Safety

• It is best to always have at least one other person with you.


• Always let someone know that you are hiking and on which trail.


• Drink often to stay hydrated. Carry enough water for the day.


• Make sure you pack small snacks, perhaps more than you think you'll need.


• Embrace Leave No Trace ethics - using the Ashfield Trails or any wilderness area is not a right, it's a privilege we need to keep available to others years from now.


• Bring and use sunscreen and a hat to prevent sunburn, even on cloudy or cold days.


• Plan a hike that is suitable for everyone in your party and let the slower person set the pace.


• Keep your pack organized and put items back where you expect to find them.


• Repackage to reduce weight. No need to take an 8 ounce bottle of insect spray if you can pour some into a 1 ounce spray bottle. Don't bring the whole plastic-wrapped box of 12 energy bars when you'll only eat 2 and need one more just in case.


• Avoid cotton clothing.


• Keep a bandanna tied to your pack strap for a quick wipe of your brow as needed.


• Inspect your emergency and first aid kits before each hike. Replace consumed items.


• Use the bathroom before you set out.


• Water is critical for staying alive, but it is also deadly when mixed with cold on the trail. Keep yourself and your gear dry. Carry and use raingear.


• If your hands swell while hiking, raise them. Hold onto your pack shoulder strap for awhile and see how that helps. Use trek poles to keep your hands elevated a bit and keep the muscles active.


• Take a photo ID on the trail.


• You may see rock cairns, piles of rocks, along the trail. Don't destroy them, but don't add to them either. Don't create cairns, tree blazes, or any other sign to mark the trail - people should be able to navigate their own route and scarring the landscape doesn't help anyone. The agency with responsibility for managing the land will determine which markings are appropriate.

First Aid Kit Suggestions

The following is a list of items commonly agreed on as being essential for a first aid kit for short hikes - inspired by the Hiking Dude:

• Zip-loc bag or plastic-lined kit bag


• Bandages:


• Elastic roll bandage


• Adhesive tape


• Adhesive bandages, assorted sizes


• Gauze pads


• Consumable Items:


• Alcohol swabs


• Antiseptic ointment


• wipes


• Over the counter drugs:


• 
  
• Antihistamine (Benadryl, etc.); allergic reactions, insomnia


• Anti-inflammatory (Ibuprofen); inflammation, pain