To get the security benefits of a VPN while traveling, first see if your router has an option to be a VPN server. This has the additional benefit that you can access other resources on your home network. Only use a commercial VPN if you need it for: 1. accessing geoblocked content (check laws and regulations) 2. if you are worried about your ISP
At regular intervals I stop and look back at the trail if it isn't well marked or defined and make a mental note of it especially if it's an in and out hike. If something happens to your map or phone and you need to head on back the trail can look quite different. By familiarizing yourself of how it looked in the opposite direction it can help prevent you from getting lost.
Came here to say this and glad I'm not the only one thinking this. Did a 15 mile out and back run with someone once. They were new to the area. We got separated, which I thought was fine because we'd obviously already been there. They got within about 100m of the parking lot before deciding it looked unfamiliar, so they turned around and went back in the *opposite* direction. Took a couple hours to track them down. I frequently turn around and even snap a quick photo looking back at intersections.
just hijacking this comment to say, if you are planning on using ur phone or gps to navigate, keep you map in a waterproof/ ziplock bag. so if something happens to your phone/gps you can just pull your map out knowing it will be fine.
Just completed my first multi-day hike solo. First time use trekking poles. A god send. I experimented walking without them and was so much slower and with terrible posture. Also helped in river crossings, preventing falls, tent setup, pretend sword etc.
Yeah, recently got poles as well and even on manicured, flat trails, I find they just force me to have good posture and that makes carrying my pack feel so much easier. And they're absolute lifesavers in boggy terrain!
@@phillipp1399This. I am 48 with knee arthritis. I used just one pole for the very first time this weekend on an overnight, and I couldn’t believe the difference - especially downhill! My pole was an old ski pole that I found in my basement and stripped and sawed, but it worked. Maybe I will splurge on a pair before next weekend :)
#11 Lyme’s Disease, if caught early and properly treated with a successful round of antibiotics, it can certainly be overcome. However, tests for it are famous for false negatives. A friend and I contracted the disease while doing a meadow restoration. My doctor convinced me to go straight to the antibiotics rather than wasting time on a potentially false test. my friend’s doctors were much more difficult to convince and he spent many years debilitated. Eventually, he recovered enough to lead a normal life, only to die of a rare and fast growing brain tumor. Lyme’s Disease can break down the protective blood brain barrier. One of my close relatives has been disabled for decades from Lyme’s Disease. Anyone who thinks they may have contracted it should err on the side of caution. Please!
This. If Lyme disease OR associated co-infections don’t show symptoms and then get treated, you can get long-term lymes disease. I know many people whose lives have been severely impacted because I worked in the field of environmental management. Prevention is key!
You're right - Lyme can be treated successfully IF it's caught early, and no 2 people have the same symptoms. My husband went to the ER with a headache, body aches and a 105°F fever, and the nurse found a 6" bullseye rash on his arm - yet his Lyme test came back negative. He was given doxycycline, and within 24 hrs. was back to normal. I was diagnosed with Lyme but had no symptoms other than an atypical rash that wasn't at the bite site. It's nothing to brush off or wait to have treated.
YES agree totally. One side effect can be an Auto Immune reaction and cause a permanent condition where Steroids have to be taken for many years afterwards...Not nice.. Your own immune system attacks you. Tests are usually negative as there are many different types of ticks in different countries. Respect Ticks!!!
Thanks for your input! I removed the section where I talked about Lyme disease. I still stand by my words, but I should have added a better disclaimer and I think I downplayed it a bit too much. The reality is that the vast majority of people who get Lyme will be fine, and getting Lyme in the first place is also pretty unlikely, even when hiking through tick territory. I mentioned this because I have friends who are scared to go through the woods because they might get lyme. It's good to be cautious, obviously, especially with Lyme, but a lot of people are over-cautious with this IMO.
@@OscarHikes thank you so much, Oscar! It’s probably a much more sensitive topic for people who live year-round in high-risk areas, rather than just passing through. I enjoy your content!
1. As for animals, don’t underestimate cows. Every year people get killed in the Alps when crossing a cow herd. 7. If you absolutely have to look over steep edges, crawl to them. It’s virtually impossible to lose balance that way, though still the edge could break of. Carrying a loud whistle is no big deal, but it can be very helpful if you need to call for help or shy away animals.
So interesting regarding cows because I would have never believed that cows can be aggressive until I encountered an aggressive cow mama in Oklahoma. Long story but don't underestimate the peaceful docel demeanor of a cow. ( Additional information: I was not trying to approach the cows.) Just a random encounter that neither myself or the cows planned.
The guidelines for hikers in Austria include always keeping a distance from cows and walking dogs on a short lead but unleashing them in case of attack.
ad 1. especially if there calves in the herd ... and yes, from experience, mother cows tend to get aggressive fast if you've got a dog with you. No Problem when hiking with open eyes to be honest. Oh, and don't mess with boars ....
Excellent tips. I've solo hiked and hunted for many years in the US and elsewhere. I'm in Turkey now, where shepherd dogs and wild boars are a major concern. I've been bitten by Kangals on two separate occasions. They can be very safe if they are socialized properly, but most of them in rural areas are not. I've also been accosted by packs or teams of Kangals. All you can do is stay calm, speak in a low and nonthreatening voice, and avoid eye contact until they decide you're not a threat. They can really take the fun out of hiking. I've found myself in the middle of herds of wild boars, and fortunately haven't been attacked. It pays to be aware of your surroundings. I was solo hiking on the Tibetan Plateau in Sichuan Province, China at 14-15,000 feet. I got caught in a thunderstorm and my down bag was sopping wet, so there I was in the wet season at high altitude with no sleeping bag. I had to bail out of my trek and changed my route. I did have a bivy bag and tarp that I rolled up in. It took me 2 days to get to a road and after that it took me 5 days to get to the airport. That was because landslides had shut down bus traffic. A Tibetan family took me in for a couple days while I was waiiting for a ride and then I had 3 days of bus and minivan rides on treacherous high mountain roads. Quite a memorable trip!
There are areas in States with a lot of feral dogs. They are more dangerous than coyotes, wolves and bears because they are not afraid of humans. Bear spray works on dogs better than bears. The problem with bear spray if you are alone and it fails it is probably to late for the lethal option. If you are not firearms adverse and live where they are legal don't give into peer pressure, carry a gun.
Great video! You definitely know more than me on this topic, but I still have three additions: 1) Addressing your last point: I had it in the mountains that it got _too quiet._ If that happens, this is usually a big clue that even insects are smarter than you foolish humans! In my case, I stopped and listened and tried to find evidence of wildlife. Instead, I heard a faint sound, similar to a wooden sailship catching up wind and the hull creaking, but deeper and barely audible. I was confused and then I heard sand rustling and thought that I hadn't seen any sand. Then I heard pebbles bouncing, and then it became clear to me... Over a mile of the path, big rocks rolled down the mountainside. Not a fun experience... 2) The other thing that nearly killed me was the sudden fog. I can't say that it came out of nowhere, but I've never seen fog like this. I could literally barely see my feet and that in an area with cliffs and generally a treacherous path... 3) I know that water is heavy and even heavier when you need to carry it long time, but it's quite an embarrassment if your entire group runs out of water and some nearly suffer a heatstroke about a mile from civilization and where you have your cars parked with the water...
I heard a similar story about fog from a friend. He wasn't hiking, but he drove up a mountain with his car. At first everything was fine, but when he was up there, suddenly it got really foggy and he had to wait quite a while until he could see enough to drive down again.
Trusting your gut instinct is the best advice. I’ve been in many situations where this has saved me. Most recent was feeling I was being watched while hiking alone in a remote area, and I decided to turn back. Found out afterwards that wild dogs were very active in the area and attacks had occurred on other walkers several days prior.
Not really in the wild but in the city, I was on school trip in area that I didn't know. My instinct told "go that way", there was no logic just a feeling. Either way I waited and went with someone who knew where to go. We went the way my instinct told me and after like 5 minutes of walking I was in part of city I recognized
The 0.017 a year in 100,000 is a massive underestimation. 1. How many of 327 million park visitors are hiking solo? Majority are camping in the vicinity of their vehicles or hiking in groups. 2. Car death chance is for a year worth of driving. An average solo hike is much shorter. The risk to be adjusted by the exposure.
I spend roughly as much time on the road as I do hiking and I am very, very positive that I've been in way more dangerous events on the road (due to external causes) than I have been on my hikes.. definitely! My last trip is a great example. I climbed a mountain, crossed a glacier, went up a 1000m+ via Ferrata and did not have any dangerous moment. Then I drove back, crosssed the border to The Netherlands and some dude nearly ran me off the highway because he didn't check his mirrors coming from a parking space and overtaking a slower car also coming from that same parking space.. my first thought was.. isn't that nice.. I just climbed a mountain and almost died of a traffic accident going home 😅
I love hiking, and it is relatively safe; however, it is definitely more dangerous to hike in some places than driving. I was in the Gulf during my military days and heard someone use the same flawed statistic method to imply that I was safer there than back in the states because of crime in America. Most people in National Parks don’t put themselves in harms way-falls/bear attacks etc. It’s misleading to use the total amount of people going to the parks divided by hiking fatalities. Use the approximate number of people hiking at parks divided by hiking fatalities to get the real risk. Even then, you probably shouldn’t group all parks together. Some are far more dangerous to hike in than other. I don’t believe people should be afraid to hike in places like Yellowstone, but they should get accurate data when assessing their risks. They shouldn’t go into it believing they have a better chance of getting struck by lightning than having an encounter with a grizzly bear because someone fed them misleading statistics.👍🏽
Great list and video! I have a habit of treating my hiking socks and trousers with permethrin. Many people do it to deal with mosquitoes, but I find it more effective against ticks and chiggers, which don't fly but crawl up your legs. When they get exposed to the permethrin they fall off dead. I find that better than doing a tick inspection, especially if I'm alone.
I'll use that from now on bro, Ticks are the bane of my existence. On all my small hiking trips I've seen them all over the place, specially on summer and opposums aren't as numerous as they used to over here, and to them that's a chance to reproduce, so far I only got bitten once and I didn't got any issues, lucky me, but in the cattle grassing areas near my home THEY'RE HUGE and EVERYWHERE.
Excellent video. I was doing an adventurous hike in my standards that had a traverse from one summit to the other. My gut was telling me I didn’t feel well and should just take the one summit to turn back. I trusted my gut and was very happy I didn’t get myself hurt.
You got lucky if you think lume wasn't bad,!!!!! I have chronic lyme. It's absolutely terrible I was destroyed for 4 years borderline bed ridden!!!! Be careful with lume and get it treated immediately!!!!
That was the only advice I was like, WTF? Just because he didn’t suffer doesn’t mean many others haven’t suffered long term. But the rest of his advice was spot on.
Thanks for your input! I removed the section where I talked about Lyme disease. I still stand by my words, but I should have added a better disclaimer and I think I downplayed it a bit too much. The reality is that the vast majority of people who get Lyme will be fine, and getting Lyme in the first place is also pretty unlikely, even when hiking through tick territory. I mentioned this because I have friends who are scared to go through the woods because they might get lyme. It's good to be cautious, obviously, especially with Lyme, but a lot of people are over-cautious with this IMO.
7:20 In a tick territory you shouldn't wear shorts or smth like that. You need your legs covered. The most important reason is - efficient anti-tick sprays must not be used on bare skin because 1) they're toxic and 2) they last much longer on cloth. Another point: good anti-tick sprays are only focused against them. General sprays against everything (tick+moskitos+smth+smth, etc) are significantly weaker. Also, you're saying to just remove the tick and you'll be fine. That's not always true. Yes, most ticks are "healthy" but some carry pretty dangerous (even life-threatening) deseases. Tick bites need to be avoided.
@@SoloHiker1 Are you a troll or just stupid? Google diseases like Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia - all carried by ticks, this list might not even be complete, depending on region. And if you're so not afraid of bugs then go hiking through African jungles, without any protective measures, just a week in a jungle, and have some friendly bites by local moskitoes and other buggies. And tell us your story of success. If you ever come back, that is. "If you're afraid of bugs". lol You should be -afraid- wary of bugs if you're not an idiot.
@@SoloHiker1 My comment seems to be deleted (censorship?), so I'm restoring it in a slightly milder form. Are you a troll or just so ignorant? Search for diseases like Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia - all carried by ticks, this list might not even be complete, depending on region. And if you're so NOT afraid of bugs then go hiking through African jungles, without any protective measures, just a week in a jungle, and have some friendly bites by local moskitoes and other buggies. And tell us your story of success. If you ever come back, that is. (Spoiler: chances are high that you won't: lots of explorers of older and modern times lost their lives to African bugs. Almost everywhere except Antarctica - there are also many deaths related to 'bugs', including ticks, annually. In modern times.) "If you're afraid of bugs". lol
Thanks for your input! I removed the section where I talked about Lyme disease. I still stand by my words, but I should have added a better disclaimer and I think I downplayed it a bit too much. The reality is that the vast majority of people who get Lyme will be fine, and getting Lyme in the first place is also pretty unlikely, even when hiking through tick territory. I mentioned this because I have friends who are scared to go through the woods because they might get lyme. It's good to be cautious, obviously, especially with Lyme, but a lot of people are over-cautious with this IMO.
I live in Poland. Last year I was camping and I could hear elk or deer all around me. They weren't close, but they were active. I looked later and confirmed it was mating season. I listened to music, I strobed my light, I used my emergency whistle a couple of times, but they kept getting closer over the next few hours. Despite me being ready for sleep and it was pouring, I just felt uneasy, so I packed up and walked out of there. No one understood me, but I had to go with my gut. I'd rather not be there when a buck is ready to mate or fight...
Often I'm biking through forest at night, even tho form time to time I saw deer I don't want any confrontation with them. They stand more or less as tall as me on bike, they're wider, heavier and faster and more agile than me. Fortunately so far i just wanted to go my way and they wanted to go their way when we met
Please learn to properly use a paper map! In addition of been a backup for the phone/GPS, learning to read it will help you to better understand the GPS/phone maps at a glance and will setup your route-planning mindset. Having that skills always make your life easier!
That's a really good tip! I used to do a lot of orienteering as a kid, so I always look at the terrain elements as well on my phone's app. It does indeed allow you to look at the phone less ofen and be more confidant that you're in the right place.
Many steep cliffs (example fjords) are steep because they are unstable and will regularly crumble, keeping their edges steep amd sharp. It is better to not go near steep drop offs at all! Even if they look stable to you, the cliff may have a crack much lower where you cannot see it.
Do not use tweezers to remove tick! Crashing it's back may cause intoxication. Use proper tool that costs 3$ and can be bought in any pharmacy. It's plastic, lightweight and allows to remove them without compression of it's back.
You can use tweezer if you use light pressure, as light as possible and grip close to the skin. Try several times and build up pressure as you do to try out how much pressure you need. This way insures that the whole tick is removed and does not crush it.
Thanks for your input! I removed the section where I talked about Lyme disease. I still stand by my words, but I should have added a better disclaimer and I think I downplayed it a bit too much. The reality is that the vast majority of people who get Lyme will be fine, and getting Lyme in the first place is also pretty unlikely, even when hiking through tick territory. I mentioned this because I have friends who are scared to go through the woods because they might get lyme. It's good to be cautious, obviously, especially with Lyme, but a lot of people are over-cautious with this IMO.
It's not a good idea to use the swiss army knife tweezers to remove a tick, you'll squeeze the tick injeting yourself with tick juice!! use some thing designed for tick removal - like a "tick card" or tick removal tool..
It's true that it can happen if you're not careful, but if you pick it right, then it won't "vomit" back into your blood system. But yes, I totally agree, the risk of this happening with tweezers is much higher compared to a tick cord.
Thanks for your input! I removed the section where I talked about Lyme disease. I still stand by my words, but I should have added a better disclaimer and I think I downplayed it a bit too much. The reality is that the vast majority of people who get Lyme will be fine, and getting Lyme in the first place is also pretty unlikely, even when hiking through tick territory. I mentioned this because I have friends who are scared to go through the woods because they might get lyme. It's good to be cautious, obviously, especially with Lyme, but a lot of people are over-cautious with this IMO.
i have to admit, i hate the false safety some stupid safety gadgets give people. I carry a gun and wont go solo camping without it. Animal attacks are immediatly 10 times less dangerous, and im not scared of humans either.
Great video!!! 💪😉 I also have some modest tips: 1 pay attention to the return of a trekking. Descents can be really dangerous. 2 Bring a poncho useful for rain and for spreading it on wet grass. 3 Carry a lemon in your backpack during hot trekkings. If you run out of water you feel less thirsty. Natural vitamin c. 4. Don't compete with others. Physical endurance is subjective. 5. Be careful of high altitude. 6. Observe and listen nature (clouds, sudden silence of animals). 7. Sing if you are scared. I know it sounds stupid but it works. 😅
5. In the North American West, you should always place any food or smelly stuff in a BEAR CANISTER. Always, always, always. Even if it is in your car. Bears can and will break into your car!
Another one.. don't panic! It's the worst thing you can do in tricky situations. I have had some scary moments like thunderstorms, lost my map and my phone turned blue due to excessive rain, ran into unfriendly dogs, got stuck on a steep ridge etc. this happens and the best thing you can do is take a deep breath, avoid panicking and deal with the situation as calmly as you can.
The biggest danger of solo hiking is that you won't do it. Most of us are social animals, and prefer going with other people. But there are great benefits to hiking alone!
I'm a safety freak, especially since the military, so I have at least one more person with survival skills and medical and navigating skills, I have 2 paper maps wich show different pictures of the same area plus a plb plus a GPS tracking device, I prefer not to use technology there just to safe battery even tho I carry a solar Powerbank, it's not like I pre pepper spray people just go be sure but that is what I do, probably too much but I rather have it and not use it instead of needing at and not having it
3 หลายเดือนก่อน +11
Yeah Tip 14 - Always do one thing at the time. No multitasking out there plz. Applies to camp too.
A young woman died at the Grand Canyon years ago, she went over the protective rail to get a close up view of the canyon at sunset and sat down when she decided to stand up she went vertigo lost her balance and fell to her demise, a very tragic situation.
My husband and I went hiking in a state forest one February in New York state. Beautiful winter day. No snow on the ground. We were hiking the forest perimeter following the blaze markers on the trees. About 4 pm...nearly dusk...heavy snow squal started to fall. Large flakes stuck to the wind side of trees and covered the blazes. We were lost. We only had a creek to follow back to our car which would take hours. I stopped and viewed the terrain. I saw vegetation that usually covers a farm field when no longer farmed. We marked our location with a pile of stones and then trekked into the field. I was correct! It was an old farm field with a road on one side. Once on the road we discovered that we were a half a mile from our car. So glad that day that my father had taught me to be an observer while in the woods.
Agreed if you feel unsafe on a large campground. Then try to set up next to a nice family or something. Completely isolating yourself is a present to someone with bad intentions
When solo camping, you can be very quiet and undetectable, even when very close to other people. If you think as a hunter, rather than a victim, you will be safer. When approaching people who are not aware of your presence, try to avoid startling or frightening them. A stealth-camper can always step out onto the trail and ask for help. Or, you can let Trouble amble on by in search of visible victims. Learn how to use a staff, and keep it in your hand or within arms-length. And learn to exit your bed quickly, noiselessly, and dress without turning a light on. (Hint--zippers and velcro ROAR.) Most food-related bear attacks happen in high-traffic campgrounds where bears are habituated to eating human food. Do MORE solo camping! Stealth-camping is fun.
Also had a question about the free Gaia GPS: to preface, I have the premium and can download offline maps. How to you get the downloaded data from the free version???
So if you have the free version, you don't "download" offline maps as in clicking a button to download it. You simply zoom in to any area while connected to the internet. The app will then download this area in your phone's cache, so that next time you zoom in to the same area (even if not connected to the interned), you will be able to see everything. I've heard some people saying that relying on this is dangerous, but I literally hiked the whole length of GR11 this way, and never did the "cached" areas automatically delete by themselves. The app size just keeps getting larger and larger until you manually delete the cache in your phone's app settings.
Excellent educational video Oscar, not only for beginners but seasoned solo hikers and group hikers as well.Many times a group member will wander off and become lost and alone. I'm a solo female backpacker now in my 6th year and prefer to hike alone. You're absolutely correct with all of your tips, my favorite is "trusting your gut" it's happened to me a few times where I've bailed on multi-day hikes because something just didn't feel right. Thank you for all you do!
people spend a lot more time driving that hiking so it's definitely not 647, it's 647 divided by (average time spent per year driving divided by average time spent per year hiking).
Good video sir, and a great list. The last point is something I can atest to as well. You just get a feeling...listen to it and go else where. It's usually you have seen something, or many somethings, and they haven't registored with your logical brain yet but you have seen signs and they are real. With experience you get much better at listening and also rationalising the feelings. A point, Primus makes a "Winter" Gas and I can say that it works as advertised (minus 22 I think), I have had it down to minus 24 and it still worked. For me it was a game changer during colder camping trips.
I don't avoid watching videos with doom and gloom backcountry subject matter. Many of them contain valuable information that could literally save lives. "Kyle Hates Hiking" is an example of an accomplished thru-hiker who presents such content with respect to those involved.
There are both kinds of videos on the web. Some are designed to scare you away from hiking, while others are designed to educate. Studying mishaps is good education. Learn from the mistakes of others. And from their victories.
Most of these tips are spot on but if you are the US carry a gun. Not so much for the big national park trails that get hundreds of people a day but in a lot of the local state park systems and there is hundred shades of gray on this depending on which state and county you are in there are some crazy mother fuckers out there. I've been hiking since the 1970's and I've run into some weird people. Most normal hikers will say hello and engage in friendly conversations but every so often in run into creepy looking people who you say hello to and they just give you a dirty look and keep going. Case in point just a couple years ago I was doing a popular local day hike in Connecticut. Warm late spring day and everyone on the trail is wearing shorts and light weight shirts and along come this young guy full military camouflage, militray load bearing vest and militray backpack and a empty gun holster by his side. I say to him "Yo dude what's up?" and he gives me a dirty angry look and the look in his eyes gave me the creeps and keeps on walking. Also back I through hiked when I was young I had my campsite stalked several times and for you ladies out there I've came across plenty of drunken hicks out there I wouldn't want to run into on a trail by myself miles walk back from the nearest road. Finally in the US there are still ton's of wilderness areas that are dead zones and the hicks and the crazies know exactly where they are so take that into consideration.
your gut instinct comes down to statistics most of the time. i suspect the brain keeps a background process of sorts that have lots of longterm input and data. which would be felt like a vague sense of "abnormality" from the myriad of data on similar or overall experiences, many of which are super subconscious. it really is comparable to a pc. ex. weird faint smell in the area, change in pressure, temperature, a vague scent of animals, low "rumbling" noises that your high consciousness has not focussed on, because its job is to hyperfocus on a few things short term, while the deeper layers of the mind is basically going by deeper time, larger data sets etc. the further down your go. dna and instincts are memories from our ancestors and work with vastly larger amount of data than your immediate consciousness that focus on the conversation, on starting a fire or on something similar.
İ really like your videos… and thanks for the important tips. My first solo hike was this year april. Actually i thought that i planned my hike but it turned out that i didint plan it throughly. First i didint learned about the water situation so in my first day i ended up asking other hikers for water. They were russian guys and they were very nice and shared their water with me. Second i packed to much food. And it made my pack heavy. İ packed the clothes that i planned to wear at the airport and city not to bother people with my dırty clotes and it made my pack heavy… as a result at the first say the route was hard and dangerous , lots of climbing, ups and downs and in some point i got so exhausted that i couldnt move in a rock passing and there was no room to rest. İ am glad that i was alive after that dangerous passing. Next day i left the trail went to a town and sent all the not important stuff to my friends house and lightened my pack from 15 kg to 10 kg. So i became free to pack the amount of water i needed. İt was the best decision that i made… i think without water a pack should be max 10 kg for a regular female person. İf you cant pack a pack under 10 kg dont go solo… sorry i learned it the hard way by risking my life. İ have a garmin watch and i couldn’t lower my heart rate under 180 for about an hour. İ tried breathing exercises, tried to stop and sit but because of the narrow edges of the rocks and cliff and the pounding sound of the waves hitting the cliff under my feet made me nervous. İf i had a light pack i could have passed that dangerous section in a short time and wouldn’t get so nervous that effected my heart rate so badly… because there were hikers passing me by and they had tiny backpacks and easily hopped through the rocks…
Tip number 22. Get an INSURANCE. Because if you call 112 in central EU, and an helicopter needs to be dispatched for you, you will pay 10 000E for that ~ or 12 000 USD. Tip number 23. Tell mountain service where you go and when you return, so they can find you very fast if you have some injury, get lost, or something like that.
An early backpacking trip with a group, I was the oldest and slowest. They would stop somewhere and wait for me. When I arrived, they immediately picked up and started out again - giving me no chance to sit and recover. After that, I solo backpacked w/dogs until a car accident made it impossible for me to carry a pack. Now I do day hikes or car camping, but still follow all I learned through my brief experience with backpacking. Great video. Thanks.
Adding to tip 1) usually cattle is super mellow. But they may feel threatened by you (most likely your dog) when they have young babies. Let go of your dog! Don't risk being trampled.
Excellent video, great tips. In Australia I know of some deaths from tree branch falls and lightning strike on top of a mountain, so I am very cautious where I camp. However the most concerned I've been in the wild was when a group of 20 pigs approached where I was camping. Ultimately they didn't do anything but I didn't get much sleep. Trekking pole tip is good - I bang it on the ground when walking through grass to (hopefully) encourage snakes to leave.
Good tips! I've also had a similar pig experience. And I also do the rest of the tips that you mentioned - I guess we all learn this stuff over time! :D
When hiking solo on high altitude mountains, make sure you atleast carry something with you that is visible from a big distance. Like a peace of clothing that stands out from the environment. If something happens..you spray your ankle for example and you're not able to continue, atleast people that are able to help will see you sooner.
This is one of the best videos of seen on this topic, well done. Really sensible tips and well explained. And so happy you included "trust your instincts"! This is always overlooked.
Lots of great tips in video and comments! 1. If backpacking, never get separated from your pack, unless you are wearing a daypack containing everything you would need to survive overnight without your pack. 2. If there's a rattlesnake on or very close to the trail, do not leave the trail to go around the snake *unless* the ground is quite bare and you can be sure of seeing any other snakes. Where there's one rattler, there are probably more very close by. If rattler on trail has not rattled at you, do something to be sure it knows you are there. Then back up 10-12 feet and stand quietly. Eventually it will move off once you are not seen as an immediate threat; be patient; maybe take 10-15 minutes. Watch carefully for other rattlers on or near trail as you proceed. 3. Keep your distance from all large herd animals (cattle, horses, bison, elk, etc.) and all animals with horns or antlers or tusks (goats, bighorn sheep, moose, boar, warthogs, etc.). 4. Don't set up your camp/tent on an ant hill, an ant trail, or a yellow jacket nest in the ground. Look closely for these things and for prints showing "animal traffic." 5. Carry a roll of 2 inch wide self-adhesive sport wrap - useful for bracing strained or mildly sprained joints, splinting, bandaging large wounds, holding equipment together...all sorts of things. 6. To cope with heat: Add electrolytes to your water; use NormaLyte or LMNT brands, or use WHO's oral rehydration recipe. Cover your head with a WET 100% cotton light-colored bandana or fisherman's hat (aka "boonie" hat). Re-wet as needed. Keeping your head cool this way helps tremendously. On hot days I put my boonie on dripping wet and carry extra water to re-wet it.
Okay I'll add my beginner two cents: If you have trouble getting UP a terrain, either because it is too steep, or too slippery, or both, then you will have even more trouble getting it DOWN. Let alone if it starts raining before going down. Then even a relatively solid dirt becomes trouble on a steep slope. On steep slopes going down usually takes longer than going up. Keep that in mind when pursuing a summit that is "just 300m more" elevation ahead while you see the storm approaching.
If you are wearing boots it's a good idea to bring some light shoes/sandals just to use around your camp. It's annoying to take the boots on just to go up and have a leak at night.
Good tips, I agree with all of them but I also arrivi the comments about not understanding ticks... They have become much more widespread lately due to climate change so everyone should have a high level of alert concerning them. Another side note about navigation: using map and compass, although less immediate than GPS, can be very effective, and it carries several other advantages. You are more aware of your location, of the terrain and of the environment in general, therefore it becomes very very unlikely that you can get really lost. It can also make any track more interesting in general and you're going to remember it better. I always carry a GPS anyway but using it as a backup, saving its battery and thus making sure it will be available if and when needed.
We have always had ticks, but Lyme Disease is a military bioweapon. It is intended to solve the climate change problem by pushing the people into 15 minute cities where they cannot solo hike.
1. Getting lost 2. Being near cliff sides 3. Not bringing water filter 4. Having no medical kit 5. Having no tracker,GPS 6. Not planning out the trip 7. Not letting someone know you went hiking. 8. Going alone 9. No fire starting device 10. Not wearing the correct clothes.
@OscarHikes 1- Advising hikers to take a moment every 200 m or so to look back over the trail they just crossed is something you may consider mentioning. It’s a curious thing to observe how trails through the forest appear very different when I turn around and look to see where I’ve just come from. I believe that contributes to people getting lost. With that said, this is something that is emphasized on terrain that has short or poor visibility. If you’re hiking along barren foothills along a coastline, it seems evident to me that you would not necessarily need to do that. But it is certainly a habit I use when I hike through California’s Sierra forests and the Coast Range near Santa Cruz. 2 - I have come to experience that learning how to use a compass and paper map is essential. I don’t agree that you need to print up a new map every time you go hiking. Most trails don’t actually get changed very much. Like my books, I take care of my maps. I use a map pouch With a clear plastic sleeve, and I never write on them. With digital technology and networks being hacked, pirated, or otherwise unavailable more frequently, it simply cannot be ignored that relying too much on battery powered digital technology could be your downfall. Learn how to navigate for yourself, and use tools that use no power or digital software. Remember, there have been millions of beautiful and successful hikes in human history long before the advent of digital technology.
I don't hike much, but I agree with the paper maps thing. One of my biggest worries is always that I somehow have my stuff be soaked with water and then anything battery powered could be ruined. Or the battery runs out and you don't have more, probably exactly because of the first thing I mentioned. It's unlikely that that much goes wrong, but it's not impossible. Some bookshops also sell some really detailed hiking maps which are very helpful, even if you do only a short day hike. And almost always you'll also find a few books describing some established routes in detail, so that could maybe help as well if you have pictures and descriptions.
Not really. First, you need the education gained by self-reliance and forethought. Second, people tend to cause problems. We need space, which is why we go hiking in the first place. Taking time alone leaves us fresh and de-stressed, so we can de-escalate the conflicts with people more successfully.
1:54 As a funny point, if they don't receive any messages from you then they need to first try to contact YOU and only then the authorities. 😄 Some people can be too jumpy (like "He said to contact the authorities if he doesn't send a message some day. It's already 6 PM and no message from him, I need to call ALL the local and federal emergency numbers ASAP!!11"). 😄
I liked and subscribed because you DIDN'T ask people to like and subscribe and just got straight to the point with excellent content. Super refreshing. Thank you!
When I was hiking in the Scottish Highlands I came across a group of sheep and some of them looked very aggressive. I trusted my instincts and backed off. It was a close one.
compass do not need battery. It is good backup. At least you keep direction. Every one hour look back to remember where have you been walking. It helps to return if it is necessary.
No they are not the best defence tools! Being correct you had to say legal allowed! Like the x bow with magazine, 10mm glock 19 Or my choise P90 from FN Ofcourse i dont own illegal stuff! The x box with six arrows you can buy legally in Germany, without permit, but are only allowed for Target shooting!
As to point 20, there is a book called The Gift of Fear which talks about gut feelings and the hair on the back of your neck as survival instincts. A little outdated, but a great read, especially for women.
Thank you for mentioning this book! I give it my hearty appreciation and recommendation as well. I think the insights in it may very well have saved my daughter's life on one occasion, not in the wilderness, but in my small town neighborhood within a few blocks of home! It may seem a paradox, but the kind of fear that is a gift is actually very different from anxiety, and can help to reduce the latter. Awareness and listening to your "gut", including feelings which may be related to observations that are below conscious awareness can help save a person from becoming fatigued by the dysfunctional and unsustainable habit of always being on "red alert". Definitely one of the ten most important books I have ever read.
@@kennethcarter982 I am sorry to hear your daughter had to use her survival instincts in an actual dangerous situation, but glad to hear she was unharmed. I agree wholeheartedly with your summary and gave the same book to my daughter before she went off to college.
Great tips. I strongly recommend for people to learn basic navigation skills; they can save your life. You also don't need major landmarks to navigate by. Just small features can provide a wealth of info.
Great video! THX! When hiking I always carry a compass with me. So at least I know the direction. I have been in a wood once and GPS didn't work because there was no line of sight to the satellites.
Other ideas: consider purchasing a locator beacon/inReach, and opt for one which supports messaging. Also, exercise extra caution when not going out and back, since an obstacle/obstruction may require you to go back the way you came, nearly doubling the length.
When i was a kid i went close to a cliff. 4-5 feet down was a big ledge you couldnt see. I waved to ky mom and said "i love you buh-bye" and dropped right down onto ledge, safe and sound, ducked under the overhang that was there, then realized it was a terriblenidea as mom went truly hysterical, only time my mother ever punched me, and my papa yelled at me. Guess i went to far, looking back, ya, that was mean, like super mean. And after having help raise kods, i can see where i messed up.
This was one of the best videos of this kind that I've seen in the past year since I took up hiking again. No bs, straight to the point, and 99% advice that I would have given, if I were to make this video, especially after my last trip which was solo. Big thumbs up!
👍👍👍 .. very good advice. Cows. Reportedly, they're responsible for the most animal-related deaths in the UK. Wild Boar in Europe. They can tend to be more aggressived during mating season, November to January. Also, during the Winter Months, Wild Pig are more active during the day due to the warmer temperatures. Here in Switzerland, in my adjacent forest, they forage at times, (at night) right up the forest edge near our Bus Stop. I've only had two sightings though .. daytime, both in Winter .. and at a comfortable distance. One addition please, regarding Navigation. Before going out, know what lies to the North, South, East and West of the Region in which one is hiking (roads, tracks, rivers, villages, no-go terrain, etc), especially in dense forest .. and the related distances. In case of one being 'turned around' and lost .. and with electronic equipment failure, a simple, reliable Compass hanging around one's neck, or off a pack strap, can be a life saver. And .. 🙄😏 .. yes, in less than optimal weather and terrain, 'taking a shortcut' can be a not so good option. Stick to the known route, even if longer. It will be easier for someone to find you in the event of .. Thanks for the share .. take care ..
Hi Oscar, Hello from France, how are you ? Another great tips on this vidéo, i liké the exercices for hiking, i do exactly the samedi and it s better for me. Thank you very much for sharing, take care and see you 🙂👍
Nice video. In the USA we talk of the 4 W's of picking a campsite. Wood (access to firewood), Water (access to water source and considering flood risk), Wind (consider location and position of tent), Widowmakers (consideration of dead treas or branches above that could kil or injure)
Yes. Your last tip is the most important. I always say, half of hiking is simply using good judgement. There have been a handful of times where I have been like "Nope, not worth it" and turned around. If you know where your limits are, you're ready for a lot.
Good tips, thank you! My tip is to carry a whistle - we've 3d-printed a small, but loud one at home, but they are sold literally everywhere))) Helped me with the most of the dogs on my last through-hike (not herding dogs, but still) And other one is you can download a chunk of Google map to use offline, not sure whether it would be useful for mountains. But might give you a paper-map level idea of where you are? Have you ever startled a wild animal on accident before?
I've scared off boars and deer a lot, especially when trail running, but they've luckily always ran away. And once, over 10 boars tried to break into my tent (before I started hanging my food). Hmm, I've never actually carried a whistle. I might actually look into that, thanks!
@@OscarHikes I actually consider whistles to be excellent for group-camp security. They have been used for years on the battlefield, because they can be heard through the din of battle (and the roar of vehicles).
Bear spray has expiry and if you have used it once, it's expired, if you store it higher than 50°C or below freezing it's useless. There have been many incidents where bear spray didn't work, empty cans were found beside the bodies of the victims so pay very close attention to the proper uses and storage of your bear spray.
Buy new can each year, and use the old one for training. Go out and simulate an attack and actually spray the stuff. Never spray into the wind! A staff is more dependable than spray.
Most citations on the successful use of bear spray are against curious bears or random encounters. It the bear is engaged in predatory behavior the spray often won't work. If you are alone you need a gun because you only get one chance. If the bear isn't motivated a warning shot will usually send them on their way. They don't like noise.
Backpacking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, it's grizzly country. I keep ALL smellables in a bear canister and take serious precautions like stopping to eat about mile away from any place I'm planning on setting up camp.
I heard that bears can smell food from up to 19 miles! And once you've cooked, jump in the lake and wash to get the smell of food off you, and put clean clothes on. They can hunt you down from miles away!!
Oscar, thanks all excellent advise and no fluff. Been backpacking, self taught adult since the '70's (yes that is 50+ yrs) Would love to see a bit on backwoods etiquette as well as skills...leave a no trace campsite, how to make a personal single use latrine, aluminum foil/glass, benefits of fire-less camping. - finally a comment you made in your treking poles video about age - while "backpacking into 60's or 70's may sound old in your 20's & 30's you all should expect to be able to do so into your 80's and 90's. Maybe your generation should look to the 100's - it wouldn't happen unless you believe!
My great-grandfather could out-walk young men when he was in his 80's. He lost his short-term memory, and would forget where he was, so he had to stop. Then his health decayed.
Thank you, Oscar! For me, number 14 (don't walk and use phone at the same time) is a good reminder. Especially after a long days hike when tired and hungry, then try to reduce risk and don't multitask while walking.
Thanks for these great tips. I am a (fairly) seasoned solo hiker and love the peace I get from it. Saying that, I'm starting to take my children out with me too. Knowing about safety statistics (re: accidents and ticks, for example) is very useful! New subscriber now :) Greetings from Switzerland.
Immediately subscribed for the sheer fact you immediately jumped into this video giving us exactly what we want. It’s rare to see that nowadays on TH-cam. I know it’s probably a little thing but thank you immensely for this video!
When camping/hiking always take a weapon to defend yourself against all types of predators. Any gun type is good at least an 8" blade survivor knife. I carry a modified 5-foot walking staff that I snap my knife on to have a ready spare. I also carry some M80 firecrackers(to scare off unwanted intruders) and mace (for bears). It is a good idea to have a motion sensor LED garden light and a loud horn too even a 900-mile laser pointer can be used defensively blinding the eyes of monsters and signaling. Hey instead of saying "I got a knife in here" say "I GOT A GUN IN HERE" Even if you don't have one just bluff like playing poker.
great video...I always listen to my gut feeling it is important to always do that. I have turned back a few times on the trail listening to my good old gut and have left some campsites a time or two also.
🌏 Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra ➼ nordvpn.com/oscarhikes It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✌
To get the security benefits of a VPN while traveling, first see if your router has an option to be a VPN server. This has the additional benefit that you can access other resources on your home network.
Only use a commercial VPN if you need it for:
1. accessing geoblocked content (check laws and regulations)
2. if you are worried about your ISP
Even the paid advert is good advice. I have been using nord for years. Great video.
At regular intervals I stop and look back at the trail if it isn't well marked or defined and make a mental note of it especially if it's an in and out hike. If something happens to your map or phone and you need to head on back the trail can look quite different. By familiarizing yourself of how it looked in the opposite direction it can help prevent you from getting lost.
Came here to say this and glad I'm not the only one thinking this. Did a 15 mile out and back run with someone once. They were new to the area. We got separated, which I thought was fine because we'd obviously already been there. They got within about 100m of the parking lot before deciding it looked unfamiliar, so they turned around and went back in the *opposite* direction. Took a couple hours to track them down. I frequently turn around and even snap a quick photo looking back at intersections.
I also like to take pictures of the characteristic landmarks or the places where I left the marked trail.
The important habit of reviewing the last 100-200 meters of path traveled cannot be understated
just hijacking this comment to say, if you are planning on using ur phone or gps to navigate, keep you map in a waterproof/ ziplock bag. so if something happens to your phone/gps you can just pull your map out knowing it will be fine.
Solid advice!🙏
Something I do as well is that look at the scenery and memorize it, I have rather good photogenic memory so that helps!😅
Just completed my first multi-day hike solo. First time use trekking poles. A god send. I experimented walking without them and was so much slower and with terrible posture. Also helped in river crossings, preventing falls, tent setup, pretend sword etc.
Yeah, trekking poles are the best! Also, they add some upper-body exercise as well :)
Yeah, recently got poles as well and even on manicured, flat trails, I find they just force me to have good posture and that makes carrying my pack feel so much easier. And they're absolute lifesavers in boggy terrain!
Thought I'd hate them, but now I don't hike without trekking poles!
If you value your knees and you’re over 30, you’re crazy to not use them. If you’re under 30 you can show everyone your untimely wisdom by using them.
@@phillipp1399This. I am 48 with knee arthritis. I used just one pole for the very first time this weekend on an overnight, and I couldn’t believe the difference - especially downhill!
My pole was an old ski pole that I found in my basement and stripped and sawed, but it worked. Maybe I will splurge on a pair before next weekend :)
#11 Lyme’s Disease, if caught early and properly treated with a successful round of antibiotics, it can certainly be overcome. However, tests for it are famous for false negatives. A friend and I contracted the disease while doing a meadow restoration. My doctor convinced me to go straight to the antibiotics rather than wasting time on a potentially false test. my friend’s doctors were much more difficult to convince and he spent many years debilitated. Eventually, he recovered enough to lead a normal life, only to die of a rare and fast growing brain tumor. Lyme’s Disease can break down the protective blood brain barrier. One of my close relatives has been disabled for decades from Lyme’s Disease. Anyone who thinks they may have contracted it should err on the side of caution. Please!
This. If Lyme disease OR associated co-infections don’t show symptoms and then get treated, you can get long-term lymes disease. I know many people whose lives have been severely impacted because I worked in the field of environmental management. Prevention is key!
You're right - Lyme can be treated successfully IF it's caught early, and no 2 people have the same symptoms. My husband went to the ER with a headache, body aches and a 105°F fever, and the nurse found a 6" bullseye rash on his arm - yet his Lyme test came back negative. He was given doxycycline, and within 24 hrs. was back to normal. I was diagnosed with Lyme but had no symptoms other than an atypical rash that wasn't at the bite site. It's nothing to brush off or wait to have treated.
YES agree totally. One side effect can be an Auto Immune reaction and cause a permanent condition where Steroids have to be taken for many years afterwards...Not nice.. Your own immune system attacks you. Tests are usually negative as there are many different types of ticks in different countries. Respect Ticks!!!
Thanks for your input! I removed the section where I talked about Lyme disease. I still stand by my words, but I should have added a better disclaimer and I think I downplayed it a bit too much. The reality is that the vast majority of people who get Lyme will be fine, and getting Lyme in the first place is also pretty unlikely, even when hiking through tick territory. I mentioned this because I have friends who are scared to go through the woods because they might get lyme. It's good to be cautious, obviously, especially with Lyme, but a lot of people are over-cautious with this IMO.
@@OscarHikes thank you so much, Oscar! It’s probably a much more sensitive topic for people who live year-round in high-risk areas, rather than just passing through. I enjoy your content!
1. As for animals, don’t underestimate cows. Every year people get killed in the Alps when crossing a cow herd.
7. If you absolutely have to look over steep edges, crawl to them. It’s virtually impossible to lose balance that way, though still the edge could break of.
Carrying a loud whistle is no big deal, but it can be very helpful if you need to call for help or shy away animals.
So interesting regarding cows because I would have never believed that cows can be aggressive until I encountered an aggressive cow mama in Oklahoma. Long story but don't underestimate the peaceful docel demeanor of a cow. ( Additional information: I was not trying to approach the cows.) Just a random encounter that neither myself or the cows planned.
The guidelines for hikers in Austria include always keeping a distance from cows and walking dogs on a short lead but unleashing them in case of attack.
@@Paisley194 That‘s interesting, I never knew there were guidelines.
ad 1. especially if there calves in the herd ... and yes, from experience, mother cows tend to get aggressive fast if you've got a dog with you. No Problem when hiking with open eyes to be honest. Oh, and don't mess with boars ....
As I Canadian, I wish the only animals we had to be aware of when hiking were cows 😂
Excellent tips. I've solo hiked and hunted for many years in the US and elsewhere. I'm in Turkey now, where shepherd dogs and wild boars are a major concern. I've been bitten by Kangals on two separate occasions. They can be very safe if they are socialized properly, but most of them in rural areas are not. I've also been accosted by packs or teams of Kangals. All you can do is stay calm, speak in a low and nonthreatening voice, and avoid eye contact until they decide you're not a threat. They can really take the fun out of hiking.
I've found myself in the middle of herds of wild boars, and fortunately haven't been attacked. It pays to be aware of your surroundings.
I was solo hiking on the Tibetan Plateau in Sichuan Province, China at 14-15,000 feet. I got caught in a thunderstorm and my down bag was sopping wet, so there I was in the wet season at high altitude with no sleeping bag. I had to bail out of my trek and changed my route. I did have a bivy bag and tarp that I rolled up in. It took me 2 days to get to a road and after that it took me 5 days to get to the airport. That was because landslides had shut down bus traffic. A Tibetan family took me in for a couple days while I was waiiting for a ride and then I had 3 days of bus and minivan rides on treacherous high mountain roads. Quite a memorable trip!
What a relief we dont have big beasts to fear in Britain.
Interesting comment and good points regarding dogs etc, glad you shared. Thx.
✌
There are areas in States with a lot of feral dogs. They are more dangerous than coyotes, wolves and bears because they are not afraid of humans. Bear spray works on dogs better than bears. The problem with bear spray if you are alone and it fails it is probably to late for the lethal option. If you are not firearms adverse and live where they are legal don't give into peer pressure, carry a gun.
You been places, for real
Great video! You definitely know more than me on this topic, but I still have three additions:
1) Addressing your last point: I had it in the mountains that it got _too quiet._ If that happens, this is usually a big clue that even insects are smarter than you foolish humans! In my case, I stopped and listened and tried to find evidence of wildlife. Instead, I heard a faint sound, similar to a wooden sailship catching up wind and the hull creaking, but deeper and barely audible. I was confused and then I heard sand rustling and thought that I hadn't seen any sand. Then I heard pebbles bouncing, and then it became clear to me... Over a mile of the path, big rocks rolled down the mountainside. Not a fun experience...
2) The other thing that nearly killed me was the sudden fog. I can't say that it came out of nowhere, but I've never seen fog like this. I could literally barely see my feet and that in an area with cliffs and generally a treacherous path...
3) I know that water is heavy and even heavier when you need to carry it long time, but it's quite an embarrassment if your entire group runs out of water and some nearly suffer a heatstroke about a mile from civilization and where you have your cars parked with the water...
I heard a similar story about fog from a friend. He wasn't hiking, but he drove up a mountain with his car. At first everything was fine, but when he was up there, suddenly it got really foggy and he had to wait quite a while until he could see enough to drive down again.
Trusting your gut instinct is the best advice. I’ve been in many situations where this has saved me. Most recent was feeling I was being watched while hiking alone in a remote area, and I decided to turn back. Found out afterwards that wild dogs were very active in the area and attacks had occurred on other walkers several days prior.
Not really in the wild but in the city, I was on school trip in area that I didn't know. My instinct told "go that way", there was no logic just a feeling. Either way I waited and went with someone who knew where to go. We went the way my instinct told me and after like 5 minutes of walking I was in part of city I recognized
Managed to avoid being shot at by an angry vineyard owner in Crete whilst my friends ignored my warnings
Nr 14 (stop before looking at your phone navigation) is a life saving advice, I can tell from experience.
The 0.017 a year in 100,000 is a massive underestimation.
1. How many of 327 million park visitors are hiking solo? Majority are camping in the vicinity of their vehicles or hiking in groups.
2. Car death chance is for a year worth of driving. An average solo hike is much shorter. The risk to be adjusted by the exposure.
Citation needed.
I spend roughly as much time on the road as I do hiking and I am very, very positive that I've been in way more dangerous events on the road (due to external causes) than I have been on my hikes.. definitely! My last trip is a great example. I climbed a mountain, crossed a glacier, went up a 1000m+ via Ferrata and did not have any dangerous moment. Then I drove back, crosssed the border to The Netherlands and some dude nearly ran me off the highway because he didn't check his mirrors coming from a parking space and overtaking a slower car also coming from that same parking space.. my first thought was.. isn't that nice.. I just climbed a mountain and almost died of a traffic accident going home 😅
@@robvp71😂
I love hiking, and it is relatively safe; however, it is definitely more dangerous to hike in some places than driving. I was in the Gulf during my military days and heard someone use the same flawed statistic method to imply that I was safer there than back in the states because of crime in America.
Most people in National Parks don’t put themselves in harms way-falls/bear attacks etc. It’s misleading to use the total amount of people going to the parks divided by hiking fatalities. Use the approximate number of people hiking at parks divided by hiking fatalities to get the real risk. Even then, you probably shouldn’t group all parks together. Some are far more dangerous to hike in than other.
I don’t believe people should be afraid to hike in places like Yellowstone, but they should get accurate data when assessing their risks. They shouldn’t go into it believing they have a better chance of getting struck by lightning than having an encounter with a grizzly bear because someone fed them misleading statistics.👍🏽
Also stats dont ever express how much danger you are personally in at any moment. If you "hike" into a spinning blade, the state wont save you.
Great list and video! I have a habit of treating my hiking socks and trousers with permethrin. Many people do it to deal with mosquitoes, but I find it more effective against ticks and chiggers, which don't fly but crawl up your legs. When they get exposed to the permethrin they fall off dead. I find that better than doing a tick inspection, especially if I'm alone.
I'll use that from now on bro, Ticks are the bane of my existence. On all my small hiking trips I've seen them all over the place, specially on summer and opposums aren't as numerous as they used to over here, and to them that's a chance to reproduce, so far I only got bitten once and I didn't got any issues, lucky me, but in the cattle grassing areas near my home THEY'RE HUGE and EVERYWHERE.
Excellent video.
I was doing an adventurous hike in my standards that had a traverse from one summit to the other. My gut was telling me I didn’t feel well and should just take the one summit to turn back. I trusted my gut and was very happy I didn’t get myself hurt.
You got lucky if you think lume wasn't bad,!!!!! I have chronic lyme. It's absolutely terrible I was destroyed for 4 years borderline bed ridden!!!! Be careful with lume and get it treated immediately!!!!
That was the only advice I was like, WTF? Just because he didn’t suffer doesn’t mean many others haven’t suffered long term.
But the rest of his advice was spot on.
Thanks for your input! I removed the section where I talked about Lyme disease. I still stand by my words, but I should have added a better disclaimer and I think I downplayed it a bit too much. The reality is that the vast majority of people who get Lyme will be fine, and getting Lyme in the first place is also pretty unlikely, even when hiking through tick territory. I mentioned this because I have friends who are scared to go through the woods because they might get lyme. It's good to be cautious, obviously, especially with Lyme, but a lot of people are over-cautious with this IMO.
@@OscarHikesyou can remove sections of videos after they're uploaded? 😦
7:20 In a tick territory you shouldn't wear shorts or smth like that. You need your legs covered. The most important reason is - efficient anti-tick sprays must not be used on bare skin because 1) they're toxic and 2) they last much longer on cloth.
Another point: good anti-tick sprays are only focused against them. General sprays against everything (tick+moskitos+smth+smth, etc) are significantly weaker.
Also, you're saying to just remove the tick and you'll be fine. That's not always true. Yes, most ticks are "healthy" but some carry pretty dangerous (even life-threatening) deseases. Tick bites need to be avoided.
If you're afraid of bugs, you need to stay inside and keep playing call to duty.
@@SoloHiker1 Are you a troll or just stupid? Google diseases like Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia - all carried by ticks, this list might not even be complete, depending on region.
And if you're so not afraid of bugs then go hiking through African jungles, without any protective measures, just a week in a jungle, and have some friendly bites by local moskitoes and other buggies. And tell us your story of success. If you ever come back, that is.
"If you're afraid of bugs". lol
You should be -afraid- wary of bugs if you're not an idiot.
@@SoloHiker1 My comment seems to be deleted (censorship?), so I'm restoring it in a slightly milder form.
Are you a troll or just so ignorant? Search for diseases like Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia - all carried by ticks, this list might not even be complete, depending on region.
And if you're so NOT afraid of bugs then go hiking through African jungles, without any protective measures, just a week in a jungle, and have some friendly bites by local moskitoes and other buggies. And tell us your story of success. If you ever come back, that is. (Spoiler: chances are high that you won't: lots of explorers of older and modern times lost their lives to African bugs. Almost everywhere except Antarctica - there are also many deaths related to 'bugs', including ticks, annually. In modern times.)
"If you're afraid of bugs". lol
@@SoloHiker1 toxic
Thanks for your input! I removed the section where I talked about Lyme disease. I still stand by my words, but I should have added a better disclaimer and I think I downplayed it a bit too much. The reality is that the vast majority of people who get Lyme will be fine, and getting Lyme in the first place is also pretty unlikely, even when hiking through tick territory. I mentioned this because I have friends who are scared to go through the woods because they might get lyme. It's good to be cautious, obviously, especially with Lyme, but a lot of people are over-cautious with this IMO.
I live in Poland. Last year I was camping and I could hear elk or deer all around me. They weren't close, but they were active. I looked later and confirmed it was mating season.
I listened to music, I strobed my light, I used my emergency whistle a couple of times, but they kept getting closer over the next few hours.
Despite me being ready for sleep and it was pouring, I just felt uneasy, so I packed up and walked out of there.
No one understood me, but I had to go with my gut. I'd rather not be there when a buck is ready to mate or fight...
I'm glad you got out fine mate! I've seen Elk only a few times out in the wild and man are they huge!
@@OscarHikes Of course I probably wasn't in too much danger, but I didn't want to stick around and find out.
I almost had a deer run into me. They were more interested in chasing a mate than me
👍 .. wise decision.
One can always return another day.
Often I'm biking through forest at night, even tho form time to time I saw deer I don't want any confrontation with them. They stand more or less as tall as me on bike, they're wider, heavier and faster and more agile than me. Fortunately so far i just wanted to go my way and they wanted to go their way when we met
Please learn to properly use a paper map!
In addition of been a backup for the phone/GPS, learning to read it will help you to better understand the GPS/phone maps at a glance and will setup your route-planning mindset.
Having that skills always make your life easier!
That's a really good tip! I used to do a lot of orienteering as a kid, so I always look at the terrain elements as well on my phone's app. It does indeed allow you to look at the phone less ofen and be more confidant that you're in the right place.
Many steep cliffs (example fjords) are steep because they are unstable and will regularly crumble, keeping their edges steep amd sharp. It is better to not go near steep drop offs at all! Even if they look stable to you, the cliff may have a crack much lower where you cannot see it.
Do not use tweezers to remove tick! Crashing it's back may cause intoxication. Use proper tool that costs 3$ and can be bought in any pharmacy. It's plastic, lightweight and allows to remove them without compression of it's back.
You can use tweezer if you use light pressure, as light as possible and grip close to the skin. Try several times and build up pressure as you do to try out how much pressure you need. This way insures that the whole tick is removed and does not crush it.
Thanks for your input! I removed the section where I talked about Lyme disease. I still stand by my words, but I should have added a better disclaimer and I think I downplayed it a bit too much. The reality is that the vast majority of people who get Lyme will be fine, and getting Lyme in the first place is also pretty unlikely, even when hiking through tick territory. I mentioned this because I have friends who are scared to go through the woods because they might get lyme. It's good to be cautious, obviously, especially with Lyme, but a lot of people are over-cautious with this IMO.
It's not a good idea to use the swiss army knife tweezers to remove a tick, you'll squeeze the tick injeting yourself with tick juice!! use some thing designed for tick removal - like a "tick card" or tick removal tool..
It's true that it can happen if you're not careful, but if you pick it right, then it won't "vomit" back into your blood system. But yes, I totally agree, the risk of this happening with tweezers is much higher compared to a tick cord.
Thanks for your input! I removed the section where I talked about Lyme disease. I still stand by my words, but I should have added a better disclaimer and I think I downplayed it a bit too much. The reality is that the vast majority of people who get Lyme will be fine, and getting Lyme in the first place is also pretty unlikely, even when hiking through tick territory. I mentioned this because I have friends who are scared to go through the woods because they might get lyme. It's good to be cautious, obviously, especially with Lyme, but a lot of people are over-cautious with this IMO.
I use only my SAK to remove ticks.
0:49 my american mind jumped to a much different conclusion lmao
🔫
i have to admit, i hate the false safety some stupid safety gadgets give people.
I carry a gun and wont go solo camping without it. Animal attacks are immediatly 10 times less dangerous, and im not scared of humans either.
Great video!!! 💪😉
I also have some modest tips: 1 pay attention to the return of a trekking. Descents can be really dangerous. 2 Bring a poncho useful for rain and for spreading it on wet grass. 3 Carry a lemon in your backpack during hot trekkings. If you run out of water you feel less thirsty. Natural vitamin c. 4. Don't compete with others. Physical endurance is subjective. 5. Be careful of high altitude. 6. Observe and listen nature (clouds, sudden silence of animals). 7. Sing if you are scared. I know it sounds stupid but it works. 😅
On my hikes, I sing the whole time.❤
5. In the North American West, you should always place any food or smelly stuff in a BEAR CANISTER. Always, always, always. Even if it is in your car. Bears can and will break into your car!
Another one.. don't panic! It's the worst thing you can do in tricky situations. I have had some scary moments like thunderstorms, lost my map and my phone turned blue due to excessive rain, ran into unfriendly dogs, got stuck on a steep ridge etc. this happens and the best thing you can do is take a deep breath, avoid panicking and deal with the situation as calmly as you can.
If I die in the wild during hiking that's fair
The biggest danger of solo hiking is that you won't do it. Most of us are social animals, and prefer going with other people. But there are great benefits to hiking alone!
I'm neither social nor animal. Other people bother me and bore me to death.
@@sheridansherr8974 you haven't found the right people yet don't be lazy keep searching
I'm a safety freak, especially since the military, so I have at least one more person with survival skills and medical and navigating skills, I have 2 paper maps wich show different pictures of the same area plus a plb plus a GPS tracking device, I prefer not to use technology there just to safe battery even tho I carry a solar Powerbank, it's not like I pre pepper spray people just go be sure but that is what I do, probably too much but I rather have it and not use it instead of needing at and not having it
Yeah Tip 14 - Always do one thing at the time. No multitasking out there plz. Applies to camp too.
A young woman died at the Grand Canyon years ago, she went over the protective rail to get a close up view of the canyon at sunset and sat down when she decided to stand up she went vertigo lost her balance and fell to her demise, a very tragic situation.
My husband and I went hiking in a state forest one February in New York state.
Beautiful winter day.
No snow on the ground.
We were hiking the forest perimeter following the blaze markers on the trees.
About 4 pm...nearly dusk...heavy snow squal started to fall.
Large flakes stuck to the wind side of trees and covered the blazes. We were lost.
We only had a creek to follow back to our car which would take hours.
I stopped and viewed the terrain.
I saw vegetation that usually covers a farm field when no longer farmed.
We marked our location with a pile of stones and then trekked into the field.
I was correct!
It was an old farm field with a road on one side.
Once on the road we discovered that we were a half a mile from our car.
So glad that day that my father had taught me to be an observer while in the woods.
Ehhh... I'm not sure if it's the best advice if you're someone who feels vulnerable to set up camp where no one can see or hear you...
Agreed if you feel unsafe on
a large campground. Then try to set up next to a nice family or something. Completely isolating yourself is a present to someone with bad intentions
When solo camping, you can be very quiet and undetectable, even when very close to other people. If you think as a hunter, rather than a victim, you will be safer.
When approaching people who are not aware of your presence, try to avoid startling or frightening them.
A stealth-camper can always step out onto the trail and ask for help. Or, you can let Trouble amble on by in search of visible victims. Learn how to use a staff, and keep it in your hand or within arms-length. And learn to exit your bed quickly, noiselessly, and dress without turning a light on. (Hint--zippers and velcro ROAR.)
Most food-related bear attacks happen in high-traffic campgrounds where bears are habituated to eating human food.
Do MORE solo camping! Stealth-camping is fun.
I always love the straight forward, no fluff in ur videos. Makes me not feel like I’m wasting my time on TH-cam🙌
Also had a question about the free Gaia GPS: to preface, I have the premium and can download offline maps. How to you get the downloaded data from the free version???
So if you have the free version, you don't "download" offline maps as in clicking a button to download it. You simply zoom in to any area while connected to the internet. The app will then download this area in your phone's cache, so that next time you zoom in to the same area (even if not connected to the interned), you will be able to see everything. I've heard some people saying that relying on this is dangerous, but I literally hiked the whole length of GR11 this way, and never did the "cached" areas automatically delete by themselves. The app size just keeps getting larger and larger until you manually delete the cache in your phone's app settings.
@@OscarHikes thanks for the help Oscar!
except Nord VPN 😂
Great tips! It's also very useful to be prepared for the weather:
- Extra socks
- Raincoat
- Hat, sunscreen, glasses
in the US watch out for the 3 T's Trash bandits, Ticks, and Tweakers
Excellent educational video Oscar, not only for beginners but seasoned solo hikers and group hikers as well.Many times a group member will wander off and become lost and alone. I'm a solo female backpacker now in my 6th year and prefer to hike alone. You're absolutely correct with all of your tips, my favorite is "trusting your gut" it's happened to me a few times where I've bailed on multi-day hikes because something just didn't feel right. Thank you for all you do!
people spend a lot more time driving that hiking so it's definitely not 647, it's 647 divided by (average time spent per year driving divided by average time spent per year hiking).
Good video sir, and a great list.
The last point is something I can atest to as well. You just get a feeling...listen to it and go else where. It's usually you have seen something, or many somethings, and they haven't registored with your logical brain yet but you have seen signs and they are real. With experience you get much better at listening and also rationalising the feelings.
A point, Primus makes a "Winter" Gas and I can say that it works as advertised (minus 22 I think), I have had it down to minus 24 and it still worked. For me it was a game changer during colder camping trips.
I don't avoid watching videos with doom and gloom backcountry subject matter. Many of them contain valuable information that could literally save lives. "Kyle Hates Hiking" is an example of an accomplished thru-hiker who presents such content with respect to those involved.
There are both kinds of videos on the web. Some are designed to scare you away from hiking, while others are designed to educate. Studying mishaps is good education. Learn from the mistakes of others. And from their victories.
Ticks hate Lavender oil. Works as a great and safe deterrent.
Most of these tips are spot on but if you are the US carry a gun. Not so much for the big national park trails that get hundreds of people a day but in a lot of the local state park systems and there is hundred shades of gray on this depending on which state and county you are in there are some crazy mother fuckers out there. I've been hiking since the 1970's and I've run into some weird people. Most normal hikers will say hello and engage in friendly conversations but every so often in run into creepy looking people who you say hello to and they just give you a dirty look and keep going. Case in point just a couple years ago I was doing a popular local day hike in Connecticut. Warm late spring day and everyone on the trail is wearing shorts and light weight shirts and along come this young guy full military camouflage, militray load bearing vest and militray backpack and a empty gun holster by his side. I say to him "Yo dude what's up?" and he gives me a dirty angry look and the look in his eyes gave me the creeps and keeps on walking. Also back I through hiked when I was young I had my campsite stalked several times and for you ladies out there I've came across plenty of drunken hicks out there I wouldn't want to run into on a trail by myself miles walk back from the nearest road. Finally in the US there are still ton's of wilderness areas that are dead zones and the hicks and the crazies know exactly where they are so take that into consideration.
your gut instinct comes down to statistics most of the time. i suspect the brain keeps a background process of sorts that have lots of longterm input and data. which would be felt like a vague sense of "abnormality" from the myriad of data on similar or overall experiences, many of which are super subconscious. it really is comparable to a pc.
ex. weird faint smell in the area, change in pressure, temperature, a vague scent of animals, low "rumbling" noises that your high consciousness has not focussed on, because its job is to hyperfocus on a few things short term, while the deeper layers of the mind is basically going by deeper time, larger data sets etc. the further down your go. dna and instincts are memories from our ancestors and work with vastly larger amount of data than your immediate consciousness that focus on the conversation, on starting a fire or on something similar.
Deodorant on a backpacking trip is wasted weight and space.
Dam shots fired at Kyle hates hiking😅
The sad part is that I used to watch his stuff and actually liked his channel before. 🤷♂
I'm the same, it's click-bait scare tactics. It's tragic, because just the hiking stuff was pretty good for sure.
He does say that any trail is safer than any city in a lot of the videos.
0:14 Sometimes the cows and goats are the danger. Especially when young'uns are present
İ really like your videos… and thanks for the important tips. My first solo hike was this year april. Actually i thought that i planned my hike but it turned out that i didint plan it throughly. First i didint learned about the water situation so in my first day i ended up asking other hikers for water. They were russian guys and they were very nice and shared their water with me. Second i packed to much food. And it made my pack heavy. İ packed the clothes that i planned to wear at the airport and city not to bother people with my dırty clotes and it made my pack heavy… as a result at the first say the route was hard and dangerous , lots of climbing, ups and downs and in some point i got so exhausted that i couldnt move in a rock passing and there was no room to rest. İ am glad that i was alive after that dangerous passing. Next day i left the trail went to a town and sent all the not important stuff to my friends house and lightened my pack from 15 kg to 10 kg. So i became free to pack the amount of water i needed. İt was the best decision that i made… i think without water a pack should be max 10 kg for a regular female person. İf you cant pack a pack under 10 kg dont go solo… sorry i learned it the hard way by risking my life. İ have a garmin watch and i couldn’t lower my heart rate under 180 for about an hour. İ tried breathing exercises, tried to stop and sit but because of the narrow edges of the rocks and cliff and the pounding sound of the waves hitting the cliff under my feet made me nervous. İf i had a light pack i could have passed that dangerous section in a short time and wouldn’t get so nervous that effected my heart rate so badly… because there were hikers passing me by and they had tiny backpacks and easily hopped through the rocks…
10 kg?? Lol mine's like 30 kg
This is why I carry bear spray on hikes. I've never had to use it for a bear, but I've sprayed 4 dogs with it when they tried to bite me
Tip number 22. Get an INSURANCE. Because if you call 112 in central EU, and an helicopter needs to be dispatched for you, you will pay 10 000E for that ~ or 12 000 USD.
Tip number 23. Tell mountain service where you go and when you return, so they can find you very fast if you have some injury, get lost, or something like that.
yes. search and rescue insurance in the US is just $50/year for $100K in coverage
#15 is very relatable, probably the only reason for me to solo hiking is because im too slow. i tried hiking in group before and they left me behind.
An early backpacking trip with a group, I was the oldest and slowest. They would stop somewhere and wait for me. When I arrived, they immediately picked up and started out again - giving me no chance to sit and recover. After that, I solo backpacked w/dogs until a car accident made it impossible for me to carry a pack. Now I do day hikes or car camping, but still follow all I learned through my brief experience with backpacking. Great video. Thanks.
Adding to tip 1) usually cattle is super mellow. But they may feel threatened by you (most likely your dog) when they have young babies. Let go of your dog! Don't risk being trampled.
First aid kit
I actually had a tip regarding this, but I unfortunately cut it out because the video was already too long
@@OscarHikes First aid kit is not something to be cut, because in the wilderness you can get cut. Pun is below average but intended.
1. get a strong passport
Excellent video, great tips. In Australia I know of some deaths from tree branch falls and lightning strike on top of a mountain, so I am very cautious where I camp. However the most concerned I've been in the wild was when a group of 20 pigs approached where I was camping. Ultimately they didn't do anything but I didn't get much sleep. Trekking pole tip is good - I bang it on the ground when walking through grass to (hopefully) encourage snakes to leave.
Good tips! I've also had a similar pig experience. And I also do the rest of the tips that you mentioned - I guess we all learn this stuff over time! :D
1 wild pig is pretty dangerous but 20 pigs! Man you are lucky they didn’t attack you.
When hiking solo on high altitude mountains, make sure you atleast carry something with you that is visible from a big distance. Like a peace of clothing that stands out from the environment.
If something happens..you spray your ankle for example and you're not able to continue, atleast people that are able to help will see you sooner.
This is one of the best videos of seen on this topic, well done. Really sensible tips and well explained. And so happy you included "trust your instincts"! This is always overlooked.
Lots of great tips in video and comments!
1. If backpacking, never get separated from your pack, unless you are wearing a daypack containing everything you would need to survive overnight without your pack.
2. If there's a rattlesnake on or very close to the trail, do not leave the trail to go around the snake *unless* the ground is quite bare and you can be sure of seeing any other snakes. Where there's one rattler, there are probably more very close by. If rattler on trail has not rattled at you, do something to be sure it knows you are there. Then back up 10-12 feet and stand quietly. Eventually it will move off once you are not seen as an immediate threat; be patient; maybe take 10-15 minutes. Watch carefully for other rattlers on or near trail as you proceed.
3. Keep your distance from all large herd animals (cattle, horses, bison, elk, etc.) and all animals with horns or antlers or tusks (goats, bighorn sheep, moose, boar, warthogs, etc.).
4. Don't set up your camp/tent on an ant hill, an ant trail, or a yellow jacket nest in the ground. Look closely for these things and for prints showing "animal traffic."
5. Carry a roll of 2 inch wide self-adhesive sport wrap - useful for bracing strained or mildly sprained joints, splinting, bandaging large wounds, holding equipment together...all sorts of things.
6. To cope with heat: Add electrolytes to your water; use NormaLyte or LMNT brands, or use WHO's oral rehydration recipe. Cover your head with a WET 100% cotton light-colored bandana or fisherman's hat (aka "boonie" hat). Re-wet as needed. Keeping your head cool this way helps tremendously. On hot days I put my boonie on dripping wet and carry extra water to re-wet it.
Okay I'll add my beginner two cents:
If you have trouble getting UP a terrain, either because it is too steep, or too slippery, or both, then you will have even more trouble getting it DOWN. Let alone if it starts raining before going down. Then even a relatively solid dirt becomes trouble on a steep slope.
On steep slopes going down usually takes longer than going up. Keep that in mind when pursuing a summit that is "just 300m more" elevation ahead while you see the storm approaching.
I saw this, because people dont have propper footwear and sticks, gloves. These things are expensive but ultra helpful.
If you are wearing boots it's a good idea to bring some light shoes/sandals just to use around your camp. It's annoying to take the boots on just to go up and have a leak at night.
Loosen the laces, tuck them inside the boots, and you have slippers. Then you can jump up and play tag with the boogeymonsters all night.
Good tips, I agree with all of them but I also arrivi the comments about not understanding ticks...
They have become much more widespread lately due to climate change so everyone should have a high level of alert concerning them.
Another side note about navigation: using map and compass, although less immediate than GPS, can be very effective, and it carries several other advantages.
You are more aware of your location, of the terrain and of the environment in general, therefore it becomes very very unlikely that you can get really lost.
It can also make any track more interesting in general and you're going to remember it better.
I always carry a GPS anyway but using it as a backup, saving its battery and thus making sure it will be available if and when needed.
We have always had ticks, but Lyme Disease is a military bioweapon. It is intended to solve the climate change problem by pushing the people into 15 minute cities where they cannot solo hike.
1. Getting lost
2. Being near cliff sides
3. Not bringing water filter
4. Having no medical kit
5. Having no tracker,GPS
6. Not planning out the trip
7. Not letting someone know you went hiking.
8. Going alone
9. No fire starting device
10. Not wearing the correct clothes.
Filters can be unreliable, it's better to boil.
@OscarHikes 1- Advising hikers to take a moment every 200 m or so to look back over the trail they just crossed is something you may consider mentioning. It’s a curious thing to observe how trails through the forest appear very different when I turn around and look to see where I’ve just come from. I believe that contributes to people getting lost. With that said, this is something that is emphasized on terrain that has short or poor visibility. If you’re hiking along barren foothills along a coastline, it seems evident to me that you would not necessarily need to do that. But it is certainly a habit I use when I hike through California’s Sierra forests and the Coast Range near Santa Cruz.
2 - I have come to experience that learning how to use a compass and paper map is essential. I don’t agree that you need to print up a new map every time you go hiking. Most trails don’t actually get changed very much. Like my books, I take care of my maps. I use a map pouch With a clear plastic sleeve, and I never write on them. With digital technology and networks being hacked, pirated, or otherwise unavailable more frequently, it simply cannot be ignored that relying too much on battery powered digital technology could be your downfall. Learn how to navigate for yourself, and use tools that use no power or digital software. Remember, there have been millions of beautiful and successful hikes in human history long before the advent of digital technology.
I don't hike much, but I agree with the paper maps thing. One of my biggest worries is always that I somehow have my stuff be soaked with water and then anything battery powered could be ruined. Or the battery runs out and you don't have more, probably exactly because of the first thing I mentioned. It's unlikely that that much goes wrong, but it's not impossible. Some bookshops also sell some really detailed hiking maps which are very helpful, even if you do only a short day hike. And almost always you'll also find a few books describing some established routes in detail, so that could maybe help as well if you have pictures and descriptions.
How about a video about the dangers of showering alone.
Isn't it safer to have lots of people around? If you're alone no one will hear you scream.
Not really. First, you need the education gained by self-reliance and forethought. Second, people tend to cause problems. We need space, which is why we go hiking in the first place. Taking time alone leaves us fresh and de-stressed, so we can de-escalate the conflicts with people more successfully.
@@IdahoSewing there's no de-escalating a rape assault
1:54 As a funny point, if they don't receive any messages from you then they need to first try to contact YOU and only then the authorities. 😄 Some people can be too jumpy (like "He said to contact the authorities if he doesn't send a message some day. It's already 6 PM and no message from him, I need to call ALL the local and federal emergency numbers ASAP!!11"). 😄
Unrelated to video, but having lived in Latvia for 3.5 years, it took me 3 seconds to know that you're Latvian 😁
Excellent video! One recommendation would be to wear long pants if you’re trekking through a place that is known for a lot of ticks.
Yes, and proper footwear (leather shoes/boots or chaps) in areas with known poisonous snakes (e.g., rattlers, copperheads, cottonmouths etc.)
I liked and subscribed because you DIDN'T ask people to like and subscribe and just got straight to the point with excellent content. Super refreshing. Thank you!
When I was hiking in the Scottish Highlands I came across a group of sheep and some of them looked very aggressive. I trusted my instincts and backed off. It was a close one.
The Italian ones just bark a lot
In bear country don’t wipe your hands on your jeans after dinner. Don’t turn into a snack
compass do not need battery. It is good backup. At least you keep direction.
Every one hour look back to remember where have you been walking. It helps to return if it is necessary.
No they are not the best defence tools!
Being correct you had to say legal allowed!
Like the x bow with magazine, 10mm glock 19
Or my choise P90 from FN
Ofcourse i dont own illegal stuff!
The x box with six arrows you can buy legally in Germany, without permit, but are only allowed for Target shooting!
As to point 20, there is a book called The Gift of Fear which talks about gut feelings and the hair on the back of your neck as survival instincts. A little outdated, but a great read, especially for women.
Thank you for mentioning this book! I give it my hearty appreciation and recommendation as well. I think the insights in it may very well have saved my daughter's life on one occasion, not in the wilderness, but in my small town neighborhood within a few blocks of home! It may seem a paradox, but the kind of fear that is a gift is actually very different from anxiety, and can help to reduce the latter. Awareness and listening to your "gut", including feelings which may be related to observations that are below conscious awareness can help save a person from becoming fatigued by the dysfunctional and unsustainable habit of always being on "red alert". Definitely one of the ten most important books I have ever read.
@@kennethcarter982 I am sorry to hear your daughter had to use her survival instincts in an actual dangerous situation, but glad to hear she was unharmed. I agree wholeheartedly with your summary and gave the same book to my daughter before she went off to college.
Great tips. I strongly recommend for people to learn basic navigation skills; they can save your life. You also don't need major landmarks to navigate by. Just small features can provide a wealth of info.
you can put your gas canister in your sleeping bag to keep it at body temperature so it works (/better) on cold mornings
Great video! THX! When hiking I always carry a compass with me. So at least I know the direction. I have been in a wood once and GPS didn't work because there was no line of sight to the satellites.
You are correct, a forest canopy can block the satellite signals.
Where do i live, guard dogs are way more dangerous and aggressive than wolves
On my last hike I pretty much gave up on useing my phone for navigation because it died and my power bank went on the blink I now use map and compass
Plus you can burn a map to keep warm. Try doing that with a phone app.
@@johnnomcjohnno1957 the lithium batteries burn very well!
Other ideas: consider purchasing a locator beacon/inReach, and opt for one which supports messaging. Also, exercise extra caution when not going out and back, since an obstacle/obstruction may require you to go back the way you came, nearly doubling the length.
That's one of the last tips in the vid, mate.
When i was a kid i went close to a cliff. 4-5 feet down was a big ledge you couldnt see. I waved to ky mom and said "i love you buh-bye" and dropped right down onto ledge, safe and sound, ducked under the overhang that was there, then realized it was a terriblenidea as mom went truly hysterical, only time my mother ever punched me, and my papa yelled at me. Guess i went to far, looking back, ya, that was mean, like super mean. And after having help raise kods, i can see where i messed up.
Damn you went hard as a kid :D That's funny!
rare footage of Daniil Medvedev out in the wild in his natural habitat
Wear long pants to avoid ticks.
I WILL NOT STOP HIKING ALONE!!!.... sorry 🤘
This was one of the best videos of this kind that I've seen in the past year since I took up hiking again. No bs, straight to the point, and 99% advice that I would have given, if I were to make this video, especially after my last trip which was solo. Big thumbs up!
👍👍👍 .. very good advice.
Cows. Reportedly, they're responsible for the most animal-related deaths in the UK.
Wild Boar in Europe. They can tend to be more aggressived during mating season, November to January. Also, during the Winter Months, Wild Pig are more active during the day due to the warmer temperatures. Here in Switzerland, in my adjacent forest, they forage at times, (at night) right up the forest edge near our Bus Stop. I've only had two sightings though .. daytime, both in Winter .. and at a comfortable distance.
One addition please, regarding Navigation. Before going out, know what lies to the North, South, East and West of the Region in which one is hiking (roads, tracks, rivers, villages, no-go terrain, etc), especially in dense forest .. and the related distances. In case of one being 'turned around' and lost .. and with electronic equipment failure, a simple, reliable Compass hanging around one's neck, or off a pack strap, can be a life saver.
And .. 🙄😏 .. yes, in less than optimal weather and terrain, 'taking a shortcut' can be a not so good option. Stick to the known route, even if longer. It will be easier for someone to find you in the event of ..
Thanks for the share .. take care ..
Hi Oscar, Hello from France, how are you ? Another great tips on this vidéo, i liké the exercices for hiking, i do exactly the samedi and it s better for me. Thank you very much for sharing, take care and see you 🙂👍
Thanks for the kind words! :) I'm good, thanks!
Nice video. In the USA we talk of the 4 W's of picking a campsite. Wood (access to firewood), Water (access to water source and considering flood risk), Wind (consider location and position of tent), Widowmakers (consideration of dead treas or branches above that could kil or injure)
In Australia it is a recommendation to freeze ticks using a freeze tick product or wart off. They should then drop off.
Yes. Your last tip is the most important. I always say, half of hiking is simply using good judgement. There have been a handful of times where I have been like "Nope, not worth it" and turned around. If you know where your limits are, you're ready for a lot.
Good tips, thank you! My tip is to carry a whistle - we've 3d-printed a small, but loud one at home, but they are sold literally everywhere))) Helped me with the most of the dogs on my last through-hike (not herding dogs, but still)
And other one is you can download a chunk of Google map to use offline, not sure whether it would be useful for mountains. But might give you a paper-map level idea of where you are?
Have you ever startled a wild animal on accident before?
I've scared off boars and deer a lot, especially when trail running, but they've luckily always ran away. And once, over 10 boars tried to break into my tent (before I started hanging my food).
Hmm, I've never actually carried a whistle. I might actually look into that, thanks!
A great whistle to choose is one used to train dogs (not a “silent dog whistle”). These are small, loud, and with any luck, the dog may recognize it!
@@OscarHikes I actually consider whistles to be excellent for group-camp security. They have been used for years on the battlefield, because they can be heard through the din of battle (and the roar of vehicles).
In the US, we're taught to always carry a whistle as one of the Essential 10. I even have one in my day pack that I use in the city.
Great advice about food. So many people are relying on dehydrated packaged food with no backp.
The freeze dried backpacking meals can be hydrated with cold water,it just takes longer ! ✌🏼
You can nibble on dehy food, your saliva softens it.
Thank you for showing the comparison between the dangers of hiking and driving a car. That was really eye-opening.
Bear spray has expiry and if you have used it once, it's expired, if you store it higher than 50°C or below freezing it's useless. There have been many incidents where bear spray didn't work, empty cans were found beside the bodies of the victims so pay very close attention to the proper uses and storage of your bear spray.
Buy new can each year, and use the old one for training. Go out and simulate an attack and actually spray the stuff. Never spray into the wind! A staff is more dependable than spray.
Most citations on the successful use of bear spray are against curious bears or random encounters. It the bear is engaged in predatory behavior the spray often won't work. If you are alone you need a gun because you only get one chance. If the bear isn't motivated a warning shot will usually send them on their way. They don't like noise.
would you mind to make a video of how to choose a camping spot, how to set a tent, what to bring inside and what to hang on tree near by
Backpacking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, it's grizzly country. I keep ALL smellables in a bear canister and take serious precautions like stopping to eat about mile away from any place I'm planning on setting up camp.
I heard that bears can smell food from up to 19 miles! And once you've cooked, jump in the lake and wash to get the smell of food off you, and put clean clothes on. They can hunt you down from miles away!!
Oscar, thanks all excellent advise and no fluff. Been backpacking, self taught adult since the '70's (yes that is 50+ yrs) Would love to see a bit on backwoods etiquette as well as skills...leave a no trace campsite, how to make a personal single use latrine, aluminum foil/glass, benefits of fire-less camping. - finally a comment you made in your treking poles video about age - while "backpacking into 60's or 70's may sound old in your 20's & 30's you all should expect to be able to do so into your 80's and 90's. Maybe your generation should look to the 100's - it wouldn't happen unless you believe!
My great-grandfather could out-walk young men when he was in his 80's. He lost his short-term memory, and would forget where he was, so he had to stop. Then his health decayed.
Thanks. Pray for Jesus for giidance
But use GPS, map and compass.
Thank you, Oscar! For me, number 14 (don't walk and use phone at the same time) is a good reminder. Especially after a long days hike when tired and hungry, then try to reduce risk and don't multitask while walking.
Thanks for these great tips. I am a (fairly) seasoned solo hiker and love the peace I get from it. Saying that, I'm starting to take my children out with me too. Knowing about safety statistics (re: accidents and ticks, for example) is very useful! New subscriber now :) Greetings from Switzerland.
Immediately subscribed for the sheer fact you immediately jumped into this video giving us exactly what we want. It’s rare to see that nowadays on TH-cam. I know it’s probably a little thing but thank you immensely for this video!
wow! non sapevo fossi in italia, spero ti stia trovato bene, ti auguro buoni trekking
Grazie mille! Si, abito in Abruzzo piu di un anno gia. :)
When camping/hiking always take a weapon to defend yourself against all types of predators. Any gun type is good at least an 8" blade survivor knife. I carry a modified 5-foot walking staff that I snap my knife on to have a ready spare. I also carry some M80 firecrackers(to scare off unwanted intruders) and mace (for bears). It is a good idea to have a motion sensor LED garden light and a loud horn too even a 900-mile laser pointer can be used defensively blinding the eyes of monsters and signaling. Hey instead of saying "I got a knife in here" say "I GOT A GUN IN HERE" Even if you don't have one just bluff like playing poker.
great video...I always listen to my gut feeling it is important to always do that. I have turned back a few times on the trail listening to my good old gut and have left some campsites a time or two also.