Trail Safety
John Muir once said: “…Accidents in the mountains are less common than in the lowlands… Few places in this world are more dangerous than home. Fear not, therefore, to try these mountain-passes. They will kill care, save you from deadly apathy, set you free, and call forth every faculty into vigorous, enthusiastic action.”
There is inherent danger in anything we do, from driving a car, to walking across a street, to playing basketball… nature is no different. The Kids in Parks and TRACK Trail program want you to be safe when adventuring outdoors and hiking in the wonderful Blue Ridge Mountains. Here are some helpful tips to help you and your family have a safer nature experience.
Keeping Kids Close
Obviously, we want our kid’s experiences in nature to be filled with fun and excitement… letting them have the freedom to explore and learn through direct experience. However, just as in any situation, keeping kids close is the best practice for safety. Poison-ivy, wildlife, road crossings, and strangers are always best dealt with in a group situation with adults around.
Stay on Trail
Staying on the trail is the safest, easiest, and most considerate way to experience the resource. The trail surface most often provides the sturdiest footing and minimizes potential encounters with poison-ivy. The trail also provides the easiest way to navigate through thick forest vegetation and concentrates use in one area, thus protecting fragile vegetation from being trampled.
Poison-Ivy
For approximately 85% of the population, safety in the woods means avoiding poison-ivy. Poison-ivy is a woody vine that produces an oil called urishiol on its stems and leaves. For many, urishiol is a skin irritant that causes an itchy rash.
In general, staying on the trail is a good way to avoid poison-ivy. However, since poison-ivy grows on the fringe of many hiking trails, knowing how to identify it is the best way to avoid contact.
Poison Ivy grows in leaf-lets of 3, leading to the rhyme: “Leaves of three, leave it be”.
Note: In general, the outer two leaflets are notched on their outer edge while their inner edges are smooth, and the central leaflet is notched on both sides.
Wildlife
Remember, when we enter the woods we enter the domain of the wildlife. Encounters with wildlife can be extremely special; and although you may have an interest in the animal, the animal has minimal interest in you. When you encounter wildlife on the trail, the best thing you can do to remain safe is to give the animal space to go about its business. Consider yourself lucky to have had an encounter and remember that you are in the animal’s home.
Weather
Weather can change rapidly in the mountains. The best way to stay safe is to be prepared and pay attention. Be prepared by having adequate clothing for weather situations that could occur (i.e. in the summer, you don’t need to be prepared with a snow jacket; but, thunderstorms are common so a rain jacket might be needed). And, as you journey down the trail, monitor the weather. Has the weather changed? Is a thunderstorm rolling in? If so, use your best judgment to determine if the weather is safe enough to continue or if it would be best to turn back.
Be Safe and Enjoy!
– unknown
- John Burroughs
