Safety, Gear, and the Wilderness Ethic
Safety
Always tell somebody where you’re hiking and when you expect to return. Friends, family, rangers, and visitor centers are all valuable resources that can save you from a backcountry disaster when you fail to reappear on time.
Know your limits. Don’t undertake a hike that exceeds your physical fitness or wilderness abilities.
Try not to hike alone. A hiking partner can provide the margin between life and death in the event of a serious backcountry mishap.
Be prepared. Plan appropriately for the expected terrain and weather, and always carry essential survival gear.
Drink lots of water. Prevent dehydration and its accompanying dangers by consuming as much water as possible. Always purify water taken from rivers, lakes, and streams in the backcountry.
Animal Hazards
Bears
The grizzly bear is extinct in California, and only its smaller cousin the black bear still roams the mountains. Seldom dangerous, black bears will usually run away as soon as they spot you. In popular areas—Yosemite being the prime example—resident bears have learned that people mean food and exhibit no fear of humans. If a bear approaches, be loud and obnoxious, bang pots, throw small rocks, and try to frighten the animal away. Always avoid females with cubs, as the maternal instinct can make her attack if she feels her young are threatened.
When you are camping in bear country, it is imperative that you safely secure food and any scented items (toothpaste, deodorant, and so on) away from the campsite. Plastic bear canisters are now required in many locations, including Yosemite and Sequoia–Kings Canyon National Parks and most of Inyo National Forest. They are available for inexpensive rental from the primary visitor centers and ranger stations.
Hanging your food from a nearby tree is an option in less-traveled areas. To hang your food, divide it evenly between two stuff sacks and find a tree with a long, thin branch extending at least 10 feet from the trunk and at least 20 feet from the ground. Throw a rope over the branch using a weighted object of some kind, tie one of the stuff sacks to the end, hoist it to the branch, attach the second stuff sack as far above the ground as possible on the other end of the rope, and use a stick to push the second sack upward until it is level with the first.
Rattlesnakes
Common throughout Northern California below approximately 6,000 feet, these venomous snakes like to bask on hot rocks in the sun. They usually flee at the first sight of people and will attack only if threatened. Be wary when cruising off-trail, and don’t put your hands where you can’t see them when scrambling on rocky slopes.
If you do get bitten, the goal is to reduce the rate at which the poison circulates through your body—try to remain calm, keep the bite site below the level of your heart, remove any constricting items (rings, watches, and so on) from the soon-to-be-swollen extremity, and do not apply ice or chemical cold to the bite; this can cause further damage to the surrounding tissue. Seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
Ticks
These parasites love brushy areas at low elevations and are common throughout the state, especially during the rainy season. Always perform regular body checks when hiking through tick country. If you find a tick attached to you, don’t try to pull it out with your fingers or pinch the body; removing it this way is difficult and can increase the risk of infection. Using an appropriate tool instead, gently pull the tick out by lifting upward from the base of the body where it is attached to the skin. Pull straight out until the tick releases, and do not twist or jerk as this may break off the mouth parts under your skin. A stiff pair of tweezers works well for this operation.
Lyme Disease
While this disease is present in Northern California, only one of the 48 tick species found in the state is capable of transmitting it: the diminutive western black-legged tick. Chances for exposure are low, though the risk is steadily growing. Again, always perform regular body checks when hiking through tick country.
Caused by a spirochete, Lyme disease is potentially life threatening and can be hard to diagnose in its early phases. Common early symptoms include fatigue, chills and fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and a blotchy skin rash that clears centrally to produce a characteristic ring shape 3–30 days after exposure. If you fear that you have been exposed to Lyme disease, consult a doctor immediately. Note that the majority of infected people never see the tick that bit them.
Giardia
Giardia lamblia is a microscopic organism occasionally found in backcountry water sources. Existing in a dormant cyst form while in the water, the critter develops in the gastrointestinal tract upon being consumed and can cause diarrhea, excessive flatulence, foul-smelling excrement, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal cramps. While the risk of contraction is very slight, the potential consequences are worth preventing. All water taken from the backcountry should be purified with a filter, with a chemical treatment, or by boiling for a minimum of 60 seconds. Be especially vigilant about water sources near heavily used camping areas.
Deer Mice
There is no known cure for hantavirus, a rare but usually fatal pulmonary syndrome acquired by ingesting the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents, or by touching your nose, mouth, or eyes after handling infected rodents, their nests, or droppings. Deer mice are 4–7 inches long, are gray to brown in color with white fur on the belly, and have large ears. They are common around the state. Never handle rodent nests, avoid buildings they inhabit, and never leave food sitting out.
Mountain Lions
Common throughout the state, mountain lions are rarely seen. If you do encounter a mountain lion acting aggressively, make yourself look as large as possible and do not run away.
Plants to Avoid
Poison Oak
If you learn to identify only one plant in California, it had better be this one. Poison oak grows throughout California below approximately 4,000 feet. A low-lying shrub or bush, it has glossy, oaklike leaves that always grow in clusters of three and turn bright red in the fall before dropping off in the winter. Both the leaves and stems contain an oil that causes a strong allergic reaction in most people, creating a maddening and long-lived itchy rash that can spread across the body. Wash thoroughly after any exposure. Poison oak is mentioned in the hike description if it occurs along a given trail.
Poison oak leaves (photo: Jane Huber)
Stinging Nettle
Common along the coast, this spiny plant causes an unpleasant stinging sensation when any part of it comes in contact with your skin. It is also mentioned in the hike description when it appears along a given trail.
Physical Dangers
Lightning
Thunderstorms are common during the summer months and often bring lightning, especially at higher elevations. If you see a thunderstorm approaching, avoid exposed ridges and peaks, take shelter in low places, and sit on some sort of insulating
