In most parts of the country, the arrival of fall foliage signals the start of hunting season, prompting hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts to take extra precautions when recreating in the backcountry.

For those who aren鈥檛 chasing game but still want to wander the woods, wildlife officials have to keep themselves safe while adventuring outside.

1. Wear Bright Colors

Most states to wear a fluorescent or hunter orange vest, according to the online hunting education website, . It鈥檚 also a good idea for recreationalists on the trails during hunting season to invest in brightly colored orange attire, such as a hat or vest. This increases your visibility when in the wilderness as the color stands out against natural backgrounds.

Pro tip: Invest听in blaze orange or high-visibility gear for your dog as well.

2. Stay on Trails

Sticking to established trails where hunters expect to see people helps avoid being mistaken for game, as well as ensures your visibility to hunters. Staying on trails also keeps you out of private property and other locations where hunters may be chasing game.

3. Make Noise

鈥淐hat, sing, or whistle to signal your presence and reduce the chances of surprising wildlife,鈥� writes Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks in its .

Making noise while hiking not only alerts animals to your presence but also alerts hunters that a hiker is nearby. This is especially true on less-used trails where hunters may not be aware of nearby hikers. If backcountry singing isn鈥檛 your cup of tea, consider wearing a bell.

4. Choose the Right Time

Knowing the hunting season openers, closers, and related zones is especially important when considering where to hike during hunting season. Hunting windows are specific to the state, animal, and type of weapon used, so when and where you鈥檇 like to hunt depends on where you live.听Check with your state’s department of fish and wildlife for more information on local hunting regulations.

In general, experts recommend avoiding hiking during dawn and dusk, when hunters are most active, and opt for mid-morning hikes instead.

5. Respect Signs

Many鈥攂ut not all鈥攈unting areas have posted signs, though signage is not universal and often depends on who owns or manages the property. Follow posted signs whenever possible, and do your research before venturing out to determine which areas are open to hunting.

鈥淏ottom line? Enjoy the fall colors, breathe that mountain air, and stay safe. The woods are wide open for everyone to recreate responsibly,鈥� writes Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

 

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Few things inspire more clickworthy internet rage than stories about tourists who suffer consequences after doing 鈥渟tupid鈥� things. Every summer, someone else is getting gored by something with horns, tossed by something with antlers, rescued from trails they had no business hiking, or causing a domino effect of river rescues. Often, there鈥檚 a phone and a selfie somewhere in the mix.

It鈥檚 hard to say whether the average tourist today is worse than ever before, or if there鈥檚 a higher proportion of “bad travelers” than there were in, say, the 1970s. There are certainly more travelers than there were back then鈥攖here were 1.4 billion global travelers in 2024, and this year will see even more. It鈥檚 easier, faster, and cheaper to travel today than ever before, which means travel and, therefore, rugged wilderness areas, are accessible to a much wider segment of the global population. That鈥檚 a good thing鈥攚e鈥檙e all about making it easier for people to connect with nature and have meaningful experiences outdoors. It also means that there are more people with less experience getting themselves into tricky situations because they haven鈥檛 been exposed to proper wilderness etiquette.

Thanks to our always-scrolling society, it鈥檚 harder for less-experienced travelers to make their embarrassing mistakes in private, away from prying phone cameras. Plus, no one makes headlines for not touching wildlife, or for not stealing artifacts from historic sites, or for not . Back in the 1800s, it was common practice to hack off pieces of petrified redwoods like those at , in Colorado, as a sort of DIY souvenir.

Before you write everyone off as a brainless tourist, consider that many 鈥渟tupid鈥� and high-risk mistakes could easily be made by any one of us. It doesn鈥檛 take much to fall, trip, or slide down a mountain. Most of the 鈥渂ad behavior鈥� I鈥檝e read about this summer broadly falls into five categories, and they鈥檙e mistakes anyone could make.

Here鈥檚 what we modern, overconfident, it-could-never-happen-to-me tourists have been up to this summer鈥攁nd how to avoid making headlines yourself.

Getting Too Close to a Cliff Edge or Riverbank

Far too many tragic accidents and near-death experiences start out this way: We just wanted a cool photo鈥� In July, a harrowing river rescue of three out of four Floridians in Glacier National Park was caused by one such group shot. It started when one member of the group fell into Avalanche Creek, then two of the others jumped in to try to save them. The domino effect of rescues involved two cardiac arrests requiring CPR from bystanders, plus a technical rescue team to save the third person. All are OK now, but it could have easily been much worse.

Ignoring Posted Warnings, Access Restrictions, or Clear Danger

This has been a shockingly deadly summer for hikers in Europe, with over 100 hiker deaths so far this year in the Italian Alps alone. This is partly because there are more people getting higher up into the mountains because of hotter temps at lower elevation, and partly because more of those people are less experienced.

Accidents can happen to anyone, anywhere, but you won鈥檛 help your odds by ignoring closures due to known risks. In July, a British man attempted a via ferrata that had been closed because of rockfall. Well, he got stuck thanks to falling rocks, and had to be evacuated by helicopter. He was reportedly asked to , which cost the equivalent of about $16,000.

Overestimating Fitness, Ability, or Skills and/or Lack of Preparedness

We鈥檙e not trying to shame anyone for phone addiction鈥攕ome people (far too many people) would dive into a trailhead toilet to rescue their iPhone鈥攂ut we would like to state for the record that phones are replaceable, and your lives (and dignity) are not. Back in April, an international student from China was , both times outside the mountain鈥檚 official climbing season. He first got stuck when he lost his crampons and couldn鈥檛 descend the mountain, and a rescue team picked him up by helicopter. Then, a few days later, he hiked back up to retrieve stuff he鈥檇 left behind, including his phone, and needed a second rescue due to altitude sickness.

Getting Too Close to Wildlife

For some reason, we seem to believe bison are adorable, giant stuffed animals, no more dangerous than a cow (which can actually be extremely dangerous!). As such, there is never any shortage of stories about enamored tourists being gored by bison in Yellowstone, and there have been at least two so far this year. But here鈥檚 a new one: this spring, a 29-year-old guy climbed a fence to hop into a crocodile enclosure at a wetlands park in the Philippines, evidently intending to pose for a selfie with a 2,000-pound听reptile that he 鈥�.鈥� Lalay, a 15-foot crocodile, was not amused and spent half an hour thrashing around with the man鈥檚 leg clenched in her teeth, until the park owner clocked her over the head with a block of concrete to get her to let go. The man was able to retain possession of all of his limbs, and got away with just 50 stitches and some seriously traumatic memories.

Breaking Safety and Conservation Rules, Often for the 鈥楪ram (and Usually in Yellowstone)

Maybe there鈥檚 something that鈥檚 just so otherworldly about Yellowstone that our brains mistake its hot springs, geysers, bubbling mud pits, and plethora of animals with pointy extremities as manufactured amusements with some killer special effects. But whatever it is, its majesty inspires a fair bit of foolishness. In July, a teenager walked off-trail near the Lone Star Geyser and sustained serious burns to his foot and lower leg when he broke through a delicate crust into hot, hot water. The , a guy in flip-flops walked through Grand Prismatic Hot Spring to gather hats that had blown off people鈥檚 heads. Even more perplexing is the report of a man spotted on Instagram who appears to drink from a plastic cup he filled in a hot spring. Those waters are teeming with so much bacteria you can see it with your naked eye鈥攖hat鈥檚 what causes all those bright colors around Grand Prismatic鈥攁nd it is extremely not potable, to say the least. Also, it probably tastes horrendous. TL;DR: Do not do this.

How Not to be That Tourist

It鈥檚 so easy to be overconfident and to underestimate risk, to be 鈥渢hat guy.鈥� I鈥檇 venture to guess that, if you鈥檙e reading this, you鈥檝e probably taken an unnecessary risk at least once, too. I know I have. So, how can you be better?

1. Reflect on Your Past Mistakes

I鈥檇 like to tell you I鈥檓 perfectly well-behaved, but reading these stories reminds me that I, too, have gotten too close to the edge of a viewpoint for a good photo. I鈥檝e had close calls with cars as a cyclist who thinks she is above traffic laws, and with cyclists as a pedestrian who acts like she has outgrown the First Commandment of walking outside: look where you鈥檙e going when crossing the street.

I鈥檝e found myself on icy trails with fading light and too few layers; in the desert with insufficient water; on rugged terrain with very wrong shoes; and within 20 or 30 feet of a bear without an ounce of bear spray. Have you done any of these things? If so, resolve to be more thoughtful in the future. It only takes one deadly mistake to put yourself permanently out of commission.

2. Know Your Limits听

It鈥檚 crucial to get comfortable with quitting, turning around, or avoiding a trail or experience all together if you鈥檙e not certain you have the skills and equipment necessary to proceed safely. Before you set off, ask yourself: Do I have the training, equipment, and resources necessary for this adventure?

3. Do a Buddy Check

Follow the lead of SCUBA divers and rock climbers who start with an essential buddy check before getting in the water or on the wall. Do you both have ample water, essential layers, a first aid kit, a map, and a clear plan for what to do when something goes wrong? Have you checked the weather, confirmed whether there are any closures or access restrictions, researched environmental hazards like flash flood or avalanche risks? Have you applied for necessary permits?

4. Let Go of the Need for a 鈥楶erfect Photo鈥欌�攁nd Watch Where You鈥檙e Going

Climbing out onto a ledge for a handful of hearts on Instagram isn鈥檛 worth risking your life. It鈥檚 also not fair to other hikers to block the trail while you try to make sure no one is blinking in the group photo. Always keep your eyes on the trail, and stay aware of who鈥檚 around you. Just think about how easy it is to trip in your neighborhood while you鈥檙e scrolling while walking. It would be so much worse to trip over the edge of a canyon.

5. Just Say No to DIY Wildlife Encounters

Even if you spot the tiniest, cutest, fluffiest baby mountain goat TikTok has ever seen, you absolutely should not touch or approach wildlife at any time, for any reason. Do not pick them up, do not touch them, do not take selfies with them, do not get between a mama and her babies, do not turn your back on nearby animals with horns, antlers, or teeth you don鈥檛 want to meet, and do not feed them. So many of the attacks and close calls you see on accounts like are devastatingly preventable. The keeping at least 25 yards between you and wildlife at all times鈥攁nd make that 100 yards if the animal in question is a bear, a wolf, or another predator much bigger and stronger than you.

6. Behave Like You鈥檙e Risking A Life鈥擝ecause You Are

Remember, a rescue doesn鈥檛 impact just you. Rescuers and first responders must take risks to save people, and sometimes even the best-trained people make deadly errors.

When in doubt, act like someone else鈥檚 life depends on it.

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In March 2023, on a trail run in the mountains near Tucson, Arizona, I caught my toe on a rock. I was descending a steep and technical section of trail a little more quickly than I鈥檇 normally go. I had a plane to catch. I鈥檓 not sure how long I was airborne鈥攎aybe a second or so鈥攂ut it felt like a long time. The aftermath was bad鈥攍ost front teeth, deep facial wounds that eventually required plastic surgery鈥攂ut could have been much, much worse.

Running injuries are distressingly common, afflicting somewhere between 20 and 80 percent of runners, according to one oft-cited pseudo-stat. But it鈥檚 mostly sore knees and inflamed tendons and the like: nuisances, but not existential threats. Trail running is different, though. The nature of trails, and the sometimes remote environments they traverse, mean that things can go seriously wrong. At the 国产吃瓜黑料 Festival last month, I conducted an on-stage interview with Hillary Allen, whose book Out and Back tells the story of her 150-foot fall off a ridge during a mountain race in Norway. Her injuries were a lot worse than mine, but she too has made a successful comeback. Not everyone does.

A new takes a comprehensive look at the worst-case scenarios in trail running, with the goal of figuring out what the biggest risks are and how runners and race organizers can mitigate them. Researchers at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, along with colleagues in Portugal and France, combed through online news records for fatal or catastrophic events that occurred while trail running. They identified 127 cases, almost all within the last 15 years, of which 104 were fatal.

The key data from the study is shown in the figure below, which divides fatal incidents into the most common categories:

Cold and Hypothermia

By far the most common cause of death among trail runners is cold weather and hypothermia. This isn鈥檛 surprising, especially given that trail runners often run in the mountains, where weather can shift rapidly.

It鈥檚 tempting to pack as lightly as possible when you鈥檙e running, skimping on warm-weather gear, especially if the weather looks nice. After all, running itself will keep you warm. But what happens if, say, you twist an ankle? Or get lost? Or the weather takes a dramatic turn for the worse? Then you鈥檙e sweaty, tired, and inadequately dressed. Under such conditions, it鈥檚 possible to become hypothermic even in relatively moderate above-freezing conditions, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as 鈥�.鈥� Back in the 1990s, four U.S. Army Rangers died from hypothermia during training exercises in Florida, of all places.

The solution here is obvious but easy to ignore or rationalize away: bring enough warm clothing. Many trail races have rules that specify minimum clothing requirements; it makes sense to take similar precautions on training runs. In the new dataset, 64 percent of the deaths took place during organized trail-running races, with the rest taking place during recreational or training runs. Both scenarios are potentially risky. (In contrast, when runners go missing, it鈥檚 almost always during recreational or training runs rather than races.)

Falls

The second-most-common cause of trail-running deaths is blunt trauma after falls. This is once again a trail-specific hazard, and some trails are more rugged and/or more exposed than others. I鈥檓 not really sure what to say about this, because 鈥渂e careful鈥� seems like empty advice. People run trails in part to get away from smoothly manicured roads and sidewalks; the gnarliness of the terrain is intrinsic to what they鈥檙e seeking. In doing so, they鈥檙e accepting some risk. What鈥檚 the 鈥渞ight鈥� level of risk? I don鈥檛 know, but in the wake of my Tucson fall, I鈥檝e become a lot more cautious in situations where the consequences of an error are likely catastrophic.

Cardiac Arrest

Third on the chart is cardiac arrest, which is a general risk of exercise (or in fact of living) rather than a specific trail risk. In most cases, such deaths during exercise reflect either underlying heart disease or a genetic heart abnormality. The researchers suggest cardiac screening as a way of uncovering these problems in advance. Whether such screening is worthwhile, much less cost-effective, has been a topic of among cardiologists. Suffice to say that if you have any doubts about your heart health, you should consult your doctor before venturing into the mountains.

Less Common Causes

The rest of the causes of death are relatively uncommon. Murder and vehicle accidents are sad but could occur anywhere. Animal attacks, lightning strikes, and drownings are probably a bit more common on backcountry trails or in the mountains than in city streets, but the numbers suggest these are very unusual. If you鈥檙e in grizzly country, pack bear spray and run in a group; if you鈥檙e in a thunderstorm, don鈥檛 cross exposed ridges; think twice before wading through rivers with strong current. This is all good advice under any circumstances.

The danger in writing about trail-running deaths is that it makes trail-running sound dangerous, in the same way that TV news reports on abducted kids in the 1980s convinced a generation of parents that suburban streets were infested with kidnappers. Given the numbers鈥攖he researchers cite data suggesting that 1.7 million people entered trail races between 2013 and 2019, with participation growing by about 12 percent annually鈥攖rail running is eminently safe. Still, the data suggests a couple of easy takeaways: pack a jacket, and watch your toes.

For more Sweat Science, join me on and , sign up for the , and check out my new book .

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While hiking a snowy mesa in Flagstaff, Arizona, I noticed my dog was limping. Every few steps, she鈥檇 tuck up her back paw and hop on three legs. We stopped, and I knelt to inspect. There, piercing her paw pad, was a long cactus spine. Gently, I held her paw and pulled it straight out. I hadn鈥檛 noticed the hazard when she wandered off trail because the ground was freshly dusted with snow.

Since then, I鈥檝e been more cautious about the . Hiding among the lush wildflowers and greenery that coax us outside every season are plants, weeds, and organic materials that can be harmful or toxic to our furry companions. I spoke to Dr. Gary Richter, a veterinarian at in Oakland, California, for his expert advice on identifying hazardous vegetation, staying alert to potential dangers, and hiking safely with our dogs.

Firstly, he says, hazardous plants in one hiking area are going to differ from the next. It鈥檚 best to know what grows in your area that could cause harm to your dog before you head out.

鈥淵ou can just look it up online,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檒l tell you what鈥檚 in the area and show you pictures so you know exactly what to look for.鈥� The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals鈥� and are good points of reference.

In the Bay Area where Richter lives, , , and are a few common plants that are dangerous for dogs. Meanwhile, in the desert, numerous cacti varieties grow abundantly alongside trails, as I discovered.

In other cases, a plant might not be inherently toxic to a dog, but its blooms or droppings could be. The walnuts from black walnut trees are a prime example: Their husks and nuts can grow an invisible potent mold that causes tremors and seizures in canines if ingested. Additionally, mushrooms, while not plants, also have organic compounds that can lead to serious trouble.

In some cases, your dog won鈥檛 react to a plant, but can transfer an allergen to you, like in听 the case of Even after a bath, a dog can carry the plants鈥� oils on their fur, which then transfers to your exposed skin once you pet them, and suddenly you have an itchy rash.

Richter says that knowing your dog鈥檚 temperament will help you assess what kind of monitoring they need on the trail. Some dogs will eat anything in front of them, while others are more discerning. If your dog is a notorious muncher, Richter recommends a basket muzzle, which allows them to drink water and pant but keeps them from ingesting anything that might be dangerous.

鈥淣ow you can let your dog have fun and be a dog and you don鈥檛 have to worry about those sorts of issues,鈥� Richter says.

Keeping your dog on leash and on the trail will also limit their run-ins with nasty plants and dangerous snacks, he adds.

It鈥檚 likely that you know your dog鈥檚 limits better than they do. Richter says, 鈥淭hey act like they鈥檙e fine when they鈥檙e running around excited and then suddenly when they stop, then they hurt.鈥�

If your dog eats something toxic on the trail, they may exhibit vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lethargy, confusion, heavy breathing, and pale gums.

Should your dog rub up against something toxic, look out for biting, licking, and guarding the area, such as their paws, bellies, undersides, and tails. Violent sneezing or head banging could indicate a foreign material in their nose. Head shaking and scratching could mean something got into their ears. Squinting might signal foreign matter in their eyes.

If you suspect your dog may have ingested or had contact with a harmful plant, contact your vet.

鈥淎 lot of that is hopefully fairly intuitive and obvious,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t should be. If your dog is doing stuff they don鈥檛 normally do, then pay attention because there鈥檚 probably a reason.鈥�

Aside from your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) is a resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435.

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Hawaii is blessed with some of the most cinematic hiking trails on the planet. I live part-time on Maui and still find myself spellbound by vistas of plunging waterfalls cleaving to jungle blanketed mountainsides and rugged coastal cliffs spilling down to the sapphire sea. I also know how the technicolor scenery, combined with the heady, plumeria-scented air and the islands鈥� laidback aloha vibes can lull hikers into a false sense of security. What could possibly go wrong on a hike in this incredibly beautiful paradise free of threats like bears, snakes, or poison ivy?

I consider myself a seasoned hiker. My other home is in Boulder, Colorado, and over the years, I鈥檝e bagged a handful of the state鈥檚 iconic fourteeners (14,000-foot peaks). The monotone, high-alpine terrain always feels daunting and motivates me to prepare meticulously ahead of a hike.

I鈥檝e come to learn, Hawaii鈥檚 trails demand the same respect and precautions. Would I ever tackle Mount Sanitas, my go-to local Boulder hike, in a flimsy pair of Havainas? Never. But I was foolish enough to leave my trail shoes in the car and embark on Maui鈥檚 , a 5.5-mile route on ancient lava flows, in flip-flops, because everyone wears flip flops in Hawaii, I rationalized. The straps snapped just after mile four and I was forced to slog back to the parking lot barefoot along jagged, sun-scorched black rock. I鈥檝e never made that mistake again.

国产吃瓜黑料 editor Mary Turner has hiked all over the West but was humbled by some of the treks on Kauai. 鈥淎 friend called one trail spicy, but I wasn鈥檛 worried,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淏ut it was hot and humid and sticky and the vegetation was so thick you could have easily walked right through it and off the side of a cliff. And at the end of the trail, you had to scale a rock face with a very frayed rope. The guy in front of us said it wasn鈥檛 safe and turned around. We did the same, and I thought, geez, hiking in Hawaii is for real.鈥�

You might be an experienced hiker on mainland America, but Hawaii鈥檚 humidity, knife-edge ridges, dense jungle, and muddy rainforests present unique perils, says Ethan Pearson-Pomerantz, president of . It only takes a wrong step or two to become disoriented and lost, injured, or worse, dead.

Hawaii doesn鈥檛 have a state-level search and rescue (SAR) coordinator. Wilderness SAR is handled at a county level, falls under the responsibility of the fire department, and they are only mandated to search for 72 hours when someone is reported missing. O鈥檃hu, Kauai, and Maui all have volunteer SAR teams as well. The lack of an overarching umbrella organization makes it difficult to accurately track the exact number of rescues per year, but government officials have estimated that about 1,000 hikers are rescued across the state annually.

Cautionary Tales

Ocean rescues are more prevalent in Hawaii, but hiking mishaps have generated a glut of coverage in both and over the years.

Last month, a 49-year-old man while hiking up a 60-foot waterfall on Maui, and one day later a California couple in their sixties听 after sustaining multiple injuries attempting to hike Oahu鈥檚 off-limits Sacred Falls Trail. The month prior, an unidentified hiker rang in 2025 while . He needed to be airlifted by a rescue team around sunrise.

In December 2024, 32-year-old Alaskan visitor Lauren Cameron on Kauai鈥檚 North Shore while hiking the , which has called one of the most dangerous hikes in America. Officials believe she was swept out to sea. A 30-year-old California man needed to be airlifted to safety last September after suffering from injuries in a . On Hawaii Island, two hikers got lost without food and water during a last January on Mauna Loa鈥攖he largest active volcano in the world. They had to stay overnight in a shelter and were extracted by a rescue helicopter the following day. The hikers were fined for not having a permit and ignoring the summit closure posted by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. These accounts are just from 2024.

Despite the steady stream of headlines about dead hikers, fatal falls, and accidents on Hawaii鈥檚 trails, visitors are still ignoring rules and safety precautions.

One of the most of late hit national news in January 2023, when Ian Snyder, a 34-year-old travel blogger and hiking enthusiast from California, was stranded for three days at the base of a waterfall after surviving a 1,000-foot fall while illegally hiking . Snyder, who suffered a broken arm and other injuries, admitted to reporters that he wasn’t as prepared as he should have been for the hike and shouldn’t have gone it alone. He also shared that he followed an online map which took him to a closed trail. A few weeks after his recovery, he at the request of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, as a cautionary tale to other visitors.

Hawaii鈥檚 Terrain and Climate Pose Distinct Challenges

On the mainland, a 22-mile out-and-back hike with 1,600 feet of elevation gain, typically wouldn鈥檛 daunt me. But the Kalalau Trail, a bucket-list trek with zero cell service that hugs Kauai鈥檚 storied Na Pali coastline, isn鈥檛 just another hike. CNN has called it one of the , with hazards including falling rocks, flash floods, shore breaks, and cliffs on the trail. I鈥檝e attempted it five times without success and have no regrets about turning around due to raging water crossings, treacherously slippery conditions, and in another case, simply fatigue. Others haven鈥檛 been as lucky. In 2022, 46 people needed to be rescued from the harrowing route and in 2014, 121 people needed rescue over the course of a few days.

鈥淧eople drastically underestimate and underprepare for the challenges of a trail like Kalalau,鈥� says Sarah Laouxz, of . 鈥淭hey see the pretty photos and want to be there, but they don鈥檛 take into account the physicality of getting there and back.鈥�

They also underestimate easier trails. Take the , an iconic 1.6-mile roundtrip hike located minutes from Waikiki in O鈥檃hu. Pearson-Pomerantz estimates the Honolulu Fire Department makes more rescues a year on that trail simply because hikers aren鈥檛 prepared. 鈥淗iking Diamond Head is a classic thing for tourists to do,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou get spam musubi, hike Diamond Head, get a shave ice, and that鈥檚 your day. Maybe because of its proximity to the city, people attempt it in high heels, without water or sun protection.鈥� The trail is steep and uneven and climbs 560 feet. People often become dehydrated or roll an ankle, he says. When vacation brain sets in, visitors start looking through their camera lens instead of at the path in front of them. At least once a month his team has volunteer 鈥渢rail angels鈥� patrol the route with water, snacks, and sunblock. 鈥淗eat is the biggest threat to hikers and a bad sunburn is probably our most common injury,鈥� he says.

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park chief ranger Jack Corrao says its search and rescue incidents consistently increase when there are active volcano eruptions. In 2023, the park had in the summit of Kilauea volcano and 13 search and rescues. Five of those were lost hikers near the eruption viewing site at Keanakakoi off old Crater Rim Drive. 鈥淭he park is open 24 hours a day, and the best eruption viewing is usually after dark,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen people become separated after dark, the odds of them getting lost increase. We urge visitors to plan ahead, bring head lamps or flashlights, to stay on trail and out of closed areas.鈥�

Dense vegetation can also throw hikers off track. 鈥淭he trees and the trails have a way of enveloping hikers and blocking the horizon, so that seeing the ocean or other points of reference become impossible, disorienting people,鈥� says Amanda Hess, the director of public education at O’ahu Search and Rescue. Thick foliage can also conceal potential dangers. Chalsie Honu Quel, a volunteer with Kauai Search and Rescue, notes that the terrain of Waimea Canyon has been vastly altered since Hurricane Iniki toppled many native trees in 1992. 鈥淣ow the trails are overgrown with invasive species that make it easy to slip into a gulch or ravine.鈥�

Chris Berquist, founder of Maui-based Search Tech Advisory Team, cautions that thick ginger patches hang off ledges, acting like false edges on many trails. 鈥淧eople step on them and it鈥檚 like a trap door,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he bottom gives out, they start to slip, and often their footing is irrecoverable.鈥�

Social media posts of people cliff jumping into the ocean or diving off waterfalls have created the illusion that the islands are a controlled amusement park. Injuries frequently occur when people leap with no knowledge of the water depth or without considering how they鈥檒l get back to land. 鈥淎 lot of hikes lead to what look like beautiful jumping places, such as Queen鈥檚 Bath, an ocean pool in Kauai,鈥� says Berquist. 鈥淏ut due to the steepness of the cliffs or looseness of rocks, a lot of adventurers can鈥檛 scramble back up.鈥�

Weather Can Change on a Dime

Island weather is rarely uniform and frequently changes throughout the day. If it鈥檚 rainy on Maui鈥檚 north shore, it鈥檚 almost guaranteed to be dry and sunny on the south shore. And a calm, clear morning can turn into a windy, sprinkly afternoon. The resorts tend to be in areas that see 350 days of sun a year, says Chris Stankis, the public information officer for the . Yet, many hikes are in areas that see a fair quantity of rain on an almost daily basis,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd as you go further inland and upslope, the chance you might encounter rain, muddy, slippery terrain, and flash flooding increases.鈥�

It may seem like summer at your hotel, but you should still pack layers, especially if you鈥檙e planning to hike the 13,000-plus foot summit of Mauna Loa in Hawai鈥檌 Volcanoes National Park or the 10,000-plus foot summit Haleakala National Park on Maui, where conditions can bring weather ranging from hail to snow. Nick Clemons, chief of interpretation, education, and volunteers at Haleakala National Park, says the park averages two rescues a week and they often involve medical issues arising from altitude, dehydration, over-exertion, and hypo and hyperthermia.

Flash floods pose one of the biggest dangers to hikers. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e our avalanche,鈥� says Berquist. 鈥淥nce you鈥檙e in one, there鈥檚 little chance of escaping. There鈥檚 a lot of debris. I鈥檝e seen victims stripped naked. The water gets violent.鈥� Heavy rains and flooding bring precarious conditions to the islands鈥� beloved waterfalls. Berquist notes that many falls border the coast or drain into a slot canyon. If you鈥檙e standing near a slippery edge and a gush of water comes rushing at you, you鈥檙e likely going to be shot into the ocean or canyon, he warns.

Many of Hawaii鈥檚 Most Popular Trails Are Actually Illegal to Hike

The SAR volunteers I spoke with agreed, the majority of rescues take place on illegal-to-hike trails. Many of the most Instagrammed hiking areas, such as Narnia, a collection of waterfalls within the Hilo Forest Reserve on the Big Island, are . But the pull of social media often blinds visitors to closure and trespassing signs. 鈥溾�楧o it for the gram,鈥� is a real thing,鈥� says Berquist. 鈥淚 think Instagram kills more people than coconuts in Hawaii. A lot of times when a tourist falls off a cliff or slips we find them with their phone next to them, the camera app still open.鈥�

It doesn鈥檛 help that many guidebooks, travel blogs, and social media posts provide detailed instructions on how to access these illegal trails. And, as was the case with Snyder, hikers often follow GPS tools that direct them to non-sanctioned trails, which aren鈥檛 inspected or repaired and most likely, won鈥檛 have signs warning hikers of dangerous conditions.

In 2006, two women fell some 300 feet to their deaths while trekking to Opaekaa Falls in Kauai. They had followed an unmarked trail featured in some Hawaii guidebooks. In most states, if you injure yourself on public lands, the onus is on you. But in Hawaii, the state can be held liable for injuries occurring on public lands if it fails to maintain a reasonable level of safety. In this case, the state was ordered to pay $15.4 million to the victims鈥� families. The trail remains closed.

In 1999, eight people were killed and nearly three dozen were injured from a rockslide at Sacred Falls State Park on O鈥檃hu, where the recent rescue took place. There were signs, but a judge ruled they did not warn with the intensity of urgency of the falling rock hazard the state paid $8.6 million to the families of the deceased hikers. The park has remained closed since the incident, but that seeking the ultimate social media post. In 2022, someone hung an illegal swing at the base of the falls, which has since been removed.

Off-limits signs have been in place at the Stairway to Heaven, an infamous hike on O鈥檃hu also known as the Haiku Stairs, since 1987. Yet posting a photo from the hike鈥檚 Edenic summit, which is reached by climbing 3,922 slick steel steps, has become a social media badge of honor. Fines of up to $1,000 and the threat of arrest haven鈥檛 discouraged hikers. Between 2010 and 2022, 118 people had to be rescued, according to the Honolulu Fire Department. The city is now in the process of to prevent illegal use once and for all.

In an effort to further dissuade reckless hikers, state legislators in Hawaii are currently that would authorize the state to seek reimbursement from hikers who need rescue after venturing onto closed trails. Considering a helicopter rescue costs between $1,000 to $2,500, I鈥檇 say it鈥檚 a good incentive to follow the rules.

8 Ways to Stay Safe When Hiking in Hawaii

I asked members of the islands鈥� search and rescue teams to share their tips for staying safe on the trails. Here鈥檚 their advice:

• No matter the length of the hike, pack plenty of water, food, sunscreen, a flashlight, and a cellphone battery.
• Do not hike in flip flops. Wear proper footwear and sun-protective attire.
• Don鈥檛 hike alone.
• Create a hiking plan that includes your intended route and estimated return time. Leave one copy with a friend, family member, or neighbor, and another in your car.
• Do not hike closed or unmarked trails. Check the latest trail conditions and closures via a trusted source like , the State of Hawai鈥榠 Trail and Access Program.
• Check the weather with multiple sources like the Weather Channel, AccuWeather, and Weather Underground.
• Get an early start. Hess recommends getting on the trail no later than 9 A.M.
• Don鈥檛 do it for the ‘gram. When you鈥檙e looking through your phone rather than paying attention to your footing, you can easily end up in harms way.

What to Do If You Become Lost

Berquist played an instrumental role in finding Amanda Eller, a hiker who got lost for 17 days in Maui鈥檚 Makawao Forest Reserve in 2019. He joined the search as a volunteer and within days was heading up the efforts. After she was found, Eller鈥檚 father helped Berquist fund the Search Tech Advisory Team, his 100-plus volunteer organization that works throughout the islands using the latest technology, like drone satellite photography. Here are his tips for getting found:

1. Don鈥檛 panic. Pause and take some deep breaths. O鈥檃hu Search and Rescue created a demonstrating how to do the 4-7-8 breathing method to calm yourself.
2. Keep moving. 鈥淓veryone says stay where you are if you are lost, but I only recommend people do that when they know they are 15 or fewer steps off the trail,鈥� he says. 鈥淧eople that participate in their own rescue are more likely to be found.鈥� If you are medically injured, it may be pertinent to stay in place, but try to make yourself noticeable and make noise.
3. Make yourself visible. If you think you are more than 15 steps off trail, move to an openly visible area, like a high elevation clearing or stream-bed that can be seen from the sky. Make a massive ‘SOS’ or light a fire to create smoke.
4. Shelter in smart places. Don鈥檛 hunker down and hide from the elements in a place people won鈥檛 see you. If you do seek shelter, display your backpack out front and make an arrow pointing to where you are, he says.

鈥淗awaii tries too hard to feel nice with its messaging to visitors,鈥� says Berquist. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not all mai tais and leis. The message needs to feel sharp: the lava rock and coral will slice you, the selfies and cliff jumps will kill you.鈥� So, in other words, don鈥檛 underestimate the power of nature. Be careful and prepared, don鈥檛 hike where you鈥檙e not supposed to, know what you鈥檙e getting into, and skip the selfies.

Jen Murphy is a regular contributor to 国产吃瓜黑料 and usually covers travel-advice topics. She has made the regretful mistake of hiking in flip-flops on lava rock in Hawaii and always packs for all seasons any time she hikes in Haleakala National Park on Maui. She has recently written about how to travel solo, how to make the most of your first-ever Costa Rica trip, and how to get a vacation refund when the weather sucks.听

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What do runners do when the seasons change and the days become shorter? They keep running in the dark. Training plans don鈥檛 stop for daylight saving time and neither should you.

Of course, it鈥檚 easy to be deterred when the sun rises later and sets earlier. And let鈥檚 be real, it鈥檚 way more dangerous to run in the dark. According to a 2021 report from the (NHTSA), pedestrians account for 17 percent of all traffic fatalities. An overwhelming majority of those deaths鈥攁bout 77 percent鈥攐ccur in the dark, and more than half happen between the hours of 6 P.M. and midnight.

Simply put, when visibility goes down, your chances of being hit by a vehicle go up exponentially. But with the right information, planning, and a few basic tools, it鈥檚 entirely possible to see and be seen so you are safer and more confident running in the dark.

Run With a Light (and a Back-up Light)

鈥淟ight sources are really important and tend to be overlooked, especially if you start during the day and don鈥檛 anticipate time getting away from you,鈥� says , a competitive trail runner and hiker who, thanks to her Boston-based run commute and multiple, is more than familiar with running in the dark.

RUN:

No matter the route, Derstine always runs with a fully-charged headlamp that casts a wide cone of light, plus a backup light, like a handheld flashlight. A personal light source not only makes you more visible to drivers but also helps you navigate obstacles and uneven terrain.

Wear Reflective and Light-up Gear

Save your all-black running kit for the treadmill and wear light or brightly colored clothing and accessories, reflective materials, and safety gear, like clip-on LED lights, on nighttime runs. The further away drivers can spot you, the safer you鈥檒l be when sharing the road.

Avoid Accident 鈥淗ot Spots鈥�

The NHTSA reports that pedestrian fatalities are linked to specific locations and traffic conditions known as 鈥渉ot spots.鈥� These include roadways with five or more lanes to cross, areas with a speed limit of 30 mph or higher, and locations with traffic volumes exceeding 25,000 vehicles per day.

If possible, avoid routes with heavy traffic and higher speed limits, and stick to streets with sidewalks or wide shoulders.

Follow the Rules of the Road

If you didn鈥檛 know by now, runners should be running against traffic. showed there was a significant decrease in pedestrian-vehicle collisions when the person was walking against traffic, whether that be on a sidewalk, bike lane, or the shoulder of the road. The rest may seem like common sense: cross in a crosswalk, wait for the light, look both ways and just generally be aware.

Note that attitudes toward pedestrians vary by culture, community, and neighborhood. Just because you鈥檙e running by the rules of the road doesn鈥檛 mean every driver will stick to the speed limit or yield when they鈥檙e supposed to.

Run defensively and always err on the side of caution when crossing the street or passing through areas where you may be less visible to folks behind the wheel.

Skip the Tunes

Julie Morrill, founder of , a self-defense training company, advises against listening to headphones while running at night. 鈥淚t can be helpful to have your sense of hearing available in the dark so that you can more easily hear traffic, animals, or other people approaching,鈥� she says.

What About Trail Running in the Dark?

Derstine jokes that she became a nighttime hiker and trail runner 鈥渂y accident鈥� on the Appalachian Trail when she fell behind on her daily mileage goals. To make up for lost time, she began starting her days hours before sunrise and finishing up around 9 P.M.

A reliable鈥攁nd fully charged鈥攍ight source, she notes, is just as critical on the trail as it is on city streets. Without adequate lighting, it鈥檚 easier to miss trail markers, get disoriented, and trip or fall. She recounts a nighttime run when she started 鈥減anic running鈥� as her headlamp began to fade. She tripped on a root and seriously injured her knee. 鈥淓verything can get a little bit heightened when you鈥檙e in the dark and vulnerable, so I think that contributed to the fall,鈥� she says.

Animal Encounters in the Dark

While you don鈥檛 have to worry about sharing a wooded path with drivers, other trail-dwellers can pose a threat, especially at night. 鈥淢any predatory animals hunt at dusk and dawn, but as humans encroach upon habitats, some animals鈥攊ncluding both grizzly and black bears鈥攁re in order to avoid human contact,鈥� Morrill says.

Wildlife varies by region, so it鈥檚 a good idea to research an area before hitting the trail. But here are a few pointers to keep in mind no matter where you are.

Minimize surprise

The last thing you want to do is surprise an animal and cause it to feel threatened. 鈥淚t can be helpful to wear bells or make noise as you run down the trail to allow animals to hear you,鈥� Morrill says. Derstine taps her hiking pole on rocks, sings aloud, or, if she鈥檚 confident that no other people are nearby, plays music on a portable speaker.

Stop running

Screaming and sudden movements, like darting away from the animal, can trigger a chase response. Instead, talk calmly and firmly to the animal. 鈥淭his lets it know you are human and not prey,鈥� Morrill says. 鈥淢ake yourself appear as large as possible.鈥�

In the case of the attack, the appropriate response varies by animal. 鈥淚f attacked by a mountain lion, coyote, or black bear, use pepper spray and fight back. If attacked by a grizzly bear, play dead by lying on your stomach with your hands crossed beyond your neck,鈥� Morrill says. 鈥淜eep your legs wide to avoid being flipped over. Keep still until the bear is gone from the area.鈥�

Consider carrying pepper spray

鈥淧epper spray is effective, but not if it鈥檚 tucked in the bottom of your hydration pack,鈥� Morrill says. If you do choose to carry pepper or animal-repellent spray, keep it in the same easy-to-access spot on every run and have a plan for using it.

Not every trail runner feels comfortable with pepper spray. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 feel confident that I鈥檇 use it correctly or that I鈥檇 even think to use it in the moment,鈥� Derstine says. She notes that she鈥檚 more likely to defend herself using items she鈥檚 already carrying, like her heavy flashlight or hiking pole, which ends in a sharp, pointed tip.

Run with friends (but leave Fido at home)

showed that wild animals, specifically bears, are less likely to attack people traveling in groups. So, if you鈥檙e heading into nature and have the option to run with friends, take it.

However, if your favorite running buddy is of the four-legged variety, you may want to leave them at home. One published in International Bear News found that half of the reported black bear attacks in North America between 2010 and 2014 involved a dog. The authors speculated that most of the involved pets were likely running loose. So, if you run with your dog, ensure it鈥檚 on a leash.

Self-Defense for Running in the Dark

When it comes to protecting yourself against other humans at night, much of the above advice applies. Run with a buddy or in groups when possible. Wear a headlamp, but skip the headphones so that you can hear footsteps approaching. And if you choose to carry a safety tool, like pepper spray, an alarm, or a handheld weapon, make sure you have a plan for how to use it.

RUN:

Additionally, keep the following tips in mind:

Tell someone where you鈥檙e going

Whether it鈥檚 light or dark, tell someone where you are planning to run. 鈥淟et someone know where you are going and what time you expect to be back,鈥� Morrill says. Have clearly defined next steps in place in case you don鈥檛 check-in, and make sure everyone is on the same page. You may also consider sharing your location through your phone or GPS device with a trusted family member or friend.

Be (and look) alert

Morrill likens staying alert while running to driving in bad weather. 鈥淵our driving attention is more focused, right? You can use the same techniques when running,鈥� she says. 鈥淵our head is up, your eyes are relaxed but scanning the path ahead. You鈥檙e listening to nature and can pick up on any abnormal sounds, like footsteps behind you.鈥� She says a heightened sense of awareness also changes your posture and makes you appear more confident and less like a victim.

Bring your phone

A phone enables you to call for help in the case of an emergency. But you can also phone a friend when passing through less populated areas or whenever your instincts tell you a situation is suspect. Even pretending to chat with someone may make you look less alone and vulnerable. Also, a sturdy cell phone (especially one covered in a hard case) is a blunt object that can serve as a weapon if necessary.

Scout the area

Familiarize yourself with a running route before hitting the streets at night. Are there any traffic 鈥渉ot spots?鈥� Are there sidewalks? Is the location populated, and do the area businesses stay open at night? 鈥淭ake into consideration that some places that might be bustling during the day, like downtown in the city, might be ghost towns at night,鈥� Derstine says.

Take a self-defense course

Even a single course can make a difference, Morrill says. (Derstine aims to take a self-defense class once a year as a 鈥渞efresher.鈥�) 鈥淚f you take the time to train in self-defense, you better prepare your body and mind for the real thing. If you can鈥檛 make it to a self-defense course, even thinking about how you might respond to a safety emergency can be helpful,鈥� Morrill says.

Use the defense pose

If you are confronted by an attacker, assume the 鈥渄efense pose,鈥� Morrill says. Stand with your feet wider than hip-width apart and stagger your feet so that your non-dominant leg is slightly in front of you. Lift your arms with your palms facing forward like you鈥檙e putting your hands on a picture frame in front of you.

This position makes you look bigger and more intimidating. Staggering your legs gives you a broader base of support so that you鈥檙e less likely to stumble. You can also pivot out of the way more easily. And if you do need to fight back, you鈥檒l have more torque when striking with your dominant hand. A defensive stance can also help you steady yourself and focus when your adrenaline is pumping.

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On a recent trip to Revelstoke, British Columbia, my husband and I popped into a hardware store to purchase bear spray. Aside from our shock at the $51 (USD) price tag for an 8-ounce can, we were taken aback by the security measures required to purchase it.

Bear spray in Canada is not a grab-and-go purchase: The cashier pulled out a form that required name, address, the amount purchased, and a signed Notice to Purchase Agreement that contained a liability warning. The serial number from the spray鈥攌ept under lock and key鈥攚as included on the form, and we needed to show an ID prior to making the purchase.

If someone were to use the spray against a human, we learned, the serial number could be traced back to us. As a result, visitors are discouraged from passing on their canisters of bear spray to other users.

In the United States, purchasing bear spray does not require the same level of scrutiny鈥攊t鈥檚 as easy to buy as a box of granola bars. This makes passing on the canister to another hiker less onerous. However, other obstacles to safe disposal are as present in the U.S. as they are in Canada.

contains both a propellant and capsaicin, a concentrated form of the substance that makes chili peppers spicy. Considered hazardous waste, bear spray canisters can鈥檛 just be chucked in the trash, but require special disposal. The spray contributes to an ever-growing waste stream and poses a safety concern to landfill workers who could be injured from the toxic fumes.

At the end of our trip, as we drove to the Calgary airport in our rented car, the canister still lay on the floor next to my feet. I had done a quick Google search hoping to find a place to safely dispose of the toxic bear spray, but had been unsuccessful. And for obvious reasons, it couldn鈥檛 come home with us on the flight. I was at a loss.

An Increase in Use

While both the U.S. National Park Service and Parks Canada recommend doing everything possible to avoid bear encounters in the first place, they also recommend carrying spray when recreating in grizzly country to use as a final line of defense in the event of an attack. Grizzly bears are more likely to attack humans during an encounter than black bears, so carrying a deterrent in states where they live鈥擨daho, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, and Alaska鈥攊s particularly important. The spray protects both humans and bears, many of which are euthanized following an encounter.

Over time, the issue of properly disposing of bear spray waste is likely to grow. During the past five years, the number of American hiking enthusiasts increased 5.3 percent, while those camping increased 7.5 percent, said Kelly Davis, director of research at the Outdoor Industry Association. As interest in outdoor pursuits rises and the population continues to encroach on bear habitats, human-bear encounters may also increase. Likewise, the bear spray market is expected to expand, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Bear Spray Rentals

Bear spray is expensive, especially for a traveler who may not be able to bring it home for reuse. At an REI in Jackson, Wyoming, an 8.1-ounce canister (about 10 seconds worth of spray) costs $49.95 while a 10.2-ounce canister costs $54.95.

Most people who purchase bear spray will never actually use it, which spurred Montana resident Sally Vering to found in 2011. The company provides bear spray rentals in some U.S. National Parks beginning at $16 for one or two days.

Rentals do more than just saving travelers a few bucks. The service decreases the need for visitors to buy bear spray, keeping canisters out of circulation and landfills, said Patrick Collins, current owner of Bear Aware. The program runs over a dozen pick-up and drop-off locations around , Grand Teton National Park, and Jackson Hole.

Some parks in Canada also rent bear spray. At Canada鈥檚 Glacier National Park, visitors can rent a canister and holster for $15 (CAD) at two different locations. However, while visitors at a U.S. National Park can return used canisters, the same isn鈥檛 true with Parks Canada, according to Sierra Stinson, public relations and communications officer for Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks. Visitors who deploy their rented spray will need to find an alternative way to dispose of the canister.

Bear Spray Recycling

A group in Idaho鈥檚 grizzly country has focused on safe and environmentally friendly disposal. The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Wildlife Department, with the help of Idaho Fish and Game and the Idaho Panhandle National Forests/USDA Forest Service, have established drop-off sites for bear spray disposal in Northern Idaho.

A waste facility in Eastern Washington accepts the recycled canisters from the Kootenai Tribe. At the center, workers puncture the cans and extract the spray. They filter out the active ingredient, which can then be reused. Some of it is added to paint and used on boats to repel barnacles. The plastic and aluminum from the can itself is also recycled.

A handful of collection sites are available in Montana as well. This includes the REI in Bozeman and most of Montana鈥檚 Fish, Wildlife and Parks regional offices. In addition, several National Parks including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier offer collection bins for the convenience of park visitors.

Plan Ahead

Back in Calgary, we ended up taking our chances and handing off the bear spray to the owner of our rental car, who was glad to have it. I later learned that the region does offer free, year-round disposal of hazardous material, including bear spray. However, this information was not easy to find, and the location was not convenient.

At best, bear spray rental and recycling programs keep toxic material out of landfills, more money in the wallets of outdoor enthusiasts, and humans and bears safe. However, the availability of these programs is not widespread and sometimes poorly promoted.

If traveling to bear country for an outdoor adventure, research local recycling centers and drop-off locations before you go. Armed with a little information, you can keep yourself, the bears, and the environment protected all at the same time.

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You might think features like pools of bubbling acid and hidden booby traps are safely relegated to the imaginary world of Indiana Jones. But in Yellowstone, they’re real. And they鈥檙e taking out tourists at a pretty astonishing rate. Just this week, a park visitor suffered third-degree burns after the ground gave way beneath her, dropping her into a pool of scalding-hot water hidden just beneath the surface.

The visitor, a 60-year-old woman from New Hampshire, was hiking off-trail near Old Faithful, the iconic geyser famous for its sky-tickling jet of 350掳F steam. She was accompanied by her husband and dog. They didn鈥檛 realize how thin the ground was鈥攐r what was lurking beneath the delicate crust.

With one misstep, the hiker punched through the thin ground, falling and plunging one leg into the near-boiling water beneath. Her husband and dog remained uninjured. The group was able to self-evacuate to a nearby medical clinic, but the woman was ultimately airlifted to a hospital for further treatment. A from the National Park Service stated that incident remains under investigation. In the meantime, park officials remind all visitors to stay on designated trails and boardwalks.

While this is Yellowstone鈥檚 first hydrothermal injury of 2024, it鈥檚 not the year鈥檚 first close call. Earlier this summer, five visitors accidentally drove their car into a geyser and had to be rescued. Just two weeks after that, a sudden hydrothermal explosion sent hot water and rocks raining from the sky and left panicked visitors running for cover. Some of the stones were up to three feet across and weighed 100 pounds鈥攅nough to in the area.

According to the National Park Service, more people have been injured by Yellowstone鈥檚 hydrothermal springs than any of the park鈥檚 other natural threats. Hot springs-related injuries currently number in the hundreds, and at least by the scalding water. That鈥檚 nearly three times as many deaths as those attributed to bear attacks鈥� over the park鈥檚 recorded history. Bison attacks happen from time to time, but only two bison-related deaths have been recorded.

In fact, the USGS has called the park鈥檚 geothermal springs 鈥�.鈥� However, the park points out that not all burns or deaths are the result of accidents. On more than one occasion, an off-leash dog has taken a flying leap into a pool, and its owners have plunged into the near-boiling water to attempt a rescue. Other visitors ignore posted signage to get closer to the water for photo-ops鈥攐nly to be surprised by a burst of steam.

While burns certainly make memorable souvenirs, the park tends to recommend a distanced selfie instead.

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It鈥檚 August. That means millions of people from all over the world are flocking to our national parks. With them come a steady stream of news stories that range in tone from comedy to horror. People tend to underestimate our untamed spaces.

Every year, we see people struggling to enjoy their visits, having a bad time, or worse.

Last week, an employee in Death Valley National Park after becoming severely dehydrated and fainting during a hike. He was scrambling up the west face of Panamint Butte when he ran out of water. His dehydration was so severe that he lost consciousness and slid down a scree slope.

I get why people get in over their heads. There鈥檚 signage, helpful rangers in uniform, and amenities like gift shops, hotels, and restaurants. It鈥檚 easy to 听forget amid all the air conditioning, WiFi, and icy-cold听beverages that these are wild environments.

Here鈥檚 how to avoid those problems, and make the most of your trip to any national park.

Don鈥檛 Make the Mistake of Assuming National Parks Are Safe

Staying at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel in Yellowstone? Those elk bugling in the parking lot are wild animals (extremely large ones) just about to enter their mating season, when the bulls will do battle to compete for females. The unique thing about the hotel is that you鈥檒l get to witness that on the walk to your car. But despite the pavement under their hooves, those animals are still wild, and full of raging hormones鈥攖hose huge antlers on their heads remain very dangerous.

I once went on national news to talk about tourists dying in national parks, and was asked with total sincerity by the host why someone couldn鈥檛 just build a fence around the Grand Canyon to prevent people from falling over the side. Beyond the challenge of building and maintaining a 2,600-mile long fence to encompass the canyon鈥檚 entire perimeter, the reason is that the entire point of a national park is to allow people to experience pristine nature in our country鈥檚 most beautiful places. Training the animals or building barriers would ruin that.

Don鈥檛 Mistake a National Park for Total Wilderness Either

Hiking down from Grinnell Glacier back to the Many Glacier Hotel last weekend, I was soaking my sweaty feet in Swiftcurrent Lake and watching my little cousins swim when another hiker waded in right in front of us, and proceeded to start gulping down handfuls of water straight from the lake.

This points to a unique duality in the nature of national parks: while they鈥檙e wild, they鈥檙e heavily visited.

That creates some important realities that visitors need to acknowledge, first of which is the need to filter any water you source from rivers, streams, or even lakes filled with sweaty humans or animal feces.

That鈥檚 also why it鈥檚 so important to minimize the impacts of our recreation. One poorly managed poo, for example, may not seem like a big deal, but scale a single听undug听hole or scrap of toilet paper across the 325 million visits the parks system gets every year, and you can see why it鈥檚 not only vital to carry a trowel or pack out waste, but also to filter that drinking water.

Never Camp in a Campground Again

Plan Where to Stay in Advance

My wife and I have a cabin located near Glacier National Park’s west entrance, down a rural dirt road at the end of long driveway. So I totally get why, nearly every evening in the summer, someone drives down here hoping to find a place to camp. I can also picture their disappointment. Not only is there no camping along our road, but outside of often-fully-booked commercial campgrounds, there are no places to pitch a tent for dozens of miles in any direction. People who didn鈥檛 plan in advance end up parking illegally overnight听in emergency pull outs. Not only does that risk a ticket or an accident, they鈥檙e also missing the opportunity to spend a nice night under the stars.

Camping inside national parks tends to be highly-regulated. Front-country, vehicle-accessed sites typically require reservations, which book up well in advance. Backcountry camping is usually limited to designated sites, which again require reservations or permits that you have to apply for ahead of time.

But there are often听national forests or areas run by the Bureau of Land Management听surrounding or adjacent to many national parks. In those, you鈥檒l almost always be able to do something called dispersed camping, where you can set up camp pretty much wherever you please so long as you follow a basic set of rules.

I鈥檝e detailed those rules, along with best practices and the necessary gear听to pull off a successful dispersed camping trip in this article. If you鈥檝e never done it, dispersed camping is a lot easier than you might fear, and, with just a little forethought, provides the experience most lost travelers who come down our driveway are actually looking for.

Realize the Drive Might Be a Challenge

The other night, we drove into Many Glacier to enjoy a nice dinner at the hotel. The lodge there was built between 1914 and 1915. It has amazing views of the surrounding peaks, and the restaurant is probably a lot better than you鈥檇 expect for a place managed by a government contractor. But what鈥檚 an easy jaunt for us, in one of our heavily modified 4x4s with off-road tires set to 20 PSI, is a total nightmare for people visiting in rental cars and minivans.

The 12-mile road in is mostly dirt, and feels like the physical manifestation of the park service鈥檚 $23 billion-and-growing maintenance backlog. Just on that one night we saw one broken down pickup truck getting an assist from a park ranger that required a temporary road block, and dozens of cars creeping along at slower-than-walking pace. On previous visits, we鈥檝e had to stop and help drivers stranded in surprise snow storms, or who鈥檝e run out of gas.

Here in Glacier and in other parks (our primary home is just north of Yellowstone), our friends and family are often surprised by how much traffic there is. They can’t believe the long travel times involved in even day trips in and around the park boundaries, and the frequent and unpredictable jams caused by wildlife, weather, and inattentive drivers. And for some popular areas frequently derails impromptu hiking trips.

Many national parks are located in remote areas prone to extreme, unpredictable weather, and draw visitors who may be inexperienced at preparing for such conditions. At the very least (and especially if you鈥檙e using a rental car), make sure your tires have plenty of tread, are inflated to the correct pressures listed inside the driver-side door jamb, and take the time to map out fuel or recharging stops along your route.

You’ll want to leave plenty of range in reserve in the event something doesn鈥檛 go according to plan. Grab a can of ahead of time, or at a gas stations. Carrying water and snacks, and appropriate clothing for the area and time of year, is also a good idea.

How to Take Photos of Wildlife on a Phone

Don鈥檛 Forget Your Binoculars!

By far the biggest mistake I see visitors to national parks make is showing听up without a pair of binoculars, which are the key听to successfully spotting and observing听wildlife. On my most recent trip, I听used mine to study a flock of mergansers, watch a pair of bear cubs roll around in a meadow, spot听bald eagles catching fish, and even stare in utter horror as a pack of tourists tried to walk up to a full-grown bull moose in an attempt to snap a selfie.

Good glass is such听an essential tool for a successful visit that I鈥檝e set up a duffle bag for friends. That way, I can easily hand them the ability to get the most out of their trip. In it is a set of (the first number is magnification, the second objective size), that brand鈥檚 , and an complete with the听necessary attachments to mount either glass.

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This month, we鈥檝e already seen the in human history based on average temperatures across the globe. And while that heat is dangerous to humans, it鈥檚 even worse for dogs. Because they can’t sweat, dogs struggle to release heat as efficiently as humans can. In an effort to help our four-legged friends survive this summer, I examined the ways in which dogs can avoid heat-related illness鈥攁nd what we as pet owners can do if our canine’s temperature rises too high.

What Is Canine Heatstroke?

Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when an animal鈥檚 body loses the ability to cool itself. The result is organ dysfunction and then damage that could be permanent or fatal.

According to Cornell University鈥檚 Canine Health Center, dogs begin to experience heatstroke when their internal temperature .

鈥淚f elevated body temperatures are prolonged, they will cause damage to every organ in the body,鈥� the University鈥檚 material reads. 鈥淗eatstroke commonly leads to acute kidney injury, blood clotting issues and shock.鈥�

Heatstroke can be caused solely by environmental conditions鈥攈ot temperatures鈥攐r result from a combination of environmental conditions and such as too much exercise.

How Dangerous Is Canine Heatstroke?

A study published in Nature found that out of 905,543 dogs who entered formal veterinary care in the United Kingdom during 2016, . Fifty-six of those dogs (14 percent) died as a result.

That same study found that incidents of dogs suffering heat-related illnesses is increasing year-on-year, something the authors attribute to climate change.

Mortality rates are higher in hotter areas of the world. , for instance, found that 50 percent of all dogs admitted to vets for heat-related illnesses died. A study of records for otherwise healthy dogs treated for heat-related illnesses in the United States found that as a result of heatstroke, or 36 percent. A German study pegged the studied fatality rate for heatstroke in that country at .

What Are Symptoms of Heatstroke in Dogs?

If a dog is or has been exposed to hot temperatures, Cornell says the following signs may indicate that they may be experiencing heat related illness:

• Heavy Panting
• Drooling
• Bloody diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Collapse

What Heat Risks Do Dogs Experience?

Dogs are at particular risk of heatstroke for two reasons: They can鈥檛 sweat like humans, and our best friends are exposed to more extreme heat than we are, even when we share spaces.

Humidity: When dogs pant, they allow moisture to escape from their lungs, reducing body heat. High humidity can halt that process, preventing a dog from cooling itself.

Environmental factors: A study conducted in Alabama found that, on average, dogs experience temperatures 1.3 degrees hotter than those experienced by their owners. Variables like clothing, shade, and distance from the hot ground may contribute.

Hot surfaces: Even in 75 degree ambient temperatures, direct sun exposure can increase the temperature of pavement to 125 degrees or more. That鈥檚 hot enough to burn a dog鈥檚 paws. In Arizona this month, street temperatures have been measured .

Health: The Nature study found that factors like a dog’s skull shape (brachycephalic, or short-nosed dogs), obesity, and age significantly increased risk of heatstroke.

Hot cars: Across all studies and reports, one factor stands out above all others鈥攄ogs left in hot cars are most at risk for heatstroke. A parked car can reach dangerous temperatures in a matter of minutes, even if the windows are down.

What Should You Do if Your Dog Gets Heatstroke?

If you suspect that your dog is beginning to overheat, or if you discover a dog you think is suffering from heatstroke, you need to cool it down immediately.

If possible, first move to shade or an air conditioned environment. Then apply ice, cool water, or other tools directly to the dog鈥檚 skin to cool it down as rapidly as possible.

鈥淚 use water and ice,鈥� says Joe Spoo, a sporting dog veterinarian located in South Dakota. 鈥淲ith the ice, I鈥檓 using it strategically deep in the groin, deep in the armpits, and across the jugular.鈥�

Spoo explains that those areas are closest to major arteries, allowing ice to cool the dog as effectively as possible. He also recommends drenching the dog in cool water, or even placing it in a body of water like a lake or stream, should one be available. If water is in short supply, he says you can soak a towel, t-shirt or similar with a water bottle, and apply that to the same areas.

When I take my dogs hiking or camping during the summer, I throw a cooler or 12-volt fridge in the truck, and keep a few ice packs and jugs of water in that. Even on short outings, where I’m not otherwise packing food and drinks.

Spoo also recommends carrying a thermometer as part of your dog first aid kit, and using that to monitor temperature change in your dog. Normal internal temperatures for dogs run between 100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If you鈥檙e worried your dog may be overheating, Spoo suggests using a thermometer not just to take a reading, but rather to monitor whether or not the dog is cooling down.

鈥淒uring heatstroke, the problem is your dog鈥檚 internal听thermometer is broken,鈥� the vet explains. 鈥淭he key with heatstroke is that the dog loses the ability to cool itself down. So take its temperature at 5, 10, and 15 minutes, and if you have a temperature that鈥檚 climbing or staying the same you have a problem.鈥�

And while Spoo says you need to cool a dog experiencing heatstroke as quickly as possible, you should use that thermometer to keep an eye on its internal temperature, and stop cooling at 103 degrees.

Once you鈥檝e cooled a dog down to a safe level, you need to get it to an animal hospital as fast as possible. There, a vet may administer intravenous fluids, antibiotics, perform a blood transfusion, or otherwise treat any organ damage that may have occurred. But a vet cannot cool a dog any faster or more effectively than you can, so prioritize cooling the dog before transporting it, or make sure you鈥檙e able to cool it during transportation.

How Can You Prevent Your Dog from Getting Heatstroke?

Spoo says a good guideline听for active dogs is to add together the air temperature and humidity level, and, if the sum exceeds 150, then “it鈥檚 a danger zone for most dogs.鈥�

In hot weather, leave your dog in a reliably air conditioned or shaded space, and make sure they have plenty of cool water to drink. Never leave a dog unattended in a parked car.

It鈥檚 also important to get to know your dog, and in what conditions they do well or struggle. Temperatures that may be safe for a young, healthy mutt, may be lethal for a senior, overweight, brachycephalic purebred like a bulldog.

But Spoo says this knowledge, and even a mastery of first aid techniques should not be used as an excuse for exposing your dog to danger. 鈥淒on鈥檛 use this information to push boundaries, and then try to save your dog,鈥� the vet advises.

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