One of the best ways to get out and remain healthy is to hit the open trails and open space. But if everyone is doing it, you’ll be filing up and down a mountain like a bunch of ants attacking a picnic basket. There are a ton of open hiking trails near where I live and, if you are like me, you’ll want to hit them for some much-needed outdoor time.But don’t ignore COVID-19 precautions. Here are some hiking safety rules — particularly for the urban hiker trying something different.
Hiking safety rules
Hiking with dogs
Hiking with your dog can be fun and great exercise for you both. Double-check that your dog is allowed on the trail you are going on. Not every hiking trail allows dogs and if they do, you’ll need to keep him on a leash in most cases. This is to protect him, you, the terrain, and the wildlife. Pack more poop bags than you think you’ll need and practice a No Trace method of hiking — clean up after yourself and your dog for anything including poop bags and snack wrappers.
You might want to buy a dog backpack. Make sure your dog is in good enough shape to do the hike. It’s important to pay attention to your dog and give him lots of breaks, especially if there is not a lot of cover. Dogs aren’t great about regulating their need for rest, so you’ll need to do this for him to make sure he doesn’t overexert himself and risk heat stroke.
By all means, learn the risks of the trail for your dog. This includes how the terrain might affect his paws as well as what types of critters you may encounter. If your dog isn’t a regular on the trails, he might find a snake interesting rather than a threat.
