There’s a place that my husband and I often go to hike. It is so magnificent! Even mentioning the name sets us in an exciting state of letting loose and not be bothered by all the anxieties in life. We somehow feel like creatures of the wild, roaming around this superb place, scurrying beside creeks that curves it way down through the infamous Wild Horse Canyon.
You can see mosses and a variety of growing little species clumping alongside the hiking trail. The big waterfall situated at the top that drops into the canyon is just an hour walk away. The even steeper trail below the canyon is more complicated to pass through, however we still do this when the weather is dry. One day last year we decided to take a hike into the canyon on a beautiful spring morning. Our backpacks were full of many things, a camera, our lunch and other stuff.
At the start of the hiking path, I observed a stick was leaning up against one of the huge pine trees along the way. I said to myself that this lovely stick could be ideal for a walking support and so I took it with us in our hike. At that moment, it was just my whim taking over me though I have never utilized a walking stick before. We trekked near streams that were gushing with too much water due to the spring rain that had poured from days before. We were lucky that the weather that day was doing well for us. My husband and I had roughly gotten below or the top of the waterfall so to speak. My husband had gone ahead and already crossed the little pool at the shallowest part. Always watch where you go, that is the primary cardinal rule when going out for a hike. Unfortunately at that time, I broke that rule when I was about to pass through the pool. I had a hard fall in the water. I was looking up while I was crossing and was unaware of the big rock below. I realized I had sprained my ankle pretty seriously and the pain was agonizing. I picked myself up and rested for a moment. Upon pondering, I understood we were in a sort of a predicament – how are we going to mount out with an injured ankle? Since we were at the bottom deep of the canyon, my husband and I were conscious that our cell phones would not get a signal. Great. Since we had hiked there so many times, we knew of a short cut to the road. My husband and I began climbing after I persuaded him that he had to get the car while I take the route nearest to the road on my own. Anyway, thanks for the handy walking stick that some Samaritan had left for me. It was a big help. It never really occurred to me that what I was in a very tough predicament but because of that walking stick, I was able to make it through. To conclude what happened that day, I got an ankle that was seriously sprained that led me to use crutches for quite a few weeks.
Therefore, the number one rule for hiking safety is to look before you step. Constantly be on guard of your vicinity. Carry a small first aid kit, water and a little snack. Wear a good pair of hiking boots (I think this really saved my ankle from being broken). Think it out many times before taking action. If you stumble upon a rock or a tree root, or loose dirt, you could seriously injure yourself and even get killed if you tumble down the hill afterwards.
You will be able to avoid snakes if you know where your foot is landing on. Always hike with a buddy, take breaks to rest and pace yourself. Furthermore, resting lets you enjoy the wonderful view. Do not divert from the hiking trail especially if you are out in the wild except if you completely know what you are doing. Let someone know where you are going. Do not jam-pack your bag with so many unnecessary items, take only what you need and some handy material that can be of use in case there’s an emergency. Also, know if it’s okay to be out with whatever climate you have at that time. In case of a chance of rain, include light rain gear.
Oh – and don’t forget the walking stick!
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