Tag: safety

With so many families out hiking, I wanted to post my book’s safety tips so that everyone can see them. While this post does not address everything you need to know about safely hiking with kids, I hope it gets you started.

SAFETY IDEAS:

Below are my most important safety recommendations to prepare for a hike:

• ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS tell someone where you are going, when you will be back, and if you can, tell them what authorities to contact if you do not check in by the time you say you will. I usually assume one mile per hour and often add an hour or two in case I decide to stay a little longer on the trail or make a stop on the way home. 
• Try not to hike alone if you are outside of cell service range. 
• Respect fire closures! More is written on this below. 
• Give your kiddo a backpack with gear or at the very least, a whistle with a lanyard that goes around the neck. Talk to them about what to do if they get lost (more on this later in this section).
• Pay attention to how far in you have hiked and be prepared to carry your kiddo back if you hike in too far or someone gets injured
• Know what time the sun sets
• Check trailhead, road, and snow conditions 
• Read up on how to hike in ice and snow: https://talesofamountainmama.com/winter-hiking-for-beginners
• Keep yourself and your kiddo dry, fed, and hydrated
• Know what the weather is supposed to be for the next few days and plan for inclement weather (it changes quickly in the Pacific Northwest); visit www.weather.gov and type in the closest town to your hike and then click on your hike location to get the most accurate weather information
• Know your route to the trailhead, including alternate routes and check conditions before you leave, including 48-hour weather forecasts
• Know where to find the closest gas station to the trail and what cell service is like
• Pre-read the hike descriptions so you know what to expect.
• Bring as many of the 10 essentials for you and your kids as you can and know how to use them in an emergency (I write more about this below).

In addition to the above tips, here are my suggestions on how to stay safe while on the trail. 

The big things parents can advise kids on are:

• Not to put anything in their mouths except for food you have given them
• Not to run ahead out of sight
• Stop at all trail junctions (where two or more trails come together)
• Walk slowly and mindfully when conditions are steep, rocky, downhill, or wet
• Stay on the side of the trail away from cliffs and look in the direction they want to hike
• Do not run, jump, skip, or hop near ledges or on rocky trails

I advise parents to:

• Be prepared and consider possible hiccups
• Carry a quality first aid kit and know basic first aid skills; consider carrying an emergency locator beacon
• Know your and your kids’ abilities (and how far you can push them)
• Be willing to turn around
• Go with others (which saved me on the day I sprained my ankle a half mile from the trailhead on Mt. St. Helens!)
• Stop at all trail junctions to orient and review maps and hike descriptions before proceeding; you can involve kids in this early on so this becomes a habit
• Point out toxic plants and advise on consequences if appropriate
• Remember that temperatures will be cooler at higher elevations

Rivers and Lakes:

It is important to know that the rivers and creeks in the PNW are swift and cold, and the lakes range from cold to warm depending on the time of year. There are usually no lifeguards and extra care needs to be taken near water, especially around fast-moving rivers and creeks.

Insects:

You will encounter different insects depending on when you visit the areas in the PNW. In general, mosquitoes seem to be less of a problem near rivers, but you should always be prepared to encounter them, especially if hiking near still water. In late summer, you may encounter stinging insects like wasps and hornets. Use caution around the bases of trees and keep an eye out for nests and an ear out for buzzing. You may encounter ticks, especially east of the Cascade Locks area. I have encountered them west of Cascade Locks. It’s always good to do a tick check after every hike, but especially in the spring and year-round hiking east of Cascade Locks. It is a quick and easy habit to prevent having to remove one later. You can learn more here: https://americanhiking.org/resources/ticks. 

Toxic Plants:

There are many plants in the woods that are toxic. However, once you start looking into it, most of the plants in your yard are as well (like rhododendrons and rhubarb leaves)! Poison hemlock, many mushrooms, chokecherry, baneberry, and nightshade are some deadly plants you should know about. These plants are not too prevalent, but they do occur in Pacific Northwest forests. I recommend familiarizing yourself with these and other toxic plants. Many plants have colorful berries in late summer and if ingested, will make kids ill but are not necessarily deadly. I have a “no picking of berries” rule. There are some wonderful edible wild berries, but I have instructed my kiddo to point out the berries, ask if they are edible, and then I advise from there. We also have a “no touch” policy on mushrooms. 

Dogs:

When meeting dogs on the trail, I have kiddos step off the trail and wait for dogs to pass. Kids should only approach dogs after asking you and the owner if it is okay. Kids should stand above dogs and not kneel down at eye level.

Wild Animals:

You probably know that there are wild animals in the woods (cougars, bears, coyotes, deer and elk, oh my!). Attacks by wild animals are rare in Oregon and Washington, but if you are on a trail where you might encounter these animals, make sure you do not hike alone with your child, make noise, and avoid trails early in the morning and at dusk. This is another reason not to let kiddos run ahead on sparsely populated trails. You can mitigate this by having more than one adult who can take the lead while another adult acts as a caboose. Read up on what to do if you encounter a variety of wildlife here: www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with and consider carrying bear spray, whistles, and hiking poles to help scare away an animal. 

Lost Kids: 

While uncomfortable to discuss, getting lost can happen. Your entire family can avoid getting lost by staying on the trail, carrying a map, and stopping at all trail junctions to confirm that you are where you think you are. Include children in checking maps and identifying your location.

It is important to talk to kids at home and at the beginning of the hike on how to avoid getting lost and what to do if they get lost. Strategies for preventing a lost child include:

• Not letting kids run ahead out of sight (tell them they have to stay close enough to see an adult)
• Not letting kids leave the trail without an adult
• Giving kids a whistle that hangs from a lanyard
• Dressing kids in bright clothing
• Discussing the importance of stopp

You can also prepare them for being lost by teaching them the following: 

• Only blow your whistle if you need help (instead of for play)
• If you get lost, hug a tree, stay put, and call out or blow your whistle 3 times in a row every few minutes. 
• It is much easier to find someone who is lost if the only people moving are the searchers
• How to use what is in their pack and even practice at home

If your kids get lost, you can aid in their recovery by giving them a backpack to wear with extra food, water, and clothing, a small first aid kit, a flashlight, a large garbage bag or poncho (for raincover) and a notecard with emergency contact information.

It can be scary for kids to talk about getting lost, but discussing how to avoid getting lost and what to do if you get lost is very empowering for kids. Check out this website: https://westvalleysar.org/wilderness-safety/hug-a-tree. Don’t be scared, be prepared!!

GEAR IDEAS:

It is best to plan for “a day hike gone bad,” especially if you will be on a trail without cell service or one that is far away from resources. 

When leaving for a hike, I don’t leave the house without:

• The 10 Essentials (see below)
• Personal Locator Beacon and Garmin Inreach
• Physical road map (because cell service is not always available and mapping services are not always reliable)
• Bear Spray
• Change of clothes and extra socks
• Food and water for the trip home

So what are the 10 Essentials and why do people talk about them so much? The 10 Essentials are the top ten things you should need to survive a night out in the woods. They are:

• Navigation – map, GPS, compass
• Light – headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries
• Sun protection – sunglasses, sunscreen, sun-protective clothing like a hat
• First aid kit (make sure to include insect repellant and children’s medications)
• Knife or multi-tool
• Fire – matches, lighter, magnesium/flint
• Shelter – tarp, emergency blanket
• Extra food – bring more than you need and consider lightweight high-calorie protein bars
• Extra water – bring more than you need and consider carrying water purification tablets and/or water filter or lifestraw
• Extra clothes – for warmth, bring a hat and a warmer layer; I pack my bag for overnight temperatures

You can learn a lot more here: https://americanhiking.org/resources/10essentials.

Regarding clothing, I dress kiddo in bright colors so I can keep a better eye on her amongst the colors of the forest. Remember that “cotton kills” in our climate during the rainy months (check this site out for more information: https://sectionhiker.com/why-does-cotton-kill). For a typical November day, I layer my kiddo with synthetic base layers (long underwear), fleece pants, fleece pullover and then a waterproof trail suit or rain jacket and rain pants. Wool is a natural alternative to fleece if you are not sensitive to it like me. You will need to keep an eye on whether your kiddo is sweating and de-layer before that happens (check in after climbing a bit or if you feel yourself getting too warm). Getting wet is a no-no in winter here (see the link above about cotton). These rules apply to socks too. When temperatures are warmer, I tend to stick with wicking clothing for quick drying if kiddo sweats or plays in water. Remember that warm days can still have cool mornings and evenings so always bring warmer layers when hiking in the mountains. Check out this link for good ideas: https://raisinghikers.com/how-to-dress-kids-for-winter-hikes/.

Sun protection is also super important all year long due to the angle of the sun in our Oregon sky. Sturdy well-fitting shoes with good traction are important but dedicated hiking shoes can assist when trails are wobbly or rocky. Bring a pair of kids sandals if you think they might want to play in boggy lakes.

If you can, get your kiddos their own backpacks and water bottles/bladders. This will make hiking even more exciting! Have your kiddos carry their own snacks, water, and layers, but make sure not to weigh them down with too much gear. Experts disagree, but a good rule of thumb is that kids over 4 years old can carry 5-15% of their body weight. Remember to account for the weight of water and the pack itself. For younger kids, you can just let them wear their backpacks with nothing in it to get them used to it.

A single toy or doll to accompany your kiddo on the hike can always be a fun motivator and source of comfort. Bring extra clothes, snacks, and water for the ride home. A travel potty, extra socks,towels, and wet wipes for wiping off trail dirt are always a great idea. You may want to bring a backup kid carrier on your hike if you think you might need to carry your kiddo out.