How to Keep You and Yours Safe on the Trails
Here in Vermont, we have a lot of excellent hiking trails and great climbs to enjoy during the spring, summer and fall months. We love taking our dog Hemi with us and he enjoys the experience just as much as we do (ok, he might enjoy it a bit more than we do). Here are some tips and tricks to ensure a safe and fun experience for everyone!
1. Personality! Make sure your dog has the right temper he needs to hike trails where you think other people will be. No one wants to be out on the trails and find that someone else’s dog is a jerk. Most of the time, it isn’t a problem but everyone once in a while…Anyway, it ruins the experience for other hikers so, manners really do matter! Leash your dog when necessary and let him run and be off when/if appropriate.
2. Safety First. Always have a map of the area you plan to hike with the route planned out before you set out. Tell someone else, who will not be with you, where you are going, what route you plan to take, and how long you plan to be gone for. No one plans on getting lost, but it happens to the best of us. It’s easy to get turned around or off the trail, so it’s a good idea to have your phone with you and fully charged. It is also helpful to know what poisonous plants and wild animals may be around. Not to scare you out of the woods, but I find just being aware of my surroundings has helped me a great deal.
3. First Aid- Don’t forget first aid for you, the kids and the animals! Even for short hikes, remembering or forgetting your kit can make or break the day. Always carry gauze, band aids, topical disinfectant (I recommend, make and use a topical salve called 7 Herb Compound), a pair of tweezers and any medications you will need for the duration of the hike. Be sure to program doctors and vets into your phone, just in case.
4. Water, water, water. Don’t forget the water for you and your pet. Some water sources on the trails may look clean, but if you wouldn’t drink from it, your dog probably shouldn’t either. Purify the water for you and your dog even if you think its fine. Some water sources can contain Giardia (a very nasty parasite) that is very harmful to you and your dog, so it's best to be on the safe side. If it’s too much for you to carry all that water, think about a backpack for your dog. Most dogs can carry up to 15% of their body weight, and some dogs can handle up to 25%. Honestly, I have never used a backpack on our dogs, but I have seen them used, some dogs seem to really enjoy having a job to do. Most dogs could probably manage carrying their own water and food in a backpack.
5. Do be realistic about the amount of hiking you, and everyone else with you, can handle in one day. Agree on how much you want to accomplish at one time, take rests, and drink plenty of water while you are resting.
6. I don’t know about your area, but we currently have a bad tick problem. Make sure you and your dog are protected before you head out. I use an herbal spray on all of us and it works great, you can get it here. You can use whatever you’re comfortable with, but ticks are bad news so be sure you have tested your products to make sure it works well and is non-toxic for all of you. Recently a friend told me that Bounce dryer sheets help ward off ticks. I have been using them to rub all over our clothes before heading out. I don’t know if it has been helping with the ticks, but we sure do smell good!
Get out there and hit those trails! Have fun and be safe!!
Blessings,
Michele Thurston
