Spring is in the air and that means Utah’s hiking opportunities are opening up. With so many moderate to advanced and family-friendly hikes, our backyard is full of spring and summer fun activities. Hiking is an excellent activity to living a healthy lifestyle and bettering your cardio-respiratory fitness. Hiking can lower risk of heart disease, improve blood pressure and bone density, strengthen muscles in hips, legs, and core and improve balance. Follow these tips to ensure you and your friends/family have a fun, safe hike.
Plan it Out.
You should never hike alone regardless of your hiking expertise and experience. Once you’ve got at least one other person coming with you, you need to tell a loved one or friend of your plans to go hiking. That includes when you’re leaving, where you’re going, when you’ll be back and any emergency plans should they be necessary.
Preparation: Get the Right Gear.
In order to have a safe hike, you need to dress like an experienced hiker.
- Wear Sturdy Shoes and Good Socks. Shoes that come up around the ankle could prevent a strain or sprain.
- Wear Appropriate Clothing. This means you should dress in layers, wear bright colors and avoid cotton materials.
Now that you look the part, you need to pack the right gear in your back pack.
- Bring Enough Water. A good rule of thumb is take at least 3 quarts per person, per day.
- Carry a Map. Don’t count on your cell phone or GPS. Batteries die and technology can stop working.
- Bring a flashlight and a whistle. If you find yourself in a sticky situation or need help, three short blasts on the whistle are a sign of distress. Whistles require less energy than yelling, and are louder.
- Don’t Forget an Emergency Kit. Pack high energy foods (bars are good), a first aid kit, a poncho (or a trash bag), a knife, and aspirin in your backpack. Preparation is key to staying safe in the wilderness.
During: Do it Right.
- Keep a Steady Pace. Pace yourself when hiking! If you’re in a large group, go at the slower person’s pace. Fatigue is common while hiking and peer pressure to keep up can harm someone. On that note, don’t split your group up. Always stay together!
- Don’t Drink Stream Water. It doesn’t matter what hike you’re on, not all spring or stream water is safe to drink.
- Stay on the Trail. Don’t leave the trail and make your way through the brush. It is not only dangerous for you to get lost, but also bad for the environment. It causes erosion.
- Watch the Weather. Don’t underestimate the mountain’s weather. The weather patterns are always in flux, so what looks like it could be a harmless rain cloud could turn into a thunderstorm.
Now that you properly equipped and knowledgeable in hiking safety, go out and have some spring fun! If you have any questions about the information contained in this post, feel free to call our office.