Hiking Guides and Resources - coolhikinggear.com

Hiking in Protected Areas

Hiking in protected areas gives the hiker a large and varied selection of great hiking opportunities. For many hikers, going out into the wilds and mountains isn’t high on their list of to-do’s.

While some, like myself, love to push the boat out and truly get out into the lesser known wilds, for many this just isn’t enjoyable and they’d rather stay within well known and protected areas. These types of areas are usually very well managed and looked after and so have lot’s of amenities, man-made trails, etc.

Today I wanted to take a look at some of the many and varied options available in this sphere.

National Parks

Right at the top of the list is of course National Parks e.g Yosemite in the U.S., the Alps in Europe, etc. Most countries have their own designated national parks which are will vary in size and function.

Some will have plenty of hiking trails clearly mapped out for your enjoyment while others will be more rugged and untouched, most will have a mix of both. National parks are usually always areas of outstanding natural beauty so its more or less guaranteed that you will get to hike in some of the most majestic and beautiful scenery in the area.

Some National Parks require permits to hike in them and busier times of the year, these can be harder to get and limited to certain numbers, so be sure to check in advance to not be disappointed on arrival.

Forest and Reserves

These are usually a lot more available than national parks simply because there are more of them. It is quite common to find smaller forest reserves on the outskirts of cities.

The nature of these locations can vary significantly. For example, some forests may be used for commercial purposes and so active forestry management for lumber may be ongoing. Therefore related activities will be happening e.g. chopping down trees, etc.

Forests do provide their own unique beauty to hike in and a hiker can easily lose themselves in the varying types of trees and shrubs. Personally, I find that you can really get the feeling of getting away from it all hiking in a forest while you’re still right beside a city and I find the forest doesn’t even need to be that large to have that effect. When you’re surrounded by trees it’s like you’re a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city that may only be a few miles away.

Of course, it can’t take the place of the wilderness and the mountains, but it still can be very enjoyable to hike in.

Wilderness Areas

More for the advanced hiker, wilderness areas are similar to national parks, and can form part of them, but are usually much more extensive. Therefore, good navigation, mountaineering and outdoor skills are essential if you’re not hiking with a qualified and experienced guide.

These areas are protected so no commercial activities, e.g. mining, should be happening. These area’s can also have extensive trail systems but are more often than not a mix of trails and rugged untouched terrain. Can be a real thrill to hike in!

Nature and Wildlife Reserves

The primary aim of Nature and Wildife Reserves is to provide a protected area specifically for wildlife however many of these areas do also cater for hikers and so will have specific hiking areas and trails.

As a general rule, day hiking will be the most you could expect in these areas as they will likely have quite strict rules about camping and many of them simply don’t permit it so always check in advance.

Conclusion

The above are some of the types of protected areas that are available to hike in. Most countries will have some or all of the above. You can check out whats available in your country or more specifically near you with a simple Google search.

Many times protected areas will also be intermingled with beautiful old villages, towns and land features that are a joy to come across as you hike around.

You will likely be surprised at the little gems that either aren’t too far away or are right on your doorstep. While it is unlikely for you to have a vast wilderness area close to your city or town, you could very easily have nice forest reserves or wildlife reserves quite close by.

You could be pleasantly surprised 😉

I hope you found this short post useful.

Local Hiking Clubs Are A Great Resource For Hikers!

In this article I want to take a look at local hiking clubs, as they are a great resource that are available to many folks in their local areas.

When you are starting out hiking, it can all be a bit of a mystery. Where do you go to hike? What should you bring? Who should you go with? How do you stay safe? There can be a lot of things to consider for sure.

For people just getting started in hiking, joining an established club is a really good idea for many reasons. For more experienced hikers, joining a local hiking club can also be a great idea for multiple reasons. I review some of these reasons in the sections below.

Graded Hikes and Walks

Most hiking clubs will cater for all types of hiker and therefore all levels of fitness. To help them organize folks and to get an understanding of the fitness levels people have when they start, they will generally grade their hikes.

Grading simply means that each hike is awarded a grade based on it’s level of difficulty. So based on a scale of 10, an easier hike will have a lower grade of say 1 to 3 while a harder hike will have a higher grade of say 8 to 10 with medium hikes sitting between 4 and 7. The grading will be based on things like distance, altitude, terrain, and so on.

The general idea of this is that when you’re trying to organize many hikers into manageable groups, you want to be able put people of the same fitness levels on the same grade of hike, so they can all keep up with one another.

This grading system can also be very useful for someone completely new to hiking, as they can get a taste of how they handle a proper hike but at a suitably basic level before going further.

Regardless of your hiking experience, when joining a hiking or walking club, a lot of the time you may be asked to start off on a low or medium level hike. Please don’t be offended if you’re super fit, it’s just the easiest way for a club leader to get an idea of your fitness before allowing you on harder hikes.

Sometimes a club leader will vet you in advance though, and if you tell them you’re just back from hiking up Kilimanjaro last week, they’ll likely let you join a higher grade hike from the get go 😉

Note: hiking can be funny in that you could be quite fit in a particular sport, but your specific fitness skills may not apply to hiking and you will still need time to adapt to that type of activity.

Organised Transport

A lot of the time, when you head out hiking you are going to places that are outside of built up areas like cities and towns. Therefore you need transport to get there.

Many clubs will organize transport for their members, for a small fee, that will pick up people from a particular point and bring them back when the hike is finished.

Also, even for things like car pooling clubs are really great. There’s no point four people from one area all driving their own cars to the hiking location if they can all pool together.

Not only does it save on fuel costs but it will of course be better for the environment. Often times, car parks at hiking locations can be quite small, so the less vehicles that are there, the better.

Note: I only put a picture of an old style bus to the right here as I thought it looked cool … you get the idea though 😉

Guided Hikes

Another great advantage of hiking with a club is that the hikes are all organised in advance by an experienced hiker. Usually there will be a Group Leader of some kind who will have other one or two helpers. Generally these are volunteers from the club who take turns organizing and leading or supporting the hikes.

For a newbie this is great as your hike will be all mapped out well in advance. These volunteers will also generally be experienced hikers who have good navigation and mountaineering skills.

It also should give you a selection of hikes to pick from, as many groups plan their hiking schedule well in advance.

Experience

When you join a club of any kind, you of course get the benefit of years of experience from all the other members. If you have any questions about hiking be it about what are good hiking boots to get or what food you should bring on a hike, you will get the best answers and guidance from your hiking club comrades.

It never ceases to amaze me actually. I have been hiking for years and I still regularly meet folks who teach me a thing or two. For example, hiking gear is always changing and, generally speaking, getting better and better in terms of function and so on.

I find many people can give me good recommendations from their experience with gear and so on. As well as that, I regularly pick up a new hiking tip or general recommendation from other hikers.

Socializing With Like Minded Folks

When you join a hiking club you will of course meet like minded people. If you are interested in hiking you are likely a big fan of the great outdoors in general and probably like to dip your toe’s in the water for some other outdoor activities be it rock climbing, fishing, etc.

When you join a hiking club you will be meeting and socializing with like minded people, who are likely interested in similar things, so the possibilities are endless with regards to where it might lead you.

Aside from the possibilities of other outdoor activities, most clubs will organize hiking trips away or social nights out for dinner or the like, so there are many, many, opportunities for fun to be had.

I am also aware of numerous couples who met through hiking clubs too, so if you’re looking for a bit more than a social encounter, forget match.com ha ha 🙂

In all seriousness though, it does of course happen a lot, people meet on a hike or two and end up dating each other. In fact, I know one couple who met through one of my regular hiking groups and they are now married. We don’t see them anymore though … not sure what that may indicate 🙂

Conclusion

In conclusion, whether you’re new to hiking or have done it before, but would like to expand on your experience, joining a hiking club is a fantastic way to go about it.

There are many benefits and I have only listed a few of the main ones above, there are no doubt many, many others which I have not touched on.

To find a hiking club, simply go online and type in ‘your area name’ and ‘hiking clubs’ into search. That should do the trick. Most towns and cities will have plenty of hiking groups and remember you’re not limited to joining only one, you can join as many as you like.

Also, meetup.com can be a great place to find a local hiking group too. Again, just use the same search criteria on their website. I know of several excellent ones from my city on it.

One final thing to mention is that some hiking clubs will have a fee to join. This is usually a minimal fee of twenty or thirty bucks for the year, to cover general admin costs for the club.

All perfectly reasonable and when you sign-up, the items that make-up any membership costs are usually explained in detail, so you know what you’re paying for.

If you’re keen to get out on the trail and started with hiking, and want to meet some like minded folks, joining a hiking club or group is an excellent way to get started. So, are you a member of a hiking club or hiking meetup group yet? 🙂

I hope you found this article useful and informative. Please like, comment and / or share.

Altitude Sickness – Treatment and Prevention

Before looking at altitude sickness in terms of treatment and prevention, let’s first take a look at what altitude sickness is, and it’s signs and symptoms. As with any serious condition like this, it is good to know what to look for in case of a developing emergency while out on your hiking adventures.

What is Altitude Sickness?

Altitude Sickness occurs when the human body is exposed to high altitudes with low partial pressure of oxygen. Typically it starts to occur above 2400 meters (8000 feet).

One of the key problems with altitude sickness is that there is, as yet, no way to tell if someone will succumb to it. That is, you can take two people of equal fitness levels, health, etc. and expose them to high altitude. One will succumb to altitude sickness while the other will not with no identifiable reason as to why it hits one and not the other.

What to Look For?

Broadly speaking the initial symptoms of altitude sickness can feel like a bad hangover or the flu. However symptoms can become severe and life threatening if not dealt with appropriately. Symptoms are categorized as primary and severe with primary symptoms being present in the initial onset of altitude sickness, and severe symptoms setting in with prolonged exposure and where no remedial action has been taken.

Primary Symptoms

First on the list to look out for is a headache developing above 2400 meters. If any of the symptoms listed below also appear in conjunction with the headache it may be a sign of altitude sickness . Of course, if multiple symptoms from the list below appear concurrently, the likelihood that it is altitude sickness increases. The symptoms are:

Nausea
Fatigue
Feeling Dizzy
Feeling Drowsy
Pins and Needles
Insomnia
Nosebleeds
General feeling of being unwell
Shortness of breath
Swelling of hands, feet or face

If someone is entering the early stages of altitude sickness it is important to take remedial action as soon as possible. This is looked at in more detail below.

Severe Symptoms

When altitude sickness enters the severe stages it can be life threatening and the symptoms listed below may manifest. These symptoms fall under two main condition headings HAPE and HACE:

HAPE – High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (aka fluid in the lungs)

Persistent dry cough
Fever
Shortness of breath even when resting
Symptoms akin to bronchitis

HACE – High Altitude Cerebral Edema (aka swelling of the brain)

Headache that does not go away with treatment
Walking unsteadily / stumbling
Worsening nausea
Retinal hemorrhage
Gradual loss of consciousness

Treatment is reviewed in more detail below but as both HAPE and HACE are life threatening, the act of moving to lower altitudes may help to save anyone afflicted with either condition.

Note: On a previous post related to hypothermia I mentioned the mumbles, fumbles, stumbles and grumbles. They are signs to watch out for, for many conditions and they apply here too as an indication that something may be up!

Prevention

As mentioned above, there is no way to tell if someone will succumb to altitude sickness or not. However there are certain things you can do to try and best prepare yourself for higher altitudes. As with any of these things, prevention, where possible, is better than ever getting into the situation in the first place.

While it is possible to take some specific medications which may help prevent you from getting altitude sickness, these are generally only ever advised when someone has no other choice but to ascend high altitudes at a fast rate. Generally speaking, acclimatization is the preferred method of altitude sickness prevention.

Acclimatization

To prevent altitude sickness from occurring, in the first instance, you should always ascend to higher altitudes (above the danger level of 2400 meters / 8000 feet) slowly and avoid any activities that will stress the body in the first 24 hours at the new altitude.

It is best to avoid alcohol or anything that will dehydrate the body as that will only serve to exacerbate any potential problem. Logically following on from that, you should try and stay as hydrated as possible while you acclimatize.

When moving to very high altitudes on an ongoing basis, hikers and climbers may use the ‘climb-high, sleep-low’ approach. This refers to ascending a certain distance during the day and then coming back down a percentage of that to sleep at night. The recommended altitude increase in one day is 300 meters. Therefore, as an example, if starting on a given morning from 4500 meters and ascending to 5500 meters, you would then come back down to 4800 meters to sleep. You would then continue on in this vein as you ascend further and further up.

Most people will have heard of ‘base camps’ the most famous probably being the North and South base camps at Everest. The North base camp is located in Tibet at 5150 meters and the South base camp in Nepal at 5364 meters. A key function of base camps is to help assist with the acclimatization process.

What to do?

If you’re unfortunate enough to find yourself in a position where someone in your party is getting altitude sickness, the first thing to do is to descend to a lower altitude. This is the only real way of dealing adequately with the problem.

If however you can’t descend, below 3700 meters you can try to administer oxygen for mild to moderate symptoms.

In short, there is no good way of dealing with the problem while staying at the same altitude that is causing the problem. The affected person needs to be taken down to lower altitudes ASAP. This is of course not always possible e.g. if the weather does not permit.

In extreme situations or if you’re ever unsure what to do, call the emergency services if you can, to ask for advice and guidance.

Conclusion

To date, the only hiking trip I have been on was where altitude was potentially a problem was when I climbed Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc in the Alps. Mont Blanc rises to 4810 meters so the risk of altitude sickness was very real for me but luckily I got on fine. I of course spent time acclimatizing before I ascended and I whad expert guidance and training so all the necessary precautions were taken. Even with all that though, Altitude sickness could still have happened.

Even though I didn’t succumb to it, I do recall feeling a bit funny when we reached the top of Mont Blanc. While I loved standing at the summit enjoying the view, I was happy enough to start to descend after 20 minutes or so as I did feel a little odd and my hunch was that it was altitude related.

It’s worth noting as well, that one of the experienced Alpine Guides we had, told me that he had summited Mont Blanc dozens of times and never had an issue with Altitude sickness. Then one day, as he did his normal hike to the top with a group, he suddenly felt terrible, doubled over and started to throw up! Even for an experienced guide like him who had been at that altitude many times before, it can still just happen. As mentioned repeatedly above though, you just never know who or when someone may or may not be impacted so you need to keep a close eye on it to be sure.

Finally, this is not an exhaustive explanation of Altitude Sickness or the varying problems it can cause. Rather, I hope that this has provided a useful introduction to help generate awareness. Educate yourself as much as possible on this subject especially if you plan to take your hiking adventures above 2400 meters / 8000 feet.

Note: If you’re planning to ascend to dangerous levels, always ensure you get expert training, I highly recommend professional guidance and assistance as best required.

Keep you and your hiking friends safe while hiking high! Stay safe!

I hope you enjoyed this and found it useful. Please like, comment and / or share.

Hiking in Towns and Cities

In a post I did a couple of weeks back I looked at what to think about to help you try and decide whether you’d like hiking as a pastime before committing to it on an ongoing basis. To continue in that vein, I wanted to have a look at some creative ways you can put this trial into action!

What am I getting at?

Well, not everyone has easy access to mountains or even the countryside. As many people live in towns and cities, sometimes transport out to hiking locations is at best infrequent if not non-existent. However, this doesn’t spell the end of temporary possibilities to keep you going while you wait for those weekend days away in the mountains. As with anything you can get creative and many towns and cities offer different and alternative hiking possibilities.

Canals and Rivers

Many cities have canals and rivers running through them. These can, although not always, be a really nice place to go for a long trek. Generally speaking, while not getting totally away from the city as such, you should be able to get yourself into an environment where you’re surrounded by the trees, a bit of wildlife and the soothing sound of running water. Not exactly open mountains but still pleasant all the same with its own set of unique and admirable qualities.

Parks

Most cities will of course have public parks which can be a welcome oasis in the hustle and bustle of day-to-day city life. You can take advantage of these to get your legs out for a good stretch.

For smaller parks, you’ll of course have to walk around them a few times to get a decent hike type walk in, but that’s cool. It’s enough to give you a flavor if you’re just trying walking and hiking out for the first time and it is also enough to dust the cobwebs off from a physical workout perspective. They do say that only thirty minutes of walking a day will be a great help to you to stay healthy.

Beaches

Many cities are on the coast and the beach offers a perfect place to get a good walk in. If you have one close by, you are laughing. Personally, if asked the question if I prefer mountains or the sea, I would say it’s a close tie for me. While I love hiking in mountains, walking along a beautiful beach is hard to beat. If I can hike along a mountain along a beach, then that’s just perfect!

Anyway, a beach is a great place to get out for a good long walk and with the added benefit of a fresh sea breeze. Good for the body and good for the mind so you’re on to a winner!

Forests

Often times, you can find a small forest area close by your town or city. These are perfect locations to nearly immerse yourself in nature and the outdoors and get a real feel for what hiking is like. You don’t need a huge area of forest to really feel like you’re in the wilderness, a couple of square miles will do the trick nicely.

Country roads

Finally, I wanted to give a nod to country roads. Often times, people may not be based in cities but rather smaller towns but not necessarily with any hills or mountains close by. Sometimes, just getting out on the local roads and walking alongside the fields and countryside can be really pleasant and again, will get the legs moving and give you a feel for what hiking in hills and mountains might be like for you.

Of course remember that if you’re planning on hiking on roads, always wear appropriate reflective hiking gear to ensure you can be seen by other road users.

Conclusion

Hiking is of course best experienced in the mountains, hills, etc. but many times, it isn’t easy for folks to get to those hiking locations to enjoy them. As shown above, all is not lost and there are other options that may be open to you, at least as a short term substitute. Have a look round your town or city for any of the suggestions above and get yourself out and about, you never know what hidden gems you might find.

It will not only serve as a reasonable introduction to help you gauge whether you want to take your hiking adventures further but either way, it will help you stay fit and healthy. A good walk is great for your general well being not only physically but also psychologically. After a hard day at work some fresh air in natural surroundings can really work wonders for your general mood and orientation.

I hope you found this short post useful.

How Do I Know If I’ll Like Hiking as a Pastime?

If you’re completely new to hiking, you could be asking yourself some questions. for example, ‘how do I know if I’ll like it?’ ‘Is hiking a pastime I want to get into?’ It makes sense for this to be the first thing you consider. Like any hobby or sport, it’s always best to give yourself a trial period at it to see if you’ll actually take to it and want to continue with it on an ongoing basis.

Everyone has had the experience of starting some kind of new sport or activity with gusto and excitement only to see the initial enthusiasm dissipate and wane.

A classic example of this is the Gym membership. How many gyms make consistent money from folks who never actually use or even visit their gym? If you’re nodding your head in knowing acknowledgement 🙂 trust me I know, I have been guilty of that one in the past myself, and isn’t it strange how the months drift by and yet you still don’t cancel the membership!? Like there’s a sub-conscious fear that if you cancel you can never join up ever again!

This type of thing is very common and ultimately not necessary. Like anything some sports or activities you will try and you will love for life while others will come and go at different times of your life e.g. as you grow older or your tastes change etc.

Hiking is no different. For me, hopping about mountains in the elements is a pastime I truly love and enjoy but for other’s this may be as pleasurable as getting teeth pulled!

Going deeper into the initial question of whether you will like hiking in the great outdoors as a pastime, you need to ask yourself…

Do I like, or at least think I would like, walking about outside in nature and the elements?

If your answer to this question is yes, you’re off to a good start as far as hiking goes. Next, when you have an initial inkling that you might enjoy hiking, ideally you want to get a feel for it first before committing to it as a regular activity.

Why is it good to get a feel for it first?

The main reason is that good hiking gear can be a relatively significant investment, depending on how far you want to go into hiking of course. While not quite as wasteful as an unused gym membership, for example a hiking rain jacket can be used for normal day-to-day purposes, you may not want to be purchasing some of the more hiking specific kit at the start when you aren’t sure if you will commit to it on an ongoing basis.

The Good News

This is easily solved by introducing yourself slowly to hiking and building on it bit by bit to see if you’ll take to it. If you’ve never ever hiked before but think you might enjoy it, just start out walking in your local parks and see if you like that.

After doing that a few times till you’re comfortable, push the boat out a bit more and maybe head off to the countryside to a well-established but relatively easy trail.

From there, if you’re still feeling the love, you can move on to bigger well established trails on hills and mountains, eventually extending your shorter hiking excursions out to day hikes.

The beauty of all this is that you can go through all the above with most of your normal clothes and a good rain jacket, hiking pants and hiking boots. These items are things that you can use for multiple activities so even if you invest in them just to try hiking out and find you don’t take to it, they are still useful pieces of kit to have for your normal day-to-day activities. That is, rain gear will always come in handy somewhere along the line.

As well as that, aside from getting to good places to go hiking, hiking is completely free. No monthly hiking membership required! So you don’t need to fret about paying for something you’re not using.

Conclusion

Hiking is a great activity that has many benefits and if you’re looking to take up a new sport or activity, it could be a good one for you to try.

Keep in mind that no-one wants to pay for an unused gym membership so transferring that to hiking, there’s no need to buy the top of the range gear in a fit of newbie enthusiasm! Remember that you can test the water first and if you’re sensible about it, you can get started with stuff that, even if you don’t stick with hiking as an ongoing activity, is still useful on an ongoing basis.

Then, if you do stick with it and find you like it, you can expand your hiking gear list slowly over time as you need to based on the adventures you plan to undertake.

Personally, I think you’ll love hiking if you give it a go so no stalling and get yourself out there! I might be biased though 😉 If you’re completely new top hiking but want to get started, I recommend checking out the free beginners guide. That covers just about everything you need to think about to get you started on the trail.

I hope you found this useful … Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Hazards To Be Aware Of While Out Hiking

In today’s post I again want to look at safety but in the broader context of general hazards while hiking that you may encounter as you venture out into the wilderness.

Safety is pretty much the primary priority when you head out on the trail. Whether you’re new to hiking or a seasoned trekker, I think there is always more room to learn about safety. That has certainly been my experience anyway.

Every time I go to a new country to hike there I need to be mindful of the unfamiliar environment I am going into and what hazards that may present. However, even in areas that I hike in regularly, there’s always more to learn about in terms of safety as the land, the weather, the routes, the people, etc. are always changing.

Broadly speaking, there are four main categories of hazard that, as a hiker, you should be aware of and keep yourself informed about.

These four are:

Topographical Hazards
Climatic Hazards
Human Hazards
Mountain Environment

What are they all about?

well … let’s have a closer look at each of these categories in a little more detail to find out.

1. Topographical Hazards

Topography is the arrangement of the natural and physical features of a place or area of land. So when we think of topography, we are thinking of the well known phrase, which I’m sure you’ve used on occasion, ‘the lay of the land’.

In that context topographical hazards will be hazards that are related to the lay of the land. So hazards to watch out for in this category would be things like:

Sheer cliff edges
Very steep climbs
Dangerous drops
Loose rocks
Rivers, etc…

This list is not exhaustive and each hazard listed deserve’s it’s own special attention.

For example, when looking at rivers, sometimes people can make the mistake of thinking a waist deep river isn’t that big of a hazard. If you fall in, you just swim to safety or climb back out.

However, rivers like that are a great example of how hazards can be very deceptive. When looking at a river, unless you’re well versed in judging that type of thing, it can be very difficult to judge the current. While it may only be waste deep when standing, if the current is strong enough, it will quickly knock you over, submerging you and dragging you further downstream to deeper areas. All of this most likely along a rocky riverbed.

In fact, any river above ankle height has the potential to sweep you off your feet relatively easily, given the right conditions e.g. speed of current, etc. Topple over in a river with a heavy backpack on, you could get into serious difficulty very quickly. As a general rule I recommend trying to avoid crossing rivers, why take the risk if I can hike a bit further to avoid a water crossing or find a bridge.

Note: rivers can present many other dangers, this is just one that I’m highlighting for illustrative purposes.

2. Climatic Hazards

When considering this category of hiking hazards you need to think about any hazards the climate and weather or the environment you’re hiking in could present.

For example, if you’re hiking in freezing conditions in snow, hypothermia is a real hazard you need to be aware of. On the other side of the coin, the same applies if you’re hiking in really hot conditions like deserts where hyperthermia can potentially become an issue.

If you hike on open mountains in area’s prone to bad storms and lightening, you need to recognize that as a hazard as well and ensure you have the knowledge, tools and ability to take the appropriate evasive and protective action to stay safe.

A good illustration of this was a story I heard once about a small group of hikers who were hiking in mountains, not 100% sure where this happened but I have the Rockies in my head, and a bad storm with thunder, lightning and the works kicked in. Their immediate reaction was to find shelter.

There was a cave on a rocky outcrop close by and they all went to there for shelter thinking they would be safe. It turned out to be a very bad move. The stone can channel electricity well and so they effectively walked into a death trap and unfortunately it did not end well.

3. Human Hazards

When looking at human hazards we are talking about things to do with the actual hiker themselves. These are things like fitness, health, etc. In a lot of ways, this category should be the most preventable. Proper preparation and good sense are the watch words here.

For example, I know of a Guy who took a group of people on a trek in Winter. He checked in advance if anyone had health issues and everyone said no. They went on up the mountain, in snowy conditions, and one woman on the hike started to have an asthma attack!

To make the situation even worse, she didn’t even have her inhaler with her! It all ended well thankfully and she was escorted back down the mountain. It completely nuked the hike for everyone else though as everyone had to come down.

It is a good example of where a hazard was totally avoidable if good preparation and good sense had been adhered to. Why the lady chose to keep her health information from my friend, even after being asked about it, we will never know but it just goes to show that people can do stupid things and / or take needless risks!

Another key one here is having the right hiking gear and equipment. If you go out hiking in heavy rain without a waterproof hiking jacket or adequate hiking boots, you will suffer the consequences. Again, preparation, preparation, preparation!

4. Mountain Environment

This category of hazards relates to the actual environment you’re hiking in. Some time back I did a post on Leave No Trace and that is a key element of this grouping.

If folks leave lot’s of rubbish in the mountains like old drinks cans, that is a hazard to the local wildlife. Simply leaving the remains of an eaten piece of fruit in the environment is not acceptable as it is likely not native to that specific mountain environment. I go into this in much more detail in the post but in short:

Take out everything you bring in, always be respectful to the environment you’re hiking in and leave it like you’d never been there!

Another thing to consider here, in terms of access, is where you’re hiking. If you’re hiking in national parks, that’s totally cool as that’s what they’re there for. There are trails and clear rules to follow should you wish to go into the wilderness, so there should generally be minimal issues in terms of access.

However, sometimes, private lands can be close to public parks. In many of these cases, as it’s private you’re probably not allowed to go hiking in it without permission.

While I am all for hikers having as many rights as possible to hike where they wish, I also appreciate that private land is private land. Boundaries should be respected and permission sought in advance to hike across someones lands. Many times, all you need to do is be courteous and respectful enough to ask. There may also be regional / national governmental bodies who can advise on the rules depending on what country you’re in.

Conclusion

So there we have it. These are the main categories of hiking hazards that you should be aware of when you head out on the trail. However, it is not an exhaustive list and the categories can vary considerably depending on where you’re hiking.

For example, weather hazards while hiking in the outback in Australia will be considerably different from hiking in the Himalayas.

As always, preparation is the key. Educate yourself and take the time to research and prepare for your hike in advance, especially if it’s in a country or environment you’re new to. You’ll find a wealth of information on the net or you can check out forums to speak to someone who’s hiked there before (sometimes this is also the best option for tips, tricks, route suggestions, etc. on a particular hike).

As always, safety is paramount and preparation now, prevents pain later and helps ensure that you’ll have as enjoyable a hike as possible!

Have you ever experienced difficulty with any of these hiking hazards on the trail? I’d love to hear your story in the comments below!

Hiking At Night – A Great Way To Enjoy The Mountains!

About three years back, I did something completely new for me in terms of hiking, I went hiking at night. Although I have been hiking most of my life, for some reason, it had never really occurred to me to go out on the mountains when the sun went down.

Sure, I’d been camping plenty of times before so I was out in the mountains as such, but I never really went hiking. I found my spot for night, pitched camp and that was it till the sun came up.

Now, I am not really sure why it never occurred to me to not just head out for a hike, even while camping. I just never really bothered with it. So when someone suggested a night hike a few years back, I was excited to try it out.

Just to be clear, what is Hiking at Night? Well, it’s pretty much exactly what it says, a hike at night. Yes, this sounds a bit simplistic but I am referring to hiking in mountains at night, so no big light as such except for natural light that might be coming from the stars and the moon in the night sky.

So, how did I get on? …

I Really Enjoyed It …

That first time I went out, I have to say that it was pretty cool. We hiked into some mountains close to Dublin city and it was a lot of fun. The Guys I went with were regular night hikers so they had a good route that was suitable for night hiking. One I knew well by day but not by night.

It was an easy route, we stuck to well marked paths and trails for most of that hike so it wasn’t like we needed to do tough night navigation deep into the mountains or anything like that, not on my first time out anyway.

However, in saying that we did need to keep our eye’s on the ground a lot, as there were places where there were a lot of loose rocks and some dangerous holes in the path along the way.

We crossed a river at one point on that first night out, one I have crossed many, many times. However, seeing the reflections of the light of the moon bouncing off the water was really pretty and special. It’s a great spot during the day but in the quiet of the mountains at night, it added a whole new dimension to it.

We also got some sweet views of the city lights from the mountain that night.

As I mentioned, I’ve done this hike before many times in all sorts of weather, from pelting rain to sunny blue skies. I thought I’d seen it all but no, this was a new and unique experience on those same trails I’ve hiked many times before. Really beautiful.

What was really interesting about it all too was that, at the lower parts of the mountain, normal folks were out with head torches just walking their dogs or running. Now I would never really have thought of this for general recreational purposes.

I would kind have thought that, OK it’s November, it’s cold and very dark, I guess we stay indoors in the evening or walk in well lit public areas or the like. Not so, as I found. It was like a whole new world of possibility was opened up to me lol 🙂

Since that time, I’ve hiked at night, many, many times. I have of course also ventured much deeper into the mountains at night sine then as well, but I was sure to learn how to navigate at night first. You definitely need to take your time getting comfortable finding your way around easier parts of the mountains in the dark before going further and deeper into them at night.

So, what more can I say about hiking at night?

Well, of course, it is night time so you can’t see a whole pile, at least not in the way you normally would. However, there is a beautiful ambiance at times when you find yourself in places where there is enough natural light, from the moon etc., to be able to hike without our headlamps (more about those below). It was very serene and oddly calming. Pleasantly haunting in a nice way, if there can be such a thing.

Hiking at night, can definitely add a really beautiful dimension to hiking. Everyone has seen a clear night sky where the stars are shining and the moon is up, it’s a beautiful thing to gaze upon. If you’re on a mountain away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you of course have no street lights, car lights, etc. What does that mean?

Well, on a clear night, you’ll get to see the night sky in a truly beautiful way minus the normal light pollution that usually blocks the view. It is generally a lot lower in the mountains and at the right time of the month, in the right place and if the weather is favorable, you can get some awesome views of the night sky and yes, even the land.

The dark rolling hills in the mountains can have a unique beauty under a clear night sky dappled with spots of light from the stars and the moon. Throw in a couple of clouds and the shadows moving across them can be fantastic to stop for a bit and watch.

If you’re a keen photographer, you can get a lot of great shots too … if you know how to take night shots that is 🙂 Something I have most definitely have no idea how to do.

So, with the scene set as such, it is probably a good idea to move on to more practical matters

How Can you Stay Safe Hiking at Night?

As always, when you hit the trail, your safety is the number 1 priority. The same things that apply in a day hike, apply at night too. Tell people were you’re going, bring the right gear with you, water and snacks, leave a map of your route with someone who’ll notice if you don’t return, etc.

However, there are a few extra little things you can do to be sure you stay safe …

If it’s your first time going hiking at night, keep it simple. Stay on well marked trails and paths you’re very familiar with, especially if you’re not a great navigator. If you have difficulty finding your way in daylight, you can imagine what trouble you might get into at night 🙂

Hiking in a group or with a few people is sensible. As in the daytime, if someone gets into difficulty you have more people to help out. On your own at night and you take a tumble and go unconscious, you’re going to be much harder for any passer by to spot. If you’re with a few friends, they’ll of course act immediately.

If you can, head out with some folks who were well used to hiking at night, like I did on my first time out. That bit of extra experience is always going to help keep you that bit safer.

You need a good source artificial light. While there can often times be great light from the moon and the stars, it is still night time of course. Only on a rare occasion will that kind of light be enough to see you safely round the mountains on a hike. A lot of the time, light from the moon and stars is entirely absent if enough clouds come in or at certain times of the lunar cycle.

So with that in mind, if you fancy giving night hiking a go, one of the key things you will need in terms of gear is some artificial light, a headlamp to be precise. I figured I’d go into this part, in a bit more detail as it is important.

So, let’s have a quick look at a headlamp …

What is a Headlamp?

A headlamp is effectively a lamp that wraps around your head and rests on your forehead. A good headlamp will usually have different power settings so you can make it brighter or more targeted as required.

A headlamp is an absolute must for night hiking and useful to keep in your pack at all times just in case. You never know when you might get stuck on a mountain and not get off it in daylight. For example, if you get injured and your ability to move is significantly decreased, night time may fall before you can get off and if you have no headlamp with you, you’re more or less wandering in the dark.

Similarly, simply getting your timing wrong or taking a wrong turn on your route could add an extra few hours to your hike. That delay could result in your being stuck out on the mountain into the night and again, with no light to guide your way, it’s not going to be easy to get off safely.

There’s a fair bit to think about when getting a good headlamp. There are a lot of not so great ones available, and some very good ones. Same as anything of course 🙂 I’m currently writing a more detailed buying guide which I will link to from here when it’s published.

At the minute, I use the Black Diamond Storm Headlamp. It works very well and I am a big fan of it. I won’t relist the settings here, click on the link or the picture above to read a detailed review on it’s capabilities. Suffice it to say, I am very pleased with it’s performance with the only downside possibly being that it can be a bit heavy on juice. Not the end of the world though.

Conclusion

Overall, hiking at night is something I highly recommend trying out. It’s a lot of fun and definitely adds a different dimension to things. I still fondly remember that first night hike, it was a great success and I had a blast.

It was really cool to see the lights of the city by night, very pretty. The nicest thing though, was that in places, as mentioned above, you could just switch off the headlamp and walk in the dark as there was enough light coming from the sky from the moon and the stars. Really beautiful and one of the coolest things to experience while out night hiking.

Remember, as with any time you’re going out hiking, safety comes first. Therefore, if you’re planning to go out hiking at night be sure you have the appropriate gear, especially a good headlamp! As mentioned above, the same safety things you should check off for a day hike, you need to do at night as well. I also recommend going out in numbers, especially if you’re going into deeper mountainous areas.

Do you like to go hiking at night? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

The Signs Of Frostbite

The signs of frostbite can be subtle so it is a good idea to educate yourself well in advance before you are ever unfortunate enough to encounter them. Last week we looked at the danger that hypothermia can prevent to hikers while out hiking on the trail and some of the key signs and symptoms of it.

In a similar manner, in today’s post we’ll examine frost bite. We’ll look at what frost bite is, signs and symptoms of it, some basic treatment tips and, most importantly, prevention.

Frostbite is something I have first-hand experience of. When I was nine years old I entered the early stages of frost bite wearing the wrong footwear in snow. It was caught in time and remained in the first degree level. There was no permanent damage thankfully but I remember it all too well. It can sneak up on you and it is a miserable experience!

What is Frost Bite?

Similar to hypothermia, frostbite is another problem that can be brought on by cold weather. Hikers want to avoid it at all costs and as we move further into the colder winter months, it becomes more and more of a potential issue.

Frost bite sets in when parts of the body are exposed to extreme cold for long periods of time. When this occurs the body starts to move blood away from the extremities to protect the critical organs. This process coupled with lasting exposure results in damage to the skin and local tissues in the affected area due to freezing. Generally speaking, frost bite will start to appear in the extremities, like hands and feet, of the body first as there will be less blood circulation in those areas.

Signs and Symptoms

Similar to sun burn, frost bite is rated in levels of degree’s running from one to three. Each higher degree is of course more serious than the previous one and will therefore cause more pain and damage which can potentially be permanent.

First Degree (Aka Frost-nip)

This is only the beginning stages of frost bite and does not normally lead to any lasting damage if kept at this level. It affects the surface of the skin which becomes blotchy with the development of white, red or yellow patches which can also become numb and throbbing. Long term sensory damage can occur in the first degree e.g. loss of sensitivity to hot and cold in the skin.

Second Degree

The problem starts to get more serious as ongoing exposure from the first degree leads to the hardening and freezing of the skin. This will result in blisters which can become hard and turn black.

The numb and throbbing feeling of the skin will start to be replaced by a tingly sensation but as it progresses further, sensation gradually starts to fade. The impact while more serious, is still confined to the outer layers of the skin.

Frost bite of this degree should still heal although the aforementioned insensitivity to heat and cold is more likely to be permanent in the affected area.

Third Degree

Moving into third degree frostbite, the frostbitten area is impacted deeply resulting in deep tissue (muscles, tendons, etc.) freezing. The skin turns white or blue and is hard, blotchy and waxen. Deep frostbite is setting in at this stage and immediate medical attention is required. Again purple and or black blisters will develop.

Extreme frostbite can result in gangrene and the loss of body parts e.g. toes, fingers, etc.

Treatment

Where possible remove any wet clothing from the individual. Try and keep them warm using blankets, coats, etc. If possible, try and submerge the affected area in warm water (101-104 degrees) until the skin regains a pinkish hue and color. For any areas that cannot be submerged, washing them repeatedly in the warm water may help.

Try not to rub the affected area. Dry it gently as required and wrap gently in clean gauze bandages. Where blisters have formed, do not rub or open them.

Where third degree of severe frostbite has set in, seek medical attention immediately!

Prevention

As with all these things, prevention is way, way better than any attempt at treatment or cure! Some common sense things you can do to prevent getting frost bite are:

If it’s really cold outside, don’t go hiking! The mountain’s will be there for you another day
Remember, if it’s cold standing in your back garden, it will be even colder when you factor in altitude and wind chill. Don’t be misled by your immediate environment
Dress appropriately! Wearing the right hiking gear is critical and always layer appropriately
Keep an eye on your exposed skin for any signs of frost bite. As numbness is a significant factor, it can sneak up without you even realizing!
Keep yourself dry and carry some extra clothes, in particular socks, etc. in your day pack
If you get wet in freezing conditions, get your wet clothes off immediately! People often make the mistake of getting a foot wet in ice cold water and thinking everything will be OK if they keep moving. What they don’t realize is that with numbness in really cold temperatures, they won’t feel the water in their socks or clothes freezing to their skin. This is really nasty and you do not want to experience or even see this! Get dry clothes from your emergency spares. If you don’t have any spare clothes, at the very least get your wet clothes off and wring all the water out of them before putting them back on

Conclusion

In conclusion this post is not supposed to be a full treatise on the many dangers of frost bite while out hiking on the trail in winter, but rather an introduction to increase awareness. For most average day hikers, this should never really become an issue but if you get into difficulty, you just never know.

If you’re stuck in bad snow and ice and can’t walk out, it won’t take long before the cold sets in. With that in ind, it’s worthwhile to educate yourself a bit further on this topic to ensure that if you’re unfortunate enough to get into difficulty, you have some idea of what you need to do to minimize any permanent damage until you can get out of the situation as quickly and as safely as possible.

Remember, if you or someone in your party get’s into difficulty and you’re not sure what to do, call for help and ask for advice!

Have you any special tips to help avoid frostbite? Tell us in the comments below.

The Signs And Symptoms Of Hypothermia

The signs and symptoms of hypothermia are many and it’s good to know what to look for in case of a developing emergency while out on your hiking adventures in the Winter time.

With the depths of the winter months just around the corner, everyone should be aware of some of the unique hazards and dangers the season can bring while out hiking on the trail.

In the context of this post, when hiking there are two common related conditions which are are good to educate yourself on, and protect yourself from. The first, which is not the subject of this post, is hyperthermia. In short this is where the body overheats.

Today we’ll be looking at hyperthermia’s well known cousin, hypothermia.

What is Hypothermia?

In short summary, a persons body core temperature is normally maintained at a practically constant level at 98 – 100 ˚F (36.5 – 37.5 ˚C). Hypothermia kicks in when a person’s core temperature drops below 95.0 ˚F (35.0 ˚C). This happens where a person is exposed to extreme cold for an extended period of time.

What to Look For?

Broadly speaking there are three stages of severity of hypothermia. An initial stage where moderate symptoms start to appear, a middle stage where symptoms become more pronounced and finally a severe stage which can be life threatening.

Early Stages of Hypothermia

If someone is entering the early stages of hypothermia they will start to shiver and shake. By shivering and shaking the body is reacting to the cold in an effort to keep itself warm.

Other nasty things, like raised hypertension, also start to happen which can increase the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and so on. At this stage though, any shaking should be mild and can even go unnoticed.

Middle or Moderate Stages of Hypothermia

If not relieved in some manner, the body moves into a more serious stage of hypothermia. At this point the person will start shaking in a more violent and obvious manner.

Mild confusion will start to become apparent in the person. Sign’s to watch out for, and a good and easy catchphrase to remember, are the mumbles, fumbles, stumbles and grumbles.

Mumbles…

They might start mumbling while trying to communicate.

Fumbles…

Their coordination will start to suffer. Simple tasks that require basic co-ordination will be hard to complete.

Stumbles…

They may start to stumble a bit and lumber as they walk.

Grumbles…

They may start grumbling and complaining.

The key thing about the mumbles, fumbles, stumbles and grumbles is that the person themselves may well be oblivious to them and they may still even seem outwardly alert to an observer.

Physically, the body rushes to protect the vital organs and signs of this are clear in a paling of the face and outer exposed points becoming blue e.g. lips, ears, etc.

Note: the mumbles, fumbles, stumbles and grumbles are not only relevant to Hypothermia, they are signs to watch out for, for many conditions and are a general indication that something is up!

Severe Stages of Hypothermia

When it moves to the next and final stage, where symptoms become severe, all the person’s physiological processes like respiration, heart rate, etc. start to falter.

Shivering may cease and outer parts of the body, like hands, become useless. Skin will be clearly blue and puffed up. Stumbling, confusion and even irrationality will be clearly apparent. Eventually, major organs will fail.

Prevention

As with any of these things, prevention is better than ever getting into the situation in the first place. To prevent it from occurring, ensure you always wear the right hiking gear to
stay warm.

Avoid cotton clothes and wear synthetic and woolen fabrics as they are way better at insulation when dry or wet.

You need to employ layers in winter and having appropriate hiking boots is critical. Check out the Complete Day Hiking Checklist in Pictures for a run through of all the gear you need to have for a successful and safe day hike.

Also, and I can’t stress this enough, use your common sense and try and stay away from danger areas. For example crossing over stepping stones over a deep ice cold river or even walking over frozen rivers. If it’s not necessary, then best avoided!

Also, if you head out on your hike and as you ascend into higher ground, you start to encounter very deep snow and it’s starting to get difficult to hike through it, it can be wiser to just call it a day and leave your hike for another time when the weather is more favorable. There’s never any need to take unnecessary risks.

What to do?

If you’re unfortunate enough to find yourself in a position where someone in your party is becoming hypothermic, the main thing is to try and move them to a warm environment as soon as possible, and to also try and rewarm them. This is of course not always possible e.g. if someone falls into a freezing river.

In extreme situations or if you’re ever unsure what to do, call the emergency services to ask for advice and guidance.

To close the freezing river example above off; if someone does fall into a freezing river in freezing conditions, in most cases the first thing to do is to remove their clothes to wring as much water out of them as possible.

Then put them back on immediately. If you don’t do this, the water in the clothes can freeze to the skin which will cause a whole host of other problems.

Tip: carry a Emergency Bivvy Bag to help keep someone protected in an emergency! They’re small, light and easy to stick into your day pack.

Every emergency situation must be judged on it’s own special circumstances. Always call the emergency services for help if you’re unsure of what to do!

Thankfully, I have never been in a situation where someone was hypothermic and I hope I never will be. I have read and heard some strange stories about what people do when hypothermia starts kicking in. Stories of people removing their dry clothes are not uncommon.

This is due to some kind of mix of signals in the brain as they get colder and colder. Ironically, as hypothermia gets more severe, it’s possible that the person thinks they’re over heating so they start to strip off their clothes which of course only exacerbates the problem! Not good!

Conclusion

I want to stress, that the purpose of this article is not to provide an exhaustive explanation of hypothermia or the varying issues it causes, far from it. Rather, the aim here is to give a good introduction to create awareness. Educate yourself as much as possible on this subject as you never know when you may need it!

I recommend doing a certified wilderness first aid course if you can. The subject of hypothermia, along with many others will be covered in detail in it. Depending on where you live and hike, hypothermia can be more likely to be encountered so it is wise to educate yourself if that is the case.

Keep you and your hiking friends safe while hiking this winter!

If you found this useful, please like and share this post.