10 Fundamentals of Hiking Safely
At Software and Process Design, we've discovered that most goals can be achieved by breaking them down into essential steps, roughly 10 fundamental principles. We call these principles the 10 Fundamentals.
You can think of these Fundamentals as a roadmap for success. If you’re aiming to achieve something, these Fundamentals are like simple rules to follow, breaking down goals into actionable steps.
What makes it even more exciting is that we're actively developing tools to simplify this journey further. As you read through this guide, see how these Fundamentals, when combined with our tools, become your companion for reaching your goals.
In this guide, we break down the 10 fundamental principles of hiking safely – from how to plan, pack, set up an emergency contact and so much more. By the end of this article, you’ll have the confidence and knowledge required to set out hiking into the beautiful world around you.
Key Takeaways
1. Have a plan
2. Check the weather
3. Don’t remove things from nature; pick up garbage
4. Plan and pack appropriate footwear
5. Be safe, be seen
6. Set up an emergency contact
7. Pack water and food
8. Bring a first-aid kit
9. Apply insect and bear repellent
10. Hike with a buddy and a communication device
1. Have a plan.
You should have the route you will take for your hike planned out. How long will it take in total? What type of terrain will you be facing? Are there any elevation changes? When planning, always allow more time than you think you’ll need.
In addition, consider planning for a turnback point, as well. This is where you can turn back during your hike with the confidence to be able to make it back to your starting point, if you’re feeling unwell, for example.
Soon, you’ll be able to do all this using our tools. We’re working on something exciting that will allow you to search for hiking trails in your area, plan your hiking route and turnback point, plus so much more – all via one app!
For example, using our upcoming community initiative, 360 Hamilton, soon you’ll be able to find, plan your trip to, and experience all the hiking trails and waterfalls in the Hamilton region.
2. Check the weather.
Look at the weather, plus the route you’ll be taking, and plan clothing accordingly. It may call for a sunny day but, in the woods, and underneath the canopy of trees, it can be very chilly.
Will your hike have a lot of shaded or wet areas? Plan and pack accordingly. Are you hiking in the mountains? It can get quite cold (and even snowy) depending on the mountain region. Consider this when planning your hike.
Bring an extra pair of warm clothing and some rain gear, just in case the weather forecasters are wrong. Dress in layers so you can layer down or layer up, depending on your temperature level.
If you’re planning to hike in an open, sunny area, pack sunscreen, a hat, and some sunglasses. Don’t forget to reapply sunscreen.
Consider using our upcoming tools for this one, too. You’ll be able to check the weather, plan your hike accordingly, and even set alerts to remind yourself to reapply sunscreen – all in one place.
3. Don’t remove things from nature; pick up garbage.
Take nothing but photos or memories from your hiking adventure and leave nothing behind. Do not pick plants and do not leave garbage or litter.
Consider packing an extra plastic bag with you to use for garbage, plastic wrappers, and anything else you accumulate (or find) on your hike.
Then, you can dispose of the garbage bag at the end of your hike or if you find a garbage can along the trail.
Did you know? In most National Parks or Nature Reserves across the globe, it is illegal to collect any natural object (this includes things like plants, berries, fossils, driftwood, rocks, and animal parts - like antlers, for example, etc.)
4. Plan and pack appropriate footwear.
Plan appropriate hiking footwear. Does the route need hiking boots or would shoes be better? Will you have to wade through water, mud, or snow?
To pick the best hiking footwear, you should think about all these questions when planning your hike.
Also, consider whether you’ll need cushioned or waterproof hiking shoes (or boots). You may also need to pack extra hiking socks or shoelaces, depending on your hike.
Use our upcoming tools to plan your footwear according to the terrain you will face on your hike.
Soon, you’ll be able to research options for things like hiking boots and compare their features, prices, and locations – all in one convenient app.
With our tools, it will be simple to make the best decision for your feet, your hike, and support local – all at the same time.
Also, if you’re buying a new pair of hiking boots, consider breaking them in BEFORE your hike. The last thing you want is to experience a painful blister because your feet are not used to your new boots.
On Columbia’s website, they suggest that you take one to four weeks to break in your hiking boots, depending on the boot type and the hike you’re planning to go on. They also state that leather boots often take longer to break in.
5. Be safe, be seen.
Let it be known you are there. When you’re hiking in the backcountry, for example, it’s important to look for signs of bears, since they don’t like to be surprised.
Use things like bear bells or you can even use your voice to let them know you’re near (like by singing or whistling).
In addition, it’s important to wear orange in any area where hunting may be occurring. Please note that you should avoid hiking in the area entirely while in active hunting season.
To determine the hunting season in your area, check your local government’s website.
6. Set up an emergency contact.
Have an emergency contact who knows where you are and how long you will be. Create a detailed trip plan with info about where you’ll be hiking, the stops you plan to make, how much time you’ve allotted yourself, check-in times, etc.
Your emergency contact should be a trusted and dependable person. They should understand they will need to call help if you do not check in at the planned times. Furthermore, DO Not forget to check in with them.
Consider wearing a waterproof and lightweight watch so you can keep track of time without having to use up your device’s battery.
Set up your ICE (in case of emergency) contact in your phone. This way, if someone finds your phone (and not you) or you are hurt, unable to use a phone, and someone else has to help you – they can easily find and contact someone who knows you.
Soon, you’ll be able to create a detailed hiking plan and designate an emergency contact for it using our tools. By creating a Workspace for your hiking, you can organize all the details of your trip in one convenient place.
You’ll also be able to outline the responsibilities your emergency contact with have in the event of you not checking in/returning and share all this information with them easily and securely.
Your contact won’t have to search through a bunch of places to find important information in the event of an emergency. They can simply log on to our app, access the Workspace, and view all the info you’ve left for them.
7. Bring water and food.
With any hike, even if it’s a short one, pack snacks and water. It’s important to always stay hydrated, but especially so when you are exerting physical energy.
Understand how much water you will need to carry, or if you can refill somewhere along the route. Some trails may have a public bathroom with a water fountain or bottle refill station, for example.
If you aren’t able to carry as much water as you’ll need, consider using things like a LifeStraw personal water filter.
These types of items are great for not needing to boil the water first. If you are taking water from a natural source, like a stream, for example, you must boil the water first to make it safe to drink.
The CDC suggests the following steps for boiling water:
If the water is cloudy, first filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter. Alternatively, you can wait and allow the water to settle. Then, draw off the clear water and proceed to step 2.
Heat the water until large bubbles burst vigorously and continuously over the entire surface of a pot of water. Let the water boil like this for 1 minute (if you’re hiking at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil the water for 3 minutes).
Let the boiled water cool.
Store the boiled water in a clean, sanitized container and cover it tightly.
In addition, pack lightweight food and more than you think you’ll need since you could be out longer than planned. Remember to plan according to your age, weight, and the level of exertion you will be expending on your hike.
Use our upcoming tools to plan your snack and water packing for your hiking trip. Based on the type of hike you’ll be doing and the terrain you’ll be facing you can visualize how much water you may need.
In addition, depending on the length of your hike, how remote the area is, etc. You can determine how much food you may need to pack.
Soon, you’ll be able to create organized lists like this using our upcoming tools. Search, find, create, plan, and visualize everything you need to purchase and/or pack to have a safe and successful hiking trip.
8. Pack a first-aid kit.
Accidents can happen, so be prepared! Bring a mini first aid kit or as much as you can carry. In your kit, consider packing scissors, antiseptic wipes, bandages, topical ointment, and gauze at the very least.
If you are planning a long, solo hike, consider taking some first aid courses to better prepare yourself for emergencies.
If you hurt yourself on a solo hike, you will need to be confident enough and know how to, nurse yourself back to health. 4
It’s also important to know when to call for help in emergencies, and first aid classes can teach you the signs to look out for.
Soon, you’ll be able to find a first-aid course in your community using our tools. Once you’ve obtained your first-aid certification, you can input everything you learn directly into your Hiking Workspace.
Then, you can access the information quickly and easily while planning your hike. You could even create a printable sheet and place it in your first aid kit for helpful tips you may need in the event of an emergency.
9. Apply insect and bear repellant.
Use repelling aids like bug spray for mosquitoes, flies, and ticks (and if necessary) bear spray. Insects in the United States can transmit diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, West Nile, or Zika.
That’s why bug spray is important (and not just because bugs can be annoying, but they can also be detrimental to your health)!
You can also purchase insect-repellant clothing with a polymer permethrin coating to help keep the bugs away. Permethrin is an insecticide originally found in chrysanthemum flowers.
In addition, don’t apply your protection out of order. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that sunscreen go on first, followed by insect repellent.
OFF! states on its website that products with a higher percentage of the active ingredient do not offer stronger protection, they just last longer. So choose a product that suits the amount of time you plan to spend outdoors.
Here are some more tips to remember when it comes to applying insect repellent:
Don’t forget to apply it on the ankles and behind the elbows.
Spray shirts, pants, socks, and hats – but don’t spray under clothing.
Wash all clothing that has been treated with insect repellent before wearing it again.
To help protect against ticks and chiggers:
Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Tuck your shirt into your pants, and your pants into your socks.
Wear closed-toe shoes.
Walk on cleared paths or walkways, avoiding areas with tall grass.
Wash your body off as soon as possible after being outdoors.
Do a daily full body check on yourself, your children, your pets, and your hiking gear – ticks like to hide in warm areas like under the arms or in and around the ears.
Put your clothes in a dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes after being outdoors.
10. Bring a buddy and some form of communication device.
Bring a buddy on your hike and a communication device. Dead cell phones will not help, so have your devices fully charged before hiking.
In addition, keep the phone turned off and stored in a plastic bag. This way, if you get into trouble your phone will be dry and have a full charge.
If you’re hiking solo, you can plan to update your voicemail each time that you stop. State the location you’re at, the time, and the direction you’re headed as your voicemail message.
This way, if you get lost or hurt yourself, people will be able to follow up and potentially find you based on your last voicemail message set up.
Unfortunately, there may not always be cell service where you’re hiking. If this is the case, consider purchasing a device like Garmin inReach, which allows you to communicate using a two-way messaging satellite network.
This device allows you to send an SOS message to the Garmin emergency response coordination center, which is staffed 24/7.
Soon, you’ll be able to use our tools to plan a hike with a buddy. From collaborating and planning in a Workspace to researching and finalizing all the details.
With our tools, planning hiking adventures with groups (or even just by yourself) will be much more convenient!
Hungry for more advice? Stay tuned for additional guides on how to achieve your goals using our solutions and keep in mind that soon, groundbreaking tools will turn these principles into actionable steps.
Software and Process Design. A group of expert problem-solvers crafting software solutions that redefine. Learn more about the work we’re doing at softwareandprocessdesign.com.
