Hiking 101 Part 3: Hiking Safely and Politely

Hiking Safely

Before you set out

Keeping safe while hiking begins with careful planning and preparation. In fact, you can almost always avoid serious safety issues by following the preparation tips described in this article and outlined below:

Photo by Karl Forsgaard.

• Check the weather and read recent Trip Reports to find out about current trail conditions and potential hazards, including dates of hunting season.
• Write a Trip Itinerary (find a printable one here) and purchase any necessary Permits or Passes. Give copies of your itinerary to a friend and sign in at trailhead registers.
• Always bring the Ten Essentials and First Aid Kit. Cell phones are also good to have in case of emergency.

At the Trailhead

Prowling and theft can happen even in the backcountry, so take precautions when you park your car at the trailhead. Lock your doors, close your windows, and never leave anything valuable inside.

On the Trail

Common sense will almost always keep you safe on trail, but the following will help keep you and your group safe, just in case. For more information about hiking safely, read this article.

• Stay on the trail! The chances of getting lost or injured increase dramatically as soon as you step off the beaten path.
• Set the right pace and take breaks when needed. Pick a pace that's comfortable for everyone, and be sure the leader can always see the whole group. If the pace is too fast for anyone, have the slowest members lead.
  Take breaks whenever they're needed, especially on long hikes and hot days.
• Hike within your skills and abilities and those of the least experienced group member. Remember, it’s OK to turn back if a hike ends up being more difficult than expected.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Watch for storm clouds, potential hazards on the trail, wild animals or hunters and inform the group immediately if you have concerns.

After the Hike

• Write a Trip Report and post it to WTA.org! It's a fun way to keep track of your progress as you begin hiking more difficult trails, plus you’ll help other hikers plan their trips.

• Take a Wilderness First Aid course. Once you know what you can expect on the trail, learn how to treat some of the most common injuries and ailments.

• Stretch, ice and keep track of injuries. Remember to stretch to prevent pain, ice to reduce pain and consult a physician If pain persists for more than a couple days.

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Hiking Etiquette

Leaving civilization behind doesn't mean living civility behind, too. You're not the only one enjoying the great outdoors, so read up on these rules of hiking etiquette and Leave No Trace techniques and keep in mind the following:

• Give other groups space (and right of way): Don't crowd other parties; either pass them or wait to give them some space. Similarly, let faster groups pass and yield to those hiking uphill when you're descending. And don't forget to say hello to passers-by!
• Watch your noise level: Let yourself (and others) enjoy the sounds of the outdoors by limiting your group size to six or fewer and keeping your noise level to a minimum. If you bring your cell phone, turn it off and only use it in case of emergencies.
• Minimize your impact: As the saying goes, leave only footprints, take only pictures. Pack out all your trash, never attempt to approach or feed a wild animal and stay on the trail to avoid trampling delicate flora and fauna.
• Be a good group-member: Set an appropriate pace, warn others about loose rocks and other hazards and hold overhanging branches out of the way so they don't hit those behind you in the face.

Of course there are extra considerations, both for safety and etiquette when hiking with children or bringing your dog on the trail, so make sure to read up on those before setting out!

Hiking 101 Part 2: Selecting clothing and gear

Luckily for us hikers, very little of the gadgetry and technical clothing is actually necessary for a safe, enjoyable hike, and even the essentials don't need to be expensive to be trail-worthy.

Essential Item #1: Footwear

Hiking boots provide support and comfort for your feet and ankles on long trails and uneven terrain. But your boot only needs to be as technical as the hikes you're taking them on, which means its best to keep in mind a few questions before heading to the store:

• Do I plan to go out in wet or cold conditions?
• What type of hiking will I be doing?
• What will the trail conditions be like while I'm hiking?
• Do I have any ankle problems?

Take a look at the article Finding Boots for your Hiking Feet for some tips on what to look for in fit, style, material, etc. And remember, fit is critical, so try on lots of styles! If it's not comfortable in the store, it certainly won't be on the trail.

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Essential Item #2: Proper Clothing

Clothing: What to you need?

You don't need to buy a new wardrobe before you hit the trail, but you'll need a few basics to stay safe and comfortable. While you don't need the most expensive gear, avoid cotton: it's a poor insulator when wet, making you feel colder and increasing your risk of hypothermia. Look for synthetic or wool materials instead.

• Base layer: If you’re hiking in mostly warm weather, this usually means a synthetic t-shirt and shorts. In colder weather, this will include long thermal underwear.
• Warm, insulating layer: Do you have a fleece jacket? How about a comfy wool sweater? Both of these work great as a insulating layer that provides warmth if it gets chilly.
• Waterproof/ wind-proof layer: This includes both rain/wind jackets and hiking or rain pants. The jacket will keep you warm and dry on windy ridges and rainy days, and the pants will keep you warm and protected from brush and mud.
• Socks: Hiking-specific socks offer more cushioning and breathability than cotton tube socks and protect them from blisters (particularly important on long hikes).

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Essential Item #3: The Pack

As with the first two items, your pack only needs to be as technical as the trails you’re hiking, so you don’t need the multi-day backpack quite yet. The basic bag needs to be big enough to carry your food, water, extra clothes and Ten Essentials comfortably. If you’re sticking to short, easy hikes, a book bag-style backpack will probably do the trick. Once you move onto longer, more challenging hikes, using a small daypack like the ones reviewed here and here will make hiking much more comfortable, particularly if you have back problems.

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Essential Items #4-13 (and a few handy ones)

The 10 Essentials

To ensure the safety and comfort of your hike, there are 10 pieces of gear that hikers world-wide consider “essential”:

• Map and Compass (On clearly marked trails in city and state parks these won’t be necessary, but they can be lifesavers in the backcountry.)
• Water and a way to purify it
• Extra food
• Extra Layers and Rain Gear
• Firestarter and matches
• Multi-tool or knife
• First aid kit (read here for what you'll need)
• Flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries
• Sun screen and sunglasses

Find out more about the essentials here.

What’s good to have:

Insect repellent, whistle, watch, emergency blanket, mirror (for signaling), duct tape (great for repairing anything), gloves, extra socks, and an orange vest (during hunting season)

What you may want:

Trekking poles, particularly if you have joint problems, camera and binoculars for recording memories and viewing wildlife and water-proof cases for carrying them.

What you can skip (for now)

Until you start backpacking or taking on technical hikes, you can skip fancy GPS systems, locator beacons, high-end technical gear, tents, sleeping bags or pre-packaged backpacking meals.

Hiking 101 Part 1: Choosing the Right Hike

 

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Hiking 101 Part 1: Choosing the Right Hike

If you're not used to long inclines over rocks and tree roots, even moderate hikes can be exhausting. By starting out with novice hikes and gradually taking on more challenging trails, you'll build confidence and skills without burning out.

Hiker relaxing atop Mt. Pilchuck photo by Frankie Benka.

If you can walk, you can hike. That's not to say you're ready to take on the Pacific Crest Trail. Even those in good shape need to start out with novice hikes and gradually take on more challenging trails to build confidence and skills while avoiding injury or burn out.

Determine your fitness level

Be honest with yourself. Some questions to consider are:

• Can I walk or run a mile?
• Do I have any ankle or joint problems?
• Do I have asthma, allergies or heart problems?

Always be conservative and talk to your doctor before starting out.

Find a hiking companion

Hiking with company can make starting out both safer and more enjoyable. Recruiting friends and family works well, but you can also meet other beginning hikers through social clubs like The Mountaineers, hiking meet-ups and nwhikers.net.

Take a walk in the park

If you live in the city, try a short, easy hike on the well-maintained trails of your local park. Check out your city's parks department for information about trails nearby.
Once you're comfortable in city park, hit the trails at a nearby state or county park. Find a spot near you in our Family Outings Resource Guide or by using our online Hiking Guide with full descriptions for more than 900 hikes. As you build fitness and confidence, try more difficult hikes, but make sure to bring appropriate equipment and practice safe hiking.

Try out some easy hikes on your own

Here in Washington, you don’t need to be an expert hiker to experience beautiful trails. We’ve collected some of our favorites for every season on our Seasonal Hikes and Hike of the Week pages. Winter and spring hikes and "kids" hikes tend to be good first choices for hikes due to more gentle terrain.

Head out with an experienced group

Before you try more difficult hikes (intermediate and up) on your own, go out with experienced hikers, either on an organized hike or with an informal meet-up.