to follow. Watch your feet!
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Sleeping Bag Care
Sleeping bags shouldn't be washed very often because they will lose their fluff. You can buy an inexpensive bag liner, which is easy to take out and wash and will keep your bag clean longer. Don't wash your sleeping bag until you absolutely have to. Follow the manufacturer's instructions when washing the bag, or hand-wash it in the bathtub carefully, being very gentle with it. If you wash it at home, dry it without heat. If you hang it to dry, give it plenty of support, since it will be heavier wet and that weight can damage it. When you are hiking, shake your sleeping bag out to fluff it up, since this makes it warmer.
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Proper Storage Of Sleeping Bags
A common mistake that campers often make is storing their sleeping bags improperly between camping trips. Most sleeping bags come with a stuff sack, but this is the wrong way to store a sleeping bag. A sleeping bag keeps you warm by trapping air, warmed by your body heat in countless little air pockets within the insulation of the bag. If you store your sleeping bag in a stuff sack, you crush the air pockets and reduce the sleeping bags' capacity to trap your body heat. The proper way to store a sleeping bag is unfurled, hanging upright in a closet or lying flat underneath your bed. Only use the stuff sack when you are hiking or traveling with the sleeping bag. By doing so, the insulation of the sleeping bag will spring back to its original form and will keep you warmer.
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Altitude Sickness
There are a lot of hikes that can take you into high altitudes without the need for rock climbing equipment or experience. But air is denser at higher altitudes and you get less oxygen into your lungs. Headaches, feeling short of breath, and becoming tired easily are all signs of altitude sickness. This can happen at different heights to different people. There are some things you can do to prevent altitude sickness, but the most appropriate measure is to take your time. Once you reach a height where your body will have to start adjusting to the altitude, hike more slowly, don't go more than 1,000 feet higher each day, and take a day off after several days of hiking upward. On an off day, you can climb for a while, then camp at the lower elevation. The other thing you need to do is to drink lots of water. You may not feel thirsty, but that thin air will dry you out. If you start feeling the symptoms of altitude sickness, the only cure is to descend again. If the headaches and shortness of breath have just started, you may be able to get used to the air and hike up again, but you should never push on through the symptoms.
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Burning Other Items In Your Fire
Some plastic package wrapping can be burned up completely in your campfire, but thicker plastic won't burn up. Other items typically thrown in a campfire include cigarettes, hygiene products like toilet paper, food cans, and coffee bags. Anything that doesn't burn up completely in the fire has to be packed out. Just because it's a campfire doesn't mean it's the place for your garbage. So if you're burning those cans to get rid of the food remnants in them, remember you'll have to take them out when the fire has died.
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Glass Containers
Don't take any glass containers with you on a hiking or camping trip. Not only is it heavier in your pack, but it could break and you would have a difficult time finding a safe way to pack it back out in your garbage. This includes glasses to drink from, glass cookware, glass jars, or glass juice bottles. Repackage those items at home, or better yet, buy items in plastic or waxed cardboard containers.
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Careful On The Boulders
If your hike leads you over boulders, don't assume that just because they look firmly attached to the ground that they are. Even a large rock can move when the weight of a person is on it. If you have to hike over the boulders, put your feet down carefully. Go slowly and test the footing before trusting your full weight to it. Skipping from boulder to boulder like a mountain goat is something they only do in movies without anyone getting hurt.
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Animal Bites
If you do get bit by an animal while hiking, there are a few things to do immediately, but then you should end your trip and get treatment for the bite. First, rinse the wound well with cold water. If the wound is bleeding, lay down with the wounded area raised, and apply pressure with a clean cloth or gauze pad to stop the bleeding. Wrap or cover the injury, then head back to your vehicle to seek treatment.
Any animal acting strangely should be avoided. Most wild animals are not eager to make friends with humans, so any animal that seems unafraid of being approached could be ill or rabid. Having respect for the environment you're hiking in includes treating the animals you see with respect and not trying to pet them or feed them. Keeping your distance should keep you from getting bitten.
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Sunburn
If you are hiking in hot, sunny weather, always take along sunblock and a soothing afterburn treatment, like pure aloe vera. People with fair skin can burn even walking under the shade of trees, and a bad sunburn can ruin the rest of your trip, even to the point of making you very ill. Always apply sunblock before hiking, and reapply it if you've been sweating a lot or if you got wet, because it will wash off. If you do get sunburned, wash the burned skin very gently with cool water, then apply the aloe vera or other burn lotion. Drink plenty of fluids and be sure to cover the burned skin with sunblock and clothing before getting back in the sun again. You can get burned through thin clothing, so take along something that can protect your skin.
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Wearing A Hat
Not everyone likes to wear a hat at any time, much less when hiking. But the type of hat has something to do with whether you'll like it or not. In the summer, a hat can help keep the sun off your face and can deter bugs from flying around your head. But you need a hat with good ventilation holes, so that you don't get too hot. In the winter, a hat or knitted cap will help you retain body heat. The only drawback is that your hair doesn't look good, but you're hiking so you shouldn't care. Try wearing the appropriate hat during a day hike and see if you like it before you pack it up for that longer trip. And buy a soft hat that can be packed, rather than a pre-formed hat that won't fit anywhere when you're not wearing it.
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Camp Shoes
Some hikers like to take a pair of tennis shoes or hiking sandals to give their feet a break from the hiking shoes. Hiking sandals are a good choice because they are very lightweight, they allow your feet to breathe, and if there's no room in your pack for them, you can just tie them to the back or bottom of your pack. Changing into sandals (weather permitting) can give you a lot of extra comfort around the campsite. Another good use for sandals along the trail, although they are not the best choice for the actual hike, is when you are crossing water. Since it isn't advisable to cross water in your bare feet, and you don't want to get your hiking shoes soaked (even if they're waterproof), just change into the sandals before crossing. You can dry your feet and put your hiking boots back on afterwards, and then just hang the sandals from your pack to dry while you finish your hike.
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Sleeping Pads In Winter
When winter camping, it's important to use proper sleeping pads. Without sleeping pads insulating you from the frozen ground, the finest sleeping bags will not keep you warm. To conserve body heat and allow your sleeping bag to work to its full potential, it's a good idea to use two sleeping pads, one on top of the other. A self-inflating pad (i.e. a Therm-a-Rest) atop a closed cell foam pad (i.e. a Z-Rest) works well. Finally, if the ground is still making you cold, try laying on a reflective blanket above the sleeping pads.
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Sleeping Bag Extras
There are some other items you may want to take with you camping for your sleeping comfort, if you have room in your pack. A cotton sleeping-bag liner can help keep you warm and your bag clean. An inflatable pillow is quick to set up and easy to deflate for storage the next morning. (Those cowboys in old westerns might look like real men sleeping on their saddles, but it's not very comfortable.) A foil blanket is an excellent addition, especially for bad weather, because it folds into a very lightweight square of material, but it can help you retain body heat in cold weather. And last, sleeping mats are made of very lightweight material but can make a lot of difference in your sleeping comfort. These items can make your camping trip more pleasant.
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How Much Rain Can You Take?
So it's raining a little. That's not so bad. You can hike in it and even camp in it. But now it's raining a lot and your tent isn't as good as you thought at keeping out the water. You have a decision to make. If you cannot camp at least partly dry, you may be putting yourself in danger by staying out in the weather. And the longer you stay in the rain, the more water-soaked your tent and sleeping bag will get. You may have a hike some day that you have to give up on and hike back out. If you ever have a moment when you're thinking maybe you should just leave, remember these two things: That equipment is going to get heavier and heavier the more waterlogged it gets, so make your decision quickly or you may have to leave something behind; and that trail you came down on is going to be a lot worse in the dark and on wet leaves and stones. I can't tell you whether or not you should leave, but just that you should be aware of the weather when you choose your campsite and whether or not you can make it back on the trail under bad conditions. And that you should make your decision quickly, but hike slowly, if that's what you choose to do.
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Baby Animals
If you come across some cute baby animal in the woods that apparently doesn't have a parent nearby, leave it alone. Whether it's a bird or a fox cub, that parent is usually out there somewhere, keeping a sharp eye on you and deciding whether or not to fight for the baby they couldn't get away in time. If you're worried about the baby, mark in your mind where you saw it and go find a ranger to tell. Don't try to play with it, pick it up, or coax it to come over. You may be putting it in danger, and yourself as well.
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Folk Warnings
Here's a couple of folk warnings to keep you safe on the trail. The first is to help you tell the difference between venomous coral snakes and similar snakes that are harmless. Coral snakes are red, yellow, and black. Just remember "Red next to yellow can kill a fellow, but red next to black the venom lacks." The second warning is for poisonous plants and berries. "Leaves of three poisonous be, berries white are a poisonous sight." Poison ivy and poison oak have patterns of three leaves together, and white berries are also usually poisonous. When it comes to berries, if you don't know for certain what the berry is, don't eat it. Simple as that.
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Other Pests
You may encounter other pests on your camping trip, so there are a few other things to watch for. Check the ground and any trees near your campsite to make sure you don't place your tent on or near ants. Shake out your sleeping bag, shoes, and clothing to dislodge any scorpions or spiders. Suspend your food bags to guard against rats or other small rodents attracted to the food, and also for bigger scavengers, such as bears. And if a skunk wanders into your camp, just back off until it leaves, or you'll smell for the rest of your trip.
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One More Pest Tip
One very simple thing to do to cut down on mosquito bites or other bugs in your tent is to zip the tent back up every time you enter or exit. Most people set up their tents as soon as they decide on a camping site, then they go about preparing their dinners, exploring their surroundings, or whatever. It's easy to just leave the tent door unzipped so you can get things in and out without a hassle. Or to leave it unzipped if you get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. But keeping the tent zipped makes it harder for all pests, including mosquitoes, to get in to bother you, so just take the few extra seconds to close it each time.
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Resting Your Muscles
If you're hiking some steep trails and you stop to rest along the way, turn around so that you're facing downward. This will put your toes lower than your heels, as though you are descending. This will help stretch the muscles in your legs in a different way than you've been using them to go uphill, and that will feel like more of a rest. Those calf muscles need to relax the opposite way of how they've been used. And if you're going to sit down for a while, take a moment to stretch your back and arms and give them a break from their motions as well.
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Don't Speed Up On The Level Trail
If you're hiking an area that has a lot of uphill and downhill motion, don't be tempted to speed up your hike in the level areas in order to gain time. First of all, part of the enjoyment of hiking is taking in the scenery around you, so why speed up and miss out on all that? Secondly, you'll actually wear yourself out more by changing your speed back and forth. If you're hiking a more difficult trail, the best way to maintain your energy is to maintain your speed. You should walk at the same rate of speed no matter what part of the trail you are on.
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Sweaty Feet And Blisters
Some people believe that your feet sweating contributes to getting blisters when you hike. Although nothing beats a good pair of socks, or several pair, and a well-fitting pair of hiking shoes, try this trick and see if it helps you keep away the blisters. Treat your feet with an anti-persperant before you put on your socks. That will keep your feet from sweating as much, and may keep you from getting blisters.
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Sprains
While you don't want to sprain your ankle when hiking, there are some easy ways to deal with it if it happens. If you experience a sprain, you'll need to apply ice or a cold compress. There are chemical packs available at hiking supplies stores that you manipulate to get an instant cold compress. That's a handy item when you're two days out into the woods with no ice. Lay down, take off your hiking boot and sock and apply the cold compress. Then wrap the ankle with an elastic bandage to compress the swelling. Finally, elevate the foot with firm support beneath it and check the circulation in the foot every ten minutes or so. Make sure you haven't bandaged the ankle too tightly. If you believe you may have a broken bone, you need to immobilize the limb and seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
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