Summer is the ultimate time to unplug and venture out into the wilderness for a much-needed getaway, but it’s also important to be prepared.
Proper preparation and precaution doesn’t just include safety measures to prevent accidents, but also ways to remain environmentally conscious.
In this article, you will find some quick tips to ensure you’re having a great time enjoying the backcountry, as well as setting yourself and nature up for success.
Proper gear
Nothing is worse than realizing you’re away from civilization without the proper gear to keep yourself dry, protected from wildlife, as safe as possible from injury and more.
- Wear required footwear. You don’t want to be that person.
- Have a first aid kit handy. This should include items such as bandaids in an assortment of sizes, polysporin, afterbite, gauze, antiseptic wipes, scissors, medical tape and blister protection (Moleskin, 2nd Skin, etc.)
- Pack some pills. Something that may come in handy is a little bottle of pills containing items such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, Benadryl, Midol (for menstruating people), Gravol, and any other necessary medication you may need.
- Pack proper outdoor wear. This will ultimately depend on what kind of hike you’re doing, so pay attention to the weather and pack accordingly. Be prepared for the weather to change too (ex. unexpected rain or dropping temperatures).
- Bugs. Bugs. Bugs. They love you just as much as you hate them (particularly horse flies, mosquitos, black flies, sand flies, etc.), so bring spray and use that afterbite from your first aid kit. Depending on the hike, a bug net may not be a bad idea.
- Bring sun protection—whether that’s a hat, sunscreen or both, you’ll want to have something.
Safety
Nobody ever expects things to go wrong, but if/when they do, you’ll want to be prepared to handle it or rest assured that other people will.
The ‘Proper Gear’ section above overlaps with the ‘Safety’ category, but here’s some extra tips.
- Plan ahead and prepare. This research will include your route, park rules, conditions of the hike, weather and more.
- Tell people where you’re going and when you expect to get back. This will ensure someone knows to contact the appropriate Search and Rescue team if you’re overdue.
- Bring a satellite device that is able to send emergency signals without cell service.
- Be mindful of wildlife. If you’re headed into bear, wolf and/or cougar country, pack bear spray and read about ways to interact with them if spotted on the trail.
- Don’t eat anything you aren’t sure about. If you’re a forager or spot some tasty looking fruit on your walk, don’t eat it unless you know it won’t harm you.
- Know your limits. Know what your body is capable of to prevent injury and/or extreme exhaustion. Consider training to improve your fitness if you’re planning a longer or more arduous hike.
- Stay hydrated. It’s beyond important to pack enough water or have a means of refilling your bottles and/or bladders. Bring a filter and/or water treatment tablets.
See also: 70-year-old injured mountain biker airlifted out of Englishman River Falls (VIDEO)
Leave no trace
One of the first things backpacking experts will hammer into each interested party is the ‘Leave No Trace’ practices, as they ultimately combine all principles of responsible backpacking etiquette.
A great source of information for a full list of these practices is expert Taryn Eyton, who has written many backpacking books, including one about hiking on Vancouver Island.
- Pack it in, pack it out. Bring sealable garbage bags to keep odours from attracting wildlife and bring it home with you. Do not leave anything on the trails, including fruit peels. Use provided bear caches or make your own by tying things up in a tree away from your campsite.
- Washing dishes. Use a biodegradable soap and your largest pot as the sink. Then, make sure to strain out any large particles then dump your dirty dishwater at least 70 metres from a water source. Place the larger chunks in your sealable garbage bag to pack out with you.
- Mindful bathroom breaks. Relieve yourself at least 70 metres away from your campsite or a water source to avoid attracting wildlife and polluting the water, which could lead to some extremely unpleasant gut issues, as well as harm fish and plants.
- If you’re going number two, dig a six-inch deep hole and bury your feces and biodegradable toilet paper once you’re done. Or consider wiping yourself with moss, leaves, rocks or snow.
Do you have any more tips for backcountry trips on Vancouver Island? Let us know in the comments!
