Safety First When Hiking In Colorado Article

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Safety First When Hiking in Colorado

Hiking is a fun way to stay in shape while enjoying the great outdoors, and Colorado provides some of the most beautiful, exciting and challenging trails in America-not to mention some of the freshest air you will ever breathe!

Author: Jonathan Hayman

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But before you hit the trails, make sure that you are prepared and have taken all advance safety precautions necessary to ensure that your hike is not only fun and eventful but also free of injury, miscalculation and other hazards.

The first thing you should do before setting out on a hike is to be sure to let someone not involved in the trip know where you'll be (mark out your planned trail on a map for them), and when you expect to return. That way, if you are not back at the planned time, someone will know to search for you.

Some things to bring along with you while hiking in Colorado:

- More water than you think you will need
- Food (energy bars, nuts and grains for shorter hikes, more substantial food for longer trips)
- Extra clothes (Be prepared for extreme temperatures.)
- GPS
- Comfortable walking shoes or boots
- First aid kit
- Hiking poles
- A whistle
- A trash bag (This is a very lightweight, valuable tool that can be used as shelter from rain or snow as well as insulation to keep your body temperature at a normal rate during colder days and nights.)
- Sunscreen
Other general safety tips:
- Set a specific trail route and stick to it.
- Travel in a group-especially during winter.
- Start off slowly and then gradually increase walking speed as your body warms up to avoid injuries such as strained muscles.
- Learn first aid and CPR basics; make sure the rest of the people in your hiking group do the same.
- Remember sun protection-even in winter. Just because it's freezing doesn't mean you can't get a sunburn; and winter sunburns can be the most painful.
- Be aware of whatever wildlife prowl the territory you're about to set out on; make sure you and all members of your group know how to avoid them and what to do if you come across them.

For example, bears don't like to be surprised, so the best course of action when entering an area you think might have bears, is to make as much noise as possible. In the case of a mountain lion, try to make yourself look as big as possible (another reason it's good to travel in groups), and slowly back away.

About Author

Hiking can be an exhilarating experience. But if you are a newbie trying it for the first time, learn about the dos and don'ts from jonathan hayman wharton, a business graduate and an avid nature trekker. To learn more about his adventures, visit http://www.jonathanhayman.wordpress.com

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Safety First When Hiking in Colorado