Physical activity is associated with many healthy benefits , needed for everyone regardless of their health issues .We don’t have to be diagnosed with something that obligates us to change our habits and be forced to increase our physical activity.
Hiking/walking is a perfect way of improving and enhancing our wellbeing.
It helps to reduce stress, lowers blood pressure, improves control over healthy weight and it can lead to increasing our flexibility and coordination.
Practicing hiking with family and friends will enrich our relationships and maintain a better quality life!
No one ever wants and intends to get lost. However , it could happen and it is in our hands to take all of the necessary precautions to avoid it.
Before you start your journey ,make sure to inform someone about where exactly you will be hiking ,what time should you start and all of the details of your trip plan.
There are a few things that you can do if your ever find yourself in a situation like this:
1. Call for help
Reaching to first responders is the first thing you should do. Trying to find out where your exact location is on the map, will be helpful as well.
This website offers a quick solution for similar situations. You can easily check your current location and the correct coordinates .
The authorities always check and rely on the coordinates, in order to act fast and to arrive at the right destination where they are needed.
In this kind of situation, it is good if you can keep your phone on airplane mode , just to save your remaining battery in case you need to use it several times more.
Once you reach for help, you should remain in the same place you reported and wait patiently. If you move, researchers will have to search for a moving target and it will definitely prolong the rescue for quite some time.
2. Be noticeable
Staying in the same place will help, but you should also make sure to make yourself visible and easy to notice. Another thing that helps here is to be audible and detectable.
Wearing bright clothes, making different whistle sounds and trying to make yourself look bigger and easy to notice, will definitely shorten the time of you being lost .
3. Look and listen
The important thing here is to be observant of everything around you.
You should check the surrounding area. Look for near campsites ,food wrappers or bottles and look for the trail. It could lead you to the way where they went.
That can also mean that you are near to a road that can lead you out or a logging camp which can provide you emergency shelter.
Try to listen very carefully! Stop for a second and listen to every sound. A well traveled road can be nearby, so try to catch as much as you can.
Look for trails. They are very often marked with signs at intersections.
4. Take care of yourself
Find a place that is going to be a shelter for the time being.
If cold , start a small fire to warm up. This will also be a smoke signal which is easily detectable. Wear extra clothes to prevent hypothermia.
Make sure to take the time for rest.
Save your energy and don’t wait for the tiredness to kick in. If you ignore your body, your pain can get worse and you will feel exhausted even more.
While resting, take something to eat to maintain some level of energy.
Try to stay hydrated as well and drink water. If you don’t have plenty of water, drink enough to avoid dehydration.
5. Stay calm
Our mind and thoughts can be controlling a lot , especially in tough situations like being lost.
Make sure to take deep breaths and try to remain calm. Yes, it will be difficult but it will save you both nerves and energy.
You might experience anxiety and panic attacks, but it is normal to feel like that when you get stuck in such moments. Try not to let anxiety cloud your thinking, as you will need a clear mind to overcome that obstacle.
Remember , it all depends from our thoughts what kind of a life we will lead.
Think positively and believe that in the end, everything will turn out just fine.
Getting lost while hiking can be overwhelming and scary, but it is up to us how to prevent that from happening or how to act if it happens.
Pre-planning before going on a hike is a must. Informing others where the hike is, no matter if you are hiking on your own or with someone else, is definitely a good precaution.
Try to print them the trail you will be following and make sure to leave one copy in your vehicle , just in case .
Make sure to leave prepared .That means that you should have enough food and beverages , a proper gear specifically for hiking and make sure to dress for the conditions.
Find hiking lovers as buddies. It will be much funnier and safer, that being on your own.
Do your research on the trail you chose for the day. How far is it, how much time you will need to get to a certain point or to finish it and at the end , try to pick an easier hike according to your abilities .
Check the weather conditions. You will be sure what kind of clothes to bring and to be prepared. It would be a shame if you get to the middle and not be able to continue if there is snow.
To sum up, hiking can be one hell of an adventure so make sure to be prepared.
Pack your essentials, prepare a plan, choose your hike friends and try to avoid getting lost.
In the end if it happens , you will be able to see what you are capable of and how to handle tough situations!