15 Lessons Learned from a Missing Hiker Case

Over the past few days, much of the local news has been focused on a hiker who was reported missing in the nearby Red Rock Canyon area.  Unfortunately, the hiker was found dead, with the cause of death so far unknown.  Here are 15 tips for staying safe when you are out hiking, whether for a day or while doing a multi-day trip.

1. Go with a buddy if possible,  It's safer to walk with others rather than alone, especially in the case of a fall or other accident/medical event.  In our area, there are several hiking groups that have hikes planned on a daily basis for anyone who wants to come along.
2. If you will be in a very remote area of if no one would be looking for you if you turn up missing, consider carrying a PLB.
3. Leave an itinerary with a trusted person that includes: where you are parking, what trail you plan to do, time leaving, and estimated time of return.  Obviously if you are an hour late they shouldn't panic but if you are several hours late they should call out the cavalry.  This hiker was reported missing--and resources were deployed immediately--soon after he called a loved one to say he was lost.
4. Take a photo of yourself at the trail head and send it to the same trusted person.  This way, if Search and Rescue needs to go out and find you, they will know exactly what you look like and what you were wearing.
5. Know how to use a map and compass and well as how to use the GPS on your cell phone/watch.  People think that as long as they follow a trail they won't get lost, but it's common that one trail can branch off into many more trails over the course of miles so be prepared for this possibility.
6. Before you go, check out the area you will be hiking on Google maps then pan out to see what surrounds the area you will be hiking in.  In the area this guy was lost in, he literally had to walk east and he would have ran into Las Vegas.
7. Always dress for the weather.  The person who reported the hiker missing said he may not have been prepared for the weather but again, people should always plan for steep swings in the weather in mountainous areas.  The area he was in could range from 65 degrees in the sun to 20 degrees overnight.  A down jacket and thin rain shell are worth their weight to carry.
8. Always carry the "ten essentials".  A buddy came to visit after completing the Pacific Crest Trail,  He wanted to check out some trails in the same area where this hiker ended up missing so I gave him some gear, along with the ten essentials, and he said "nah I'm only going for a few hours I don't need all that stuff'".  No matter how experienced you are, having essential items with you in an emergency situation is well worth the bit of added weight in your backpack.
9. Always carry more than enough food and water with you.  Again, people often think they won't be gone that long so they may bring a snack or a lunch but in the case of an unexpected emergency when you need to hole up overnight, food, and more importantly in the desert, water, are critical for survival.  In the case of this missing hiker, it was reported that he probably didn't have much food with him.  And many times while hiking in the desert I have given water to people who came unprepared.
10. Be ready to manage medical emergencies.  In the case of a fall or other sort of accident, carry a first aid kit for immediate care, and have an evacuation plan, just in case.  In the case of this hiker, it was reported that he had diabetes (I'm guessing type 1 based on his age and appearance) in which case he would have had to be extra aware of the need to mitigate blood sugar problems (their numbers tend to swing widely when undertaking strenuous exercise like hiking and every diabetic should always carry enough insulin/glucose tabs/food to manage blood sugar swings).
11. Carry a battery pack with you to use to keep your cell phone charged.  Cell phones can be pinged by searchers but this doesn't work if the phone is dead.
12. Don't panic if you get lost.  You can mitigate getting lost (map, compass, GPS, etc), and plan ahead for what to do if you get lost, but the simplest thing to do is to stop when you realize you are lost, and, in most cases, you can signal for help then sit back and wait for rescue (in this case where the area is pretty small and easily searchable, in other cases, trying to walk out may be a better option).
13. When planning your hike, pay attention to any localized problems that could happen in the area you plan to hike.  Steep terrain with trails covered in scree is common where this hiker went missing.  The weather forecast is another thing to consider.  Rattlesnakes can be an issue in Red Rock Canyon but it is too cold for them to be a problem now.  Slot canyons, of which there are a few in this area, mixed with poor weather, can be deadly.  And also consider the time that the sun sets (early in this area, in the summer in northern areas it could be 9:30pm).
14. Read wilderness survival stories when you come across them.  Both stories with successful endings as well as this story which had an unfortunate ending, can be informative and educational.
15. Learn survival skills now, when you don't need them, so you will know what to do in a wilderness survival situation.

8 Outdoor Survival Videos

YouTube is a font of information.  With everything from how to fix your car to how to play the piano to how to do your taxes, you can find a video on every topic under the sun with a bit of searching.  Here are eight "how to" survival video you should watch before heading out into the wilderness:

1. How to use bear spray.
2. How to use a map and compass.
3. How to start a fire.
4. How to build an emergency shelter.
5. How to provide emergency first aid.
6. How to signal for help.
7. How to fish for survival food.
8. How to forage for wild edibles.

Backpacking in the Summer Heat AND Humidity

Well I think my travels are finished for a while and with a busy summer of hiking and outdoor activities behind me, I offer these tips gleaned from a stint on the Appalachian Trail (as well as the promise of more regular blogging in the future):

1. Don't think popular trails like the AT are "easy".  I had heard from a number of people that the AT was pretty easy compared to the PCT due to the lack of significant elevation gain.  It isn't true.  While there aren't huge mountains to conquer, the terrain is quite challenging in its own right (lots of rocks, lots of boulders, lots of partially buried roots on the trail, climbing over and under downed trees, and sections deemed "pretty rugged" in journals kept at many shelters.
2. Break in your boots (and improve your physical fitness) ahead of time.  Blisters suck and so does the big purple toenail that I will probably lose due to wearing lightweight trail runners over a particularly difficult patch of trail that would have been better done with heavier boots (although trail runners work on most trails I hike on but live and learn I guess...).  Darn Tough socks, however, have my everlasting appreciation.
3. Use trekking poles!  I would probably be waiting in line for an orthopedic surgeon to replace both knees if I hadn't used good quality trekking poles.
4. There's bears.  We could smell them at various places along the trail and hear them occasionally as well but no actual sightings.  Not being the chattery sort of hiker, I am assuming the constant clicking of my trekking poles gave them enough warning of my eventual presence.  Bear spray is a good idea, bear bagging your food and toiletries is imperative. 
5. High heat and high humidity can lead to dehydration and exhaustion just as easily as hiking in dry desert environs.  Drink copious amounts of water, travel in the early morning or early evening, keep some re-hydration salts in your pack, use sunscreen, and wear cotton.
6. Pack light.  The Mountain Crossing store at Neels Gap had a suitably impressive collection of ultra lightweight hiking gear seemingly in the middle of nowhere (similar to well stocked REI stores that you would find in urban areas).  When I asked about this, the guy working the desk said it was at about this point in the trail that hikers were paring gear down from what they thought they would need (read ultra heavy packs full of all kinds of crap) to the very basics of lightweight gear.  Start light and both your back and your legs will thank you.
7. Pace yourself.  I was pretty shocked that while I can easily walk 20+ miles over even terrain in a day, the difficult and at times steep trail slowed me down considerably.  And then I saw this blog post from a guy I know who is in ultra-fit condition and didn't feel so bad about my abilities or lack thereof.
8. Be aware of the weather.  Cell reception was pretty good on many parts of the trail and while it is only considerate to turn the volume off on your cell to keep from annoying everyone else on the trail, having (and using) some weather apps is a very good idea as the combination of high heat and high humidity often leads to storms in the afternoon (and thus the necessity to take cover).
9. Know the danger signs of heat illness and what to do about them.  When it is really hot and really humid, your body will have a difficult time keeping itself cool often resulting in dehydration, heat stroke, and other heat-related illnesses (even death!) so learn how to cure/prevent these problems before you head out and, if possible, hike with others who can help gauge each others symptoms which may not be readily apparent to the victim.
10. Finally, knowing basic hiking skills is a necessity.  Have first aid skills, map and compass skills (even though the trail is blazed pretty well), water purification skills, fire starting skills, etc.

It's Time to Get Outside

You've got about one more month left to get outside and enjoy the fall weather before you need to move into winter survival mode.  Here's some tips:

• Getting outside--to a park, the forest, the lake, et al--is usually free and its a great way to enjoy nature.
• Getting outside--as far away from civilization as possible--is a great way to hone your outdoor survival skills.
• Getting outside--with the kids--is a great way for them to burn off some energy and learn to appreciate the outdoors (make sure all electronics are switched off!).
• Entrance to national parks is free this Saturday.
• Communing with nature is a great stress reliever.
• Now is an excellent time to get out in nature.  For much of the country it is fall and the leaves are turning which is an added bonus; for us folks in the desert southwest the temps have dropped down to a reasonable 90 degrees which makes being outdoors bearable.
• Things you can do outdoors: go fishing, go hunting, take a day hike, go backpacking, go camping for the weekend, canoe or kayak around the lake, go on a picnic, go geocaching, visit your local park, etc.
• Things to take with you: day pack, cell phone, water, food, extra jacket, sunglasses, matches or lighter,  pocket knife, flashlight, whistle, first aid kit, sunscreen, compass, map, emergency blanket.
• Should you take a firearm? It's up to you. I carry mine any time I am outdoors.
• Want to go with others?  Here's some examples of clubs and organizations that you can join if you want company when you head outdoors (here, here, here, and here).  Look for similar clubs in your area.

Thanks to the Campers at Camp Price...

...we have a new section in the CNI Link List (and a bunch of new Daily Insight links as well). 
I got a nice email from some campers at Camp Price sharing some outdoor survival links that they found useful when learning outdoor survival skills at camp.  Since we didn't have a separate outdoor survival skills section, I decided to add it to the link list on the front page of the CNI website (you will find it towards the bottom of the second column).  This information should be reviewed and practiced by everyone as you never know when your cushy, modern life...you know, the one with heat and running water and computers/TV/smart phones...will come to a screeching halt and we will be forced to recall (and rely on!) the outdoor survival skills that came naturally to our ancestors but not necessarily so naturally to us.  Thanks campers for the great information!