Becoming one with the nature, and indulging in the serene tranquility it has to offer are dreams most people dream of becoming true. An experience is sure to provide the heart with a thrilling and satisfying feeling. An activity capable of providing you with that same enthralling sensation is none other than hiking. Hiking through mountainous and rough terrain, all while spotting on the wonderful and abundant flora and fauna nature has to offer, is an exceptional experience.
Solo Hiking Tips:
If you are to go on this adventurous activity with only the presence of yourself, you are sure to get all those serene treats reserved for you alone. But it goes without saying, that travelling alone always has that risk factor involved. Solo hiking may be extremely fun and exciting, but it also has the potential to lead you astray towards danger. So it is of utmost importance that you prepare yourself as greatly as possible for any hiking trip to stay safe on the trail. Here are some safety tips to get you going.
Prepare Yourself Properly:
Always be prepared. It is the best thing anyone can do to ensure safety. Preparation is the base of any safety procedure you will find in this piece of writing. Preparation means becoming knowledgeable about everything relating to your hike. This includes how the weather is going to be, the condition of the terrain, the wildlife and vegetation, and how difficult the hike is going to be. Knowing what to expect gives you an over the activity and reduces your chances of getting into trouble. Take appropriate actions to gather the necessary knowledge.
Know Well about Hiking Spot:
Look up a map for the place you are hiking in and take it with you. Know about the wildlife and poisonous plants that may exist there and educate you on how to defend against them. Learn how to fight against altitude sickness and do the appropriate exercises before the hike. Check for weather forecasting resources for the place you are going to hike. This is especially important for places at high altitudes as thunderstorms are much frequent there. Never be under-prepared.
Ensure Safety: Inform Friends and Family
Another way to stay prepared for danger is to notify your friends and family about your hike. In this modern age of technology, it should be very easy to notify anyone about your plans of hiking. Keep at least a family member or a friend informed about the details of your hike such as where you are going and which routes you are taking. This is very crucial that you do it before hand, as you may not get any cell service where you are going to hike. Also, keep that person informed about when they are going to hear from you and between what period you are going to be back. Safety on solo hiking is a major issue.
Ensure Safety: Inform Local Rangers
You could also inform the local ranger station about your plans and where you are going to take this safety precaution to the next level,. Talking with other hikers and exchanging plans is also not a bad idea as this might come in handy if authorities come for questioning in case something happens. As a very last measure of precaution, you could keep a slip of paper in your car when depart from it. In the paper write down all your plans and the destinations, you are going to. This would be one additional step towards speeding up any rescue procedures. As solo hiking safety is a major issue, so you should serious on it.
Pack All Necessary Gadgets:
Now it’s time to talk about the gadgets. Keeping with you the right gear might mean saving you from life or death situations. Technology plays a great part in hiking solo. There is now a vast resource of GPS trackers, offline maps, communication devices, apps, etc. Some noteworthy ones are “AllTrails”, “REI Co-Op Guide to National Parks” and “GPS Tracks”, all of which have GPS tracking, offline capabilities and the capability to send your location and notifications if there is an emergency
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You could also make use of satellite messaging devices and personal locator beacons. These devices are meant to be used in emergencies only and could potentially save your life. The “Garmin In Reach” and “SPOT” are good and recommended devices.
Take All Basic Equipments:
Apart from these technologically advanced aids, you should never forget to take with you the basic equipment. You should buy a compass and learn using it. You could also invest in a whistle, as this would not only help to fend off certain wild life, it could also help you to call for help if in case, you are immobilized and your voice is not enough. Then there are the essentials such as your pack, sleeping bag, tent, boots, clothing etc. depending on the type of your hike.
Bring Enough and Proper Clothing:
Also, carefully choose the type of clothes you bring on your hike. Wear bright and reflective clothes when your hike. Wear synthetic materials that are self-drying in the summer, and wear wool and fleece in the winter for warmth. As a basic rule, always avoid cotton as it can chafe does not dry quickly.
Pack Enough Resources:
As a method of greatly insuring your safety, you should always be over prepared. Never go on a hike on assumptions, and take low resources only find out that your assumptions were wrong. Always take more than you need. Even if you are going on a hike for a few hours, bring essentials as if you are going for a whole day.
Bring More Water:
Take more water and food than you need. You could also take with you a water filtration system so that you can drink water from any water resource. Take gear to secure a shelter if it is needed, bring clothes for any type of weather and take a first aid kit. You should also bring with you a backup battery to charge any device that may be able to secure help or track your location.
Final Words:
Lastly, the most important tip, is to know yourself and be realistic. You should know your abilities and do not do things that are more than what you can handle. If it’s a big hike, remember to do strength training and the necessary exercises ahead of time. You should first practice on short trails and then slowly move on to larger ones. Master hiking on familiar trails and then take on unfamiliar ones.
Respect what your body is capable of doing and do not try to eat more than you can chew. Finally, trust your senses and do what you think is the most reasonable thing to do. That concludes this short piece of writing on how to stay safe when hiking solo. We hope that the above-mentioned tips would come in quite handy to you.
You can also watch this video to learn easily
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