Hike Preparation

When it comes to hiking, even the most experienced of us think that we can just pack up a bag, head out and go. But hike preparation is not something to be overlooked. From looking up trail conditions, to checking the weather forecast, making sure you are properly prepared before hitting the trails is incredibly important.

While hiking this past weekend, my group and I happened upon a man resting in the only shady spot on the road. Wanting to rest ourselves, we stopped to talk with him briefly. He looked flushed and was breathing heavy. After some idle chitchat, we came to find out that he had run out of water; along with the handful of Boy Scouts he had with him that were down the road waiting for a water delivery or pickup. I offered the man a water bottle, and he informed us that their group was there prepping for Mount Whitney the next month where he planned to stay at the trailhead and “just let them go.” Thank god I was the parent of one of those boys. I would have lost my damn mind!

Running out of water on this trail should have never happened. The gentleman and his crew had electrolytes with them, but with no water to put the tablets in, they became severely dehydrated. The reason for the lack of water? They didn’t know there was a road closure which added a 2.5 mile, 1000 foot ascent to the trailhead from the parking lot. And guess what? You have to hike that back up when you’re done!

As a hike lead, I always make sure to look up road, weather and trail conditions leading up to a hike. A road closure can add mileage and elevation gain to your trek, and everyone needs to plan accordingly for that. Weather can also have a major impact on how you plan a hike. Rain and hail turned hikers back on San Gorgonia this past weekend and left some seeking shelter from the storm; something that could have been avoided had they looked up the weather first and packed properly.

During winter months especially, it’s important to check the the trail conditions to see if there is snow or ice. Going out on an icy trail without the proper equipment can have deadly consequences. Some trails have closures in effect due to previous fire zones and it’s important to check to see if/when those trails reopen in order to let the ecosystem there heal.

Whether you’re a noob on the trails or have been hiking them for years, it’s important to prepare properly. Leave us a note in the comments and let us know how you plan your hike preparation!