The Bigfoot Hunter's Guide:
Hiking 2: During the Hiking Trip

(Continued from Hiking 1)

• Plan to Stop Frequently. Plan regular stops along the route to drink water, eat snacks, change socks, and cool off. If you are leading the group, these stops are also a good time to check with everyone to make sure they are doing alright.

• Stay on the Trail. It is the safest and fastest way to travel. 

• Assign Someone to Watch for Trail Markers. Have someone in the group specifically watching for trail markers. It will be their primary responsibility to make sure that you are not traveling off the beaten path. This person should quickly notify the group if they no longer see trail markers as you travel. The absence of trail markers could be an indication that you have strayed off the main path.

•  Be Flexible and Adjust your Schedule if Necessary. If someone in the group is starting to have a hard time keeping up you will have to respond to that. You may not be able to make your waypoints by the time you had originally planned.

•  Keep your Cargo Pockets Empty. Maps or other paper items are okay, but anything with weight will cause rubbing against your legs and possible injury.

•  Don’t Let Your Feet Go Too Long Without Checking Them for Injury. The faster you address the problems, the smaller a problem it will be. Treat blisters with moleskin. The sooner they are treated, the less of a problem they will become.

• Don’t Be Afraid to Tell Others to Slow Down or Stop. If you are getting tired and need a rest, tell someone. If you pass out or a more serious issue develops, it could result in injury to you, others or at a minimum, kill the whole trip while the group tries to get help for you.

• Don’t Try Anything Too Risky When Out in the Middle of Nowhere. Remember, most people who get themselves into trouble out in the woods didn’t expect it to turn out that way. Medical help will be a long way away.

• Step on Level Flat Ground if Possible When Making Steps. Avoid stepping on the tops of rocks. Rocks can turn over resulting in a twisted or broken ankle.

•  What to Do If You Get Lost. If you get lost, get to a high point and try to use terrain association or resection to figure out where you are. If you can’t figure it out, get to a clearing where you can be seen from the air and start making rescue preparations before you get too tired.

• Avoid Overheating. Dress up or down as needed.

• Watch the Weather. Keep track of changes in the weather and amount of daylight left.