Safety always a priority while exploring the outdoors

It’s likely that by the time you read this, my red-eye flight will have landed in Utah and I will have already climbed behind the wheel of a waiting car and started the drive right back across the Rocky Mountains toward home. The drive will be my fourth transect through the heart of Colorado since February.

That’s a whole lot of driving for a guy who typically does more miles on his bicycle than in his car, but it’s been for a good cause. The first was a delivery, the second and third part of a visit, and this time I’ll be driving home with our daughter Sylvia as she winds up her eight-month internship at Capitol Reef National Park.

Sylvia has made the most of her time out west by exploring nearly every day she’s had off. Whether hiking to a backcountry canyon, obscure rock formation or a little-known archaeological site, she’s made it her cause to travel safely as her first priority. Furthermore, it’s been part of her job to emphasize that same approach to park visitors.

While hiking the high desert carries more than a handful of added peril beyond what one might encounter in the woods of Northeastern Ohio, the core practices of her adventures easily translate to good sense in the wild spaces of our area. I thought I’d share some of them here.

First, no matter what the outing, make sure someone knows where you are going. Sylvia did a great job of communicating her plans to both her co-worker friends at the park and to us folks back home in Ohio. You might be the best outdoorsman on the planet, but if you come up missing, it’s incredibly helpful to know where to start looking.

Second, keep an eye on the weather. For Sylvia, the greatest potential threat was flash flooding. A rainstorm in the desert can whip a dry riverbed into a raging torrent in minutes. Here in Ohio, thunderstorms are dangerous, not only because of the obvious, but even a passing shower can prove disastrous if you haven’t made provisions for keeping warm in the aftermath.

Third, dress for the weather — that is, pack for the weather that might be. In other words dress in layers and be sure to pack additional attire to cover a range of possibilities and situations, especially at this time of year.

Stay hydrated. Pack more water than you think you’ll need for the round trip. Drink before you are thirsty. And pack some good, high-energy food, no matter what the outing. Dried fruit and nuts offer great bang for the buck and weigh next to nothing. If you don’t use it, keep it for the next time.

Finally, take a map. Even if you are familiar with a particular park or trail, having a map of some sort — whether a physical map or a hiking app on a smartphone — is always good practice. One useful trick for me is taking a snapshot of a park map at a trailhead kiosk or park headquarters or even grabbing a screenshot of a map from the park’s website — that way, even if you find yourself outside of cell service, you can at least pull up the photo for a quick reference.

I’m certain to learn more tips and tricks of wilderness survival as Sylvia and I make the 26-hour drive home. If there’s something you can use, I’ll be sure to report back.

If you have comments on this column or questions about the natural world, write The Rail Trail Naturalist, P.O. Box 170, Fredericksburg, OH 44627, or email jlorson@alonovus.com. You also can follow along on Instagram @railtrailnaturalist.