If you ever decide to go hiking, even for a short period of time, I can't express how important it is to be smart, and know that no matter how short of a time you plan on spending out there, anything can happen to you.

It's the really small things that people don't even think about that gets them into trouble. I am a very good example of this. I decided to go trail running a few years back, and I was feeling really energetic that particular day. Of course I planned on running in, and running out before the sun went down. So the sun started to go down, and I decided it was time to run back. Now the trail markers crossed at grey and blue and consequently, they looked exactly the same, with just a little less sunlight. I was lost until the next morning because before I knew it, there was no sun, and no moon what so ever.

I was lucky in fact. What I didn't know was that in any direction it was only a matter of miles in any direction to find a way out. I didn't know that of course and i went in circles a bit, but imagine if it was a large park, and I could have been lost for weeks. That's potential death for many reasons I can name and all i needed... was a flashlight and it would never have happened.

Stupid right? Well its really not, in all honesty, its something so simple, especially with my background, I figured it couldn't happen to me. And it happens to a lot of people and some aren't so lucky. You need to be educated at least a little bit before you go out there, and bring some emergency supplies just in case.

Every time I tell people that moose are dangerous they look at me funny like "wha"? Those are people that may try and pet the creature that can trample you to death. Or they think because they are packing a knife, they're going to fend off a bear. The chances are slim I hate to say. In fact in almost all cases people run from bears, and then what good is that knife? But if you knew that running downhill is your best chance against a bear you'd come out unscathed (most people think playing dead is best).

Just don't make the mistake of thinking that accidents, and unfortunate incidents can't happen to you. If you do your research, and bring the essential, you can always be assured that you'll have nothing but a fun, safe time.

About the Author

Ryan Hills is a survival expert in many fields of the outdoors. As an an ex-marine Ryan's training has taken him from the land, the air and the sea. If you plan on going on a hike, you should consider visiting the ten essentials to surviving the wild at the wilderness survival page.