to do on the trail, so s/he can feel important as you walk.
Remind your child that whoever walks steadily in front and is quietest will see the most animals.
If you know a little about the trees or flowers, share it with your children, for they readily absorb natural history facts and are so proud about what they have learned. Have them count bundles of pine needles to differentiate between species or find flowers of all colors of the rainbow (just don’t pick them).
Make children feel proud of their walking abilities. Let children know in advance if you are going on a long walk and tell them that they are very capable of being able to complete it. I rate walks for my 5-year-old daughter by age, not miles, and she proudly rises to the occasion when she realizes that she gets to go on a hike rated above her age.
Pick a destination with water play.
Play hide-and-seek along the trail.
Take walks with other children. Or make it a special occasion to have a one-on-one conversation with your child, instead of interacting only with the adults present.
When the little legs begin to lag, have one adult go a few steps ahead and hide an occasional snack for a treasure hunt.And don’t be too hard on them:
Remember that kids are more adversely affected by heat than adults are. Make sure that they wear wide-brimmed hats, drink plenty of water, eat food, and get lots of shady breaks.
A very buggy trip will be a negative memory for a long time. During June and July avoid walks described as mosquito-prone.
Promise a treat at the end of the day or trip—a special snack or a Yosemite-themed book at the visitor center.
STAYING SAFE
There is no reason to worry about your safety in a wilderness setting, but you must remember both to take care of your body’s needs and to be aware of dangers that could arise. Cell phone reception is rare, and you may be alone on the trail, meaning that your party is responsible for getting yourselves safely back to the trailhead or fetching help if an injury occurs. If you are lost, especially off the trail, stay put. Members of your party or rescuers will find you more quickly if you haven’t wandered farther afield.
Taking care of yourself: While exercising, you need to eat, drink, and maintain the correct body temperature to keep your body functioning. When on a hike, this requires a little forethought. Always wear sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat. If you plan to be away from the car for more than 20 minutes, you should carry water, food, extra clothing (when appropriate), a map, and a small first-aid kit. It is important to drink water and eat as you exert yourself. Stop at least every 30 minutes for a drink and every 1–2 hours for a snack. For hikes up to 3 miles, carry a quart of water per person, and for longer excursions carry 2 quarts per person. In summer I include a jacket in my backpack when above 8,000 feet, where winds are stronger and thunderstorms more likely to build. During spring and fall I carry a warmer layer at all elevations. The tiniest of first-aid kits can simply contain a mild pain reliever (such as aspirin or acetaminophen), a few Band-Aids and larger bandages to cover a wound, and a roll of sports tape to hold bandages in place or cover a developing blister. Mosquito repellent is often an appreciated addition to your luggage, especially at the higher elevations in June and July and in Yosemite Valley in spring.
Avoiding dangers: During the spring, summer, and fall months, Yosemite is a fairly benign location, with mostly pleasant weather. However, there are environmental hazards of which you should be aware. Most injuries to park visitors occur because visitors ignore or are not familiar with warning messages issued by Mother Nature. Below is a brief overview on how to avoid common dangers.
CLIFFS AND WATERFALLS Cliffs and steep granite slabs occur throughout Yosemite, including along many of the trails described in this book. There is nothing inherently dangerous about any of the hikes described, but poor judgment can take you too close to an escarpment. There are many drop-offs and unfenced (or poorly fenced) vista points, so don’t clown around near an edge. Don’t step forward or backward while staring through a camera viewfinder (or at a camera screen). And if you feel uneasy about the terrain you are on, turn around.
The tops of waterfalls require special attention, for the water-polished rock upstream of a waterfall is exceptionally slick, even when dry. People have slipped on this rock and slid into the watercourse and over the edge. Many have swum in the water upstream of the falls, been caught by an unexpectedly strong current, and been pulled over the falls. For this reason Emerald Pool, at the top of Vernal Fall, was closed to swimmers in the 1990s.
ALTITUDE SICKNESS The walks around Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Pass are at quite high elevations, and the air’s oxygen content is considerably lower than at sea level. People not accustomed to high elevation are susceptible to altitude sickness. The best way to avoid it is to drink plenty of water, eat food, and walk slowly. Mild altitude sickness presents itself as a headache and a generally unwell feeling. With these symptoms it is safe to slowly continue to your destination. However, you should retreat to lower elevations if nausea persists or you feel that you are having an intensely difficult time breathing.
LIGHTNING Thunderstorms are a regular summer occurrence around Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, and Tioga Pass. If it is going to be a stormy day, clouds will begin to build up in the late morning or early afternoon, leading to mid- to late afternoon rain, hail, and lightning. You should avoid all open, exposed landscape, especially summits and exposed slabs, once you see the tall, dark thunderheads building. The sky can quickly transition from scattered clouds to a vicious storm. If you find yourself in an exposed location when the storm begins, stay out of shallow caves and away from overhangs. Then get in the lightning position, both to reduce the likelihood of a direct strike and to reduce the seriousness of any injury you may sustain. The National Outdoor Leadership School recommends squatting or sitting as low as possible, on a pile of clothes, and wrapping your arms around your legs. This position minimizes the chance of a ground current flowing through you. Close your eyes and keep your feet together to prevent the current from flowing in one foot and out the other.
STREAM CROSSINGS Of the walks described here, 14 have a stream crossing without a constructed bridge. Many of these are trivial to hop across, but several require balancing on a log or rocks, a long leap, or wet feet. What can be trivial for most of the year can be frightening and dangerous during the week of peak flow, generally in June or early July. As you approach a crossing, keep your eyes alert to spur trails, indicating the most-used crossing point, often a downed log that is slightly upstream or downstream of the trail. If nothing is immediately obvious, take a few minutes to hunt for a safe, dry crossing before jumping into the water. If you must wade a river, find a sturdy stick or hiking pole, or join arms with a hiking partner to help maintain your balance. Bare feet are OK for a sandy river bottom, but keep your shoes on if it is rocky; you are much more likely to slip if your feet are uncomfortable and you lack a firm stance. When water flows are high, expect wet feet en route to Lukens Lake (Hike 24) and Mono Pass (Hike 38). It is inadvisable to ever enter a swiftly flowing large stream, including the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, when in flood or at high flow.
RATTLESNAKES Western rattlesnakes, venomous vipers, are common up to elevations of 8,000 feet, although they can be found as high as 11,000 feet in midsummer. A triangular head; a regular pattern of beige, brown, and black splotches on their back; and a tail of rattles identify the species. That said, do not pick up any snakes, as rattlesnakes can vary considerably in color and young individuals do not yet have rattles. These rattlesnakes are not aggressive and give the characteristic tail shake—or rattle—to alert you to their presence. However, they will bite if threatened and when curled have
