Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California. Jeffrey P. Schaffer

      1 The wilderness permit does not serve as a registration system for hikers. Leave an itinerary, a route description, and expected time of return with friends or relatives, or inquire at the nearest ranger station about hiker sign-out procedures.

      2 Stay on maintained trails unless you are good at using a compass and topographic maps. When off the trail, you can easily lose your sense of direction, especially in a viewless forest or in bad weather.

      3 Solo hiking can be dangerous, particularly if you have large streams to ford. If you do set out alone, stick to frequently used trails so that you can get help if you become sick or injured.

      4 Watch your step on trails; the mountains are no place to get a sprained ankle. Don’t shortcut across switchbacks, for this leads to trail erosion.

      5 When you meet pack stock on the trail, remain quiet and in plain view. Allow them to pass by stepping off the trail; equestrians have the right-of-way.

      6 Close all gates. They prevent stock from wandering up and down the trail.

      7 If you want to wear hiking boots, make sure they are well broken-in to avoid blisters. Wear at least two pairs of socks, and carry molefoam just in case.

      8 If you bring children along, be sure they have some personal identification on them at all times. Tell them what to do if they get lost (they should stay put) and give them a whistle or other means of signaling for help. Don’t leave them alone; there are mountain lions out there.

      9 Confusion about which trail to take at trail junctions frequently results in spread-out parties becoming separated. To avoid confusion and the possibility of someone getting lost, faster party members should wait for slower members at all trail junctions. If your party has members who want to travel at different paces, then be sure enough of them have a marked map that shows the party’s route and campsite for each night.

      10 Be prepared for rain or snow any time of the year above 7000 feet. Learn survival techniques, especially how to stay warm and dry in inclement weather. Above 9000 feet, wear dark glasses and/or a hat, for the dangerous ultraviolet radiation up there is very intense, and prolonged exposure increases your risk of skin cancer and damage to your eyes. On exposed skin, use a strong lip balm and a strong sunscreen (30+).

      11 Don’t underestimate the power of moving water, particularly since streambeds tend to be quite slippery. One of the greatest dangers to backcountry travelers is crossing streams. White water and areas above cascades and waterfalls are especially dangerous. A rope is useful in crossing swift streams, but hang on to it rather than tie into it. Hikers tied in have drowned before they could untie the rope after slipping, because their taut rope forced them underwater.

      12 Lightning is a hazard in the mountains. You can gauge how far away a lightning strike is by counting the seconds it takes for thunder to arrive after you see a lightning flash. A 5-second delay means the strike was about a mile away. A 1-second delay means that it was about 1000 feet away, and you are too close for comfort—absolutely seek shelter. Do not continue upward into a thunderstorm. Get off ridges and peaks. Stay away from meadows and lakes and also avoid exposed lone objects such as large rocks, isolated trees, railing, cable, and sizable objects. Find shelter in forested areas. Your vehicle is a safe place to wait out a storm.

      13 If the trail’s tread is vague, if it is under snow, or if there are multiple paths due to cycles or cattle, then look for blazes or ducks. A blaze is a place on a tree trunk where someone has carved away a patch of bark to leave a conspicuous scar. A duck is one or several small rocks placed upon a larger rock in such a way that the placement is obviously human-made. Where a trail crosses bedrock, it is often bordered by large rocks placed there by trail crews. Occasionally a large human-made rock pile, or cairn, will be found, usually marking a route.

      14 Pets aren’t allowed on national park trails. Elsewhere, you still shouldn’t take your pets on the trail. Dogs in particular annoy other hikers, spook stock, harass wildlife, pollute campsites, and sometimes import diseases harmful to other mammals. Furthermore, dogs do get lost, contrary to what many people believe. Finally, rocky trail treads can badly cut a dog’s feet. Carry bandages or duct tape if you do bring your dog.

      15 When John Muir roamed through the Sierra during the 19th Century, he cut branches to sleep on and built a bonfire to warm himself through the night. Muir made very little impact on the environment, but due to the great number