ADK Forever Wild: The Importance of Safety While Hiking

Many people in the Adirondacks hike as a way to get outside, spend time with friends, and enjoy nature. While hiking seems like a straightforward, relatively safe activity, (if you stick to the trail) it can quickly become deadly if hikers don’t take the right precautions. The many hikers who have died or disappeared in the Adirondacks over the past years serve as an unfortunate reminder of what can happen to even the most experienced hikers.

Often these deaths can come from a lack of preparation. In 1990, David Boomhower disappeared near the Northville-Placid trail after beginning his hike without enough food or the proper equipment. It appears that he tried to hike out once he realized this, but got lost off trail. His body was recovered four months later.

However, other times, they are not so easily explained. For example, the death of George LaForest. LaForest was a longtime fisherman, and even had a cabin on Indian Lake, so he knew the area well. He disappeared in 2006 near his favorite fishing hole – his cell-phone and bait were found still in his truck. And just two months later, another experienced adirondacker, Jack Coloney disappeared in the same area on the second day of an 8-10 day solo camping trip. He was only declared missing after a park ranger passed by his campsite over the course of two days and noticed that nothing had moved.

While it could be tempting to hear these horror stories and want to lock yourself in your house for the rest of your life, not all of them end so badly. In fact, between 2006 and 2010, there were only 84 searches in the Adirondacks, and almost all of them ended with the missing person(s) being found. Modern technology has also helped in the search and rescue process. For example, there is now a device called a SPOT finder, or personal locator which will send your GPS coordinates to a rescue crew who will send a squad in immediately. However, definitely don’t misuse this device – after using his SPOT finder because of his wet boots and clothes, Carl Skalak spent the night in jail, for falsely reporting an emergency.

However, when hiking, it would be best to not get lost to begin with, or not to have to use a SPOT finder at all! Here are some tips to stay safe while hiking in the Adirondacks (and probably many other places as well):

Tell at least two people where you are going and when you plan to be back
Be sure to sign the register at the trailhead
Bring a map and compass (and know how to use them! Too often people are over-reliant on their mobile phones, only to find they don’t get service in the Adirondacks!)
Check the weather reports and pack appropriate clothing – and remember the weather can change quickly in the Adirondacks
Always carry adequate water and food with you, as well as a knife
If possible, don’t hike or travel alone
Stay on the trails! (This is also important to keep plants safe)
If you get lost – stay dry and stay put