John Que Public

There’s always a certain amount of risk in going hiking — there might be unexpected weather or wild animals, and you can’t usually call for help when something goes wrong. But if someone who’s experienced with hiking is at least there with you (and even better, knows CPR), then your chances of coming back alive are much better. Carry a first aid kit as well as extra food and water. If near a stream, make sure you know how to purify water. Ask for advice on routes, and don’t just go by what people say is easy — if it looks like a challenging hike, then it probably is!

One thing people don’t tend to think about is when they go hiking alone. The person who you’re going with may have a family, a job, or other commitments that require their attention — in which case it’s entirely possible that in an emergency situation where they need to leave, you’d be stuck on your own. And if something happened to you, it would be much harder for someone else to come along and help. Before you go make sure somebody knows your plans. If you break your leg, they know where to spot you sit and sit tight; if there’s a sudden snowstorm or some other emergency that forces you off the mountain then somebody will know. Someone who understands the mountain might also be able to guide you down, even if they’re not familiar with the area.

Even if your companion is perfectly healthy, they may not always want to hike with you. Maybe they don’t like the idea of camping out overnight or only want to do day hikes. This makes it likely that at some point, you’ll find yourself alone if you go hiking.

There’s also the fact that if something happens, people are much more likely to find your body if it’s being guarded by someone else. The last thing anyone wants is for a loved one to have died needlessly because someone wasn’t there with them. There have been many stories of people going on short hikes and not being seen for days, weeks, or even months. In just about every case they turn up dead.

If you’re going hiking alone then it’s important that you prepare yourself as much as possible. Make sure you know what the weather will be like and have an escape plan if something goes wrong — where you’ll meet your companion if they come looking for you, or where there are nearby roads or houses.

A GPS beacon can be a good idea if you’re going somewhere isolated and aren’t confident of your navigational abilities in the area. Some also have a two-way communication system which allows them to contact rescuers in an emergency situation — though this still requires that someone else is there to operate it.

Always carry some form of protection , even if it’s just bear spray. There are plenty of stories of people who’ve gone hiking without expecting any potential problems, only to be attacked by wild animals or assaulted by other people. And never go hikinG without a gun . If you’re by yourself in the woods you need to be able to protect yourself.

Ammunition is heavy, so don’t bring more than will be necessary . It’s also very expensive when you buy it from specialty stores, so if you can get some when on sale or with a coupon then do so. Many hunters are willing to sell or trade ammo with hikers, even if you’re not a hunter yourself.

Wild animals are less of a threat than humans . If you’re out in the woods there’s always some kind of chance that something will sneak up on you and try to attack, but this is rare. Always bring bear bells or make noise when hiking through tall grass.

What you should do is stay aware of your surroundings at all times . This includes the wildlife around you, but also people who might approach you. Be friendly but don’t act scared or intimidated. Mountain lions and bears rarely attack humans — even if you come across a mother and her babies, she probably won’t attack unless you make them feel threatened.