If you get lost hiking, can your dog help you get unlost? Maybe! Depends on the dog, depends on the situation. Here are two contrasting stories of me getting lost (or close to lost) while hiking in southern Utah. One time my two dogs — golden retrievers Hana and Molly — found and indicated the […]
Lassen Peak Trail Closed until at least 2010 Because of Recent Rockfall Death
The recent tragic death from a rockfall/avalanche on the Lassen Peak Trail has led Lassen Volcanic National Park officials to close the last 1.2 miles of the trail to the summit of Lassen Peak. From a Lassen Volcanic National Park press release: The first 1.3 miles of the 2.5 mile Lassen Peak Trail in Lassen […]
Tom Stienstra’s “Ten Commandments to Stay Alive in the Wild”
Tom Stienstra, the outdoors columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, recently wrote an important piece on how to decrease the chances of something nasty happening to you when you’re exploring outdoors. You all need to read this article; I know I’ve violated more than one these commandments several times in my life–luckily I’m still here. […]
Dog Gets Hiker Lost in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Here’s the gist of the story from the Mercury News about the Santa Cruz woman whose dog got her lost in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: 43-year-old woman emerged on her own from the rugged Fall Creek section of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park early Saturday morning after spending two chilly nights there while rescuers […]
Cows Attack Hikers!
I’ve hiked around cows my entire life, and there’s been several times when cattle have been aggressive toward me. Cows attack hikers? It definitely happens, as you’ll read below and especially in the comments. Many of the stories are from trails around the Bay Area in California. When Cows Attack Hikers Tom Mangan of the […]
Red Buttes Wilderness Hikers Spend Unexpected Night in the Woods
Two hikers recently got lost after hiking some trails in the Red Buttes Wilderness, which straddles the border between Oregon and California. We recently had some great comments about my post on Derek Mamoyac’s five-day ordeal on Mount Adams in southern Washington. Several people gave great advice on how to hike safely (especially alone). Red […]
Surviving Five Days on Mount Adams
The search and eventual rescue of hiker Derek Mamoyac on Mount Adams in southern Washington featured prominently in the news earlier this month. Mount Adams Hiker Survives You need to read this; many of us hike at high elevations, and injury is always a risk. Of course, Derek was also hiking alone. If he had […]
Hiking Can Be Hazardous–Always Be Prepared!
The October Hike of the Month takes you to Emigrant Lake in the Mokelumne Wilderness. However, remember that this is October, and you must be prepared for winter conditions at such a high elevation. Don’t go unless you have the equipment, experience and physical stamina. A recent tragedy in the Sierra Nevada took a hiker’s life: PLACER […]
Hikers Using Cell Phones: Minor Annoyance or Cardinal Sin?
Why not use cell phones when hiking? Because one, it distracts you from the beauty surrounding you; two, it annoys wildlife, including your hiking partners and anybody else within earshot; three, you’re in nature – try to leave the technology at home. And four, it’s dangerous. Herewith a post from the fascinating blog Hiker Hell (all […]