Hiking Safety and Tips

Greg Vincent's "The Right Stuff"

A series of articles, entitled 'The Right Stuff', dealing with safety and hiking tips, have appeared in the GVTA newsletter, Trail Markings. The author, Greg Vincent, is an experienced hike leader and instructor. He is a longtime member of the Bruce Trail Association, has served on the GVTA Board of Directors and is a GVTA Trail Captain. The index of links to Greg's articles appears below. Note that the links take you to his website where the articles are available as Web (HTML) files and as PDF files. Other articles of interest to hikers, such as information about ticks and bears, appear near the bottom of this web page.

Trail Safety/Introduction (how to ensure you hike without incident)
"On the Up and Up" or Icy Walking
Footwear - Boots & Socks (how to care for your feet and how to choose boots and socks)
Clothing (how to keep warm and dry)
Packs (what kind to carry and what to put in them)
Bugs (how to avoid them and prevent their bothering you)
Trekking Poles (modern ones - what are they and why use them)
Winter Walking (all the peculiarities of hiking in cold climes)
Medical Emergencies (how to prepare for and respond to a medical emergency while hiking)
Warm Weather Walking (the scoop on hiking in warm weather)
Snowshoeing (If you can walk, you can snowshoe – no ifs, ands or buts.)
GPS or Global Positioning System

Other Safety Related Information

Ticks - avoiding Lyme disease
Giant Hogweed - a "do not touch" plant
Bears
Poison Ivy - don't touch me

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Updated 2009 MARCH 15