Tag: Hiking Safety

Hiking Accident Prevention: Why Trees Fall On Hikers

June 12, 2021

S T O R I E S  P A S T  A N D  P R E S E N T

How To Avoid Falling Tree Hazards On The Trail

In late December 2018, a 45 year-old woman was killed by a falling tree, while hiking with her husband and three children in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

In 2015 a Pennsylvania man, was killed on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, when wind caused a dead tree to fall.

The health of our forests plays a role in trees dying and falling.  The articles listed below cover this topic.

On an uplifting note, I’ve listed two articles about beneficial aspect of trees and human health. One is a USDA report published in April 2015, and the other is a USDA blog post published in June 2019.  See the last two articles below.

 N E W S  A R T I C L E S

NYPost.com 3/29/21 Parents of Five Killed When Redwood Tree Falls On Their Car In California By Kenneth Garger

OutsideOnline.com  10/9/19  Hikers: Beware Of Falling Trees, By Taylor Gee

WATE.com – Hiker In Great Smoky Mountains National Park Struck And Killed By Falling Tree Due To High Winds, 12/31/18

National Parks Traveler.org Appalachian Trail Hiking Death Prompts Call For Hikers To Be Safety-Minded On The Trail 3/25/15

National Parks Service 8/28/19 Tree Mortality Can Cause Hazardous Conditions

PressHerald.com Pennsylvania Folk Singer Killed By Falling Tree On Appalachian Trail 3/16/15

US Forest Service Hazard Trees

WTA.org (Washington Trails Association) When A Tree Falls In The Woods – Reducing Your Risk From Falling Trees 3/5/18

FS.USDA.gov (USDA Forest Service) Safety In The Woods: Caves, Waterfalls, Hazard Trees, Getting Lost

FS.FED.US USDA Research Review No. 26 April 2015 – Trees Improve Human Health and Well-Being In Many Ways

USDA.GOV 6/3/19 – The Power Of One Tree – The Very Air We Breath

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Trip Planning Resources For Hikers and Backpackers

Irene Pastore, is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator, and speaker. She has 25 years experience teaching exercise in New York City.  For her complete bio, visit the About Page.  

Hiking Accident Prevention: Risky Mistakes That May Cost You Your Life

May 20, 2021

14 Deadly Fails

  • YOU DIDN’T RESEARCH CURRENT TRAIL CONDITIONS
  • YOU DISREGARDED THE WEATHER REPORT
  • YOU DIDN’T BRING ENOUGH FOOD OR WATER
  • YOU DIDN’T REALIZE THAT HIKING IN EXTREME HEAT CAN KILL YOU
  • YOU’RE NOT AWARE THAT A TRAIL MAP AND COMPASS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

  • YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD MAKE IT THROUGH A BLIZZARD WEARING SWEATPANTS AND SNEAKERS

  • YOU HAVE AN INACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF YOUR OUTDOOR SKILLS AND FITNESS ABILITY
  • YOU RELY ON ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY INSTEAD OF TRAIL SKILLS
  • YOU’RE UNPREPARED FOR GETTING LOST
  • YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT SOLO HIKING IS A LIFE-THREATENING RISK IF YOU BECOME INJURED OR SICK
  • YOU HAVE LITTLE OR NO TRAIL KNOWLEDGE
  • YOU’RE UNPREPARED FOR AN ABRUPT WEATHER CHANGE
  • YOU WENT ON YOUR JOURNEY REGARDLESS OF WARNINGS FROM THE PARK SERVICE
  • YOU IGNORE TRAIL SIGNS THAT ARE THERE TO KEEP YOU SAFE

MORE INFORMATION

Backpacker Magazine 2/14/17 A Dozen Ways To Die: How Do Hikers Meet Their Maker In The Backcountry?, By Steve Howe

The National Park Service 6/14/18 Trails And Hiking – Staying Safe

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Trip Planning Resources For Hikers and Backpackers

Irene Pastore, is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator, and speaker. She has 23 years experience teaching exercise in New York City.  For her complete bio, visit the About Page.  

Hiking Accident Prevention: Self-Preservation

March 15, 2021

If The Trail Gets Bad And Things Get Ugly – Turn Around And Head Back – The Mountain Will Be There Tomorrow

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Trip Planning Resources For Hikers and Backpackers

Irene Pastore, is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator, and speaker. She has 23 years experience teaching exercise in New York City. To read her complete bio, visit the About Page.

Hiking Accidents: Avalanche Fatalities Rising In the U.S. February 2021

February 22, 2021

Fatal Mountain Accidents During The Pandemic

LINK TO ARTICLE

More News Stories

12NewsNow – February 7, 2021 – Colorado fatalities part of nation’s deadliest week for avalanches in more than century, Author: Makayla Richards

Achorage Daily News – February 9, 2021 – Avalanche carried 3 men down steep gully Tuesday and killed them, report says, Author: Tess Williams

The New York Times – February 9, 2021 – Covid Restrictions Might Factor Into Avalanche Deaths, Experts Say, By John Branch

The Washington Post – February 6, 2021 – Utah police: Avalanche killed 4 local backcountry skiers, By Lindsay Whitehurst | AP

Surrey-Now Leader – January 22, 2021 – B.C.’s busiest SAR team raises alarm after 2021 begins with fatality, multiple rescues, By Sarah Grochowski

Irene Pastore is a native New Yorker, health and fitness blogger, and personal trainer. She owns this website, and authors each blog post. To read her complete bio, visit the About Page.

Hiking Accident Prevention Series: Appalachian Trail Safety Tips

April 11, 2019

Hiking Advice From the Appalachian Trail Conservancy

 The Appalachian Trail is approximately 2,190 miles long. It crosses 14 states, 6 national parks, and 8 national forests. The trail begins at Springer Mountain, Georgia, and ends at Mount Katahdin, Maine.  

H I K I N G  S A F E T Y  T I P S

• Don’t hike alone. You are safest with a group; neither a single partner nor a dog is a guarantee of safety. Be creative.  If in doubt, move on.  Always trust your instincts about other people.

• Leave your hiking plans with someone at home and check in frequently. Establish a time you will check in upon completion of your trip, as well as a procedure to follow if you fail to check in. On longer hikes or thru-hikes, provide ATC’s number, 304-535-6331.

• Be wary of strangers. Be friendly, but cautious. Don’t tell strangers your plans. Avoid people who act suspiciously, seem hostile, or are intoxicated.

• Don’t camp near roads. Be aware that anywhere people congregate — including shelters and designated campsites — may have greater risk.  When tenting, find a location not easily seen from the trail.

• Don’t camp near roads. Be aware that anywhere people congregate — including shelters and designated campsites — may have greater risk. When tenting, find a location not easily seen from the trail.

• The Appalachian Trail Conservancy discourages the carrying of firearms.

• Eliminate opportunities for theft. Don’t bring jewelry. Hide your money. If you must leave your pack, hide it, or leave it with someone trustworthy.

• Use the Trail registers (the notebooks stored at most shelters). If someone needs to locate you, or if a serious crime has been committed along the trail, the first place authorities will look is in the registers.

• In an emergency, note where you are and call 911.  Report emergencies or incidents to ATC at incident@appalachiantrail.org or by calling 304-535-6331. Suspicious or illegal behavior should be reported to the local rangers or local law enforcement (911 usually works, but other phone numbers are on official AT maps) as well as ATC.

• Be mentally prepared for the risks you may encounter. If you encounter trouble, chances are a law enforcement officer or ranger will not be nearby and a cellphone may not work.

• Always  a carry current trail maps and know how to use them.

• Stay alert. Pay attention to details of your surroundings and people you encounter, and look for anything that does not fit or sends a red flag. It is easier to avoid getting into a dangerous situation than to get out of one. Trust your instincts about strangers.

• Avoid hitchhiking or accepting rides: Hikers needing to get into town should make arrangements beforehand and budget for shuttles or a taxi.

WEATHER  RELATED  HIKING  SAFETY  TIPS

• Pay attention to the changing skies. Sudden spells of “off-season” cold weather, hail, and even snow are common along many parts of the Appalachian Trail. Winter-like weather often occurs in late spring or early fall in the Southern Appalachians, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

• Hypothermia: A cold rain can be the most dangerous weather for hikers, because it can cause hypothermia, a dangerous lowering of the body’s core temperature due to exposure to cold, wind and rain chill. Dress in layers of synthetic clothing, eat well, stay hydrated, and know when to take refuge in a warm sleeping bag and tent or shelter.

• Lightning: The odds of being struck by lightning are low, but if a thunderstorm is coming, immediately leave exposed areas. Boulders, rocky overhangs, and shallow caves offer no protection from lightning.

Sheltering in hard-roofed automobiles or large buildings is best. Avoid tall structures, such as ski lifts, flagpoles, power line towers, and the tallest trees, solitary rocks, or open hilltops and clearings. If caught in the open, crouch down on a pad, or roll into a ball.

• Heat: Dry hot summers are surprisingly common along the trail. Water may be scarce on humid days, sweat does not evaporate well, and many hikers face the danger of heat stroke and heat exhaustion if they haven’t taken proper precautions. Wear a hat and sunscreen and stay well hydrated.

Source: Appalachian Trail Conservancy www.appalachiantrail.org.