What not to do during the trek: 5 suggestions for a safe walk!
Human beings, by nature, are wild animals. We don’t like rules. Personally, every time I was bound by a rule, the rebel inside me wanted to break it, crush it, and throw it down the sewer. Despite this “who cares” attitude of ours, we still somehow chain ourselves with certain pros and cons, cultivated from years of experience. Here are five such tips for what not to do while hiking, and trust me when I say you don’t want to break these rules unless you have a custom-built casket ready for the worst case scenario.
1. Don’t travel secretly, take someone with you!
Rule number one dictates the best advice, that is, never walk alone. Imagine you’re hiking alone in Utah’s The Maze (ranked among the most challenging hiking trails), and you sprain your ankle or your chubby hand gets caught between unyielding rocks (just like in the movie “127 Hours”). Now, if you had a friend, it could help you out of that situation, and that little incident could become a memory to tell your grandchildren about.
Now, on the other hand, suppose you are alone. Most likely, you would succumb to injury, or dehydration and malnutrition, and secretly leave this world. Of course, your body will be discovered thanks to the stench of decomposition; make sure you have some identification documents in your pocket. Anyway, the moral of the story is to go hand in hand with a friend or at least inform someone, friend or hotel staff, of your dangerous trekking mission if you are stubborn enough to go alone. This way, in case you get stuck on your way or get lost, there will be someone who could send out search parties to look for you.
2. Don’t travel light, travel smart!
Although the thought of hitting the road in nothing but clothes entertains me, I nonetheless recommend treating that fantasy with walks “around the neighborhood.” Hiking is a completely different story. You need to bring dozens of things, including a couple of wetsuits, sleeping bag, first aid kit, navigation gear, food, 4-5 liters of drinking water, and a flashlight, if you want to survive in the wild.
3. Do not challenge nature, respect it!
All this exaggerated news about man as the owner of nature is great nonsense. Take Hurricane Sandy or that Typhoon Haiyan, for example. They were disasters, as if Mother Nature was really mad at us humans. So when you’re out hiking and the weather suddenly gets out of hand, cancel your plans immediately and seek shelter from the elements. You don’t want to mess with nature.
4. Don’t ignore your body’s requirements, get nourished!
How on earth can you climb the hills, sneak through the dense trees and jump over a well or run at the sight of a wild animal, if your body doesn’t have the energy to do it? (Let’s imagine I’m giving a lecture to a class.) So can anyone tell me where the energy comes from? (Yes, you… second from the right) Food, sir! Absolutely correct, but for future reference, it’s food and water. The thing is that our human body cannot function without the six legendary nutrition, and in the absence of lunch or dinner, we will be attacked by diseases. The number one death among hikers is dehydration, while number two is often chewing on a poisonous plant. So, do your body a favor and pack enough food and water to last you on the hike. Also, track the points on the map, where you can replenish your provisions. It’s hard to survive in the wild with a growling belly and a parched throat.
5. Don’t mock the altitude, acclimatize!
Hiking usually translates to climbing uphill. Take Half Dome or Everest Base Camp as examples. These trails terminate at a high altitude, offering successful climbers a panoramic view of the world below and the misty clouds of the sky an arm’s length away. However, the high altitude has its drawbacks. You may have heard of altitude sickness, which often occurs on Himalayan trails when you are above 2,500m. Likewise, frostbite, snow blindness and sunburn are some other sufferings on the list when man dares to touch the sky, unprepared. If his system cannot cope with the high altitude, immediately descend to a bearable altitude and spend a day or two acclimatizing to the environment before proceeding.