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There's nothing more to immerse yourself in the great outdoors with an excellent hike. Fresh air?
Quiet? Stunning views? Yes, please.
But while hiking is very exciting, it also poses some real risks.
Christine Hoyer said: "No matter how experienced you are or where you are going, unexpected things will happen in the wilderness, "Rangers and village management experts at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park told the self.
Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce your chances of experiencing an emergency while hiking and give you the ability to handle it.
"The more prepared you are, the more likely you are to have fun and stay safe," Hoyer said . ".
These expert security tips are designed to help you prepare intelligently and travel intelligently.
Make sure to follow them before and during each hike. 1.
Consult the park administrator.
Your best choice when deciding where to go for a hike is usually a national park or a state park.
Their staff are all Rangers and they provide a great deal of information about the need to stay safe in that particular location.
Call the park office before hiking to visit the official National Park Service (NPS)
Live or stop at the office before you leave the trailer head.
"By reaching out to the park department, you get a lot of key information about what you might encounter, such as" large and small animals, "toxic flora and fauna, and recent changes in terrain, Hoyer said, such as fallen trees or Rolling Stones.
The park department can tell you how to stay safe in the environment and how to protect the environment from human damage. 2.
Bring at least one friend.
Make it a collective activity to eliminate the risk of being left alone in terrible situations non-profit National Outdoor Leadership School Wilderness Medicine and wilderness medical college course director researcher (NOLS), tells SELF.
"At least one companion can go for help," he said . ".
Before you leave, you and your companions should discuss things like how hard hiking you can all enjoy, your general itinerary and emergency plans.
The last two should be a bit more detailed, so let's get started. 3.
Create a itinerary and share it with people outside the team.
Schimelpfenig said that before you leave the trailer head, make a rough plan that all members of your party agree.
Include your starting point and time, destination, route, and expected end time.
Hoyer said that in calculating the time, remember that it can be very difficult to predict how long the hike will take on unfamiliar terrain.
That's why she suggested planning to start early, be conservative about your time frame, and not be too ambitious.
Schimelpfenig said share the plan with at least one person who has not been hiking with you.
You can also leave this information to the park office.
If you do not return on time, someone can forward this critical information to the searcher if necessary. 4.
Agree on an emergency plan
"Part of any of your hiking plans should be what you're going to do in an emergency," Hoyer said . ".
Before going out, know how you will call or ask for help in the unlikely event of a bad thing. (
Also, Park Service is the main resource here).
According to Hoyer: 5, these are key questions that your plan needs to answer.
Prepare for the weather.
It's not just checking the weather before hiking.
Talk to the Ranger or consult the Park site to find out what bad weather events are most likely to happen at this time of year and how to stay safe in those events.
"Even with the best weather forecast, big storms can come up quickly and unexpectedly," Hoyer said . ".
Lightning is a common danger.
If you are caught by them, NPS recommends moving in the direction of refuge and diffusion in the case of a person being hit (
Unlikely but still).
In addition, avoid high and open areas (
Like boulders or fields)
Tall objects like trees, water bodies and metals.
Even minor changes in the weather will make your entire hike even more adventurous because of their impact on the terrain.
For example, Schimelpfenig explained that the light rain that broke out on your way to the top of the mountain could make the trip very unstable. 6.
Pack 10 essentials.
The 10 Essential elements are hiking and conservation by the Pacific Northwest
Bring profits to the climbers
According to climbers, the goal of 10 essentials is to make sure you are able to cope with emergencies and spend at least one night outdoors.
For beginners and experts, this is a classic reference point for the hiking travel agency area.
"Especially when you're just starting to get out, the more critical things around you, the safer you will be," Hoyer said . ".
Here is an extended version of the 10 main points of NPS: The list is
Exhaustive and adaptable, so keep in mind the hiking situation when assembling the package. 7.
Customize your first aid kit.
Schimelpfenig recommends the purchase of prefabricated first aid kits containing items such as adhesives, elastic bandages and preservatives.
This will help you deal with the most common hiking injuries like scrapes, ankle rolls and bug bites.
You can find the first aid kit at the pharmacy or online.
You can also collect some tips from the Red Cross.
Anyway, you may need to add certain items to your kit depending on your health.
"When you're on a hike, you don't leave your medical history in the car," Schimelpfenig said . ".
"You carry it with you.
"Bring any medication you take regularly or urgently, such as if you use insulin to treat diabetes, or if you are allergic to bees, bring EpiPen. 8.
Buy the right hiking boots and socks.
Proper installation of shoes with good cushioning and grip is essential to avoid problems such as rolling the ankle due to improper support.
It will also help you prevent one of the most painful walking obstacles: blisters.
If you don't know where to start, try to consult an expert at the outdoor supplies store.
After that, Schimelpfenig recommends testing your boots around the house and/or when trying to hike (
More about this).
In addition, avoid wearing cotton socks.
Schimelpfenig says they keep moisture from sweaty feet, making it easier to cause skin blistering.
Instead, choose mountaineering socks made of wool or synthetic materials to absorb moisture and relieve friction. (
To help keep your feet dry while hiking, Schimelpfenig also recommends taking off your boots and socks while sitting and resting. )
Always bring a blister dressing in the first aid kit.
Once you feel unwell, Schimelpfenig says stop and check if there are signs of new blisters on your feet, such as redness and irritation.
If you're wearing new boots, or have issues that are prone to blistering, consider using a blister dressing before starting your hike. 9.
Protect yourself from the sun.
As part of his local search and rescue team, Schimelpfenig sees at least a few serious sunburn and a variety of hot diseases each summer.
Your first line of defense here is a good time.
To avoid the sun and hot rush hours, most experienced hikers set off early in the morning or later in the afternoon, Schimelpfenig said.
In addition, pay attention to the weather report.
If the weather is 100 degrees and the sky is clear, it's not the best day for four people
Trek through shade hours-free terrain.
The next step is preparation.
Apply any exposed skin with a wide skin
Spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, don't forget to re-apply according to the product instructions. (
Another option for frequent hiking is clothes made from the sun
Protective fabric. )
Sunglasses and wide chest
Put a cap on your face and neck, says Schimelpfenig.
In order to protect yourself from a high temperature disease, the disease can be painful (
Rash, heatstroke)to life-threatening (heat stroke)
NPS recommends keeping moisture and resting regularly, preferably in the shade.
Finally, pay attention to how you feel and take action in the first sign of a problem.
"You can find that you 've become too hot or dehydrated before they become really big problems," explains Hoyer . ".
If you or someone in your party has experienced symptoms of hot diseases such as headaches, dizziness, nausea and confusion, NPS recommends stopping.
Then, if possible, you should transfer the affected people to a shady place, call or ask for help, give them water to drink, and douse them with water. (
By the way, also pay attention to altitude sickness if you are hiking in high altitude areas. )10.
Bring an additional water or purification system.
NPS recommends a drink
During outdoor activities, it rises to one liter per hour and a half.
The exact amount you need will depend on the situation of your hiking and the amount of water you usually drink.
"Know yourself," Schimelpfenig said . ".
Although you can carry all the water with you (
Especially on short hiking trips)
If you want to lose weight, see if there is a place to replenish your bottle with drinking water and if there is a natural water source along the way. (
If you are visiting a national park or a state park, the Rangers or the website should have this information. )
If there is a natural water source, you can use it (
Lighten your burden! )
With purification and disinfection materials.
You can use the heating.
Safe Containers and heat sources can boil water, according to NPS.
You can also remove large contaminants using a physical filter and kill tiny pathogens using a disinfectant or liquid.
Don't drink unpurified water while hiking (or otherwise).
According to NPS, even if it is the most crystalline spring water you have ever seen, it may contain potentially harmful pathogens. 11.
Stay on the trail.
For your own safety, natural resources, other hikers, and potential search teams, "it's vital that you stay on this road," Hoyer said . ".
When you get out of the road, your chances of encountering dangerous obstacles increase.
It's easy to turn around.
"In some places, such as smoke, the vegetation is too thick and the signs will disappear soon," Hoyer said . ".
If you really get lost or lose your ability to work
Trail, the rescue mission will be more difficult and dangerous, Hoyer said.
Hoyer explained that deviation from the trail would also lead to what Rangers call "social trails," or unofficial routes carved in the wilderness by wayward hikers.
After you think this is the right way, says Hoyer, social trails trample vegetation, disrupt animals, cause erosion and endanger hikers. 12.
Before making a big hike, make a small attempt first.
Some things are hard to figure out before you actually go out --
For example, if there is no 16-
A jar of peanut butter because Wow, your package is too heavy.
That's why Hoyer recommends a modest hike before a big hike, especially if you're not familiar with the hike yet.
"You can shake out your gear, feel the weight of your backpack, put on your boots and figure out how much food and water you consume as a person," Hoyer said . ".
In addition, "If you start slowly from small to large, you will prefer it, which will keep you moving forward," she said . ". 13.
Be extra careful in the second half of the hike.
"At the end of the second half of the trip or at the end of the day, accidents such as falls, slips and trips usually occur," Hoyer said . ".
Your energy levels are low, your leg muscles are tired, and your brain may be more focused on completing the task than next.
Take a moment and be extra careful about your foothold. 14.
Ready to look back.
"You can look at the map and chat with people all day long.
But when the rubber meets the road and you have to make a decision, you have to be willing to turn around, "said Hoyer.
You are more likely to make bad judgments.
Ignore the signs your body needs to rest, push a straggler to keep up, press when the storm hits-
When you are super
Focus on reaching the end.
If you remember goals outside of the summit, both literally and figuratively, you will find it easier to be flexible.
Remember, you enjoy yourself outside.
See any obstacles on your path, says Hoyer, which is "a great opportunity to enjoy the scenery and turn around ".
"It's still an awesome hike if you don't get to where you think you're going.
It's about being on the trail, where you are.
This is adventure.