As we move deeper into autumn, people will be heading outdoors for hiking. AccuWeather speaks with Maggie Peikon of the American Hiking Society, who offers tips on hiking safety during the season.
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00:00 Autumn is a great time to take a hike and see the fall foliage up and close, but you
00:05 need to plan ahead for any weather changes or the unexpected.
00:10 Here with tips is Maggie Paykon from the American Hiking Society.
00:14 And, you know, thanks for joining us here, Maggie.
00:18 Maggie Maggie, and I know you're in Apex, North Carolina.
00:22 Thanks again for joining us here.
00:24 As far as safety rules, you want everyone to know what are some of the safety rules
00:28 you do want everyone to know before they start their hike?
00:32 Yeah, a lot of the same rules apply season to season, but something particular for fall
00:36 is that you want to be prepared for shorter days.
00:39 So the sun is going to rise later and it's going to set earlier.
00:42 So you want to be aware of how much usable daylight hours you have before heading out
00:46 for a hike and always carry a headlamp or a flashlight with extra batteries just to
00:50 be safe and always let someone know your hiking plans, where you're going when you plan to
00:55 be back.
00:56 Yeah, besides that, the batteries and make sure that you're keeping in touch with people.
01:02 Are there any other essentials that every hiker should bring in their backpack?
01:07 Yes.
01:08 So we always talk about the 10 essentials, which is appropriate footwear, a map and a
01:13 compass or some sort of GPS, water and food, of course, rain gear, dry, fast layers, your
01:19 safety items like your headlamp or your flashlight, personal first aid kit, a knife or a multi
01:25 tool, some sun protection even in the fall and in the winter and shelter.
01:30 Well, you know, and no one should be surprised by the weather anymore, especially if they
01:34 have the AccuWeather app or they're watching here on the AccuWeather network.
01:37 But weather changes can happen rapidly.
01:40 How can you be prepared with the gear?
01:43 And of course, you mentioned some of the clothing options.
01:45 And of course, you know, the fall is notorious for warm afternoons and chilly nights.
01:51 Yes, I definitely want to check the conditions before you leave in the mountains in the fall
01:55 in particular.
01:56 Snow is not out of the question.
01:58 So you want to be sure to check the weather, road and trail reports to get a sense of the
02:02 conditions on the trail and access to the trailhead as well before you hit the road
02:06 and to stay prepared for those changing conditions.
02:09 You want to make sure that you bring layers so that you can stay warm, that you can strip
02:13 off if you're getting too hot and that you have protection against the elements like
02:18 wind and potentially rain or snow.
02:20 And you know, hiking is such a great family activity.
02:24 How do you get kids involved and interested?
02:27 Yes.
02:28 So hiking with children is a great idea.
02:31 It's a great family friendly activity.
02:33 One of the best tips that you can do when you're hiking with kids is to pick feature
02:37 friendly trails.
02:38 So something that has a waterfall or an overlook or a historic site so that kids are interested
02:44 and engaged.
02:45 You can let them set the pace and let them make some choices.
02:48 So which trail to choose or when to stop for a snack break.
02:52 And you can also make it teachable and fun showing them how to use a compass or read
02:56 a trail map or teach them trail etiquette along the way.
02:59 It's a great way to keep them engaged and teach them a little bit about the enjoyment
03:04 of hiking.
03:05 And often, you know, I know in the summer you and I were talking, the ticks can be such
03:09 a problem.
03:10 Is that is that still a concern in many areas during the fall?
03:14 It definitely can be, especially if it takes time for the temperature to drop down where
03:18 they might not be around as much.
03:20 So using some kind of bug spray or DEET and making sure that you've got maybe your pants
03:25 tucked into your socks and you're always doing a check after your hike as well, just to make
03:29 sure that you don't have any ticks on you and you're not bringing them into your home.
03:33 All right, Maggie Pycon from the American Hiking Society.
03:36 Thanks again.
03:37 And listen, if I could get my son out anywhere without a mobile device or watching TV, I'm
03:42 all for that.
03:43 And we'll see you on the trail.
03:46 Miss Maggie.
03:47 Thank you.