Another good tip for not getting lost is get in the habit of looking backwards especially at key turns path intersections etc. Things can look very different coming back the same way. You can also take pictures back towards at key navigation points.
@@TLK22 You can also just look at where you are going and notice things around you, instead of just walking with a blank stare on your face noticing nothing.
@@TLK22 Good you will be really calm when you meet your end. But really, walking in your home area is plenty good for you. Lookout it's a wild cat, where!!, near your neck.
I nearly died hiking in the alps, about 7 days ago, after the mountain pass between adelboden and kandersteg on the via alpina green trail. The weather changed in an instant, there was heavy rain and hail, causing water to torrent down from the mountain while i was on a narrow ledge of a cliff. Not so bad? I can just stay put till it passes? Then the water caused hundreds of rocks to tumble down at me. Big rocks. One smaller one hit my head, i hid under my umbrella, still completely exposed, many rocks hitting the umbrella, arm over my head incase a massive one hits and realised this could be it. Not a good feeling to think you're at the end of it all. After a minute the rocks stopped, then the rain. Even getting down of the mountain was unsafe, as the guiding rope didn't go far, the narrow ledge very slippery. Big wake up call, you can randomly die hiking, especially in mountains.
I used to think a bear or cat would get me. I was hiking in tennis shoes with low grip, crossing water without knowing how to swim, and carrying no navigation tools, but I was convinced the animals were the real danger. 😹
Two friends and myself have been backpacking the High Sierras for over 40 years. The black bears and mountain lions? All three of us still chase them like wild men at the same time, 100% success rate. Never a Grizzly, they get the boat air horn treatment.
@@flynnstone3580 the way black bears immediately turn, haul ass and scamper away has always made me laugh. We have lots of them here in NJ and I always chase them off to great amusement
@@highviewbarbell I'm in the Sierra mountains of NorCal, we have a lot of black bears and mountain lions. They have no natural predators. The last thing they're expecting is something going after them. And both will run if being chased. When I see either, I go after them before they come after me.
I was the same way about animals. Not the other stuff. My daughter lives in Mt, I live in Il so I just didn’t have the best perspective because of no scary bears and kitties, and put a realistic perspective on it. One is more likely to die from the elements than anything else. Planning is key.
It's all fun and games until one charges back. Had it happen twice, but have ran off bears hundreds of times. Be prepared for when scaring a 600lb beast with loud noises and bravado doesn't work.
One more hiking danger: cars. In 1995, two PCT hikers were killed on Hwy 138 in Southern California. Road walks can be more dangerous than remote trails, especially on winding mountain roads with narrow shoulders.
Also car accidents on the way to and from the trail. Well-known John Ladd (JMT survey) was severely injured a few weeks ago returning from a Yosemite hike in a car accident on his own fault, hopefully will mostly recover (he is in his mid 70s).
Thanks for sharing this, Dixie. Our daughter died from altitude sickness in Colorado in 2017 hiking with friends. I believe she didn't know she was in trouble until it was too late and they couldn't get her down from the mountain (at night). Personally I don't let myself dwell on "if only's" but I'm thankful that it brought awareness to many family and friends.
My condolences. It grieves me to learn of such tragedies. I endeavor to encourage wilderness adventure with caution. The outdoors in America is very safe, but there are a few common mistakes that take the safety away. Idk about your case, but the #1 most common thing I have identified is that of imposing a modern artificial schedule on an outdoor adventure. Nature which includes altitude, weather, ground conditions, etc. does not care about the modern culture of trying to impose a time schedule. Those who travel more old school go with more safety. More food, extra thermal layers, rain gear, fire tools, and above all a slower pace. I have seen some mild cases where the difference between simple easy recovery on one hand and tempting tragedy on the other came down to "we have a schedule to keep" In my mind I always respond: "seriously?" - Cold Kills - Nature is Neutral, and - Mountains Don't Care
My condolences, too. - If severe AS sets in one has to go down at once, be it in the middle of the night. For unexperienced people a pulse oximeter (a cheap device weighting 2 ounces) may help. If it shows
I'm sorry for your loss. This Georgia boy was stationed at Fort Carson years ago when I was in the best shape of my life, and we all learned quickly that the altitude is NOT to be trifled with. It took months to really be used to it. Thanks for sharing your story, and may God use it for good.
Always remember too the most dangerous part of a backpacking trip is the drive to and from the trailhead. Especially from, because you'll be tired so take it slow and relax.
Thank you for the insights. I did get hypothermia on a hike once. “If I just shut my eyes, everything will be fine.” I woke up in hospital. So, I learned to get the right gear. :)
It isn't what you're afraid of that's likely to kill you. It's often being too comfortable with your abilities in situations where you should be using more caution. We should know better, or, rather, should DO better with what we know. Thank you, Dixie!
Yup, worked two seasons in Yellowstone where there is a lot of fear of bears. Yes, they can be dangerous but don't do near as much harm as auto traffic, knew one who was killed another who lost her leg, both in the back of trucks.
Years ago my daughter and I hiked to 12k feet and camped in early fall. It was cold at night but beautiful during the day. The first night we had a hot meal and both slept like babies. We hiked so much the second day, we decided to just have a quick sandwich with water and crashed. The conditions were nearly identical. We both woke up cold in the wee hours and had to get additional clothing. That experience drove home the point that hot food/beverages make a world of difference in body temp. Having access to a hot beverage or food, I truly believe can save your life or at least make you far more comfortable when the temp drops.
Thanks for this advice Charlie. We’re planning a 4 day hike in a few weeks and I was considering cutting out one of my evening meals: 1) I’ve found I often take too much food and 2) weight reasons. I think I’ll rethink that.
On offseason day hikes here in the PNW I will often carry a tall skinny 16oz personal thermos with preheated tea or soup. It doesn't weigh much different than carrying a stove, fuel, and cookware, but it gives me something warm at the ready!
The book “The Secret Knowledge of Water”, by Craig Childs, has the subtitle “There are two easy ways to die in the desert: thirst and drowning”. It has a kind of scary number of tales of inexperienced desert hikers (or even experienced ones) caught in washes or box canyons when a flood comes on suddenly. Great book about hiking and deserts in general, too!
I believe hypothermia kills more people in Colorado in June, July, and August primarily because they are not prepared for colder weather in the higher elevations and they wear cotton clothing that gets wet and cools the body when the moisture evaporates fairly quickly in the dry climate. Thanks for helping to educate!
@Ten Soldiers there are MANY very comfortable hiking cothes, merino wool is awesome and is like cotton. no way jeans are more comfortable. than proper hiking clothes.
We live at 6300 ft in Colorado and always have to prep our visitors for day hikes. Yes, you need a rain jacket even if it’s perfectly sunny, yes you should bring your puffy jacket in July and yes, let’s pack way more water and snacks than you think you will need!
Gear is important, but there's also something to be said about recognizing that something's wrong and being able to descend 3,000 ft in less than 20 minutes, rapidly getting to your car before things go bad. I had this day hiking in Northern Colorado with a friend when I smelled cow manure when I shouldn't have smelled cow manure. This was a sign of a cold inversion rolling in from the plains and we turned around to see that everything had misted beneath us. In the 30 or so minutes it took to run to the car, the temperature had dropped about 50 degrees. However, we were at my car -->not outside --> everything's good. You might think that I am habitually unprepared by this story, but I am not. I keep things like extra layers, rain jackets, umbellas (really good for hail), and microspikes in my day pack. I had more layers than I used. There are just some times where it's much better not to be outside or not stuck on the top of the mountain.
Thank you, Dixie, for including mosquitoes in your video, reminding us that mosquitoes can kill. My athletic, 62 yr old best hiking buddy was healthy as a horse when he got West Nile Virus. Hiker, surfer, runner..... CDC statistic.
Dixie, you used my footage! I'm flattered. * Reads that video is about things that will get you killed * Darnit. I swear I also have footage where I'm NOT doing stupid things.
It's only stupid if the worst outcome happened... if the answer to "but did you die?" is "no", then it's an awesome story! That is my rationale... LOL That was really cool footage
@@semperanticusphotography3749 I have a video about mistakes I've made with the thumbnail quote "Mistakes make good stories...If you live". It's true. ....Maybe I DON'T have any videos where I'm not doing stupid things.
I ate it hard when I was in high school hiking in Maine. We were crossing a ravine on a footbridge. The decking was new, made of halved and peeled logs, nailed with the round side up. It was drizzling, and the rain made the surface of the bridge slick. I took one step, and my foot slid out from under me. I fell headfirst maybe 8 or 10 feet down the ravine. I was lucky. I landed on a flat boulder about the size of a dinner table, on my shoulder. There were lots of jagged rocks I might have landed on that would have messed me up. I was sore, but nothing broken, and we continued our trek. I am much older now but way more careful of my footing!
Dixie, your description of altitude sickness seriousness and symptoms could use more emphasis. HAPE and HACE can kill you fast. A through-hiker died on Forester Pass in June, 2022 and I got a chance to talk to some folks familiar with the incident. She was said to be 23 and very fit. She was climbing Mt Whitney and experienced extreme shortness of breath and blue lips. She came down to Crabtree Meadow and spent two days there hoping to get acclimated. Then she hiked north up Forester Pass and experienced a severe headache. A First Responder was hiking with her, but before she could get back down, and before a rescue helicopter could get there, she died. Presumably of cerebral edema. If you experience hypoxia, coughing up fluid, or a severe headache you are flirting with the grim reaper, from what I have been taught, and death can happen really quickly.
@@JimYeats Not only stop, but go down ASAP. - All fatal accidents are rare; on the PCT about one per year. This year HACE. 2021 none, 2020 slip&fall, 2019 killed by a falling tree (on a rest, not sleeping), 2018 none, 2017 2x drowning + 1x heat stroke.
@@Henning_Rech City Girl had an incredibly close to death experience in 2018. I know that doesn't really count, but then there are also the missing hikers. We hope they are alive somewhere, but realistically we're talking more fatalities I suspect.
California incidents = rarely ever covered in the news which is why we hikers need to pass the info on. It's not to frighten ppl, but just to be honest and to encourage ppl to take precautions. Unpack egos and entitlement mentalities and pack a few extra safety items. It's not fear, it's wisdom.
@@paulrevere2379 - good one,… when packing those “extra items”, a Sat. Phone or Sat. text device goes a long way to help.. Just saying,.. after 27 years SAR in Arizona.
My wife and 2 of our friends and I were in Arizona on vacation when we decided to do a quick walkthrough a slot canyon. We knew rain was in the forecast but we figured it was just a mile and we would be out in time. It started to rain while we were in the slots so we turned around and began hiking back up the wash which was the trail we had followed in. Seconds after leaving the slot (and less than 10 minutes after it has started lightly raining) we turned a bend and were met with a wall of water. We scrambled up the side of a crumbly hill and had to wait out the rain surrounded by nothing while the lightning flashed around us. It took us 6 hours to get across the wash safely and spent the night in our car because the roads flooded out. I'm from Louisiana and thought I knew all about flash floods but the desert proved to us over and over on that trip just how unforgiving it can be.
Maybe it was lightly raining where you were but heavy somewhere else. You may be from Louisiana but I guarantee you have never actually paid attention to the clouds and how the rain comes after a cloud goes over.
I'm with you on the unfit old people. I'm 60 and was inspired to go out hiking by watching all the long trails. I'm attempting the Ethel Challenge it's 95 not so high peaks in The Peak District National Park England. I have found that I can only do two 6 mile walks a week. My brain says I'm 20 but my body reminds me I'm 60. So after my first hike it took 2 days to recover. I realised that a sedentary life has taken its toll. I'm going to keep going on this Challenge but it will take me a bit longer than the average person. But the rush of being at the top is a great feeling. We haven't got big hills like you but they are big to me. Lots of stops to catch my breath and take in the scenery. Love your vlogs Dixie.
When you´re above 55 years old, start slowly, a mile per day is a good starting point for walking slightly longer distances, just carefully increase the mileage when your body/joints is/are ready for it.
It's not about the miles or even about the elevation. It's about getting unplugged, out in nature, leaving your comfort zone, experiencing something...Genuine...for yourself, and returning intact with something worth remembering.
In wilderness survival courses, I was always told the most common cause of death in the wilderness is stupidity. I also learned to look for the “umbles” when hypothermia is suspected: fumbles, mumbles, and stumbles.
- Cold Kills - Nature is Neutral, and - Mountains Don't Care I think part of that survival point in your comment should be the danger of imposing an artificial modern schedule on any wilderness adventure. Almost every avoidable wilderness tragedy I have ever learned about could have been avoided if the victim wasn't prioritizing some kind of schedule at some point leading to the tragedy.
@@paulrevere2379 - - This is a great point Paul ! So VERY important to “ Be In The Moment “. That’s the best way to be able to respond to the present situation and take care of ones self. Hi from Central Arizona where we often have heat that kills also. Play it safe all,.. and cheers.
@@billpetersen298 - Here in Central Arizona, heat makes people stupid real fast as well. I guess really any extreme will cause this. Not being in shape or experienced for what one is doing, is huge as well. Play it safe all. Cheers !
@@teatonaz I almost took on the AZT least year. My transport fell through and I'm dirt poor. Turns out that we are in a streak of not so great years for that trail if I'm seeing the conditions correctly from my current spot in central WA. At one point I thought AZ might be a good place to winter over for a nomad like me, but the little voice in my head sends up yellow flags. I think I would really like the local folks down there, but idk if it's the border proximity or the water issue (not enough or way too much) or maybe I'm just not wired to be as reckless as Chris McCandless. How's the job market for an educated man who doesn't have his paperwork in order? Think about someone who's halfway between a Lietenant Dan and a Jack Reacher except for no government paychecks.
Regarding camping in a wash. I was on the pct, and was only about 100 feet from the trail, semi near the top of the mountain. We had to change our plans a bit because we saw some clouds coming, so we ditched a side trip and got to our campsite right around dark. It started to sprinkle a bit so we quickly delegated tasks and got going. We were setting up in a site about 6 feet above a stream. My son went up to the trail and found water coming down the dry stream bed, about 3/4" deep. He filled a couple water bottles and came down for more bottles. By the time he got the other bottles etc the water was in the stream next to our campsite, then by the time he was done filling the bottles it was 6 inches deep and flowing pretty fast. An hour later it was a roaring torrent. Again, this was near the top of the mountain in central WA below Cathedral rock. By the time we woke up, there were a few pools of water but overall it was all gone. I never would have guessed that we would have seen a flash flood way up high like that. Make no assumptions.
Important to understand any unique challenges you may have from a health perspective and how they can affect you. I have MS and we tend to be very heat sensitive but I also live in Colorado and am 98% solo hiking. After a close call, I now use a core body temperature monitor and a heart rate monitor and a multi-function environmental sensor. With these I have been able to identify danger zone limits and even predict trail difficulty and my own performance difficulties based on weather forecasts. Be prepared, train, and know your body. Another great video Dixie and have fun in Colorado next month!
I have crohn's disease and am also very heat sensitive and prone to passing out, especially from dehydration. Makes me have to cut back sometimes, usually begrudgingly, but at the end of the day I don't want to die over something stupid like trying to climb a little further when I'm not feeling 100%.
@@samuelpetrovich4998 i really recommend monitoring your body core temperature. I use CoreBodyTemp device - it is expensive at around $250 but well worth the peace of mind. There are cheaper ones that are single use (usually use for babies but they work too). I try to never get above 100.5F because above that it triggers the MS. I use a Kestrel Drop D3 ($130) that monitors Density Altitude (an aeronautics thing) but i find a good proxy for environmental stress. Great for higher altitudes where based on weather 8000ft may seem like 11000ft. Good luck and always stay safe!
Thank you Dixie for reminding us all of these tips. They cannot be overemphasized because there is still many of us who think of going for a short hike with no water and before you know it you become disoriented and lost. No mater where you go, make sure you carry in your backpack or day pack enough water, something to eat ie., granola bar, dress for the weather and a small first aid kit. Thank you Dixie.
I'm not a backpacker, I'm a biologist who sometimes works outdoors and who was looking to replace her camping chair with something lighter and smaler. Your walmart video was somewhere in the suggestions so I watched it, loved it and subscribed. I will most likely never go backpacking, but I love the background informations you put into all your videos, like this one.
My mother was always afraid that a bear would get. I told her I was much more likely to be killed by lightning. Strangely that did not make her feel better!
Thank you, Dixie! From a whitewater kayaker, the best advice I was ever given is that you can drown in 2” of water. Foot entrapment is the fastest way to die and very few of us have the the strength to fight against the flow once caught up. Crossing rivers should always be done with others who might be able to pull you out if, God Forbid, you get caught up or sived. I’ve lost one to many friends to be willing to risk it.
One that slipped your mind Dixie, is when your "mummy" finally catches up to you! In all seriousness though, being prepared by thinking about and researching the risks that will arise can sure make a difference. Keeping calm, not panicking, and making wise decisions can keep us all safer on our adventures. Good video Dixie! Best wishes as always.
Thank you so much for your very educational videos. I suffered elevation sickness as I had rushed up to the elevation instead of acclimating. RUINED trip. I was extremely affected, thinking only out of shape people encountered elevation sickness. ANYONE can get elevation sickness, watch for symptoms and happy hiking!
I learned that watching discovery tv shows on hiking the alps. They would have to stop like maybe 10,000 feet up the mountain to camp for couple of days to get acclimated so their lungs will adjust to the lower oxygen levels at higher altitudes.
Of all the wonderful videos you have ever done, I think this is amongst your most important works. It is clear and concise. It is heartfelt and based in the reality of experience. I truly believe you have saved lives with this. How many is impossible to ever know. But I can't imagine, over even a short period of time, that number will be zero. You are a very responsible inspiration.
Great video Dixie! Heat is my new nemesis! I'm finding the older I get the less tolerance I have for it. So, getting up before the sun and getting those climbs done early in the morning and getting to camp (backpacking) or back at the car (day hike) by noon is now my hiking life in the dead of summer. I find the early mornings - cool temps, no people and more wildlife!
Dixie, one thing I give you is you give great info classes. You may not answer specific questions or reply to comments. But you do give great info blogs. Being retired for the military special ops groups. I see a lot validity to what you are teaching or new hikers. Please keep up the great work! For you are doing more than any other vloger I have been following to educate those who want to enjoy the out doors. My hat is off to you young lady.
Haha. “Australia where everything is trying to kill you”. Death from wildlife is way down the list statistically and usually happens when people either interfere with it or ignore warnings not to swim in areas where apex predators are active. Love your channel, Dixie. Greetings from Australia.
FWIW: I live in North Carolina now, but I was born and raised in Florida. Although I never really encountered them in the wild, being _aware_ of critters like _gators_ and _crocs_ is a 'given'. 😉
Related to falling, but I bet slipping off a mountain is pretty high up that list of "what did cause the fall". I remember on my last hiking trip (the very first serious one, up until that point I have only done day trips, this time it was multiple days). Towards the end of day one, through very mountainous terrain. We lost the trail for a little bit (I think we were like 2 meters off it, but that can make all the difference) and where pretty exhausted from having climed up over 400 meters. I was looking for a way to climb down a small ledge and noticed that I began slipping off the rock I was sitting on. Luckily I immediatly found something to put my foot on, so I only slipped for a fraction of a second, but that feeling "oh my, I am slipping!" was very scary. (Editing to add: I did actually plan to slide down a short distance, but I began sliding down without me actively controlling the start of the slide) I think it was a combination of three things: Exhaustion (you aren't able to concentrate as much anymore), feeling too comfortable (yes, it was very heavy terrain, but up until this point we managed to overcome every obstacle without too many problems) and inexperience (first serious wilderness trip). Lesson learned: There's no such thing as "being too careful" in the wilderness.
Thanks for these, Dixie. I took up day hikes again after a 12-year pause to set up and develop my business and it hasn't been that easy to get back into the same condition (my business takes up a lot of time...). But I want to add "sprains and other 'seemingly-minor' injuries" to your list because they could lead to some of the situations you describe, and they happen when you least expect them - sometimes just putting your foot down "wrong" or tripping/slipping when you climb around some deadfall (so appropriate foot gear is a must and soft ankle and knee support sleeves are helpful). Lastly, from my experience building back up at over 60: go easy. Know your limits. Don't rush. If your body says you're tired, listen to it and act accordingly to protect it, since it's what is going to get you home. Trekking poles are amazing to have and always bring a spare one/pair. Plan ahead with places marked on your map/GPS where you can shelter and rest if necessary, even if they aren't the daily goal/end of the trail. Drink water or other liquids every hour, even if it's just a few sips. Coffee actually dehydrates you. And don't be ashamed to turn back in good time if you are unsure of continuing; you can try that trail again another time. "Better safe than sorry is even more meaningful" on a trail. We enjoy the outdoors best when we are humble with Nature and honest with ourselves about our abilities. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.
Excellent overview of the actual backcountry risks I think this video is very valuable because it outlines many things that people don’t really think or worry about. Instead they worry about wild animals and being murdered, when in fact those types of deaths are very rare (important to consider, but not as important as the causes that Dixie outlines). Nice job! 👍
I am someone who goes out solo a lot here in Western Washington in the offseason where hypothermia is quite a serious risk much of the year. I also happen to be a hot hiker, so I tend to hike in minimal clothing, though I always carry more than enough to warm up if I need it. My hot tip though is that by the time you get into hypothermia stages, out here finding enough dry wood to actually make a fire is extremely difficult, and in early hypothermia you might not be thinking clearly enough to be able to start a fire or gather enough materials. Therefore, I have settled on always carrying a space blanket and one or two of the old school charcoal hand warmers with extra fuel, particularly in my day hiking pack. The cheap charcoal hand warmers don't weigh much at all, and when I tried it with the space blanket In my yard once on a lightly chilly evening (For me lightly chilly is 45 and wearing shorts lol) just to see what it would actually do, the space blanket actually holds in a lot of that heat and it slowly warms up quite nicely. So, for the amount of weight it costs me I have always found it worth carrying here in Rain Central. I also always carry one of those cheap plastic ponchos in my day pack. With the amount of rain we get here in the Pacific Northwest, just having some sort of plastic sheet that you can either put on or string up between a couple branches over your head if you become exhausted is worth it with a relentless PNW rain and mist we tend to get.
I like how you think, Brianna. I'm also a solo hiker and feel that it is my responsibility to be prepared, every single time I leave the car, for an unexpected night out. I always carry a polycryo sheet for groundcloth or tarp, cordage to string it up, and a SOL reflective bivy in the bottom of my day pack, along with plenty of layers and other "beefed-up" 10 Essentials. And when I am not hiking solo, that usually means I've got inexperienced and less prepared people to look out for, so the same applies.
My father worked on building the AlCan highway through Canada to Alaska during WWII. He was in a party sent out to meet a team coming cross country in the dead of winter. His party was guided by an old Canadian trapper. When they met up with the cross country team, they were almost dead from hypothermia. The trapper took a can of tinned butter, (common in Canada in those days), set it by the fire and melted it and poured it down the throats of the afflicted. It immediately brought them back by warming up their insides. Melted butter in not too hot to drink, think buttered popcorn.
Dixie, this video is gold! If you love backpacking, long distance or short jaunts, you bring up so many relevant things. Putting everything you own on your back will change you perspective dramatically! I will never forget the first time our group realized we didn’t enough have water to get through the trip. Luck was on our side, but it was an eye opener!
Wait what? You mean that the 90% of hiking related TH-cam videos which put down and belittle backpackers who carry extra stuff might not actually be correct? Wow. Next thing you know you'll be urging us all to keep wearing seatbelts even though everyone knows that car accidents are now not that common.
I took a NOLS Wilderness First Aid class earlier this year. I found it really enlightening and definitely recommend something similar for anyone that plans on spending a lot of time outdoors and away from civilization.
Thanks for posting, it was a kind of funny to think of all the ways we could die on the trail. Another way which is big in summer here in Australia is wildfire. The animals here aren't that bad, your brown bears are way more of a problem for hikers than anything we have in Australia. Most of our wildlife is nocturnal and they get out of the way before you know they are there. I sit in the category of keeping your pack straps tight and waist belt done up when crossing streams/rivers as to not have the pack shift and throw you off balance. I haven't had a problem to date.
Brown Bears are actually a pretty rare thing to encounter in the contiguous United States unless you are pretty close to Canada. Rodents going for your food, (some capable of chewing through almost anything) is another issue.
Thank you for posting this . I’m an older hiker and a beginner and I do have fears. Your video is empowering because you suggest what to do and encourage us to prepare and research for possible dangers. Now I can respect the possible dangers and fear them less by having a plan and being prepared . Thank you again.
The one time I was lost (for like 10 minutes) it was in the middle of a rainforest, after sunset, the GPS on my device couldn't properly locate me, the map wasn't really much help because it was hard to see where we were and my hiking partner panicked. It ended up being fine, we'd missed a switchback that was a new section of trail, and continued along the old, storm damaged trail, that got very obviously overgrown within a short time. We almost couldn't find our way back to the last memorable landmark (a giant log we'd had to climb over) because we'd managed to bypass it by getting on the actual trail - going the wrong way. We stopped, realising we should have been back at the log, and he started to get super stressed. As I was doing a 360 I saw the log behind us, and the whole trail diversion became obvious. At that point we went and learned map and compass navigation (which may not have helped to be honest, in this situation), but the main thing I took from the experience was that he needed to learn to stay calm! ;) Also that the last obvious point of reference is really important, and head torches on at dusk even if you think there is enough light. Stop, Think, Observe and Plan (not Panic!) makes total sense.
The more you study map reading and land navigation the better you will be at reading the ground constantly and continuously. If you invest enough (it often takes 100s of hours out practicing) then it begins to happen second nature, almost like walking or 3v3n breathing. The map reading part is pretty well retained if you learn it well...only semi perishable skill, the the field practice is highly perishable, so don't be over confident if you haven'trecentl6 practiced, but with a little time those skills return too.
I'm getting boot camp flashbacks. Where we were told there are a thousand ways to die on the battlefield. Always good to be aware of likely dangers. Great content as always Dixie!
Don't Fall Back or you'll get the Silver Bullet. A ride in the magic bus might get you recycled. And don't let me catch you starting this hike without full canteens.
I was hiking all the time in Phoenix. Tallest mountain being 4000 ft. Occasional trips to Flagstaff to hike at 9000 ft and rising. I went up with a friend to 12350 ft or whatever it was. Got sick at the last turnaround point where a helicopter could rescue you. Kept going and it hit me like a train at the top. It was right there. We hiked down and got worse. Back at the helicopter point he called for me to be rescued. Made it off the mountain alive and was discharged at the hospital. Went back to the trailhead and got my car. He talked me into staying with him at 7500 ft for the night. He unfortunately hiked in the dark back to the trailhead. Moral of the story. If you get sick just stop. Or if you go to the top. Just look and take pictures but don't hang around
Great information! One minor technical point - the heat exhaustion info was accurate except that it is not fatal. It is, however, the stage of heat illness just before heat stroke, which is fatal much if not most of the time, especially untreated. During heat exhaustion, the person is clammy and sweating profusely. When heat stroke sets in, the body quits sweating, becomes dry, and loses it's ability to regulate it's inner temperature. Often mental confusion sets in. As a 38 year resident of Phoenix, it's kind of drilled in my head. Thanks.
More and more it has become evident to me that it's not the heat that kills (dehydration certainly does kill), but rather over-exertion. If there has ever been a case (I don't doubt there could be) where someone at rest experienced heat exhaustion >> heat stroke, I have never heard of it. But we (culturally) get set on our adventure schedule (almost oxymoronic) and some "achievement" goal and ignore our body telling us to just STOP, the first and most important thing to do when over-exerting. It's easy to be hard. It's hard to be smart.
Great information! Everyone should be aware of the signs. And it doesn't have to be hot outside. The right set of circumstances and your body can't cool itself.
As someone who lived two decades inCanada and attended three survival camps over time, i’d like to add that in hypothermic conditions it is important what sort of foods one ingests, when later in the state. Complex foods and fats can actually cause harm. Eat things with simple carbs and sugars - fructose for example. Knowledge with old fashioned maps and orienteering skills are also a potential lifesaver.
Hiking is what they figure helped me survive my heart attack..the exercise that I was getting by hiking is what made my heart stronger so when I did have my MI ( at home not in the woods)I was able to survive the 8 times it stopped on me,and 8weeks later I was back at it,slowly,till I was back to full strength...Nature is the best Gym.Walk in the woods not on a treadmill with a video of the woods..lol...Love your video's Dixie,keep up the good work.Oh and I had my MI at the age of 57 4yrs ago..
Solid information for each thing. As a solo hiker/budding solo backpacker, I'd add to send your emergency/ contact a selfie of what you're wearing including your pack, rain gear, and puffy/shell so that they have a visual to give SAR if you go missing. I also give them a picture of the bottom of my shoe in case a tracker is called in.
Great video and great information. Regarding getting lost, if there is a body of water nearby, strip naked and go for a swim, a church group will pick that site for a picnic ... follow them home.
Take a look at the traditional New Zealand way of river crossing. We link up side by side in a line paralell to the flow. Your arm goes between your neighbours pack and their back. You grip their shoulder strap where your hand emerges. We step beside the rocks (upstream) not on top of them. We take a good look at the runout i e where you would go if you fell over. We typically wear heavier foot wear that protects your feet so wedging your feet against a rock is not so uncomfortable.
I thought of this as I was watching the video - did this crossing the Travers River in Nelson Lakes. Some people complained about having to keep their heavy boots on ;-) While it worked well there, the riverbed in much of the water I've crossed in the US is too irregular/uneven for even two people to link up this way very well. It's a good technique more people should be aware of, but depends on having the right conditions.
@@jamespotter3011 an experienced linked up team can manage quite rough riverbeds, taking turns to move etc and communicating well. There are places where people resort to single persons crossing by rope, but i,ve never been anywhere that was necessary. I guess kiwi oldtimers would have crossed the Rangitata and the Rakaia with rope techniques. Ive seen scenes in Dixies cdt and pct videos where linking up would have been heaps simpler and safer.
We also leave our hip belts done up as they can be easily undone in the water. We practise undoing them by having someone pick us up off the ground with our trying to unbuckle our hip belts. It's straightforward. The rationale of leaving the hip belt done up is that if you undo it, the pack can float up over your head, pushing your head under the water. We use our pack as a flotation device in the water once we've fallen in. We lean back and present our feet if there's danger downstream e.g. a rapid or rocks but we can also 'ferry glide' by pointing our feet upriver and kicking ourselves over to the bank where there's a safer exit point. We practise removing our pack once we can stand up in a safe fashion. We practise all these techniques on river crossing courses. There we can really push the envelope as there are watchers and rescuers standing by. Interestingly, kayakers will go downstream of large rocks due to the eddy effect but I prefer to cross upstream of them too otherwise you have to cross the eddy lines. Packs will generally float as they have trapped air if air-tight but one time, carrying a 10 day pack with everything crammed in, there was no trapped air and the monster pack which was higher than my head pushed my face into the water. Luckily it was just a lagoon and I grabbed onto a nearby log in the water. My mate was busy laughing and taking photos while I was saving my ass. She wondered why I was dog paddling so frenetically.
I have had two friends of mine die in the wilderness. The first was hiking in Alaska and fell off a cliff. The other also fell off a cliff but his situation also involved getting lost with his family and leaving them behind while he searched for a way out. Which brings to mind the question of staying put or seeking a way out. While my friends family survived by staying put I also remember the story of the experienced hiking lady who got lost on the New England section of the AT and hunkered down and eventually succumbed to the elements several weeks later!
This "experienced hiking lady" - I guess you mean Geraldine Largay ("Inchworm") - was described as continously going the wrong way, having a poor sense of direction, and suffering from panic attacs (under medical treatment). Anyone with a working brain would have found back to the trail within less than one hour.
@@Henning_Rech Geraldine Largay could have easily found her way back to the trail if she used the compass she was carrying. She was hiking northbound when she left the left (west) side of the trail to take a dump. All she had to do was use her compass and walk east. No map and compass skill was needed. Instead, she went uphill to try to find a cell signal to call for help. She ended up on US Navy property where she gave up and stayed put until she starved to death. Her body was found three years later by a surveyor who was marking the navy base boundaries. Volunteers spent hundreds of man hours trying to find her. I was on one of those search teams. My team was looking in the Orbeton Stream area. The area had 2 days of heavy rain just before she went missing and streams were high. We were looking at the possibility that she had fallen while crossing and was washed downstream. While we didn't find her because she never got that far we did find a damaged woman's backpack about 1/4 mile downstream of where the trail crosses the stream.
I live in Alberta , Canada. I had a friend who was great outdoors man & hunter. He went out alone to hunt a few years ago. He got killed by grisly bear. His funeral was massive
Burns might have made the list. The ten million steps guy burned himself pretty good, and out camping we came across two heavily scorched kerosene lanterns. On inspection, they still had Coleman stove fuel in them. Imagine that was exciting. Trail killers (two legged ones) and bees/ hornets are two more.
I come from a cool climate, so when I visited Utah I was extremely careful about wearing a hat, good shoes, and carrying water - and I still ran into trouble from over exertion. It would have been worse if I hadn't been so aware of my unfamiliarity with the desert conditions.
I've been asked a lot about what I was most scared of during my 2021 Thru Hike. Was it bears, snakes etc.? No, I was only scared of two things. Stinging insects and Gravity. Fortunately I'm not allergic to stinging insects but I did get stung 8 times. However I fell a lot! And I was also concerned about stuff falling on me while I slept. I survived with only a torn rotator cuff.
In Scotland, the latest stats are just out and again list Slips and Trips as the top accident type, with Falls listed separately, and slips-trips-falls contributing to nearly half of mountaineering accidents. Walking poles are certainly a good mitigation tool for these. Wearing a helmet may seem like overkill but being conscious and alert after the slip-trip-fall is going to important!
I like the STOP acronym. Sit down / Think / Observe / PANIC! For preventing altitude issues: sleep ~300m lower than you have been that day if possible. E.g. if you arrive, hike up that mild slope in the afternoon, get back down to your camp and sleep there. Works in Himalaya, works in the Alps, will work in the US as well :)
Thanks for yet another great video Dixie! I think I prefer to walk with our Australian snakes and spiders than risk being eaten by a big cat or a bear or being buried by an avalanche . . . drop bears though . . . they are a different thing entirely. They look cute and cuddly, but mind your jugular!!! LOL!!!
So many great points and advice are in this video. Dixie has covered most scenarios when it comes to potential backcountry hazards. Being primarily a desert hiker I've had a couple of being close to heat exhaustion and have found out the hard way how important it is to keep your electrolyte levels up. Drinking a lot of just water can deplete those levels. Twice I've been in the mountains here in the Southwest and set up camp in what would later be a strike zone during a storm. One time my tent poles were loudly buzzing from being electrically charged. Best advice I can give: Be prepared, pay attention and use your wits.
Dixie I truly enjoyed this video. Very well put together and so informative not just for hikers but a 67 year old women who needs all the wisdom she can take in. Thank you for your wisdom. God Bless
With altitude sickness (AS) the only remedy is to climb down and climb doen fast, effectively recompressing. Staying well hydrated is a big help is staving off AS. You are exactly right about taking 2-3 nights at higher altitude basecamp before beginning the trek. Taka a couple of days to do some sight seeing. At sea level you have far less red blood cells to carry oxygen byt at higher altitudes you need namy more. 14K feet the oxygen is about 50% of sea level.
An excellent and well thought out tutorial. My friend Nancy East (Hope and Feather) is a SARs person in the Smokey Mountains and has some good videos on hiking safety and hiking with your dog also.
Great video to educate those getting into the outdoors. Could not tell you how many times I've helped people that were doing things way above their pay grade. Best advice, take a cpr course at your local ambulance or FD. Also take a wilderness survival course, OR take someone with you that is trained in first aid, such as a career fire, emt or ski patroller. This is especially important if you are traveling knowing you have health issues.
Thank you for another great video From experience I would add to the risks of attitude sickness is the danger of the confusion that comes with it, or attitude induced stupidity
One point about large eucalypt trees, they are the second most planted trees across the world after pines. In the land where everything kills you we lose at least one person annually because they liked to camp in the shade of these trees. We have large eucs along our rivers and in mid summer when we need shade these trees have been known to, without warning, drop large branches, I’m talking of at least a foot or 12 bananas in diameter weighing several tonnes onto cars, tents or whatever is underneath. One crack and it’s good night Irene.
While I am 100% for being prepared before going into the back woods, I also have to say, we are all going to die one day and if I had my choice, I would rather die while out there than laying in the hospital of old age or sickness. What a wonderful place to take your last breaths on this Earth.
@@jsweevil yes, you make a good point, I would too. Maybe that's why there's so many people disappearing in the national forest, they don't want to be found.
@@flynnstone3580 That's definitely possible although I think watching tourists in Yellowstone getting gored by bison makes it obvious there are a lot of people who just should never go into the backcountry.
I have been day hiking since I was a kid. I stay in shape and like to think I have learned a lot about the outdoors and how to stay safe. I did my first back-packing trip doing a rim to rim at the grand canyon. I always used a day pack with water and food as well as a few survival items. We used an outfitter for our gear and guide. It was miserable. I thought my training was good and thought I was ready. Sadly I was wrong. My pack did not fit, most the gear they had us bring either wasn't needed or overkill. I made it across, but my knees hurt the entire way and the pack the gave us was to big and fit like a rock. I found your site as well as several others after that trip and learned an amazing amount of wisdom. The next trip, I bought my own pack, had it properly fitted and took yours and others advise on what I did and did not need. I trained with a full pack on many trails around my home in Missouri, used good knee braces, bought the right food and worked hard. Your site, experience and knowledge helped me make my next rim to rim fun, safe and very relaxing. The info you have out here is invaluable, simply essential to learn. I am a far better backpacker and day hiker in general. Thank you so much for your videos.
The voice of experience cancels out all arguments. Very informative video, Dixie. You are both an inspiration and a concerned enthusiast. Your videos are valuable to the hiking community, and to aspiring hikers. Thank you.
Get your heart checked!! I was feeling a bit slow and trouble getting around. Went to doctor where I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Got a pacemaker/defibrillator. I guess my long distance hikes are over. Maybe I’m working on building up strength. Heat just does me in. PS don’t let the moon catch you in the woods after dark lol
good info Dixie. trust you gut if it tells you something is not right stop and make a plan. situational awareness is also key. please stay safe everybody on trail. we love you and we want to see you get back safely.
Two that I’d add include: Hyponatremia, which comes about from drinking too much water and not eating enough. The sodium in one’s body becomes diluted and one’s cells swell up. This is the main reason why, especially in dry environments, electrolytes in one’s water becomes important. Driving. This isn’t really on trail, but pre and post trail. One should give themselves ample time to get to the trailhead - don’t speed. After a hike, one can come out of the woods more tired than one realizes. One should try not to plan hikes so that, afterwards, a long drive to the next destination isn’t necessary. Driving while drowsy can be even more dangerous than drunk driving, or driving while texting.
Too much water is extremely rare where most hikers have to squeeze or endure some tedious task in filtering every mouthful. It's not like an organized race with convenient water stations around every corner. The opposite, dehydration is way to common with serious close calls too many to easily count, and it only takes one serious dehydration experience to start a potentially lethal downward spiral dynamic. HOWEVER, if a hiker is consuming gobs of water and is worried about lacking electrolytes, then just chew on some pine needles when chugging the water. Electrolytes galore. Needles can be spit out after chewing and swallowing the juice. Younger needles taste much better than old woody ones. If they are way bitter just spit out and pick better ones, simple.
@@paulrevere2379 aside from tired drivers, hiking is in rural areas and a lot of folks from the city aren’t accustomed to things like spotting deer about to cross the highway or mountain driving along tight curves.
@@paulrevere2379 the Grand Canyon in the summertime is an example of an environment where hikers exhibit hyponatremia. There are even cases of death from water intoxication in the recent past.
As an AZ native, it’s really important to know the difference between hyponatremia and dehydration. A lot of people unused to the heat, or who are unfamiliar with heat related illnesses, start to feel bad and just immediately drink more water because they assume it is dehydration. If you aren’t also focusing on eating/ replenishing electrolytes, drinking more water can make it worse.
One that could be mentioned is driving to and from trail. Gotta be careful driving in general and for this hobby it's no different, not to mention if you day hike and are really exhausted plus driving in the night. But mostly because other drivers are just impatient and disregard other people's lives because they want to get somewhere maybe...1 to 5 minutes faster. Yes, even in the boonies people tailgate you, the rat race is everywhere! And if you're mountaineering the road is probably the deadliest part of your expedition since you add bad weather into the mix.
Exactly. I’m a very careful driver, especially near cliffs and when my dog is with me! Sadly, so many entitled/careless people tailgate on mountain roads even on sharp turns and my edges of cliffs. I often put my turn signal on to pull over when I get the chance to let those assholes pass me with their death-wishes. I go the speed limits in the mountains for our safety and wildlife! It’s tragic all the billions of dead animals who suffer and die from getting hit when it is often very preventable if everyone simply slowed down and follow the speed limits.
Hi. For river crossings often in mountainous areas a river is really roaring in the afternoon, wait it out and try crossing in the early morning. It may freeze above and be far more manageable in the AM. If there is a good-sized log try the butt scoot or monkey walk across using hands. Be sure water bottles and such are secured.
I figured out the butt scoot one day on my first long PCT hike. I have a rule about being bold but not reckless and balance is not my strong gift. Really useful technique that butt scoot.
Think about anything that people do: someone has died while doing that very thing. But with some common sense, preparation, and forethought the odds do go down by large amounts. It is very important to be aware of these types of situations and to think about appropriate responses if and when they arise, but it is foolish to become morbid or fearful about them. I think you covered this topic very well, and gave much helpful and well thought out advice..
Regarding landmarks and orienting yourself to avoid getting lost, it's also very good to know what direction to go to get to the nearest well traveled road, if there is one anywhere near you. Roads, being a fairly straight line bisecting a LARGE area often means you only have to remember that "if I get lost, if I can keep moving east (for example) and I will get to that highway eventually, and then I can probably get picked up and get some help." Rivers, depending on your location can also provide a similar hail mary approach in that they are also easy to find even if you don't know where you are - just know what general direction to head, and eventually you will cross it's path. Once you find the river, follow it down stream and it will lead you to a lake or the ocean, and unless you are WAY out in the backcountry, you'll usually find people around lakes and beaches without having to go too terribly far. Plus, you'll have water at least for the duration of your return to civilization.
Dixie, love your consistently great content, and very well planned, well spoken, interesting narration. I've got considerable backcountry experience, but regularly learn things from you, and just enjoy "hanging out" with you from time to time! Thank you for what you share. I want to applaud you for addressing the danger of falling down in current (4:30), and giving the advice to to get turned over with face up and feet downstream. That's exactly right. But one point you didn't mention is to RESIST the reflex to try to stand up when you are in current, but keep your feet UP, off the bottom while you bump along in the current. This is because if you are trying to plant your feet down on the bottom and stand, water flow could push one or both feet UNDER a big rock or tree branch and be trapped there. That would flip you face down with your face in the water and at risk of drowning. I learned this when whitewater canoeing - even a PFD won't necessarily keep you high enough to breathe if your feet are entrapped, so with a heavy pack on, you'd have a tough time keeping your face above the water. . Also, don't aim toward a downed log in a stream. Whitewater boaters call this a STRAINER. The water will pass through, but you, the swimmer, will be trapped by the log, especially if there are branches in the water. This could be deadly. ,
Awesome video, thanks! You do a great job of talking about the dangers without scaring this inexperienced hiker off. On the topic of gathering berries, mushrooms, plants etc: Even if you know how to identify a certain plant from your own region, always be aware of potential poisonous doppelgangers that might exist where you're hiking but not where you're from. Like you said, best not to risk it unless you're VERY sure what you're doing.
Good tips . As beautiful as nature is and hiking long distances it’s the isolation and the distance you are from immediate medical care . As I learned from my Boy Scout days . Be prepared !
Its awesome how you are now a thru-hiking encyclopedia of knowledge.....you have absorbed so much knowledge over your years...I love listening to someone talk about something they love so much! Keep them feet moving forward girl ! Safe travels..oh yeah.....I'm binge watching ur stuff ever since I came across it on here🤟👍✌✌✌🤘
Thank you for posting this . I have the greatest respect for what you have accomplished and I am sure your followers do as well. Watching most of your videos I saw a few things that could have gone " sideways" . Photography angles and editing may have made things look more precarious... not sure. I am paranoid. " Live to (fill in your activity here) another day" is my motto. I can say with confidence that anyone who spends enough time participating in an adventure type sport can look back and Thank their lucky stars / angel over your shoulder / favorite lucky charm that things didn't end up with a far more negative outcome. Your advice will save lives or serious injury. Best of luck to you.
Dixie...we are heading to camp near the Mt. Elbert trailhead and the Wimenuche Wilderness in early August. We backpack CO every year, but I can only camp this year. I am having spinal fusion in late August from a car accident, so I am getting my last trip in before the year recovery. Maybe after my recovery, you can come over to NE Texas. Pretty cool 100+ mile trail up here. ENJOY COLORADO!!! It's perfect weather in July and August. The Rockies are addicting.
Excellent topic! I think one of the most important things we can do going into the backcountry is being aware of common risks and learning how to mitigate them.
Good reminder to think Local Local Local. There is no single short list of how to prepare for anywhere/everywhere, day/night, any season, wet/dry, etc. One thing that separates the sophomores from the real seasoned experts has to do with making big adjustments (or sometimes packing bigger to accommodate them).
In watching your videos for a while, I'd say your most dangerous situations were: 1) swimming across a river with a pack on (you did have some people around); 2) snowy mountainsides , even low visibility, without micro spikes and an ice axe (you really don't want to hit those rocks down there). Otherwise previously noted dehydration and hypothermia. I've avoided the most serious situations for 70years all across North America :-) Live & hike on........
If your pack will float (you should test this before going on hike) with all your gear, then switch the pack to your front when crossing water. if you fall the bouyancy should rotate you to your back with your head up above the water. It is much easier to shed the pack if you need to if you are not trying to fight the bouyancy.
Staying hydrated in Winter conditions 🥶: It may seem a bit counter intuitive but I heat water a liter of water before hiking in the cold. Drinking this warm water is easy and keeps me hydrated.
@@davidbuben3262 I heat this water while I’m making coffee/breakfast. I keep it wrapped up and it stays warm for quite a while and it’s much easier to drink than cold water when it’s cold.
This is helpful and interesting. I think the scariest times I’ve watched you on trail is when you swan across a river on the PCT. Luckily there were members of your tramily to grab you as you got close to the other shore. The other time is when you were hiking way above timberline and a storm rolled in. See your hair stand straight up due to lightning in the area gave me the willies. Too close for comfort for me. 😳. But you have survived everything from blizzards, snakes, heat, etc. Your memoir is really going to be something, someday. It will have to be multiple volumes!
Well said it pretty much boils down to situational awareness and an honest awareness of your skills aka what you can honestly do versus what you think you can do
Hey Dixie! Loved the overview and reminders on staying safe in the backcountry. What part of Colorado are you heading to? I moved to the Springs from the TN/AL line about 4 months ago. Summited Pikes Peak this past Monday, was fine right up until the summit itself when those altitude symptoms set in and put a damper on my famous 14er donuts. Hope you have a wonderful trip and if you happen to be nearby and wouldn't mind a hike with a TH-cam stranger who is a big fan, hit me up.
Dixie you would enjoy reading Ed Viesturs' books about climbing all 14 8000m mountains. Amazing feat and stories. He talks about all of the hazards you call out, but from 26000 feet up on glaciers without oxygen. Unreal stories.
The Hiking Rev shared details on his experience having a heart attack on trail. The Hiking Rev channel has good information on this topic. Definitely worth a look.
The best advice is adequate preparation and know your limitations. I have been hiking and backpacking for over 50 years. My best advice is to prehydrate; stay hydrated all the time. You can't catch up if you start hiking dehydrated. The only way to prepare for high altitude is to prepare at higher elevations and stay hydrated. The only way way to prepare for hiking in the heat is to prepare by hiking in the heat; and yes, stay hydrated. The best way to enjoy hiking in the cold is to practice hiking in the cold and stay hydrated. I hike year round. I've done many 14ers, I've hiked out of the grand canyon when it was 108. I have hiked when it was below 0. It's all in the preparation and staying within your limits.
Speaking of Australia, here are some numbers from a little book I picked up when I visited a few years ago to see a total eclipse. Accidental Cause of Death, 1980 - 1990 Road Accidents - 32,772 Suicide -- 18,636 Drowning -- 3,367 Murder -- 3,106 Poison -- 1,998 Struck by lightning -- 19 Bee sting -- 20 Snake bite -- 18 (remember, these statistics are for Australia!) Marine animals -- 12. (sea snakes, crocodiles and sharks excluded - see below) Shark attacks -- 11 Crocodile attacks -- 8 Spider bite -- 1 From a Green Guide, Dangerous Creatures of Australia I hope this puts things in perspective. As Sartre said "Hell is other people" (by a factor of at least 100)
Another good tip for not getting lost is get in the habit of looking backwards especially at key turns path intersections etc. Things can look very different coming back the same way. You can also take pictures back towards at key navigation points.
Some apps can draw on the map as you go and you can reverse easily with them
I just use a 300 miles long string.
@@TLK22 You can also just look at where you are going and notice things around you, instead of just walking with a blank stare on your face noticing nothing.
@@thefrener794I'm blind.
@@TLK22 Good you will be really calm when you meet your end. But really, walking in your home area is plenty good for you. Lookout it's a wild cat, where!!, near your neck.
I nearly died hiking in the alps, about 7 days ago, after the mountain pass between adelboden and kandersteg on the via alpina green trail. The weather changed in an instant, there was heavy rain and hail, causing water to torrent down from the mountain while i was on a narrow ledge of a cliff. Not so bad? I can just stay put till it passes? Then the water caused hundreds of rocks to tumble down at me. Big rocks. One smaller one hit my head, i hid under my umbrella, still completely exposed, many rocks hitting the umbrella, arm over my head incase a massive one hits and realised this could be it. Not a good feeling to think you're at the end of it all. After a minute the rocks stopped, then the rain. Even getting down of the mountain was unsafe, as the guiding rope didn't go far, the narrow ledge very slippery. Big wake up call, you can randomly die hiking, especially in mountains.
I used to think a bear or cat would get me. I was hiking in tennis shoes with low grip, crossing water without knowing how to swim, and carrying no navigation tools, but I was convinced the animals were the real danger. 😹
Two friends and myself have been backpacking the High Sierras for over 40 years. The black bears and mountain lions? All three of us still chase them like wild men at the same time, 100% success rate. Never a Grizzly, they get the boat air horn treatment.
@@flynnstone3580 the way black bears immediately turn, haul ass and scamper away has always made me laugh. We have lots of them here in NJ and I always chase them off to great amusement
@@highviewbarbell I'm in the Sierra mountains of NorCal, we have a lot of black bears and mountain lions. They have no natural predators. The last thing they're expecting is something going after them. And both will run if being chased. When I see either, I go after them before they come after me.
I was the same way about animals. Not the other stuff. My daughter lives in Mt, I live in Il so I just didn’t have the best perspective because of no scary bears and kitties, and put a realistic perspective on it. One is more likely to die from the elements than anything else.
Planning is key.
It's all fun and games until one charges back. Had it happen twice, but have ran off bears hundreds of times. Be prepared for when scaring a 600lb beast with loud noises and bravado doesn't work.
One more hiking danger: cars. In 1995, two PCT hikers were killed on Hwy 138 in Southern California. Road walks can be more dangerous than remote trails, especially on winding mountain roads with narrow shoulders.
road walking is the worst. I prefer facing oncoming traffic as opposed to them coming behind me.
Also car accidents on the way to and from the trail. Well-known John Ladd (JMT survey) was severely injured a few weeks ago returning from a Yosemite hike in a car accident on his own fault, hopefully will mostly recover (he is in his mid 70s).
Good point!
@@dustyc324 you prefer that because it is the correct way to do it. Always walk toward traffic not with it.
Especially given that all drivers now are also on instagram live while driving and imitating fast and furious 17
Thanks for sharing this, Dixie. Our daughter died from altitude sickness in Colorado in 2017 hiking with friends. I believe she didn't know she was in trouble until it was too late and they couldn't get her down from the mountain (at night). Personally I don't let myself dwell on "if only's" but I'm thankful that it brought awareness to many family and friends.
My condolences. It grieves me to learn of such tragedies. I endeavor to encourage wilderness adventure with caution.
The outdoors in America is very safe, but there are a few common mistakes that take the safety away. Idk about your case, but the #1 most common thing I have identified is that of imposing a modern artificial schedule on an outdoor adventure. Nature which includes altitude, weather, ground conditions, etc. does not care about the modern culture of trying to impose a time schedule.
Those who travel more old school go with more safety. More food, extra thermal layers, rain gear, fire tools, and above all a slower pace.
I have seen some mild cases where the difference between simple easy recovery on one hand and tempting tragedy on the other came down to "we have a schedule to keep"
In my mind I always respond: "seriously?"
- Cold Kills
- Nature is Neutral, and
- Mountains Don't Care
My condolences, too. - If severe AS sets in one has to go down at once, be it in the middle of the night. For unexperienced people a pulse oximeter (a cheap device weighting 2 ounces) may help. If it shows
I’m so very sorry
I'm sorry for your loss. This Georgia boy was stationed at Fort Carson years ago when I was in the best shape of my life, and we all learned quickly that the altitude is NOT to be trifled with. It took months to really be used to it. Thanks for sharing your story, and may God use it for good.
There have been heart attacks on the Manitou Incline in Manitou Sprins in Colorado 2000 ft in 1 mile
Always remember too the most dangerous part of a backpacking trip is the drive to and from the trailhead. Especially from, because you'll be tired so take it slow and relax.
Thank you for the insights. I did get hypothermia on a hike once. “If I just shut my eyes, everything will be fine.” I woke up in hospital. So, I learned to get the right gear. :)
It isn't what you're afraid of that's likely to kill you. It's often being too comfortable with your abilities in situations where you should be using more caution. We should know better, or, rather, should DO better with what we know.
Thank you, Dixie!
Except a bear. A bear will kill you
Yup, worked two seasons in Yellowstone where there is a lot of fear of bears. Yes, they can be dangerous but don't do near as much harm as auto traffic, knew one who was killed another who lost her leg, both in the back of trucks.
Years ago my daughter and I hiked to 12k feet and camped in early fall. It was cold at night but beautiful during the day. The first night we had a hot meal and both slept like babies. We hiked so much the second day, we decided to just have a quick sandwich with water and crashed. The conditions were nearly identical. We both woke up cold in the wee hours and had to get additional clothing. That experience drove home the point that hot food/beverages make a world of difference in body temp. Having access to a hot beverage or food, I truly believe can save your life or at least make you far more comfortable when the temp drops.
Thanks for this advice Charlie. We’re planning a 4 day hike in a few weeks and I was considering cutting out one of my evening meals: 1) I’ve found I often take too much food and 2) weight reasons. I think I’ll rethink that.
On offseason day hikes here in the PNW I will often carry a tall skinny 16oz personal thermos with preheated tea or soup. It doesn't weigh much different than carrying a stove, fuel, and cookware, but it gives me something warm at the ready!
The book “The Secret Knowledge of Water”, by Craig Childs, has the subtitle “There are two easy ways to die in the desert: thirst and drowning”. It has a kind of scary number of tales of inexperienced desert hikers (or even experienced ones) caught in washes or box canyons when a flood comes on suddenly. Great book about hiking and deserts in general, too!
I believe hypothermia kills more people in Colorado in June, July, and August primarily because they are not prepared for colder weather in the higher elevations and they wear cotton clothing that gets wet and cools the body when the moisture evaporates fairly quickly in the dry climate. Thanks for helping to educate!
Anyone further than ten minutes from their vehicle without an emergency poncho deserves to die of exposure.
@Ten Soldiers there are MANY very comfortable hiking cothes, merino wool is awesome and is like cotton. no way jeans are more comfortable. than proper hiking clothes.
We live at 6300 ft in Colorado and always have to prep our visitors for day hikes. Yes, you need a rain jacket even if it’s perfectly sunny, yes you should bring your puffy jacket in July and yes, let’s pack way more water and snacks than you think you will need!
They say, "cotton kills"
Gear is important, but there's also something to be said about recognizing that something's wrong and being able to descend 3,000 ft in less than 20 minutes, rapidly getting to your car before things go bad. I had this day hiking in Northern Colorado with a friend when I smelled cow manure when I shouldn't have smelled cow manure. This was a sign of a cold inversion rolling in from the plains and we turned around to see that everything had misted beneath us. In the 30 or so minutes it took to run to the car, the temperature had dropped about 50 degrees. However, we were at my car -->not outside --> everything's good.
You might think that I am habitually unprepared by this story, but I am not. I keep things like extra layers, rain jackets, umbellas (really good for hail), and microspikes in my day pack. I had more layers than I used. There are just some times where it's much better not to be outside or not stuck on the top of the mountain.
Thank you, Dixie, for including mosquitoes in your video, reminding us that mosquitoes can kill. My athletic, 62 yr old best hiking buddy was healthy as a horse when he got West Nile Virus. Hiker, surfer, runner..... CDC statistic.
Dixie, you used my footage! I'm flattered. * Reads that video is about things that will get you killed * Darnit. I swear I also have footage where I'm NOT doing stupid things.
It's only stupid if the worst outcome happened... if the answer to "but did you die?" is "no", then it's an awesome story! That is my rationale... LOL That was really cool footage
@@semperanticusphotography3749 I have a video about mistakes I've made with the thumbnail quote "Mistakes make good stories...If you live". It's true.
....Maybe I DON'T have any videos where I'm not doing stupid things.
@@JerryArizona you've found a new subscriber! We could share many a campfire story... if we survive... LOL
What's the difference between an Ordeal and an Adventure?
Attitude
I ate it hard when I was in high school hiking in Maine. We were crossing a ravine on a footbridge. The decking was new, made of halved and peeled logs, nailed with the round side up. It was drizzling, and the rain made the surface of the bridge slick. I took one step, and my foot slid out from under me. I fell headfirst maybe 8 or 10 feet down the ravine. I was lucky. I landed on a flat boulder about the size of a dinner table, on my shoulder. There were lots of jagged rocks I might have landed on that would have messed me up. I was sore, but nothing broken, and we continued our trek. I am much older now but way more careful of my footing!
Dixie, your description of altitude sickness seriousness and symptoms could use more emphasis. HAPE and HACE can kill you fast. A through-hiker died on Forester Pass in June, 2022 and I got a chance to talk to some folks familiar with the incident. She was said to be 23 and very fit. She was climbing Mt Whitney and experienced extreme shortness of breath and blue lips. She came down to Crabtree Meadow and spent two days there hoping to get acclimated. Then she hiked north up Forester Pass and experienced a severe headache. A First Responder was hiking with her, but before she could get back down, and before a rescue helicopter could get there, she died. Presumably of cerebral edema. If you experience hypoxia, coughing up fluid, or a severe headache you are flirting with the grim reaper, from what I have been taught, and death can happen really quickly.
It was May 28th.
@@JimYeats Not only stop, but go down ASAP. - All fatal accidents are rare; on the PCT about one per year. This year HACE. 2021 none, 2020 slip&fall, 2019 killed by a falling tree (on a rest, not sleeping), 2018 none, 2017 2x drowning + 1x heat stroke.
@@Henning_Rech City Girl had an incredibly close to death experience in 2018. I know that doesn't really count, but then there are also the missing hikers. We hope they are alive somewhere, but realistically we're talking more fatalities I suspect.
California incidents = rarely ever covered in the news which is why we hikers need to pass the info on. It's not to frighten ppl, but just to be honest and to encourage ppl to take precautions. Unpack egos and entitlement mentalities and pack a few extra safety items. It's not fear, it's wisdom.
@@paulrevere2379 - good one,… when packing those “extra items”, a Sat. Phone or Sat. text device goes a long way to help.. Just saying,.. after 27 years SAR in Arizona.
My wife and 2 of our friends and I were in Arizona on vacation when we decided to do a quick walkthrough a slot canyon. We knew rain was in the forecast but we figured it was just a mile and we would be out in time. It started to rain while we were in the slots so we turned around and began hiking back up the wash which was the trail we had followed in. Seconds after leaving the slot (and less than 10 minutes after it has started lightly raining) we turned a bend and were met with a wall of water. We scrambled up the side of a crumbly hill and had to wait out the rain surrounded by nothing while the lightning flashed around us. It took us 6 hours to get across the wash safely and spent the night in our car because the roads flooded out. I'm from Louisiana and thought I knew all about flash floods but the desert proved to us over and over on that trip just how unforgiving it can be.
Maybe it was lightly raining where you were but heavy somewhere else. You may be from Louisiana but I guarantee you have never actually paid attention to the clouds and how the rain comes after a cloud goes over.
I'm with you on the unfit old people. I'm 60 and was inspired to go out hiking by watching all the long trails. I'm attempting the Ethel Challenge it's 95 not so high peaks in The Peak District National Park England. I have found that I can only do two 6 mile walks a week. My brain says I'm 20 but my body reminds me I'm 60. So after my first hike it took 2 days to recover. I realised that a sedentary life has taken its toll. I'm going to keep going on this Challenge but it will take me a bit longer than the average person. But the rush of being at the top is a great feeling. We haven't got big hills like you but they are big to me. Lots of stops to catch my breath and take in the scenery. Love your vlogs Dixie.
I'm 67 and got a pack goat, makes all the difference in the world. They carry about 30 pounds.
When you´re above 55 years old, start slowly, a mile per day is a good starting point for walking slightly longer distances, just carefully increase the mileage when your body/joints is/are ready for it.
@@flynnstone3580 poor goat! :'((((((
@@flynnstone3580 Only one? I thought they did best when paired up. 20 pounds each and everybody wins : )
It's not about the miles or even about the elevation.
It's about getting unplugged, out in nature, leaving your comfort zone, experiencing something...Genuine...for yourself, and returning intact with something worth remembering.
In wilderness survival courses, I was always told the most common cause of death in the wilderness is stupidity. I also learned to look for the “umbles” when hypothermia is suspected: fumbles, mumbles, and stumbles.
- Cold Kills
- Nature is Neutral, and
- Mountains Don't Care
I think part of that survival point in your comment should be the danger of imposing an artificial modern schedule on any wilderness adventure.
Almost every avoidable wilderness tragedy I have ever learned about could have been avoided if the victim wasn't prioritizing some kind of schedule at some point leading to the tragedy.
West coast BC, hypothermia is #1. You are right, it makes you stupid, real fast.
@@paulrevere2379 - - This is a great point Paul ! So VERY important to “ Be In The Moment “. That’s the best way to be able to respond to the present situation and take care of ones self. Hi from Central Arizona where we often have heat that kills also. Play it safe all,.. and cheers.
@@billpetersen298 - Here in Central Arizona, heat makes people stupid real fast as well. I guess really any extreme will cause this. Not being in shape or experienced for what one is doing, is huge as well. Play it safe all. Cheers !
@@teatonaz I almost took on the AZT least year. My transport fell through and I'm dirt poor.
Turns out that we are in a streak of not so great years for that trail if I'm seeing the conditions correctly from my current spot in central WA.
At one point I thought AZ might be a good place to winter over for a nomad like me, but the little voice in my head sends up yellow flags. I think I would really like the local folks down there, but idk if it's the border proximity or the water issue (not enough or way too much) or maybe I'm just not wired to be as reckless as Chris McCandless.
How's the job market for an educated man who doesn't have his paperwork in order? Think about someone who's halfway between a Lietenant Dan and a Jack Reacher except for no government paychecks.
Regarding camping in a wash. I was on the pct, and was only about 100 feet from the trail, semi near the top of the mountain. We had to change our plans a bit because we saw some clouds coming, so we ditched a side trip and got to our campsite right around dark. It started to sprinkle a bit so we quickly delegated tasks and got going. We were setting up in a site about 6 feet above a stream. My son went up to the trail and found water coming down the dry stream bed, about 3/4" deep. He filled a couple water bottles and came down for more bottles. By the time he got the other bottles etc the water was in the stream next to our campsite, then by the time he was done filling the bottles it was 6 inches deep and flowing pretty fast. An hour later it was a roaring torrent. Again, this was near the top of the mountain in central WA below Cathedral rock. By the time we woke up, there were a few pools of water but overall it was all gone. I never would have guessed that we would have seen a flash flood way up high like that. Make no assumptions.
Important to understand any unique challenges you may have from a health perspective and how they can affect you. I have MS and we tend to be very heat sensitive but I also live in Colorado and am 98% solo hiking. After a close call, I now use a core body temperature monitor and a heart rate monitor and a multi-function environmental sensor. With these I have been able to identify danger zone limits and even predict trail difficulty and my own performance difficulties based on weather forecasts. Be prepared, train, and know your body.
Another great video Dixie and have fun in Colorado next month!
I have crohn's disease and am also very heat sensitive and prone to passing out, especially from dehydration. Makes me have to cut back sometimes, usually begrudgingly, but at the end of the day I don't want to die over something stupid like trying to climb a little further when I'm not feeling 100%.
@@samuelpetrovich4998 i really recommend monitoring your body core temperature. I use CoreBodyTemp device - it is expensive at around $250 but well worth the peace of mind. There are cheaper ones that are single use (usually use for babies but they work too). I try to never get above 100.5F because above that it triggers the MS. I use a Kestrel Drop D3 ($130) that monitors Density Altitude (an aeronautics thing) but i find a good proxy for environmental stress. Great for higher altitudes where based on weather 8000ft may seem like 11000ft. Good luck and always stay safe!
Thanks for this. I like to solo day hike and I have a chronic blood cancer.
Thank you Dixie for reminding us all of these tips. They cannot be overemphasized because there is still many of us who think of going for a short hike with no water and before you know it you become disoriented and lost. No mater where you go, make sure you carry in your backpack or day pack enough water, something to eat ie., granola bar, dress for the weather and a small first aid kit. Thank you Dixie.
I'm not a backpacker, I'm a biologist who sometimes works outdoors and who was looking to replace her camping chair with something lighter and smaler. Your walmart video was somewhere in the suggestions so I watched it, loved it and subscribed. I will most likely never go backpacking, but I love the background informations you put into all your videos, like this one.
My mother was always afraid that a bear would get. I told her I was much more likely to be killed by lightning. Strangely that did not make her feel better!
Does she ever walk across a street where there are cars?
Way more dangerous than bear country in the US except maybe Alaska.
Thank you, Dixie! From a whitewater kayaker, the best advice I was ever given is that you can drown in 2” of water. Foot entrapment is the fastest way to die and very few of us have the the strength to fight against the flow once caught up. Crossing rivers should always be done with others who might be able to pull you out if, God Forbid, you get caught up or sived. I’ve lost one to many friends to be willing to risk it.
Mountain SAR volunteer, this is a great video of the really simple things that we rarely think about.
One that slipped your mind Dixie, is when your "mummy" finally catches up to you!
In all seriousness though, being prepared by thinking about and researching the risks that will arise can sure make a difference. Keeping calm, not panicking, and making wise decisions can keep us all safer on our adventures.
Good video Dixie!
Best wishes as always.
To the tune of “Dumb Ways To Die” 🤗❤️
Thank you so much for your very educational videos. I suffered elevation sickness as I had rushed up to the elevation instead of acclimating. RUINED trip. I was extremely affected, thinking only out of shape people encountered elevation sickness. ANYONE can get elevation sickness, watch for symptoms and happy hiking!
I learned that watching discovery tv shows on hiking the alps. They would have to stop like maybe 10,000 feet up the mountain to camp for couple of days to get acclimated so their lungs will adjust to the lower oxygen levels at higher altitudes.
Of all the wonderful videos you have ever done, I think this is amongst your most important works. It is clear and concise. It is heartfelt and based in the reality of experience. I truly believe you have saved lives with this. How many is impossible to ever know. But I can't imagine, over even a short period of time, that number will be zero. You are a very responsible inspiration.
Great video Dixie! Heat is my new nemesis! I'm finding the older I get the less tolerance I have for it. So, getting up before the sun and getting those climbs done early in the morning and getting to camp (backpacking) or back at the car (day hike) by noon is now my hiking life in the dead of summer. I find the early mornings - cool temps, no people and more wildlife!
I hate the heat, too. I'm in SF bay area... it's in the 60s here and it can be in the 100s just 30 miles away.
Dixie, one thing I give you is you give great info classes. You may not answer specific questions or reply to comments. But you do give great info blogs. Being retired for the military special ops groups. I see a lot validity to what you are teaching or new hikers. Please keep up the great work! For you are doing more than any other vloger I have been following to educate those who want to enjoy the out doors. My hat is off to you young lady.
Haha. “Australia where everything is trying to kill you”. Death from wildlife is way down the list statistically and usually happens when people either interfere with it or ignore warnings not to swim in areas where apex predators are active. Love your channel, Dixie. Greetings from Australia.
FWIW: I live in North Carolina now, but I was born and raised in Florida.
Although I never really encountered them in the wild, being _aware_ of critters like _gators_ and _crocs_ is a 'given'. 😉
Related to falling, but I bet slipping off a mountain is pretty high up that list of "what did cause the fall". I remember on my last hiking trip (the very first serious one, up until that point I have only done day trips, this time it was multiple days). Towards the end of day one, through very mountainous terrain. We lost the trail for a little bit (I think we were like 2 meters off it, but that can make all the difference) and where pretty exhausted from having climed up over 400 meters.
I was looking for a way to climb down a small ledge and noticed that I began slipping off the rock I was sitting on. Luckily I immediatly found something to put my foot on, so I only slipped for a fraction of a second, but that feeling "oh my, I am slipping!" was very scary. (Editing to add: I did actually plan to slide down a short distance, but I began sliding down without me actively controlling the start of the slide)
I think it was a combination of three things: Exhaustion (you aren't able to concentrate as much anymore), feeling too comfortable (yes, it was very heavy terrain, but up until this point we managed to overcome every obstacle without too many problems) and inexperience (first serious wilderness trip).
Lesson learned: There's no such thing as "being too careful" in the wilderness.
Thanks for these, Dixie. I took up day hikes again after a 12-year pause to set up and develop my business and it hasn't been that easy to get back into the same condition (my business takes up a lot of time...). But I want to add "sprains and other 'seemingly-minor' injuries" to your list because they could lead to some of the situations you describe, and they happen when you least expect them - sometimes just putting your foot down "wrong" or tripping/slipping when you climb around some deadfall (so appropriate foot gear is a must and soft ankle and knee support sleeves are helpful). Lastly, from my experience building back up at over 60: go easy. Know your limits. Don't rush. If your body says you're tired, listen to it and act accordingly to protect it, since it's what is going to get you home. Trekking poles are amazing to have and always bring a spare one/pair. Plan ahead with places marked on your map/GPS where you can shelter and rest if necessary, even if they aren't the daily goal/end of the trail. Drink water or other liquids every hour, even if it's just a few sips. Coffee actually dehydrates you. And don't be ashamed to turn back in good time if you are unsure of continuing; you can try that trail again another time. "Better safe than sorry is even more meaningful" on a trail. We enjoy the outdoors best when we are humble with Nature and honest with ourselves about our abilities. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.
Excellent overview of the actual backcountry risks
I think this video is very valuable because it outlines many things that people don’t really think or worry about. Instead they worry about wild animals and being murdered, when in fact those types of deaths are very rare (important to consider, but not as important as the causes that Dixie outlines).
Nice job! 👍
I am someone who goes out solo a lot here in Western Washington in the offseason where hypothermia is quite a serious risk much of the year. I also happen to be a hot hiker, so I tend to hike in minimal clothing, though I always carry more than enough to warm up if I need it.
My hot tip though is that by the time you get into hypothermia stages, out here finding enough dry wood to actually make a fire is extremely difficult, and in early hypothermia you might not be thinking clearly enough to be able to start a fire or gather enough materials. Therefore, I have settled on always carrying a space blanket and one or two of the old school charcoal hand warmers with extra fuel, particularly in my day hiking pack. The cheap charcoal hand warmers don't weigh much at all, and when I tried it with the space blanket In my yard once on a lightly chilly evening (For me lightly chilly is 45 and wearing shorts lol) just to see what it would actually do, the space blanket actually holds in a lot of that heat and it slowly warms up quite nicely. So, for the amount of weight it costs me I have always found it worth carrying here in Rain Central.
I also always carry one of those cheap plastic ponchos in my day pack. With the amount of rain we get here in the Pacific Northwest, just having some sort of plastic sheet that you can either put on or string up between a couple branches over your head if you become exhausted is worth it with a relentless PNW rain and mist we tend to get.
Thanks for the tips Brianna. I live in the PNW too.
I like how you think, Brianna. I'm also a solo hiker and feel that it is my responsibility to be prepared, every single time I leave the car, for an unexpected night out. I always carry a polycryo sheet for groundcloth or tarp, cordage to string it up, and a SOL reflective bivy in the bottom of my day pack, along with plenty of layers and other "beefed-up" 10 Essentials. And when I am not hiking solo, that usually means I've got inexperienced and less prepared people to look out for, so the same applies.
Same: always carry a space blanket and rain poncho ( small, light, cheap). Can be crucial.
My father worked on building the AlCan highway through Canada to Alaska during WWII. He was in a party sent out to meet a team coming cross country in the dead of winter. His party was guided by an old Canadian trapper. When they met up with the cross country team, they were almost dead from hypothermia. The trapper took a can of tinned butter, (common in Canada in those days), set it by the fire and melted it and poured it down the throats of the afflicted. It immediately brought them back by warming up their insides. Melted butter in not too hot to drink, think buttered popcorn.
Dixie, this video is gold! If you love backpacking, long distance or short jaunts, you bring up so many relevant things. Putting everything you own on your back will change you perspective dramatically! I will never forget the first time our group realized we didn’t enough have water to get through the trip. Luck was on our side, but it was an eye opener!
Wait what? You mean that the 90% of hiking related TH-cam videos which put down and belittle backpackers who carry extra stuff might not actually be correct?
Wow. Next thing you know you'll be urging us all to keep wearing seatbelts even though everyone knows that car accidents are now not that common.
I took a NOLS Wilderness First Aid class earlier this year. I found it really enlightening and definitely recommend something similar for anyone that plans on spending a lot of time outdoors and away from civilization.
Thanks for posting, it was a kind of funny to think of all the ways we could die on the trail. Another way which is big in summer here in Australia is wildfire. The animals here aren't that bad, your brown bears are way more of a problem for hikers than anything we have in Australia. Most of our wildlife is nocturnal and they get out of the way before you know they are there. I sit in the category of keeping your pack straps tight and waist belt done up when crossing streams/rivers as to not have the pack shift and throw you off balance. I haven't had a problem to date.
I am also in the camp of keeping your hip belt attached, as having a lot of the weight riding on the belt keeps your center of gravity lower.
Brown Bears are actually a pretty rare thing to encounter in the contiguous United States unless you are pretty close to Canada.
Rodents going for your food, (some capable of chewing through almost anything) is another issue.
Thank you for posting this . I’m an older hiker and a beginner and I do have fears. Your video is empowering because you suggest what to do and encourage us to prepare and research for possible dangers. Now I can respect the possible dangers and fear them less by having a plan and being prepared . Thank you again.
The one time I was lost (for like 10 minutes) it was in the middle of a rainforest, after sunset, the GPS on my device couldn't properly locate me, the map wasn't really much help because it was hard to see where we were and my hiking partner panicked. It ended up being fine, we'd missed a switchback that was a new section of trail, and continued along the old, storm damaged trail, that got very obviously overgrown within a short time. We almost couldn't find our way back to the last memorable landmark (a giant log we'd had to climb over) because we'd managed to bypass it by getting on the actual trail - going the wrong way. We stopped, realising we should have been back at the log, and he started to get super stressed. As I was doing a 360 I saw the log behind us, and the whole trail diversion became obvious. At that point we went and learned map and compass navigation (which may not have helped to be honest, in this situation), but the main thing I took from the experience was that he needed to learn to stay calm! ;) Also that the last obvious point of reference is really important, and head torches on at dusk even if you think there is enough light. Stop, Think, Observe and Plan (not Panic!) makes total sense.
The more you study map reading and land navigation the better you will be at reading the ground constantly and continuously. If you invest enough (it often takes 100s of hours out practicing) then it begins to happen second nature, almost like walking or 3v3n breathing.
The map reading part is pretty well retained if you learn it well...only semi perishable skill, the the field practice is highly perishable, so don't be over confident if you haven'trecentl6 practiced, but with a little time those skills return too.
I'm getting boot camp flashbacks. Where we were told there are a thousand ways to die on the battlefield. Always good to be aware of likely dangers. Great content as always Dixie!
Don't Fall Back or you'll get the Silver Bullet.
A ride in the magic bus might get you recycled.
And don't let me catch you starting this hike without full canteens.
I was hiking all the time in Phoenix. Tallest mountain being 4000 ft. Occasional trips to Flagstaff to hike at 9000 ft and rising. I went up with a friend to 12350 ft or whatever it was. Got sick at the last turnaround point where a helicopter could rescue you. Kept going and it hit me like a train at the top. It was right there. We hiked down and got worse. Back at the helicopter point he called for me to be rescued. Made it off the mountain alive and was discharged at the hospital. Went back to the trailhead and got my car. He talked me into staying with him at 7500 ft for the night. He unfortunately hiked in the dark back to the trailhead. Moral of the story. If you get sick just stop. Or if you go to the top. Just look and take pictures but don't hang around
Great information! One minor technical point - the heat exhaustion info was accurate except that it is not fatal. It is, however, the stage of heat illness just before heat stroke, which is fatal much if not most of the time, especially untreated. During heat exhaustion, the person is clammy and sweating profusely. When heat stroke sets in, the body quits sweating, becomes dry, and loses it's ability to regulate it's inner temperature. Often mental confusion sets in. As a 38 year resident of Phoenix, it's kind of drilled in my head. Thanks.
More and more it has become evident to me that it's not the heat that kills (dehydration certainly does kill), but rather over-exertion.
If there has ever been a case (I don't doubt there could be) where someone at rest experienced heat exhaustion >> heat stroke, I have never heard of it.
But we (culturally) get set on our adventure schedule (almost oxymoronic) and some "achievement" goal and ignore our body telling us to just STOP, the first and most important thing to do when over-exerting.
It's easy to be hard.
It's hard to be smart.
Great information! Everyone should be aware of the signs. And it doesn't have to be hot outside. The right set of circumstances and your body can't cool itself.
As someone who lived two decades inCanada and attended three survival camps over time, i’d like to add that in hypothermic conditions it is important what sort of foods one ingests, when later in the state. Complex foods and fats can actually cause harm. Eat things with simple carbs and sugars - fructose for example. Knowledge with old fashioned maps and orienteering skills are also a potential lifesaver.
Hiking is what they figure helped me survive my heart attack..the exercise that I was getting by hiking is what made my heart stronger so when I did have my MI ( at home not in the woods)I was able to survive the 8 times it stopped on me,and 8weeks later I was back at it,slowly,till I was back to full strength...Nature is the best Gym.Walk in the woods not on a treadmill with a video of the woods..lol...Love your video's Dixie,keep up the good work.Oh and I had my MI at the age of 57 4yrs ago..
Solid information for each thing. As a solo hiker/budding solo backpacker, I'd add to send your emergency/ contact a selfie of what you're wearing including your pack, rain gear, and puffy/shell so that they have a visual to give SAR if you go missing. I also give them a picture of the bottom of my shoe in case a tracker is called in.
Great video and great information. Regarding getting lost, if there is a body of water nearby, strip naked and go for a swim, a church group will pick that site for a picnic ... follow them home.
Daddy that man who was naked seems to be following us.
Let not your heart be troubled, he's just a lost soul trying to find his way.
😹😹😹💀
And carry a Deck of cards. If you get Lost, start laying a Solitaire and Somebody will Show Up to tell you how to play.
Take a look at the traditional New Zealand way of river crossing. We link up side by side in a line paralell to the flow. Your arm goes between your neighbours pack and their back. You grip their shoulder strap where your hand emerges. We step beside the rocks (upstream) not on top of them. We take a good look at the runout i e where you would go if you fell over. We typically wear heavier foot wear that protects your feet so wedging your feet against a rock is not so uncomfortable.
I thought of this as I was watching the video - did this crossing the Travers River in Nelson Lakes. Some people complained about having to keep their heavy boots on ;-) While it worked well there, the riverbed in much of the water I've crossed in the US is too irregular/uneven for even two people to link up this way very well. It's a good technique more people should be aware of, but depends on having the right conditions.
@@jamespotter3011 an experienced linked up team can manage quite rough riverbeds, taking turns to move etc and communicating well. There are places where people resort to single persons crossing by rope, but i,ve never been anywhere that was necessary. I guess kiwi oldtimers would have crossed the Rangitata and the Rakaia with rope techniques. Ive seen scenes in Dixies cdt and pct videos where linking up would have been heaps simpler and safer.
We also leave our hip belts done up as they can be easily undone in the water. We practise undoing them by having someone pick us up off the ground with our trying to unbuckle our hip belts. It's straightforward. The rationale of leaving the hip belt done up is that if you undo it, the pack can float up over your head, pushing your head under the water. We use our pack as a flotation device in the water once we've fallen in. We lean back and present our feet if there's danger downstream e.g. a rapid or rocks but we can also 'ferry glide' by pointing our feet upriver and kicking ourselves over to the bank where there's a safer exit point. We practise removing our pack once we can stand up in a safe fashion. We practise all these techniques on river crossing courses. There we can really push the envelope as there are watchers and rescuers standing by.
Interestingly, kayakers will go downstream of large rocks due to the eddy effect but I prefer to cross upstream of them too otherwise you have to cross the eddy lines. Packs will generally float as they have trapped air if air-tight but one time, carrying a 10 day pack with everything crammed in, there was no trapped air and the monster pack which was higher than my head pushed my face into the water. Luckily it was just a lagoon and I grabbed onto a nearby log in the water. My mate was busy laughing and taking photos while I was saving my ass. She wondered why I was dog paddling so frenetically.
@@honorarenwick6491 I always try to find a nice rotten log... lol
Having a compass that locks is a must be and marking tags, don't rely on phones, they die and memory itself can be deceiving
I have had two friends of mine die in the wilderness. The first was hiking in Alaska and fell off a cliff. The other also fell off a cliff but his situation also involved getting lost with his family and leaving them behind while he searched for a way out. Which brings to mind the question of staying put or seeking a way out. While my friends family survived by staying put I also remember the story of the experienced hiking lady who got lost on the New England section of the AT and hunkered down and eventually succumbed to the elements several weeks later!
That hiking lady might have survived if she had let someone know both her itinerary.
This "experienced hiking lady" - I guess you mean Geraldine Largay ("Inchworm") - was described as continously going the wrong way, having a poor sense of direction, and suffering from panic attacs (under medical treatment). Anyone with a working brain would have found back to the trail within less than one hour.
@@Henning_Rech Geraldine Largay could have easily found her way back to the trail if she used the compass she was carrying. She was hiking northbound when she left the left (west) side of the trail to take a dump. All she had to do was use her compass and walk east. No map and compass skill was needed. Instead, she went uphill to try to find a cell signal to call for help. She ended up on US Navy property where she gave up and stayed put until she starved to death. Her body was found three years later by a surveyor who was marking the navy base boundaries.
Volunteers spent hundreds of man hours trying to find her. I was on one of those search teams. My team was looking in the Orbeton Stream area. The area had 2 days of heavy rain just before she went missing and streams were high. We were looking at the possibility that she had fallen while crossing and was washed downstream. While we didn't find her because she never got that far we did find a damaged woman's backpack about 1/4 mile downstream of where the trail crosses the stream.
@@zone4garlicfarm Again: her problem was not a missing compass, but a mental disorder.
@@Henning_Rech She had a compass. She didn't use it.
I live in Alberta , Canada. I had a friend who was great outdoors man & hunter. He went out alone to hunt a few years ago. He got killed by grisly bear. His funeral was massive
Burns might have made the list. The ten million steps guy burned himself pretty good, and out camping we came across two heavily scorched kerosene lanterns. On inspection, they still had Coleman stove fuel in them. Imagine that was exciting. Trail killers (two legged ones) and bees/ hornets are two more.
I come from a cool climate, so when I visited Utah I was extremely careful about wearing a hat, good shoes, and carrying water - and I still ran into trouble from over exertion. It would have been worse if I hadn't been so aware of my unfamiliarity with the desert conditions.
I've been asked a lot about what I was most scared of during my 2021 Thru Hike. Was it bears, snakes etc.? No, I was only scared of two things. Stinging insects and Gravity. Fortunately I'm not allergic to stinging insects but I did get stung 8 times. However I fell a lot! And I was also concerned about stuff falling on me while I slept. I survived with only a torn rotator cuff.
Experience and wisdom
In Scotland, the latest stats are just out and again list Slips and Trips as the top accident type, with Falls listed separately, and slips-trips-falls contributing to nearly half of mountaineering accidents. Walking poles are certainly a good mitigation tool for these. Wearing a helmet may seem like overkill but being conscious and alert after the slip-trip-fall is going to important!
I like the STOP acronym. Sit down / Think / Observe / PANIC!
For preventing altitude issues: sleep ~300m lower than you have been that day if possible. E.g. if you arrive, hike up that mild slope in the afternoon, get back down to your camp and sleep there. Works in Himalaya, works in the Alps, will work in the US as well :)
In your case an item that most ppl just leave behind should not be forgotten.
Don't forget your towel.
@@paulrevere2379 never leave without your towel :)
@@chaosengine4597 And DON'T PANIC! ;)
Thanks for yet another great video Dixie! I think I prefer to walk with our Australian snakes and spiders than risk being eaten by a big cat or a bear or being buried by an avalanche . . . drop bears though . . . they are a different thing entirely. They look cute and cuddly, but mind your jugular!!! LOL!!!
Drop bears! 🤣🤣🤣
So many great points and advice are in this video. Dixie has covered most scenarios when it comes to potential backcountry hazards. Being primarily a desert hiker I've had a couple of being close to heat exhaustion and have found out the hard way how important it is to keep your electrolyte levels up. Drinking a lot of just water can deplete those levels. Twice I've been in the mountains here in the Southwest and set up camp in what would later be a strike zone during a storm. One time my tent poles were loudly buzzing from being electrically charged. Best advice I can give: Be prepared, pay attention and use your wits.
Dixie I truly enjoyed this video. Very well put together and so informative not just for hikers but a 67 year old women who needs all the wisdom she can take in. Thank you for your wisdom. God Bless
I just love how you pronounce the word “ice”!
With altitude sickness (AS) the only remedy is to climb down and climb doen fast, effectively recompressing. Staying well hydrated is a big help is staving off AS. You are exactly right about taking 2-3 nights at higher altitude basecamp before beginning the trek. Taka a couple of days to do some sight seeing. At sea level you have far less red blood cells to carry oxygen byt at higher altitudes you need namy more. 14K feet the oxygen is about 50% of sea level.
An excellent and well thought out tutorial. My friend Nancy East (Hope and Feather) is a SARs person in the Smokey Mountains and has some good videos on hiking safety and hiking with your dog also.
Scariest thing to me is crossing swollen streams and rivers. Great info, Dixie- thank you :)
Great video to educate those getting into the outdoors. Could not tell you how many times I've helped people that were doing things way above their pay grade.
Best advice, take a cpr course at your local ambulance or FD. Also take a wilderness survival course, OR take someone with you that is trained in first aid, such as a career fire, emt or ski patroller. This is especially important if you are traveling knowing you have health issues.
Thank you for another great video
From experience I would add to the risks of attitude sickness is the danger of the confusion that comes with it, or attitude induced stupidity
It was definitely MORE encouraging than discouraging Dixie!! Thank you for another great video!
One point about large eucalypt trees, they are the second most planted trees across the world after pines. In the land where everything kills you we lose at least one person annually because they liked to camp in the shade of these trees. We have large eucs along our rivers and in mid summer when we need shade these trees have been known to, without warning, drop large branches, I’m talking of at least a foot or 12 bananas in diameter weighing several tonnes onto cars, tents or whatever is underneath. One crack and it’s good night Irene.
We have a park with eucalypts lining the long driveway and warnings not to park under the trees!
While I am 100% for being prepared before going into the back woods, I also have to say, we are all going to die one day and if I had my choice, I would rather die while out there than laying in the hospital of old age or sickness. What a wonderful place to take your last breaths on this Earth.
Been backpacking for years, it's getting eaten by a bear or lion if you get wounded part I don't like.
@@flynnstone3580 I'd still take getting eaten by a mountain lion or bear over dying from cancer.
@@jsweevil yes, you make a good point, I would too. Maybe that's why there's so many people disappearing in the national forest, they don't want to be found.
@@flynnstone3580 That's definitely possible although I think watching tourists in Yellowstone getting gored by bison makes it obvious there are a lot of people who just should never go into the backcountry.
@@jsweevil especially alone thinking your iphone is going to save you.
I have been day hiking since I was a kid. I stay in shape and like to think I have learned a lot about the outdoors and how to stay safe. I did my first back-packing trip doing a rim to rim at the grand canyon. I always used a day pack with water and food as well as a few survival items. We used an outfitter for our gear and guide. It was miserable. I thought my training was good and thought I was ready. Sadly I was wrong. My pack did not fit, most the gear they had us bring either wasn't needed or overkill. I made it across, but my knees hurt the entire way and the pack the gave us was to big and fit like a rock. I found your site as well as several others after that trip and learned an amazing amount of wisdom. The next trip, I bought my own pack, had it properly fitted and took yours and others advise on what I did and did not need. I trained with a full pack on many trails around my home in Missouri, used good knee braces, bought the right food and worked hard. Your site, experience and knowledge helped me make my next rim to rim fun, safe and very relaxing. The info you have out here is invaluable, simply essential to learn. I am a far better backpacker and day hiker in general. Thank you so much for your videos.
The voice of experience cancels out all arguments. Very informative video, Dixie. You are both an inspiration and a concerned enthusiast. Your videos are valuable to the hiking community, and to aspiring hikers. Thank you.
Get your heart checked!! I was feeling a bit slow and trouble getting around. Went to doctor where I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Got a pacemaker/defibrillator. I guess my long distance hikes are over. Maybe I’m working on building up strength. Heat just does me in. PS don’t let the moon catch you in the woods after dark lol
THAT was one of my faves! Made hiking as a lady myself feel soooo much better about my foolishness
good info Dixie. trust you gut if it tells you something is not right stop and make a plan. situational awareness is also key. please stay safe everybody on trail. we love you and we want to see you get back safely.
Two that I’d add include:
Hyponatremia, which comes about from drinking too much water and not eating enough. The sodium in one’s body becomes diluted and one’s cells swell up. This is the main reason why, especially in dry environments, electrolytes in one’s water becomes important.
Driving. This isn’t really on trail, but pre and post trail. One should give themselves ample time to get to the trailhead - don’t speed. After a hike, one can come out of the woods more tired than one realizes. One should try not to plan hikes so that, afterwards, a long drive to the next destination isn’t necessary. Driving while drowsy can be even more dangerous than drunk driving, or driving while texting.
Too much water is extremely rare where most hikers have to squeeze or endure some tedious task in filtering every mouthful. It's not like an organized race with convenient water stations around every corner.
The opposite, dehydration is way to common with serious close calls too many to easily count, and it only takes one serious dehydration experience to start a potentially lethal downward spiral dynamic.
HOWEVER, if a hiker is consuming gobs of water and is worried about lacking electrolytes, then just chew on some pine needles when chugging the water. Electrolytes galore. Needles can be spit out after chewing and swallowing the juice. Younger needles taste much better than old woody ones. If they are way bitter just spit out and pick better ones, simple.
The caution about driving cannot be overemphasized - still a major killer.
@@paulrevere2379 aside from tired drivers, hiking is in rural areas and a lot of folks from the city aren’t accustomed to things like spotting deer about to cross the highway or mountain driving along tight curves.
@@paulrevere2379 the Grand Canyon in the summertime is an example of an environment where hikers exhibit hyponatremia. There are even cases of death from water intoxication in the recent past.
As an AZ native, it’s really important to know the difference between hyponatremia and dehydration. A lot of people unused to the heat, or who are unfamiliar with heat related illnesses, start to feel bad and just immediately drink more water because they assume it is dehydration. If you aren’t also focusing on eating/ replenishing electrolytes, drinking more water can make it worse.
One that could be mentioned is driving to and from trail. Gotta be careful driving in general and for this hobby it's no different, not to mention if you day hike and are really exhausted plus driving in the night. But mostly because other drivers are just impatient and disregard other people's lives because they want to get somewhere maybe...1 to 5 minutes faster. Yes, even in the boonies people tailgate you, the rat race is everywhere! And if you're mountaineering the road is probably the deadliest part of your expedition since you add bad weather into the mix.
Yep, definitely the biggest concern for me on my last overnight hike. I slept so badly that the 3 hour drive home was scarier than anything else.
Exactly. I’m a very careful driver, especially near cliffs and when my dog is with me! Sadly, so many entitled/careless people tailgate on mountain roads even on sharp turns and my edges of cliffs. I often put my turn signal on to pull over when I get the chance to let those assholes pass me with their death-wishes. I go the speed limits in the mountains for our safety and wildlife! It’s tragic all the billions of dead animals who suffer and die from getting hit when it is often very preventable if everyone simply slowed down and follow the speed limits.
Hi. For river crossings often in mountainous areas a river is really roaring in the afternoon, wait it out and try crossing in the early morning. It may freeze above and be far more manageable in the AM. If there is a good-sized log try the butt scoot or monkey walk across using hands. Be sure water bottles and such are secured.
I figured out the butt scoot one day on my first long PCT hike.
I have a rule about being bold but not reckless and balance is not my strong gift.
Really useful technique that butt scoot.
Think about anything that people do: someone has died while doing that very thing.
But with some common sense, preparation, and forethought the odds do go down by large amounts.
It is very important to be aware of these types of situations and to think about appropriate responses if and when they arise, but it is foolish to become morbid or fearful about them.
I think you covered this topic very well, and gave much helpful and well thought out advice..
Regarding landmarks and orienting yourself to avoid getting lost, it's also very good to know what direction to go to get to the nearest well traveled road, if there is one anywhere near you. Roads, being a fairly straight line bisecting a LARGE area often means you only have to remember that "if I get lost, if I can keep moving east (for example) and I will get to that highway eventually, and then I can probably get picked up and get some help."
Rivers, depending on your location can also provide a similar hail mary approach in that they are also easy to find even if you don't know where you are - just know what general direction to head, and eventually you will cross it's path. Once you find the river, follow it down stream and it will lead you to a lake or the ocean, and unless you are WAY out in the backcountry, you'll usually find people around lakes and beaches without having to go too terribly far. Plus, you'll have water at least for the duration of your return to civilization.
Dixie, love your consistently great content, and very well planned, well spoken, interesting narration. I've got considerable backcountry experience, but regularly learn things from you, and just enjoy "hanging out" with you from time to time! Thank you for what you share.
I want to applaud you for addressing the danger of falling down in current (4:30), and giving the advice to to get turned over with face up and feet downstream. That's exactly right.
But one point you didn't mention is to RESIST the reflex to try to stand up when you are in current, but keep your feet UP, off the bottom while you bump along in the current. This is because if you are trying to plant your feet down on the bottom and stand, water flow could push one or both feet UNDER a big rock or tree branch and be trapped there. That would flip you face down with your face in the water and at risk of drowning. I learned this when whitewater canoeing - even a PFD won't necessarily keep you high enough to breathe if your feet are entrapped, so with a heavy pack on, you'd have a tough time keeping your face above the water. .
Also, don't aim toward a downed log in a stream. Whitewater boaters call this a STRAINER. The water will pass through, but you, the swimmer, will be trapped by the log, especially if there are branches in the water. This could be deadly.
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Awesome video, thanks! You do a great job of talking about the dangers without scaring this inexperienced hiker off. On the topic of gathering berries, mushrooms, plants etc: Even if you know how to identify a certain plant from your own region, always be aware of potential poisonous doppelgangers that might exist where you're hiking but not where you're from. Like you said, best not to risk it unless you're VERY sure what you're doing.
Hey thank you. I am 57 and have years of living out of my ruck. This was a great video and a great reminder. Very Cool
In Central Washington here. You?
Stay Calm and
Semper Gumby
Good tips . As beautiful as nature is and hiking long distances it’s the isolation and the distance you are from immediate medical care .
As I learned from my Boy Scout days . Be prepared !
Its awesome how you are now a thru-hiking encyclopedia of knowledge.....you have absorbed so much knowledge over your years...I love listening to someone talk about something they love so much! Keep them feet moving forward girl ! Safe travels..oh yeah.....I'm binge watching ur stuff ever since I came across it on here🤟👍✌✌✌🤘
Thank you for posting this . I have the greatest respect for what you have accomplished and I am sure your followers do as well. Watching most of your videos I saw a few things that could have gone " sideways" . Photography angles and editing may have made things look more precarious... not sure. I am paranoid. " Live to (fill in your activity here) another day" is my motto. I can say with confidence that anyone who spends enough time participating in an adventure type sport can look back and Thank their lucky stars / angel over your shoulder / favorite lucky charm that things didn't end up with a far more negative outcome. Your advice will save lives or serious injury. Best of luck to you.
When I started the AT everyone was asking about fear. If I had any. I just reminded them "I used to hold a flashlight for my father"
Dixie...we are heading to camp near the Mt. Elbert trailhead and the Wimenuche Wilderness in early August. We backpack CO every year, but I can only camp this year. I am having spinal fusion in late August from a car accident, so I am getting my last trip in before the year recovery. Maybe after my recovery, you can come over to NE Texas. Pretty cool 100+ mile trail up here. ENJOY COLORADO!!! It's perfect weather in July and August. The Rockies are addicting.
Excellent topic! I think one of the most important things we can do going into the backcountry is being aware of common risks and learning how to mitigate them.
Good reminder to think Local Local Local.
There is no single short list of how to prepare for anywhere/everywhere, day/night, any season, wet/dry, etc.
One thing that separates the sophomores from the real seasoned experts has to do with making big adjustments (or sometimes packing bigger to accommodate them).
In watching your videos for a while, I'd say your most dangerous situations were: 1) swimming across a river with a pack on (you did have some people around); 2) snowy mountainsides , even low visibility, without micro spikes and an ice axe (you really don't want to hit those rocks down there). Otherwise previously noted dehydration and hypothermia. I've avoided the most serious situations for 70years all across North America :-) Live & hike on........
If your pack will float (you should test this before going on hike) with all your gear, then switch the pack to your front when crossing water. if you fall the bouyancy should rotate you to your back with your head up above the water. It is much easier to shed the pack if you need to if you are not trying to fight the bouyancy.
Staying hydrated in Winter conditions 🥶: It may seem a bit counter intuitive but I heat water a liter of water before hiking in the cold. Drinking this warm water is easy and keeps me hydrated.
Great idea.
When I'm hiking in the desert back country, to keep cool, I always bring a snow cone machine along. Works great! JK.
@@davidbuben3262 I heat this water while I’m making coffee/breakfast. I keep it wrapped up and it stays warm for quite a while and it’s much easier to drink than cold water when it’s cold.
This is helpful and interesting. I think the scariest times I’ve watched you on trail is when you swan across a river on the PCT. Luckily there were members of your tramily to grab you as you got close to the other shore. The other time is when you were hiking way above timberline and a storm rolled in. See your hair stand straight up due to lightning in the area gave me the willies. Too close for comfort for me. 😳. But you have survived everything from blizzards, snakes, heat, etc. Your memoir is really going to be something, someday. It will have to be multiple volumes!
Well said it pretty much boils down to situational awareness and an honest awareness of your skills aka what you can honestly do versus what you think you can do
Hey Dixie! Loved the overview and reminders on staying safe in the backcountry.
What part of Colorado are you heading to? I moved to the Springs from the TN/AL line about 4 months ago. Summited Pikes Peak this past Monday, was fine right up until the summit itself when those altitude symptoms set in and put a damper on my famous 14er donuts. Hope you have a wonderful trip and if you happen to be nearby and wouldn't mind a hike with a TH-cam stranger who is a big fan, hit me up.
Dixie you would enjoy reading Ed Viesturs' books about climbing all 14 8000m mountains. Amazing feat and stories. He talks about all of the hazards you call out, but from 26000 feet up on glaciers without oxygen. Unreal stories.
The Hiking Rev shared details on his experience having a heart attack on trail. The Hiking Rev channel has good information on this topic. Definitely worth a look.
The best advice is adequate preparation and know your limitations.
I have been hiking and backpacking for over 50 years.
My best advice is to prehydrate; stay hydrated all the time. You can't catch up if you start hiking dehydrated.
The only way to prepare for high altitude is to prepare at higher elevations and stay hydrated.
The only way way to prepare for hiking in the heat is to prepare by hiking in the heat; and yes, stay hydrated.
The best way to enjoy hiking in the cold is to practice hiking in the cold and stay hydrated.
I hike year round. I've done many 14ers, I've hiked out of the grand canyon when it was 108. I have hiked when it was below 0.
It's all in the preparation and staying within your limits.
Took a solid fall today on the AT. Got a big ol' hematoma going on but at least I didn't break my arm and end my thru.
good video to watch before I live for my section hike of the Appalachian trail
Speaking of Australia, here are some numbers from a little book I picked up when I visited a few years ago to see a total eclipse.
Accidental Cause of Death, 1980 - 1990
Road Accidents - 32,772
Suicide -- 18,636
Drowning -- 3,367
Murder -- 3,106
Poison -- 1,998
Struck by lightning -- 19
Bee sting -- 20
Snake bite -- 18 (remember, these statistics are for Australia!)
Marine animals -- 12. (sea snakes, crocodiles and sharks excluded - see below)
Shark attacks -- 11
Crocodile attacks -- 8
Spider bite -- 1
From a Green Guide, Dangerous Creatures of Australia
I hope this puts things in perspective. As Sartre said "Hell is other people" (by a factor of at least 100)
Do you know that bear spray can and will help you to disable an aggressive snake? I’ve used it on copperheads and rattlesnakes.