Preparation Is Crucial for Safe Walks
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area provides the following hiking and safety tips:
* Ticks are plentiful, and some carry disease. Examine clothing and exposed skin after hiking.
* Southern Pacific rattlesnakes make the mountains their home. Stay away from them, and they won’t bother you. In case of rattlesnake bite, do not make an incision or try to draw out venom. Apply a splint and go to an emergency room.
* Poison oak grows in shady, moist areas and can be identified by its clusters of three shiny leaflets. The best way to avoid it is to wear long pants and stay on trails.
* Help prevent wildfires. Do not smoke on the trail or in brush areas. Do not build fires on the ground.
* Carry plenty of water and drink it. One quart for short walks, more for longer hikes.
* Never hike alone. When you use the buddy system, someone can go for help if there is trouble.
* Travel light. Water should be the heaviest item in your pack.
Sign up for The Wild
We’ll help you find the best places to hike, bike and run, as well as the perfect silent spots for meditation and yoga.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
