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| South Yuba River near Maybert |
With so many people enjoying the outside it’s time to review trail safety and etiquette. This post highlights what I consider to be the most probable safety hazards, but hopefully there’ll be none. Realistically, unforeseen or unpredictable things can happen in the natural world, both good and bad. Be proactive and plan your hike, not too structured, but with a few less unknowns. The best preparation is to approach your adventure with a combination of alertness and humility.
PLANNING
Consult some maps to get a general sense of your destination. What’s the elevation? Are you dressing appropriately? How long do you anticipate being on the trail? Bring a spare battery for your device, flashlight or headlamp. Leave a map with someone who cares, including those areas where you might be wandering, and your expected time to return.
PACKING
Food and water are both essential. Eat what you want if you’re doing a day hike. I once spent a hot and arduous day with a locally admired politician who coasted all day on a plastic bottle of water and a bag of potato chips. If you’re staying longer, think in terms of fuel, sustainability, and weight. Water is the heaviest thing in my pack because it’s a necessity. But there are new systems available for purifying water from streams and ponds. Perhaps that’s why I’m seeing more hikers with small, streamlined daypacks
Pack another layer (and perhaps a windbreaker), a flashlight or headlamp, a simple first-aid kit, enough water, a rudimentary map and a bandana. Wear a hat. A pocket-knife is handy and it’s wise to use sunscreen.
DRIVING TO THE TRAILHEAD ON BACK COUNTRY ROADS
Whether the road is paved, or not, some drivers are overcome by a sense of “freedom” on rural roads that prompts them to drive too fast. Not recommended – you don’t know what’s behind the next blind curve – it might be a deer, a tree, a boulder, or someone driving in the middle of the road. There could be a landslide or a washout or even a person walking. Did you know that mountain manners give the right-of-way to vehicles coming upslope?
A common complaint of people living near dirt roads is that visitors, and sometimes locals, drive too fast. Obviously, this endangers children and pets, but it also “washboards” the road and coats everything with dust. Who wants a gritty omelet? You want to be neighborly. Besides, you just might require their roadside assistance before you return home.
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| Donner Pass – South Yuba River |
POTENTIAL HAZARDS
The most likely risk is to fall or trip and sustain an ankle injury or something worse. To minimize this possibility, wear decent shoes with tread and ankle support and pay attention to your surroundings. If you are climbing or rock hopping, make sure that your footing is sound before transferring your weight. When climbing a vertical rock slope maintain some distance between you and your partners and if you should dislodge rocks, logs or branches be sure to call out to those below you.
Learn to identify poison oak and avoid it. Remember that it’s oily and sticks to your clothes and your dog’s hair. Wash your hands in cold water when you can, before it spreads.
WILD THINGS
Ticks can be troublesome – I worked in tick habitat for decades and I’ve had many bites, but no serious problems. On the other hand, I know people who have been bitten once and it’s changed their lives forever. To avoid ticks, stay out of the brush, wear light-colored clothes so that they can be seen and examine your body (or have someone else do it) after a hike. They are particularly abundant after a spring or summer rain. Some people even tape the bottom of their pants legs to keep them out. If bitten keep an eye on the bite, read the voluminous writings on the internet and/or see a doctor.
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| Rattlesnakes are very well hidden in dappled light |
There is an inordinate fear of snakes. They definitely get our attention, but don’t be killing snakes just because they are snakes. Learn to identify rattlesnakes and avoid them. Snakes play an important role in keeping the rodent population under control. Other snakes in the watershed include garter snakes, pacific gopher snakes, striped racers and king snakes, less common but especially beautiful, are coral bellied ring necks and mountain king snakes. The only poisonous snake in the Yuba watershed is the northern pacific rattlesnake.
Snakes, mountain lions and black bears would rather avoid you. If bitten by the normally reclusive rattlesnake try to stay calm. The best remedy is the key to your vehicle – get to a hospital. Statistically, most bites happen to people who are teasing or tempting snakes. Rattlesnakes blend well with their surroundings so be alert, especially if you are the lead person hiking on a trail or road.
Bears are hungry all the time. They smell well and seem to know that backpacks contain food. So don’t stash your pack as you bag a peak, because if you’re in bear country they will find and shred your pack. I’ve heard this story repeated many times. A black bear attack is highly unlikely, unless you are threating their cubs. But don’t tease or tempt them.
Mountain lions are reclusive and seldom seen these days but they’re around and may be watching you. They are savvy hunters and are unlikely to take on an adult primate, but they will occasionally eat pets and threaten small children. I’ve had several meetings with mountain lions, and I’ve never felt threatened, but they are watchful and opportunistic so if you spot one, stay calm and if you can’t make a graceful retreat, keep an eye on it until it moves on.
If a wild animal allows you to approach, it may be sick or dying. Don’t handle “friendly” creatures.
DOGS
People love their dogs and often take them hiking. That’s fine but of course you’ll see less wildlife with a dog. When I’m out guiding a group, I won’t allow dogs because if it’s OK for one person to bring a dog then it’s OK for all the others to bring theirs. You have no way of knowing the chemistry between dogs and it can be a problem. Occasionally I see people carrying their dogs because they couldn’t handle the heat, terrain or a new and over-stimulating environment.
South Yuba Trail below Washington
HEAT
Carry enough water. Excessive sweating can cause a loss of trace minerals and salt that can result in cramped muscles. There are drinks and powders that contain electrolytes as well as foods like bananas and potatoes that provide a natural source.
Heat Exhaustion is a serious matter. The symptoms include pale and clammy skin, muscle cramps, profuse perspiration, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, headaches, a staggering gait and fainting. When these symptoms occur treat the victim for shock, apply wet cloths to the forehead and neck and offer sips of salt water. You may also consider cancelling your hike because heat exhaustion can escalate to heat stroke.
Heat Stroke is life threatening. It is caused by extremely high body temperature and a breakdown in the body’s ability to sweat. Symptoms include red, hot and dry skin, high body temperature, confusion, severe headache, a rapid, high pulse rate and sometimes a loss of conscious. Treat for shock and try to lower the body’s temperature.
Hopefully this will never happen to you and your companions on a hike because we are all looking out for each other, and we will notice unusual behavior and physical changes. (note: hypothermia, heat exhaustion and heatstroke all include confusion and bad decision-making as symptoms). Once, when I was on a fire-fighting crew, our boss became very confused because he was in the early stages of hypothermia, and we had to override his authority.
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| South Yuba River gold mining landscape |
HYPOTHERMIA
Although I’m writing this in June, I think that awareness of this possibility is valuable because hypothermia can sneak up on you even in the summertime. It’s sometime called exposure which doesn’t really convey the danger of this condition. Pay attention – when you begin to lose heat faster that your body can produce it the process begins. If you continue to lose body heat your energy reserves become depleted, eventually reaching your brain depriving you of judgement and the ability to reason. You will not necessarily be aware of this seductive process and hypothermia will take your life.
If the weather is cold, not necessarily freezing, or if you are soaked by rain, melting snow or even perspiration and the wind picks up and increases the chilling effect, hypothermia is a possibility. This can happen in mid-summer.
Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering; vague, slow, slurred speech; memory lapses and incoherence; fumbling hands; a stumbling or lurching gait and drowsiness. The desire to lie down and sleep is almost impossible to resist, but it is crucial to remain awake. I have had a few close calls with hypothermia and have become very aware of its sly approach.
After spending a few days on the Pacific Crest Trail in late September I was surprised by an early snowfall, so I began to hike toward my truck which was only a few hours away. It was wet and slushy snow. As I descended there was more rain than snow and as I reached a lakeside resort I was soaked, and a bit confused about where I parked. It doesn’t take much snow to lose a subtle trail. I found a simple A-frame, dry, with a bench inside. Elated, but tired and shivering, I immediately wanted to rest. Sometimes I was cogent enough to realize that I needed to get out of my wet clothes and into my sleeping bag, but there was a very strong desire to lie down and rest. Somehow sanity prevailed, I made it into my dry bag naked, and I know I’m lucky to be here now. I got into trouble because I wasn’t prepared. I should have had a companion, someone who might have noticed my symptoms, and where was my rain gear? No excuses.
KNEES, HIKING POLES AND EFFECIENCY
Knees inevitably become less efficient. A few years ago, my right knee hurt so bad that hiking was not pleasurable, and I thought I’d have to let go of my healthiest addiction. I’ve always been astonished at how many of my friends have opted for knee surgery (even sedentary friends) – I thought maybe it’s my turn? Mostly I dreaded the recuperation period and all the hiking I’d miss. Eventually I talked with my doctor who is an active outdoorsman, and he recommended a simple, no frills, elastic sleeve to slip over my knee. I couldn’t believe how effective it was, especially combined with the use of hiking poles or “sticks.” I’m not offering medical advice – this may not work for you. It’s not a cure, but, relief from a painful condition for under $8 plus the cost of poles is worth a try and it’s still working for me.
I never used hiking poles until I had the knee problem. Most of the outdoor jobs I’ve had required the use of my hands and even recreational poles were seldom seen in my crowd. Only “older people”, the infirm, and gear junkies used poles, as far as I was concerned. Admittedly, poles were essential for cross country skiing. They were useful for navigating tricky terrain and even enhanced the basic kick and glide function – they also added finesse and efficiency, making it easier to find the groove or zone.
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| A duck on the Pacific Crest Trail – North Yuba River |
I correctly assumed that poles would absorb some of the shock and wear on my knees while descending, but they provided more than that, even while straightforwardly hiking. After a few years practice I use them in many situations and there are times when I almost feel like I have four legs. There is a 15-mile segment of the South Yuba Trail between Poorman Creek and Grizzly Hill that I’ve walked several times, both with and without poles, and I’ve noticed that with the poles I’m more efficient (faster) and arrive less tired. I’m a convert.
COURTESY
Trail etiquette is not limited to our interactions with other primates but also extends to how we treat plants, animals, water sources and courses, geological formations, archaeological sites and private property. The now seldom-heard advice to “Leave no trace” has been replaced by the even more pointed slogan, “Pack it in- Pack it out.” That seems straightforward enough but still some hikers leave wads of used toilet paper, cigarette butts and wrappers on the trail with ultimate faith in its biodegradability. True, it will eventually decompose but not before many people have viewed it and maybe even surmised that it’s all right to behave this way. This is a degradation of the trail’s aesthetic dimension – even if it doesn’t bother you, you owe some consideration to others. While apples and oranges are biodegradable their cores and peels are as different as, well, apples and oranges. I had a friend who ran pack trains to the mines in the upper Downie River (North Yuba) region in the 1930s and 1940s. He said that they always planted apple and pear cores at places where they stopped to water animals and take breaks. Sure enough, I’ve been to many of those places and there are indeed fruit trees growing there. Oranges on the other hand never grow in conifer forests and it’s slightly jarring to find a vivid display of orange peels in the typically restrained palette of forest colors. They tend to hang around for the season and just don’t belong there. I know it sounds fussy, but the forest is not a dump – pack it in, pack it out.
SANITATION
For starters, do your business away from the trail, please. Generally speaking, the most effective enzymes for breaking down fecal matter are located in the top eight inches of soil. You want to dig a hole deep enough to inhibit the movement of disease-carrying organisms by humans or animals, by storm runoff and flying insects. Find a place far from bodies of water, streams, campsites and trails.
Above the timberline the bacterial element in soil is virtually non-existent. Ideally, we’d pack it out but realistically that seldom happens. However, with so many careless people out there, it might someday be required. So, in the meantime, dig a hole and cover the waste, discouraging animal curiosity with an adequate rock.
None of us likes to see toilet tissue alongside the trail or blowing in the wind. This is an aesthetic and biological affront and bad behavior by any measure. Create a simple toilet kit with plastic baggies for takeaway, hand sanitizer, etc. One more thing, don’t burn toilet tissue. In 1998, a man while burning his toilet paper, inadvertently started the “49er Fire.” That fire consumed 33,500 acres, 148 homes and 356 other structures. Today, because more people have moved into the grasslands and forests and the climate is so much drier, fires are far more catastrophic.
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| Valley Oak – Lower Yuba River |
FIRE
Smoking during fire season is dangerous and anti-social. Especially in California where we get dry summers and I’m sure you’ve noticed it’s getting dryer. It’s hard to imagine but now safety, etiquette and sanity demands that we camp without campfires. Don’t assume that because you are aware of the situation you can be the careful exception. I’m writing this on my deck in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in the first week of June where it’s hot and dry. The subtle breeze intermittently bursts into short bursts of strong winds coming from various directions and I can hear sirens off in the distance. There used to be a “fire season” but now, we who live here, find ourselves thinking about fire all year. If you’re visiting, it’s less of a concern to you. Add a less concerned attitude and no concern attitude and multiply that by 80,000, the number of visitors we had last year, and you can see why the locals might see you as a potential fire hazard.
WHERE ARE WE
Pay attention! Every group of hikers includes people fidgeting with their glowing devices. They are seeking a message from on high about where they are. There is no denying that satellite navigation is valuable, but it does mitigate direct experience. Don’t lose your ability to mentally note landmarks, vegetation, features and vistas along the trail. Engage with the landscape to get to know a place.
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| Sand Pond – North Yuba River |
Be safe but don't dampen your enthusiasm. I'll leave you with a quote from The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac, "In the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing the lawn. Climb that goddam mountain."
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