Downloaded 60 times
Uploaded byCathy Walker
Having fun hiking
The document provides tips and safety information for hiking, including how to choose proper boots and packs, what to bring on day hikes and for backpacking, trail etiquette and safety protocols. It emphasizes the importance of being prepared for changing weather, staying hydrated, hiking in groups of at least three people and knowing basic first aid for injuries like hypothermia. The overall message is for hikers to practice safety while enjoying beautiful local trails.
More Related Content
Having fun hiking
- 1. Having Fun Hiking ByPracticing Safe Hiking Presentation to Guides and Pathfinders Cathy Walker Ridge Meadows Outdoors Club 2014
- 2. If you canwalk, you can hike • You get to see so many beautiful and interesting places and things • As well as getting great exercise
- 3. Have fun! • DiezVistas, Buntzen Lake
- 4. See beautiful places •Marion Lake, UBC Research Forest
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
- 8. Have lots offun! • Mt. Nutt, Golden Ears Park
- 9. You can hikein the winter with snowshoes
- 10. What do youneed to know to enjoy hiking and backpacking?
- 11. Take care ofyour feet • Tend to hot spots Before they become blisters
- 12. What do youneed on a hike? • Most important: boots that fit
- 13. How to findgood boots? • Go to Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC is in Langley at Willowbrook Mall) at end of day when your feet are slightly larger • Wear hiking socks: merino wool are best (Costco’s are great quality and by far the cheapest); some people wear two pairs of socks, inner and outer • Let the MEC store clerk fit your boots • Wear the boots in the store as long as you can, go up and down inclines • At MEC, you can take them back if they don’t work out on the trail • If you can’t find boots at MEC to fit, go elsewhere
- 14. Find a goodpack • Packs also need to fit • Best ones have padded waist belt; weight rests on your hips • Make sure it’s big enough to carry what you need • Get MEC clerk to help you choose a pack and load it with stuff; walk around the store • At MEC you can take it back if it doesn’t fit right on the trail • Or, go for cheap – Canadian Tire • For overnight backpacking, fit is Essential
- 15. What to wear? •Comfortable clothing • Dress in layers • Wear clothing that dries quickly – synthetics like polyester, not cotton • Remember, your clothes will get wet and dirty • Can go to Value Village or other thrift stores if you don’t have suitable clothing
- 16. What’s in yourday pack? • Your lunch • Your water • Your snacks
- 17. What’s in yourday pack?
- 18. What else tobring on a day hike?
- 19. What do you needfor backpacking?
- 20. Trail Etiquette • Stickto the trail, especially in alpine and sub-alpine areas to prevent damage to eco-system and trail erosion • Take out all garbage you brought with you (and pick up other people’s garbage too) • Clean up after your dog – the main reason for dogs to be on leashes • Let other people get by who are coming the other way • Many people Hate the sound of bear bells (some people call them bear dinner bells)
- 21. Trail Safety • Don’tget lost • Read the map first • Know how far you’re going, what the elevation gain is and about how long the hike will take • Know what time dark will be and what time the park will close • Weather forecast will let you know what to expect
- 22. Trail Safety • Gowith someone who has done the trail before • Make sure there’s at least 3 of you • So if someone gets hurt, there’s one to stay with them and one to go for help • If someone is injured, keep them warm and dry
- 23. Trail Safety • Havea leader and a person at the back • Count the number of hikers and re-count at every stop • Keep together on the trail; don’t get too spread out • Wait for people at Every junction • Take time for breaks (5 minutes every hour) to have a rest, a drink of water and a snack; it’s not a race
- 24. Trail Safety –Whistle Signals • • • • • One whistle – Where are you? Two whistles – Come to me Three whistles – Emergency! In each case, wait a minute between whistling If it’s an emergency, keep whistling till people find you
- 25. Trail Safety • Makesure you wait for slowest person periodically and don’t take off the instant they catch up • If necessary, break the group into two groups, one slower and one faster • If someone can’t continue and wants to go back, make sure someone goes with them or the person stays put and waits till the group returns and take them back with the group
- 26. Trail Safety • Takea cell phone but remember they often don’t work in remote areas including most of Golden Ears Park • Make sure someone at home knows where you are going and approximately what time you are expected back; call them when you get back • If there’s no-one at home, leave a note on the dashboard of your vehicle saying where you are going and approximately what time you are expected back
- 27. Trail Safety • Ifyou get lost and it’s getting dark, stay put • Keep warm and dry and wait till morning to find your way again
- 28. Where to hikenear here?
- 29. Where to hikenear here?
- 30.
- 31. How to getthere
- 32. Where else tohike?
- 33. Where to hikeand take long walks?
- 34.
- 35. It isn’t abear, not even a grizzly bear
- 36. It isn’t acougar
- 37. It’s water: Toomuch can make you very, very cold; Too little can make you dehydrated
- 38. Here, it rains •A Lot!
- 39. Two dangers • Toomuch rain • What can be caused in your body when it’s both cold and wet? • Hypothermia • What can be caused in your body when there’s far too little water and you get dehydrated? • Heat stress or heat stroke • Both can kill you
- 40. So it’s veryimportant • To keep dry and warm when you stop in the rainy season, especially if you are lost and have to stay out overnight
- 41. To keep hydratedin the hot season
- 42. But most importantof all • Have fun hiking!
- 43. Thanks very much! •http://www.rmoutdoorclub.ca/ • Any questions?