At the end of this summer I am spending a week hiking and
camping in the cool Sierra Nevada Mountains at Yosemite National Park in
California. This sounds like heaven
after hiking in the Phoenix desert in the early morning to avoid the heat. But hiking longer distances, at a higher
altitude and carrying a 20-pound backpack will not be heavenly if I don’t do my
prep work.
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| Munds Park |
I started my research a few months ago to identify what
hazards I might encounter at Yosemite.
Weather in the High Sierra’s is unpredictable,
temperatures can range from the low 30’s at night to the high 80’s during the
day. Now throw the possibility of black bears and mosquitoes in the mix.
Once I knew the
hazards, I started my packing list with items that will minimize their impact.
I will dress in layers; bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, knit cap, gloves,
lip balm and mosquito repellant. As far
as the black bears go, I will store food and scented toiletries in a
bear-resistant locker. I’ve also studied what to do if I encounter a bear. Lucky for me, yelling—one of the recommended
actions to take-- comes natural.. The
challenge will be NOT running away.
Another hazard
that I may encounter is altitude sickness.
I hike around Phoenix multiple times a week, but with the highest
Phoenix peak about 2,500 feet that is really no match for the Yosemite altitude
range of 7,100 feet to 10,100 feet. A couple weeks ago I hiked at Munds Park
and Snowbowl in northern Arizona to test my skills. Good thing I did, the altitude and the heavy
backpack definitely slowed me down.
There is more high altitude hiking in my Yosemite preparedness plan.
So what vacation do you have planned? Have you done the research to know what
hazards you might encounter? Do you
think we put the same energy into knowing what hazards are in the city we live
in? 
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