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Safety
Have a safe and enjoyable hiking experience. Please carry necessary
emergency equipment and first aid supplies on every
excursion.
Tips to guide you
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Let
someone know where you are going and when you expect to be
back.
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Check the weather before you go out. Make sure you pack the
necessary gear.
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Choose a route that makes sense for you.
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Get a trail map. Several books are available that provide great trail information.
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Make sure you wear comfortable footwear tailored for hiking.
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Prepare for the worst.
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Don't hike alone.
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Leave early. Some hikes can take longer than expected.
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Put your gear in a comfortable back pack.
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Don't leave food in your car. Bears can't be charged for break
and enter.
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Bring your cell phone!
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Stay on the trail at all times. Most trails in British Columbia
are marked with signs such as red paint, red/yellow flagging
tape, and/or small trail markers. Always follow the trail markers
as flagging tape may have been left by other hikers. Always
look around for markers. It's easy to get lost.
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Make noise. You don't want to experience some of the wildlife.
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Cover your ankles/legs in areas with low brush. Ticks can be
nasty.
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If you don't feel something is safe, STOP.
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Should the summit be your goal and time is creeping away, remember,
there is always a next time.
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If you are hiking back country, read a wilderness survival book.
What
to bring check list
Bring: 2 Litres of water,
extra food (Better if it doesn't have an odour), extra clothes,
layers of clothing, hat, rain jacket, suntan lotion, duct tape,
first-aid kit, rope, matches (Waterproof strike surface), flash
light, paper, compass, knife, a tarp (Shelter), blanket, whistle,
insect repellent, water purification device, toilet paper, and
a friend.
Bear
and Cougar Safety
It
is unlikely that you will run into a bear, cougar or any other
dangerous animals, however, don't think it can't happen to you
- PREPARE! The best way to prevent an encounter is make noise
as you hike. They are more afraid of you. Remember, they are wildlife
and should be treated as such. Winnie the Pooh is a cartoon character
- not real! Approaching a bear is not a friendly or cuddling experience. Bears can run as fast as a horse, climb trees, have great eye sight
and sense of smell, and always protect their young. Here are some
tips:
Bears
- Don't
surprise them. Make noise, talk, carry a bear bell, and so on.
- Keep
your children close and your dog at home.
- Don't
feed them.
- If
you are camping, hand your food in a tree away from your tent.
- Stay calm if you see one. Back away
and go in the other direction. Chances are they will as well.
- Give them room and talk to them in a normal voice or wave your
hands. Let them know you are human.
- Don't run.
- If a black bear does attack, fight back.
- If a grizzly bear attacks (Hump on Back), play dead and roll
up in a ball protecting your head.
Cougars
Cougars are most active at dusk and dawn. They are more likely to attack
children as they are easier targets. If you see a cougar, pick
up your child. Safety precautions include:
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Make noise and don't surprise them.
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Carry a stick or some sort of device that could be used to battle
them.
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If you see one, stay calm. Don't run as they may come after
you.
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Look threatening and big. Make noise, throw rocks. Don't make
it look like you're an easy target.
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Make sure you don't block a path. They need to have an escape
route.
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Should they attack, Fight.
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