It’s finally summer, and you know what that means: it’s the perfect time to lace up your tennis shoes and hit the hiking trails. Arizona has plenty of beautiful parks and scenery to make the trip well worth your while, but it pays to be prepared. You can encounter inclement weather and other arduous conditions that could make your scenic nature walk dangerous for you and your family. Stay safe on your upcoming summer hikes with these tips from Castle & Cooke.
Call 911
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning. In case of a real emergency, your first move should always be to call 911. If you or a member of your party has become seriously injured, enlisting medical professionals is the best way to avoid further harm. You can also contact the police if you become lost. If you can’t get any cell reception, call 911 as soon as you get in range of a cell tower. The quicker you contact the authorities, the sooner they can get to your location and provide the required assistance.
Pack a Kit
Many hiking trails in Arizona are untouched by human hands. This means that the views will be spectacular, but there won’t be a convenience store anywhere along the route to pick up a bottle of water, a snack, or a map of the area. Before you set out on your hike, be sure to pack a kit of the essentials:
- Snacks
- Water
- Map
- First-aid kit
- Sun protection (sunblock, sunglasses, hat, etc.)
- Extra layers (jacket, sweater, etc.)
- Fire supplies (lighter or matches)
Having these items on hand will be a godsend if you run into an emergency or are forced to be out on the trail longer than you initially planned. A first-aid kit can keep any cuts or wounds from becoming infected, while a map can help you navigate the area if you lose cell service or left your mobile device at home by mistake.
Check Your Water Levels
Arizona can get extremely hot during the summer, making it essential to stay hydrated. If you’re at least halfway through your water bottle, it’s best to start heading back before you run out. If you finish your water before you get back to your car, you run the risk of becoming dehydrated. If this happens, your body won’t be able to cool itself off and you could suffer heat stroke, as well as other symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and confusion. If you’re caught on the trail without water, be sure to take it slow and rest whenever you need to. It’s better to take your time and potentially be late for that dinner date with a friend than to rush and end up collapsing from the heat.
Keep a Friend in the Loop
Before you set out for a hike, you should always let someone know where you’re going and how long you expect to be gone. This can be a family member, a friend, a coworker, or anyone you trust to be responsible. If they don’t hear from you within a certain amount of time, they can contact the proper authorities to make sure you are safe and sound. If you’ve become lost or injured, having someone that knows where you are and can call for help can mean the difference between life and death.
Two Is Better Than One
You may be wishing for a bit of peace and quiet, but it’s never a good idea to go hiking by yourself. This goes double for an unfamiliar trail or a particularly deserted area. If you get hurt during your hike, run into inclement weather, or get lost, there will be no one to help you or to contact the authorities for assistance. It’s also probably going to be more fun to hike with a friend or loved one than it would be to go it alone. If you’re really jonesing for some solitude, try to find a short, easy trail that you can easily navigate and is patrolled regularly by park rangers or trail guides.
Contact Castle & Cooke TodayCastle & Cooke has been constructing Sierra Vista’s most stunning communities in the deserts of Arizona for more than 30 years. For more information about our new constructions, call our team today or send us a message here. You can also visit our website to browse our selection of move-in ready homes in Arizona.