29/01/2016
Do your part for Responsible Hiker
You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared:
1. With knowledge and gear. Become self reliant by learning about the terrain,
conditions, local weather and your equipment before you start.
2. To leave your plans. Tell someone where you are going, the trails you are hiking,
when you will return and your emergency plans.
3. To stay together. When you start as a group, hike as a group, end as a group. Pace
your hike to the slowest person.
4. To turn back. Weather changes quickly in the mountains. Fatigue and unexpected
conditions can also affect your hike. Know your limitations and when to postpone your
hike. The mountains will be there another day.
5. For emergencies. Even if you are headed out for just an hour, an injury, severe weather
or a wrong turn could become life threatening. Don’t assume you will be rescued; know how to rescue yourself.
6. Silence is Golden. Its a hike not a rave right? Whether you’re in a large group or just
hiking with one other person, there’s no need to speak loudly, shout or sing.
7. Walking manners. Stay to the right and pay attention to faster hikers coming up behind
you to make it easier for them to pass. Uphill hikers have the right of way so that they can
maintain their momentum, although there are plenty of times when they’ll gladly step aside for a break and allow downhill hikers to get by.
8. Stay on Designated Trails. Shortcuts can lead to increased erosion and also destroy
vegetation. Nobody wants to get muddy boots, but tough it out in wet conditions rather than going off trail. Once a side path starts forming, other people will begin to use it and before long you have two trails instead of one.
9. Don’t Approach Animas. It’s not good for them or you. Your well-intentioned curiosity
can create stress for animals and cause them to flee, which may leave their young vulnerable to predators. You should never feed wildlife because it’s unhealthy for them and animals may also become a nuisance by associating humans with food.
10. Leave Things Where You Found Them: Nature offers plenty of potential keepsakes but
resist the temptation to pick up rocks and flowers in the forest, or driftwood and shells on
the beach. It always seems harmless at the time. But especially in heavily visited parks, the accumulated impact can be severe.
11. Collect Any Trash You Find: Everybody can do their part. Carry some sort of bag to
gather garbage you find along the trail, then dispose of it properly when you return from the hike.
12. Clean Up After Yourself. It’s not always convenient when nature calls when you’re out
in nature. You’ll want to find a spot that’s away from heavily trafficked areas and at least 200feet from water sources. To minimize impacts, try to urinate on rocks or gravel. The best approach for solid waste is to dig a cathole that’s 6 - 8 inches deep. Once you’re done, refill the hole and cover it with leaves, needles or other natural materials.
13. Respect Closures: Officials sometimes close parks and trails to protect nesting birds,
soil restoration or for revegetation projects. While frustrating, these closures typically try to limit impacts on recreational users. You can avoid potentially more lengthy and extensive interruptions of trail use by obeying any posted signs.
14. Rations your food. There’s nothing worse than going for a hike on an empty stomach.
Even if you’re only going to be away on a day trip, it’s important to plan accordingly in terms of food and water. As a rule of thumb, you should always pack more water than you think you need. If you’re going to be traveling for an extended period of time, bring a water filter and purification tablets. Worst-case scenario, you should have the tools you need to boil water in order to stay hydrated. Any protein-packed food will give you the energy you need to finish your hike confidently.
15. Get Involved. Report trails abuses and environmental concerns. Volunteer to maintain
hiking trails and to share the hiker code with others.
Prepared by Brandon Chee
(Recreational Ecology Researcher)
EXPLORER Support “Responsible Hiker” Campaign conducted by Hiking & Camping Around Malaysia – Facebook Group (HACAM)
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