One of the many reasons people get rescued or die in wilderness areas or national parks is because they fail to understand their bodies’ limits, or underestimate the strenuous nature of the hike they are undertaking. I’m going to share a few personal examples I ran across this summer as fair warnings of why you absolutely must plan for the hike, understand your body, and set realistic expectations.
When hikers, rangers, and others with significant experience in the wilderness or on trails talk about acclimating your body, we don’t mean “give it three days, and you’re good to go.” We mean, if you know there is a strenuous hike you want to complete, you need to prepare weeks or months in advance so your body and mind are physically and mentally prepared. You cannot travel to a national park, grab a permit, and be good to go. Wilderness areas and national parks are often extremes; that is to say, you are typically going to be faced with natural or relatively undisturbed conditions such as paved paths and clear signs; a lack of infrastructure, such as bathrooms and shelter; and finally, a lack of required resources, such water.
Do not treat wilderness and most national parks like your local town and state parks or preserves. For the most part, you are on your own. As they will tell you at the visitor and permits centers: you are responsible for self-rescue. If you don’t have service or a satellite phone, no one is coming to get you.
What not to do
Example One: understand the nature of the hike you are on and make sure you can complete your goal BEFORE you hike too far
I visited the Grand Canyon in June 2024. Meant to be there for 12 hours, stayed for 3 days…as one does. Thus is the life of a solo traveler.
On Day 2, June 14th, I hiked 16 miles on Bright Angel Trail. It took me 10 hours. I’m a strong hiker and know my limits. I know my body, I know my knees, I know my hydration and how to maintain homeostasis. Admittedly, I began the hike at 10:20am, which is not recommended at the Grand Canyon due to heat threats. Hike it during cooler hours for safety. I was prepared with plenty of water and salty snacks to cover the day, rested when I needed to, and stayed cool by soaking my hat and shirt in water.
After 8 miles, I turned around before the final switchback series (I’d later learn I was 1.1 miles from the river). 15 minutes later, while crossing back up the streams, I happened upon two teenagers, a boy and girl who were maybe 16 years old. They…
- were wearing sneakers
- had one small backpack
- had one visible bottle of water
- had an umbrella for shade
- had a paper map
They stopped me to ask where they were on the map. I pointed them to the creek crossing, then, wary about the lack of real resources I could see, I asked their plan for their hike. They told me they were heading to the North Rim. Shocked, I made sure they knew that was a 23 mile hike from the South Rim: they still had 15 miles to go, and most of that would be uphill. They attempted to assure me that they had headlamps and snacks, and I insisted that they still had a minimum of 8 hours ahead of them, and they needed to reassess their plan. They said people were waiting for them on the North Rim side, so they had to reach it that night.
Red flags were going up all around them. As soon as we went our separate ways, I went to the Havasupai Gardens Ranger Station at the 4.5 mile mark to report the two kids. Ironically, the ranger was out due to a helicopter rescue that I had seen only 30 minutes before. So I instead called the Grand Canyon offices and reported the kids, what they were wearing, what they had, what they told me their plan was.
I don’t know if they made it. I genuinely hope they turned around, or got stopped at Phantom Ranch. I can say, however, that I reached the top of South Rim at 8:00pm that night, and at about 7:15pm, had seen another helicopter rescue enter the canyon. Part of me hopes it was to retrieve the kids. They were in no way prepared for the hike they were on. Being 8 miles into a Rim-to-Rim hike at 2:15pm was a rescue mission waiting to happen.
I, however, also should have done one or two things different: I should have been more adamant about them not continuing the hike, turning around, and changing their plans. Inconvenient, yes, but so is being lost in a canyon in the pitch dark with no water. I also should have gotten both cell phone numbers of the teens, as well as one or two adults who would be waiting for them. I could then have checked-in with the teens, or at the very least, texted or called an adult with them to tell them where I had last seen them, and what they told me their plan was. Since I only reported them to the park offices and Phantom Ranch, I can really only hope that helicopter at the end of the day was rescuing them.
Example Two: study the hike before you attempt it
This next example comes from Zion National Park on August 29th. My friend and I received a permit to hike the Subway. Fantastic hike, but be warned: this hike is 10 miles and will take you at least 8 hours to complete at a steady pace and adequate sightseeing and rest stops – unless you blaze it like the group of 9 people with tunnel vision who passed us near the end did.
My friend already hiked the Subway many times and knew the ins-and-outs, so the 400 foot descent near the beginning came as no surprise to me. The next 4 miles, we splashed through several stream crossings and scrambled over several boulders. I’ll have a full post about the Subway in a separate blog. Just know that it requires physical exertion and the ability to climb slick surfaces even on the flat 4 miles.
Near the end of our return trip, we were hiking with a few other people we’d met, and came across a group of 3 people, two ladies who were likely in their 50s or 60s, and a younger man who was around 20-22 years old. Being 4:30pm at this point, we all asked how far they intended to go. They said they wanted to reach the Subway, but we told them that from this point, it was still 3.5 miles out. That’s when they revealed to us that they’d been hiking for 4 hours at that point.
It took them 4 hours to go 1.5 miles. Not good.
Being in a larger group, we became adamant that they should turn around, that continuing would mean they’d be stuck hiking in the dark. Fortunately, they listened to us. However, this case rests as an example of why it is important to learn your hike before attempting the route. How many hours did they spend climbing down the 400-foot descent? How many hours would it take them to get back up? This group was not prepared, and starting at noon was far too late in the day. My friend and I started at 9:00am, and even that was a couple hours late for us – due to reasons outside our control.
What did we learn?
If you’re hiking in the wilderness, or on strenuous trails (even if populated), you need to do the following:
- Set realistic expectations and goals
- Study the hike before attempting it
- Pack enough water, electrolytes, and food
- Wear appropriate shoes and clothing
- Bring the appropriate gear
- Make sure you are physically able to hike the trail
- Make sure you are mentally able to hike the trail
Just because it is a National Park does not mean it is safe. National Parks preserve resources or historical sites from private development. Yes, some of the more touristy parks will have better infrastructure and defined trails, but the purpose of many parks is not to cater to the crowds. We want to preserve these areas and retain the natural landscape as much as possible, and that means many hikes will be inaccessible, strenuous, and lacking basic infrastructure and resources.
Take the Grand Canyon: Bright Angel Trail is arguably the most famous trail in the country. Yet most crowds only go down about 1/2 mile, then turn around. After that, the people thin out. There are three spots you can refill water in the first 4.5 miles; after that, whatever you have is ALL you have until the 9 mile mark at Phantom Ranch, and after that, there are nearly no other places you can fill up again. Failing to adequately prepare, even on one of America’s most popular National Park Trails, can be – and has been in the past – a death sentence.
What should you bring on long-duration hikes?
At the Grand Canyon, I knew my body, I knew my hydration, I brought way more than enough water and filled up every chance I had. I did not, however, have a meal; I only brought nuts, protein bars, fruit, and other salty and nutrient-rich snacks. When I know I’m undertaking a longer hike, packing a meal is the way to go. Sandwich, fruit, snacks, electrolytes, all of it will help you regulate your health and stamina on the trail.
Especially in areas where service is lacking, having a satellite-enabled phone, or a GPS that can text or ping your location is a smart idea. Radios/walkie-talkies are also highly recommended, in order to remain in contact with people who know you are out hiking the wilderness.
Finally, always make sure someone knows where you’re hiking, when you are supposed to start and finish, and a buffer time before they should be worried. I was solo traveling around Arizona in June, and kept my family updated when I did larger hikes. At the Grand Canyon, I did end up hiking 6 hours with two people on the way back up, which was great for morale as well, but also kept us responsible for each and most importantly, safe.
Let’s turn that into a checklist:
- recommended at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day of hiking
- electrolytes for muscle regulation and replenishing hydration
- bring a meal, not just salty snacks
- GPS device for pinging location
- radios/walkie-talkies
- satellite-connected phone or other device for long-distance communication in remote areas
- paper map
- tell friends/family exactly where you plan to be, and for how long
- if you want to change your plan, only do so if you have service and can reach someone to let them know. If you cannot reach someone, do not extend your time for personal pleasure
In August, I was with one to two other people during the entire trip across Utah, so when we’d do our own thing, we showed on a map our planned routes, and gave exact times we expected to be in those spots, plus a “when should I start to worry” buffer time. Respecting those time boundaries and checking in aren’t annoying: they keep you safe, and they keep you alive.
Share you experiences hiking in the wilderness or more remote areas of national parks. What would you add to these lists to help other hikers prepare for strenuous hikes?
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