I've noticed that when I take people out with me, they tend to spend most of the time watching where they put their feet and hands and don't look up often enough. I think this may be a reason for a lot of accidents and lost hikers. Surveying your surroundings should be as natural as looking in your rearview mirror when you drive. Everything can change in just a few steps. One of the things I do before we go out is I tell them that I will test them as far as their observations go. When I notice them not paying attention, I will take 2 steps off the trail to see how long it takes them to notice they are alone. I never let them out of my sight so there is no danger in getting lost. Some have taken as many as 20 steps or so to notice they are alone. After that they look up more often. So many things can change in 20 steps. While it's important to watch where you put your feet and hands, it's also important to look around for dangers and landmarks too.

Good Point.
I agree with you about the importance of being aware of your surroundings from minute to minute. Especially during a bug out situation, but it is hard.
When the trail is at all rugged.... Rocks, Roots, dips, inclines, etc I find it hard to keep my eyes up. Adding a heavy pack magnifies the problem.
I often use two hiking poles on rough terrain. It gives a little more confidence to keep your eyes up. In that if you do stumble over something the poles can be jammed into the ground to catch yourself.
Thanks;
Jon

Also don't forget to look back down the trail. It's amazing how different the trail can look when hiking it in the opposite direction.

Adam

Looking up is great - I try to do it often - but on some of the more rugged trails in the Rockies you'll end up face-down kissing those rocks in the trail if you're not careful.

When I'm hiking with friends, we're either a few feet away from each other jabbering up a storm, or far more than 20 steps apart hiking in silence, enjoying the wilderness. If you cannot reaquire line of sight to your hiking buddy after stopping for 30 seconds, you've gotten too far apart though. Generally, I'd say we can be within "touching distance" in 60 seconds or less when we're spread out into our silence zones.

Absolutely. Looking backwards regularly --particularly when at forks in the trail -- and wearing comfortable shoes are among the cardinal rules of hiking.

We could also get into the dangers of relying on your GPS to find your way back. Batteries die at the most unexpected times and a dead GPS is just a paperweight. (And if I have to carry a paperweight, I'd rather it be a snow globe.)

I don't carry anything that requires batteries. I've never needed GPS or anything like that. I do take a shake flashlight but I don't usually hike at night so I haven't used it that much.

I usually carry a GPS, a Garmin 60CSx. It has a memory card with both highway and topo maps for most of the US and Canada.

I use it for driving all the time and I always carry it hiking. I try not to rely on it, but I don't see any reason to tempt fate so I'm happy having it with me.

I also always carry a paper map and a good Suunto compass (and a keychain backup compass) when hiking, but if I ever seriously got lost, I'd be very glad to have the GPS with me.

Also, you may never purposefully hike at night, but you never know what might happen. I'm always prepared to spend the night outdoors, even when I'm just day hiking. A flashlight with batteries is an absolute must for me; in fact, I carry perhaps a few too many... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I don't carry maps or compasses or anything like that. I know most people should, and I wouldn't reccomend no maps or compasses for everyone, but I always know the area I'm hiking in and if it get's dark I camp. I can always either get back to my car or back to my house (They are never more than a mile or two away) in total darkness if I have to, I make sure of it. Since I don't have a schedule I have to keep, I would more than likely just camp.

I wouldn't go that far.. I always have at least an LED head lamp.. You never know when you might be hiking in the night unexpectedly.. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Look straight, look around, look up, scan five steps ahead. Eyes never stop moving. Test where your foot is before you move your weight to it. If it looks funny, poke it with your staff, not with you. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've noticed the same thing. It's hard to not let the little devil out play with them.

I second that. I always carry my Petzl Tikka XP in an Aloksak along with spare batteries. I got caught ONCE at night while hiking... not fun. In the winter, it's safer because of the white bed of snow, easy to find your way... But in the summer, you can easily trip over rocks and other hazards; a headlamp is not powerful enough for safe night hiking, but it can help if you're careful.

Bee,

Here in Phoenix the park system has full moon night hikes. It is so bright that no light is needed. If fact when someone turns on a light it is very annoying and the hikers (me) start grumbling.

I have hiked at night with my Petzl Tikka XP. It lights up the trail good enough to hike. We have gone out looking for cottontail rabbits. We were not hunting just nature watching for a Boy Scout merit badge. It is fun because the rabbits eyes light up so they are easy to find and they freeze when you shine the light on them. I was out with my wife and 11 year old twins.

I rarely use a flashlight when I'm in the woods. I did use it to scare off a small bob cat the last time I was out. I just turned it on and threw it toward the cat and yelled. He scampered right off and I didn't see him again. If you spend enough time in one area, you get to know it as well as you know your own home.