High on Hiking Checklist: Common Sense

Wilderness experts offer one critical bit of advice for people heading into the mountains, forests or deserts: Use common sense.

“Develop some wilderness savvy or outdoor savvy, and make sure you utilize it,” said Judy Behrens, public affairs officer for the Cleveland National Forest in Corona.

Common sense includes some basic planning:

* Know where you’re going. Use maps to plan your itinerary.

* Tell someone where you’re going and when to expect you back. That way rescuers have a place to start searching should trouble arise.

* Stick to the plan. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Tuttle said rescuers several years ago wasted valuable time searching for a missing hiker because he changed plans without telling anyone. They found him dead of exposure miles from where he had told his family he was going.

* If you have a cell phone, bring it. But don’t count on it to save you. Because of steep terrain, cell phones often don’t work in forest and mountain regions.

* Know the climate. Bring warm, water-repellent clothing if heading into the mountains, and lighter clothing and a hat for the desert. And bring extra clothing to both places. Nighttime temperatures can plummet.

* Invest in durable hiking shoes that will improve traction and protect the feet from sharp rocks.

* Carry food and extra water. Dehydration is a threat even in the winter.

* Be wary. “Watch for mountain lions and rattlesnakes, ticks and poison oak,” Behrens said. “If the animals don’t get you, the bugs will. And if the bugs don’t get you, the vegetation will.”