10 Tips for Safe Hiking: How to Prepare for a Day Hike

How Safe of a Hiker are You? Take the Quiz

For each question, choose the best answer for you.

1.    Do you let someone know where you’ll be hiking?

• Always
• Usually
• Hardly ever
• So they can rob me while I’m gone? I don’t think so!

2.    How proficient are you with map and compass?

• I have a picture of Björn Kjellström hanging on my wall
• Pretty good, I can follow an azimuth
• I have one, doesn’t that count?
• Why doesn’t my Tom Tom work out here?

3.    Do you carry enough survival gear to spend the night?

• Of course, I’m ready for anything.
• Probably, but I may be a little cold, wet, and hungry.
• Survival gear Bahh! I have an iPhone.

4.    What is the best way to keep hydrated?

• Drink plenty of water before, during, and after the hike
• Mountain Dew of course!
• Whiskey: it’s the water of life.

5.    It gets dark in 30 minutes, you’re .4 miles from the summit, and your ankle is bothering you.

• Keep going, you are almost there.
• Wander about and cry.
• It’s time to turn around, the mountain isn’t going anywhere.

Scoring

Use the scoring guide below to add up your total points based on your answers.

1.    Do you let someone know where you’ll be hiking?

• Always: +5 points
• Usually: +2 points
• Hardly ever: -3 points
• So they can rob me while I’m gone? I don’t think so!: -5 points

2.    How proficient are you with map and compass?

• I have a picture of Björn Kjellström hanging on my wall: +5 points
• Pretty good, I can follow an azimuth: +3 points
• I have one, doesn’t that count?: -2 points
• Why doesn’t my Tom Tom work out here?: -5 points

3.    Do you carry enough survival gear to spend the night?

• Of course, I’m ready for anything.: +5 points
• Probably, but I may be a little cold, wet, and hungry.: +2 points
• Survival gear Bahh! I have an iPhone.: -5 points

4.    What is the best way to keep hydrated?

• Drink plenty of water before, during, and after the hike: +5 points
• Mountain Dew of course!: -2 points
• Whiskey: it’s the water of life.: -5 points

5.    It gets dark in 30 minutes, you’re .4 miles from the summit, and your ankle is bothering you.

• Keep going, you are almost there.: -5 points
• Wander about and cry.: -4 points
• It’s time to turn around, the mountain isn’t going anywhere.: +5 points

Interpreting Your Score

A score between -25 and -10 means: I’m sorry, you should probably stay out of the woods.

A score between -9 and 5 means: Mmmm, you may want to think about taking a few outdoor classes and make sure your insurance premiums are up to date.

A score between 6 and 15 means: Good, though you may want to brush up on a few skills before your next hike.

A score between 16 and 20 means: Great, you would make a pretty good hiking partner.

A score between 21 and 25 means: Fantastic, you should guide trips!

Get Ready to Hike

Take a hike! That sounds easy enough, even when shouted with a menacing scowl and accompanied by an obscene hand gesture. However, in review of ranger rescue reports across the country, hiking may be more complex than simply “taking” one.

All outdoor activities are risky in their nature, however it is possible to mange that risk. Surely, as in all things, there are some aspects beyond your control. However, from the gear you carry to how you walk, there are several controllable factors which mitigate the risk involved in hiking.