By Sevanah Sandoval
Alex Stecher, an East Bay hiker in his mid-fifties, and his bull terrier cattle dog embarked on a one-day hike on Friday May 17th. Stecher was allegedly traveling on the Ohlone wilderness trail in Alameda County that starts in Sunol Park and ends in Del Valle Regional Park. After family members realized that Stecher had not made it to his destination by Saturday, he was reported missing to authorities. The search is still ongoing.
This tragic event is a reminder of how important safe hiking is. Today I am gathering tips from the National Park Service, California State Parks, American Hiking Society, and US Forest Service in one spot to help you know how to hike safely without extensive research. Without further ado, here are the tips:
- Know Your Limits
- Consider your experience level, how much equipment you have, your physical fitness, your familiarity with the environment, the elevation, and whether or not you are hiking alone.
- Plan Your Hike
- Pick a trail you can manage, tell a trusted family member where you are going and when you will return, create an emergency plan in case you or someone else gets lost or injured, have a communication device that isn’t your phone, and stay up-to-date with the weather.
- Bring the Essentials
- Bring water, food, proper shoes, bug spray, a water purifier, extra clothing, safety items (fire, light, whistle), a first-aid kit, knife, and sunscreen.
- Hike Smart!
- Talk to rangers, let the slowest hiker in your group set the pace, keep track of time, yield to uphill hikers, take frequent breaks, don’t hike off the trail, do not feed or touch wildlife, be aware of common factors such as poison oak and ticks, drink water no matter the weather, try to avoid falling on your hands, elbows, or knees, and pack lightly.
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