Staying safe while on a trail, whether its in your home town, or two hundred miles away, the same basic principles are universal in general trail safety. Keeping your senses are high alert is very important, but there are other ways to decrease your chances of something bad happening to you.
Keep reading to find out how to stay safe when you are most vulnerable.
The more time you spend on the trails, the more likely you are to experience something negative; a wild animal, a strange person, an injury/illness, or getting lost are all real possibility that should never be put in the back of your mind while exploring. I have been fortunate to not experience anything drastic besides a bruised foot, and some rain, but I am not immune from anything the wild can throw at me.
"Keeping your wits" is one of my favorite outdoor/survival terms. I say this because it applies to every situation you may encounter. If you are gathering firewood and you are not paying enough attention, you might get bit by a snake. The farther away from your trail buddy or campsite you should pay attention to your surroundings, leave a few broken branches along the way to mark where you were.
If you encounter a dangerous predator, keep your wits; stay calm, always have bear spray or a weapon that can help deter it. I always carry a decent sized knife, and a gun. If you have a Concealed Weapons Permit in South Carolina, most state/national parks will allow it if you let them know when checking in. Otherwise state/local laws apply when carrying a firearm. I strongly recommend carrying a firearm on the trail, because no matter how peaceful the scenery is, and how isolated I may be, a wild animal or dangerous person could easily take me out if I could not protect myself against them.
Traveling in pairs or groups is definitely another way to stay safe on the trail. When I was younger I was fearless and walked trails alone, with maybe a pocket knife, I was "armed with my journal" so to speak. Besides a cell phone and something to drink, I carried nothing else. I was blessed by having no deadly encounters, and every time I read an article about someone being assaulted or murdered on a trail, I reminded of my blessings. Now I always have my boyfriend/best friend Derek with me, we recruit other friends for our adventures all the time. Even though walking a mile doesn't seem very far, when that mile is totally isolated from anyone else a lot can go wrong. The longer your trip the more prepared you need to be of something happening.
If you feel the need to talk to people you see on the trail, use your wits to guide you in who to engage with, and how much or little information you reveal. That older couple, or the young college students are generally safe options, but the sketchy loner who looks like hes too comfortable on the trail, or out of place is probably someone to avoid, and keep an eye out for. Never tell people where your campsite is, seriously your setting yourself up to get robbed, or worse. Stress that you are with other people, and are "tough" so-to speak. Do not rely on stereotypes alone though. Anyone can be a predator and its usually best to just keep to yourself and your group.
Always tell friends, or family members where you plan to go. Give them a map of where you are going, the area you plan to camp, how long you expect to be gone, and contact information to the park/campground you are staying at. If you are out of cellphone range or your phone dies, your hurt, lost, scared and hungry; you want someone to know how to find you quickly.
You should not use trails after dark. That sounds like common sense, but every day people stay on trails longer than expected, or want to push their limits and venture out at night. This is a survival no-no. Nocturnal animals come out at night, they tend to be more predatory and increase your chance of encountering a bobcat, stepping on a snake, or having a black widow spider bite you. As my parents taught me, "nothing good happens after midnight." Well, the same thing applies to the trail, nothing good comes from the trail after dark.
Staying safe on a trail depends on how proactive you are in your own survival and safety. Having plenty of water, or filtration system can save your life if you get lost, and prevent dehydration. Also having the right shoes and clothing makes a huge difference. Flip flops (no matter how comfy) are not meant to go on long walks through rough terrain and can result in injuries.
Following these rules, and any rules that are posted at trail heads can be the difference between a great adventure, or a nightmare.
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