Hiking Safety Rules Lesson 1

1. Hiking Safety Rules Lesson 1

2. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Hiking on the Open Road • Walk toward traffic single file. • Yield to bikers coming toward you. • Walk as far to the left side of the road as possible. Question 1

3. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Hiking on the Open Road • If the road is narrow, step off the roadway when vehicle approaches. • If hiking at night, wear reflective material on your clothing. Question 1

4. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Hiking in the Wilderness with No Established Trail • Walk around or over obstructions rather than on them. • Travel the route of least resistance to conserve energy. Question 1

5. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Hiking in the Wilderness with No Established Trail • Travel in a zigzag pattern when walking uphill to conserve energy. • Spread out as a group so you do as little damage to the vegetation as possible. Question 1

6. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Hiking in the Wilderness with No Established Trail • Don't follow one behind the other as you would on an established trail. • Travel on ridges whenever possible. Question 1

7. Hiking Safety Rules What differences might there be in hiking on the open road and hiking in the wilderness where there is no established trail?

8. Hiking Safety Rules Open Road • Walk toward traffic single file. Wilderness • Spread out as a group so you do as little damage to the vegetation as possible.

9. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Night Hiking • Wear light-colored clothing: white, orange, and yellow • Carry a flashlight or glow stick • Put reflective tape on shoes/clothing • Bring a whistle Question 2

10. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Night Hiking • Be READY for Rain.Carry a light hat, like a "bucket" hat (narrow brim that flops down all the way around the hat). It will keep the rain ofyour head.

11. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Night Hiking • Be READY to feel Cool during breaks.Bring a sweatshirt or hoody and a pair of gloves. Put them on when you stop for a rest, and take them off when you start up again. If you wear them all the time, you will not get the same benefit.

12. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Night Hiking • Be READY to feel Hunger.Bring a Trail Snack. Eating trail food will help break the monotony of a hike and give you energy.

13. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Night Hiking • Be READY to be Thirsty.Bring a canteen. You may not feel very thirsty, but you should drink something now and then. Drink cool water on a warm night and something warm on a cool night.

14. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Night Hiking • Be READY to Go Somewhere.Plan your route before the hike. If you plan to hike all night, you may want to find some interesting place to be by dawn, maybe a place where you can see the sunrise.

15. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Night Hiking • Be READY for Breakfast.If you hike until morning, either pack food or arrange a place where you can eat breakfast.

16. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Night Hiking • Be READY to feel Dirty.Take soap, a small towel, a toothbrush and toothpaste; helps make you feel clean after hiking through the night. You may not be very dirty, but a good cleaning before you eat breakfast will make you feel better.

17. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Night Hiking • Be READY to meet Difficulties.The countryside looks much different at night than it does in the daytime. Take a flashlight with fresh batteries so you can see the map, compass, and signposts along the way.

18. Hiking Safety Rules Safety Rules: Night Hiking • Carry a whistle so that if you get lost or separated from the rest of your group you can blow it.

19. Hiking Safety Rules Hiking Courtesy toward others on Trail • Yield to faster hikers who are behind you, hikers, backpackers and larger groups coming toward you. • Step aside and let others pass you without them having to break their pace. Question 3

20. Hiking Safety Rules End of Lesson 1Handout Worksheet: Hiking MWS 1 "Safety and Courtesy Rules"

21. Hiking Safety Rules Lesson 2

22. “Leave No Trace" Hiking When we are Hiking we should: • take nothing but pictures • leave nothing but footprints • kill nothing but time

23. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Be Prepared and Plan Ahead: • Know the regulations and concerns for the area you'll be hiking, backpacking, or camping in. Restrictions are based on any past abuse and the special conditions of an area. Question 4

24. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Be Prepared and Plan Ahead: • Camp and travel in small groups. They are quieter and do less damage. • Avoid the popular areas during heavy use times. Question 4

25. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Be Prepared and Plan Ahead: • Learn how to properly store your food to protect it from bears and other animals. • Make sure you have a way to properly dispose of your trash (use your Ziploc bags and bring an extra garbage bag). Question 4

26. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Be Prepared and Plan Ahead: • Repackage your food into re-usable containers like Ziploc bags. Avoid tin or aluminum cans and glass. Reduce the amount of trash you bring into the woods by eliminating all unnecessary packaging like cardboard boxes, etc. Question 4

27. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Be Prepared and Plan Ahead: • Get back to the basics. Rough it! Select your gear and plan your trip by thinking about how it will impact the environment and also how it may affect others as well. Question 4

28. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Be Prepared and Plan Ahead: • Choose hiking, backpacking, and camping gear and clothing that are natural earth tone colors like green, brown, tan, or black. Question 4

29. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces: • Stay on designated trails while hiking or backpacking. Walk single file in the center of the path. This will help keep erosion to a minimum. Question 4

30. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces: • Use existing trails. Don't shortcut switchbacks. Question 4

31. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces: • If traveling cross-country hike on durable surfaces (rock, sand, gravel, snow, pine needles, or dry grasses) to prevent vegetation damage and erosion. Have your group spread out while hiking off-trail so that new trails aren't created. Question 4

32. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces: • Stay on the trail if it is muddy or wet. Hike through it. If you walk around the mud, the trail will widen and become even muddier in the future. Mud is part of the backcountry challenge. Wear waterproof boots and gaiters to protect your feet from mud and water. Stay on the trail! Question 4

33. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces: • To minimize trail damage, wear as light a boot as possible for the conditions. Heavy boots with deep treads compact the soil more and tend to tear up the trail. Wear camp shoes (sandals, sneakers, moccasins, etc.) to minimize impact while in camp. Question 4

34. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces: • Be sure to camp on durable surfaces. Avoid fragile areas that will impact easily and take a long time to heal after you leave. Try to concentrate use into campsites that are already established. Give places just beginning to show impact a chance to heal themselves. Question 4

35. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces: • Remember: Good campsites are found, not made. Question 4

36. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack it In, Pack it Out): • If it wasn't there when you came, then don't leave it there when you leave! You are responsible for anything you bring into the backcountry. Carry out all your trash. Question 4

37. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack it In, Pack it Out): • Make your site or travel route look like nobody was ever there. Leave no signs of human influence. Remove all evidence of your stay. Inspect your campsite for trash or misplaced gear before you leave. Question 4

38. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack it In, Pack it Out): • Do not bury your trash. Animals will dig it up or it will become exposed later on for someone else to find. Pack it out. Question 4

39. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack it In, Pack it Out): • Contrary to popular belief tin foil and plastic bottles do not completely burn. Pack them out! Question 4

40. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack it In, Pack it Out): • If a bear beats your bear bag system and steals your food bag during the night, try and find the remains and properly dispose of them before you leave. The bear will be done eating in the morning and most likely had his feast a little ways from your campsite. Question 4

41. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack it In, Pack it Out): • Practice "Negative Trace". Pick up trash that others may have missed or dropped by accident. Pick up trash you find along the trail. Put trash you find in your back pocket or a side pocket of your pack. Educate any inconsiderate slobs you encounter about “Leave No Trace”. Question 4

42. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Properly Dispose of what you Can’t Pack Out: • When washing yourself or dishes use as little biodegradable soap as possible. Filter all food particles from the dishwater through an old sock and throw it away once you return home. When you dispose of dirty water; spread it over a wide area and keep it at least 200 feet from any water source. Avoid foods that produce grease. Question 4

43. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Properly Dispose of what you Can’t Pack Out: • Urinate well off the trail and/or out of camp. Urine should be widely distributed. The salt from concentrated urine will attract porcupines and skunks. Question 4

44. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Properly Dispose of what you Can’t Pack Out: • To bury feces, use a stick to dig a "cat hole" about six to eight inches deep and about six inches around. Use the stick to mix the feces, unscented toilet paper; and dirt. Mix it for a minute or two then put more dirt on top. Smooth out the dirt. Dig “cat holes” at least 200 feet from any water source, campsite, or trail. Question 4

45. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Minimize Use and Impact from Fires: • Don't build fires! Instead of building a campfire for your cooking, use a small backpacking stove. They will have you eating much quicker than a campfire and they don't leave unsightly charcoal scars or blackened rocks. Question 4

46. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Minimize Use and Impact from Fires: • If you must build a fire make it as small as possible and use established fire rings. If there is no fire ring, build a mound fire to protect the area from the eyesore of old coals and blackened rocks. Question 4

47. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Minimize Use and Impact from Fires: • Keep your fire small. Use small (wrist size or smaller) dead wood that was already on the ground. Break wood into smaller pieces as needed. Using small wood will ensure that it burns more completely. A nice fine ash that will blow away when the wind blows is ideal. Question 4

48. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Minimize Use and Impact from Fires: • Don't break or saw off branches from dead trees, live trees, or fallen trees. Use only wood that's on the ground. Don't burn green wood. Don't peel the bark off trees for use as fuel. It takes many years to heal and remains an eyesore in the meantime. Question 4

49. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Minimize Use and Impact from Fires: • Leave your saw and axe at home. • Some areas don't allow fires or only allow fires in designated areas. Know the regulations for the area you will be visiting. Question 4

50. “Leave No Trace” Hiking • Minimize Use and Impact from Fires: • During dry periods it can be dangerous or against regulations to build a fire. Always make sure your fire is completely out before leaving an area and never leave a fire unattended. Question 4