Feeling Safe & Empowered in the Outdoors

Hiking and connecting with the great outdoors can have an exceptionally positive impact on your life — it benefits your physical and mental health, and it expands your trust and confidence in yourself.

However, getting out in nature doesn't come without its risks, and it's important to know how to prepare beforehand and what precautions to take when you're on the trail. Being prepared will help you feel more confident and self-reliant.

I'll get straight to the point — here are a handful of my top tips for staying safe in the outdoors.

1. Know What to Bring, and How to Use It

This includes, but is not limited to, the 10 essentials:

• ↟Navigation — map and compass, GPS, offline maps
• ↟First aid kit
• ↟Light source — headlamp or flashlight
• ↟Shelter — tent, emergency bivvy, tarp
• ↟Repair kit — duct tape, multitool, knife
• ↟Sun protection — sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
• ↟Fire source
• ↟Extra food
• ↟Extra water
• ↟Extra clothing

Plus a few things I never leave without:

• ↟Some form of protection
• ↟Food and snacks
• ↟Water and electrolytes
• ↟A bathroom kit
• ↟A whistle
• ↟Any necessary medications

Knowing how to use these items — and actually trying them out before you hit the trail — will help keep you safe and help you feel more comfortable. If you want the long version, I wrote a whole guide to the 10 essentials.

2. Tell Someone Where You're Going and When You Expect to Be Back

If there's one thing you take away from this guide, it's this tip right here. If you don't tell people where you're going, how are they going to know to check up on you, or when to expect you back? You have to tell someone.

Fill out a hiking itinerary, share it with a friend, and keep a copy in your car — you'll find a printable one with my other free hiking resources. I like to leave mine face down on the seat or dash, with the date and "Shelby's Hiking Itinerary" on the side facing up, since that tells rescuers it contains useful information and isn't a random piece of paper.

3. Know How to Prevent Injury

• ↟Have proper hiking footwear — good supportive shoes that have already been broken in on shorter trails, to help avoid blisters — and wear proper hiking socks (merino wool or a synthetic blend; avoid cotton, which holds onto moisture).
• ↟Trekking poles are fantastic at helping reduce injury, because they take a lot of pressure off your knees.
• ↟Keep a steady, consistent pace. If you can maintain a conversation you're probably pacing well; if you can't, slow down a bit.
• ↟Be sure of your footing by taking smart, secure steps as you hike — especially on rocky trails or trails with loose scree.
• ↟Taking a Wilderness First Aid course is a great idea if you plan on spending a good amount of time on the trail.

4. Know Before You Go

Some things worth doing before every hike:

• ↟Research the hike before you hit the trail, so you know what gear you need.
• ↟Check the general location and trail conditions online.
• ↟Look at the weather forecast — and the weather patterns, if it's an unfamiliar area.
• ↟Know what wildlife lives in the area, how to reduce or prevent encounters, and what to do if you can't prevent one.
• ↟Study the map and route so you have an idea of what you're in for in elevation gain, distance and terrain.

For example: if you know you're in bear country, you can help prevent encounters by storing food properly (in bear cans and the like) and making noise while you hike. You can carry bear spray for situations you can't prevent. And if you were to encounter a black bear, you'd know not to approach it, to avoid direct eye contact without losing sight of it, and to have your bear spray ready and use it if the bear comes within 25 feet.

Always download a digital offline map for every hike, so you can follow along and know exactly where you are on the trail at all times. There's a way to do this for free rather than paying for map subscriptions — I put the whole method in a short free offline maps guide.

5. Use Your Skills and Your Tools

Part of being in the great outdoors is being able to adapt quickly and be ready for change at any moment. Conditions shift, or things don't go as planned, so it's important to use your skills to keep yourself safe. That looks different for different people, but some things that help:

• ↟Navigation skills.
• ↟Awareness of your surroundings — pay attention to identifiable features like large trees or boulders, forks in the trail, and peaks, and remember that things look different on the way back.
• ↟Carrying some form of protection, and understanding how and when to use it.
• ↟Using and strengthening your intuition.

Hitting the Trails

It's time to hit the trail, start climbing mountains, and chase your dreams. Don't live in fear of the what-ifs; take control and learn how to prepare yourself instead.

• ↟Afraid of bears? Learn how to prevent bear encounters and what to do if you have one.
• ↟Afraid of human encounters? Carry protection you're comfortable bringing, and know how and when to use it.
• ↟Afraid of getting lost? Learn how to navigate — start with offline maps.

Being in the great outdoors comes with risks. That doesn't mean they aren't manageable. Just like the hike itself, preparing is a matter of putting one foot in front of the other.

Want someone to walk you through all of it in person? A guided trip is the fastest way to build these skills in the field.

See you on the trail! — Shelby