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Big Bend National Park on the border of Texas and Mexico
Photo Vincent Lock
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Colorado Bend State Park, Texas
Photo Jeremy Pawlowski
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McKinney Roughs, Texas
Photo Sarah Page
Contributed
One could argue that Texas is the state that defines the great outdoors, where southern subtropical habitats meet northern temperate regions; coastal swamps meet high mountain peaks. This diversity makes it an incredible state to explore on foot. Your plan might be to go out for a couple of hours, but things can happen out on the trail so be prepared.
Be sure to ALWAYS:
- Stay on designated trails.
- Tell someone where you are hiking and when you expect to return.
- Carry plenty of water for your entire hike. Remember water for your dog.
- When your water is half gone, turn around and return to the trailhead.
- Carry a cellphone.
- Don't hike alone.
- Wear appropriate footwear and clothing for hiking.
- Use maps, know where you are going and what kind of terrain you are hiking on.
In addition to the tips above, here are a couple of basic safety refreshers to keep in mind when recreating outdoors:
- Carry a bandana in your pack. They are lightweight and can be used for numerous situations. If you are beginning to suffer from excessive heat, wet the bandana and place on the nape of your the neck and/or the forehead. This will help to cool you down quickly. Seek shade.
- Map kilometres are not the same as effort kilometres. On good trails, hikers can go up to 4 kph. On most trails, count on no more than 1.5 or 2.5 kph, especially if admiring the views, cooling off in some shade, taking pictures, etc.
- Going uphill takes more time. A 300-metre climb equals a kilometre and a half of effort and adds 10 or 20 minutes. Downhill is no faster if the trail is bad.
- Be wary of poisonous critters like rattlesnakes, particularly at night and when it is relatively cool.
- Carry something to signal with – a police whistle, signal mirror, and matches for a fire, a coloured panel – to make you visible.
- Be considerate – leave no trace.