Fears vs. Dangers Post
When I first told friends and family that I would be going on some long hikes, it was interesting what dangers they came up with that I should be worried about and protect myself from. Now, after hiking a few thousand miles, I can confidently compare what their fears were about with what real dangers exist. The two do not match up very well.
Now, I do realize that a person CAN die or be severely injured out in the wilds, and any of the things listed below COULD be the cause, but it's all about keeping a reasonable perspective.
Here are my lists of "Fears" that people are often concerned with, and Dangers that they really should be ready for...
"Fears"
- Bears - Bears are waiting around every corner, behind every tree, under every bush just waiting to jump out and maul you to death.
Really, you'll be lucky to see a bear. I've seen 6 so far. They run away. See Bears. - Cougars - puma, panther, mountain lion, catamount, whatever you call them, they will silently stalk you and then attack in the blink of an eye and it's all over.
Really, you'll never see one. If you do, you'll be an instant celebrity in the hiking community. But, there have been a couple dozen cougar deaths in the past century, mostly small children - see Cougars - Murderers - You're all alone out there, and there are murderers, rapists, thieves, and weirdos waiting to do you in.
Really, no one will hike miles and miles into the wilderness just so they can kill someone, and no backpacker has anything worth stealing. Now, on trails that go through populated areas, like the Appalachian Trail and Ice Age Trail, it's possible to run into trouble from bored locals around trailheads and in towns, but I've met nothing but friendly, helpful folks.
For perspective, there have been about a dozen murders on the A.T. over the past 40 years - in just Atlanta (at the south end of the A.T.) there were 84 murders in 2013 alone. - Snakes - Every rock, hollow log, and empty hiking boot hides a vicious snake, coiled and ready to strike as soon as you get close.
Really, venomous snakes want nothing to do with humans but they are common in some areas. A handful of people die from snakebite each year in the USA, but very few of them are hikers. See Snakes. - Spiders - They're creepy, ugly, scary, and out to suck your blood, and they're everywhere!
Really, similar to snakes, spider bites kill just a handful of Americans each year, and virtually none of those are out backpacking. There's a small chance you'll get a spider bite, but chances are good that what you thought was a spider bite was really a fly, gnat, chigger, flea, bedbug, or any other creepy crawly.
Dangers
- Gravity - More people die from falling, or things falling on them, in the backcountry than anything else. To minimize the danger, stay on the trail and be aware of your surroundings, especially potential rockfalls, dead trees, and avalanche areas.
- Rain - Rain, wind, and dropping temperature can make for miserable or deadly conditions. You will encounter rain. You will get wet. This can be the most dangerous situation for unprepared hikers. To minimize the danger, be prepared with layered clothing, protective outer shell, and skills to stay warm when wet.
- Foot Injuries - Blisters, bruising, twisted ankles, inflamed joints, and just plain wearing out from pounding on rough, uneven terrain all day is most likely the thing that will hurt your body. Whether it's because of poor shoes, inadequate training, wet socks, or just one mis-step, if your feet don't work, you can't hike. To minimize the danger, practice hiking short distances, in the shoes you'll wear on the longer hikes, to prepare your muscles, joints, and skin for the wear and tear they will receive. Also, go at a slower pace and for shorter distances when first starting a longer trail.
- Spider Webs - OMG! By far the most annoying thing EVER on the trail! Orb weaver spiders spin webs across the trail every evening. Hiking through forest, you're guaranteed to run facefirst into dozens and dozens of webs every day - unless you have a tall hiking partner walk ahead of you. Problem solved! I'd buy a device that attaches to your hat and hangs out in front of you to catch the webs - let me know if you hear of one.
- Mice - Far worse than bear and cougar, these varmints chew through $$$$$ worth of gear, spread disease through their waste, gnaw holes in food bags and ruin food. Plus, they scurry over your face, arms, and legs during the night.
The best thing to do is camp away from people, in your own tent, with your food hung from a high tree limb. - Insects - Whether it's getting bit by ticks or mosquitoes, stung by bees, yellow jackets, or wasps, or just bothered by gnats and flies buzzing your head all day, insects are everywhere outdoors. A rare few hikers may catch a bad disease, some may have allergic reactions, many will get infections, but all of us will experience pain, itch, and discomfort from the tiny wounds they leave behind. To minimize the danger, hike in the cold winter! Or, wear mesh outer layer, long pants and sleeves, or use bug repellant.
- Lightning - Well, the chances of dying from lightning are pretty low, but about 10x as likely as dying from snake bite. Lightning is sporadic and random - there is no place outdoors that is safe from lightning. To minimize the danger, pay attention to the developing weather and get indoors before a storm. Unable to do that, understand basic lightning safety suggestions.
- Filth - When everything in your gut is coming out in ways it shouldn't, most people assume they drank bad water. That's certainly possible, especially for those that don't even bother treating water, but it's more probable that bacteria from poop got on their hands, and then onto their food, and then into their mouths. That poop residue can be abundant on highly used trails, especially with established campsites or shelters that have designated latrines.
To minimize the danger, wash your hands often, keep your fingernails short and clean, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizers after washing.
What did I miss? Anything else out there that scares you about being in the outdoors, or that we really should be concerned about?
Hike On
Posted: 7:37 10-09-2015 1217
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All Comments:
Oct 24, 2015 - Cam Dube
Hi,
I suggest adding fire, be it campfire injury or stove use gong wrong.
Cameron
I suggest adding fire, be it campfire injury or stove use gong wrong.
Cameron
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