There are two common reasons for hikers to get off course: By subtracting instead of adding 13 degrees for declination, giving an error of 26 degrees, and by not referring to the map and compass continuously. Eat regularly - as one experienced hiker says, on the trail is not the time to diet. Filter water or treat it with iodine pills. Bring plenty of water and know where springs are - though they’re not always reliable. Hot weather can be as deadly as cold weather - symptoms of heat exhaustion include profuse sweating, nausea, headache, lightheadedness and muscle cramps. Realizing he must stop, he piled leaves together for bedding, but with soaked feet from several stream crossings and plummeting October temperature, he spent a long, shivering night. He tumbled down a ledge, landing on his face. The dirt road petered out, and it was very dark - no moonlight with no flashlight. At dusk on the Seager Trail, a hiker took the wrong way at a junction. Don’t count on cell service.Ĭommon mistakes include not bringing a flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries, on every hike. After providing ours, we called a ranger emergency contact number, 51, and Adirondacks at 51. Neither she nor her partner had warm clothes or a flashlight. Keep eyes on the trail ahead, just as we keep eyes on the road while driving. We happened upon a helpless hiker on Mount Marcy one recent August her foot had suddenly wedged in rock, and she’d suffered a detached ligament. He learned all too well that mountain conditions can be radically different than those in the valley - and constantly changing in any season. This hiker became the Catskill 3500 Club Winter Weekend chairman. Snow and sleet were blowing in tremendous wind at 3,800 feet, and on Slide Mountain, the thermometer registered 20 degrees with eight inches of snow. One warm, sunny Memorial Day, three thinly-clad men climbed the Burroughs Range. Learn about equipment, the terrain and trails you’ll hike, and always check local weather forecasts. The Catskill region, especially, has slippery sedimentary and loose rock, which can result in injuries and even deadly falls. Avoid cotton, which does not dry and clings coldly to the body synthetics dry fast and wool remains warm even when wet. Every pack should have extra food and water, headlamp or flashlight, matches/fire starters - try dryer lint, first-aid kit, whistle, pocket knife, sunblock, hat, rain/wind jacket and pants map and compass - GPS is helpful but not sufficient - and warm clothing. When planning a hike, visit for essential information on all-season hiking safety.
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