Safety

As a hiker, trailrunner, trekker, mountaineer, or backpacker, it’s inevitable that you will get a blister at some point in your dirt-pounding career. Despite our best efforts, as we are learning by trial and error what works and what doesn’t, we will find ourselves one day finishing a hike while starting to favor one foot, … [Read More]

Before heading to the mountains in the winter, it’s crucial to have at least a rudimentary understanding of avalanche danger, risk assessment, and safety tools. Until you feel comfortable with your awareness and skills, it’s not a bad idea to stick to lowland or no-risk hikes, and even after you have taken courses and developed … [Read More]

To be honest, you will probably never use a weapon while hiking. But knowing you have something with which to protect yourself will give you a feeling of security like nothing else. First, know your audience: what are you defending yourself from? The top three perps are bears, cougars, and people. Statistically speaking you’re hundreds … [Read More]

There are many compact first aid kits on the market, or you can build your own. If you buy a premade one, familiarize yourself with its contents before setting out, making sure it has everything you need. The pro of buying premade is that you don’t have to take the time to build it, but … [Read More]

We don’t like to think about it, but there may come a time when you will need to send up a flare. Cell phones don’t always work and smoke signals can be a bit of a fire hazard, so having something like the Garmin InReach, Spot, or a simple PLB can literally be the difference … [Read More]

“Do you want company?” I was in a fairly remote area and saw that there was someone about to intersect the trail I was on. As I got closer I saw it was a man and that he kept looking in my direction, so I slid the canister of bear spray from the side pocket … [Read More]

There are ten items you should bring with you on any hike no matter how how calm the weather is when you start out, how short you think your hike is going to be, what great shape you’re in, or how close to civilization the trail begins, because emergencies do happen. The original Ten Essentials … [Read More]

Which aren’t really all that different than hiking safety tips for men, but there are some unique considerations for women that I’d like to talk about. Specifically hiking solo, self-defense options, and dealing with the occasional flak you get from people who think a woman in the woods is worse than a man in Sephora. … [Read More]