Getting Ready for Adventure – Your Checklist for Safety and Fun
There are lots of interesting locales that feature excellent places to go exploring, hiking, and other outdoor activities, and finding them is often a cue to get ready for an adventure. If you’re planning on making an expedition, be it a hike in a state park a few miles from your house or a trip lasting several days into the wilderness of Northern British Columbia, being properly prepared is important. Let’s take a quick look at some of the things to do while getting ready for a land adventure, in a few different scenarios.
If you’re going on a regular, every day hike, chances are you won’t need much. Bringing sufficient water is important, especially if the weather is hot and dry, and if you plan on the hike lasting more than an hour or so. You’ll want to keep yourself hydrated, and usually a bottle of water per person per five miles is a sufficient amount. If there are any hazards where you will be hiking, such as poison oak, venomous snakes, or loose rocky areas, bring the proper medical supplies. A simple, small first aid kit fits easily into a backpack and can prevent serious issues later on. Lastly, even if it’s a short hike, know your route and trails ahead of time. This can prevent everything from being inconvenienced to getting seriously lost, depending on how well the trails are marked and how familiar you are with the terrain.
If your hike is something more exotic, try looking up information on where you will be going ahead of time. For example, say you’re planning a camping trip, and you know there are some good trails near where you will be staying. Familiarizing yourself with the names of trails and knowing which ones lead back to your campsite is a good way not to get lost, and finding out which potential hazards you will have to deal with is a step ahead when it comes to getting prepared.
If your adventure is taking you somewhere truly foreign, such as another country, it is likely a good idea to consult someone that knows what you will be getting into. If necessary, consider taking someone along as a guide or at least a counsel, so that they can help you recognize dangers before you get into them. The best thing you can do in any adventure is go prepared.

