Spring is here and temperatures are heating up across the country. Especially here in California, the warm weather is right around the corner and will be getting hotter by the day.

Here are a handful of helpful tips to keep your springtime adventures safe and super fun!

1. Make sure to pack enough water

The general rule for packing water is to have a minimum of 1/2 liter of water per mile (or per hour) per person (including pets!) for moderate activity during moderate weather (about 70 degrees / room temperature). This amount of water should be increased depending on hotter temperatures and more difficult activity. Additionally, I hold to the rule that if I come home from a hike and all of our water supply was used up, I need to pack more next time. I want to come home with extra water that would be used in the event of: needing to share with someone, being on the trail longer than expected, or spontaneously feeling like I needed more water than normal that day.

Certainly, in springtime with the temperatures rising and sunnier days being more frequent, it is highly recommended to pack more water than you would for winter outings and make sure to stay very hydrated.

I also love packing LMNT electrolyte packets in my hiking backpack. I keep a small 16oz nalgene in my hiking backpack, in addition to my 3 liter water reservoir, so I can make an electrolyte drink. I always keep an extra LMNT packet or two to share with a passing hiker that may benefit from it. Many times we’ve come across hikers that could have been more prepared for the heat, and I love being able to help out.

Note: I generally avoid plastics for food and drink items, however, I haven’t found any solution (so far) that allows me to carry a large enough amount of water for myself and my kids that isn’t plastic. Carrying enough water in stainless steel bottles for an entire day would be way too much weight to add to my already super full hiking backpack. The Platypus hydration reservoir uses polyethylene which, from what I’ve read, is the most low-tox option.

2. Be aware of increased wildlife activity, poisonous plants, ticks, etc.

It’s no secret that springtime is when the plants are in bloom and the cute baby animals are out and about in the wilderness. This is wonderful, AND this means a few things that we should be aware of:

• Rapid plant growth coincides with a higher chance of encountering ticks, swarms of bees, poison oak, poison ivy, stinging nettle, and other undesirable plants and insects. Check out this post about tick bites below. I’ll also be doing a post about poison oak soon. Make sure you drop your email list at the end of this article so you don’t miss it. I had SO many awesome convos about poison oak in my Instagram stories last week when I posted about seeing an abundance of it on the trail already this year. I can’t wait to share more! Hint: it’s an imitator plant ?

• Warm weather means that snakes are going to be more present. For those that live in an area with rattlesnakes, it is imperative to teach kids exactly how to avoid snakes. Always keep an eye out for snakes on the trail, know how to identify the snakes in your area, review protocol for responding to a snake bite, and avoid (or proceed extremely cautiously) in areas where they hide (under bushes off the trail, on/between rocks, under logs, etc). I like to repeat to my kids: “SEE YOUR FEET!” Meaning, always be somewhere on the trail where you can see your feet and the surrounding area. Don’t bushwhack off the trail where they could be hiding or step over rocks and logs before making a visual confirmation that there aren’t any snakes waiting.

• Baby animals are adorable, but with a baby comes a MAMA. During springtime when wildlife is much more active for the first time in a few months, it’s a great idea to brush up on how to respond to the wildlife sightings that are specific to your area. I recently wrote a post about what to do if you encounter a mountain lion on the trail that you can find here:

3. Carry proper navigation + communication especially in areas without cell service.

This is definitely a tip to follow all year long, but especially in the Spring. It is incredibly common for trails to be overgrown in the springtime or to have faced winter water run off that lead to mud and rock slides, washing out the trail, or creek crossings that redirect the trail. Make sure you are in a position to be able to navigate on the fly in the event that the trail has changed over the winter months.

Personally, I love carrying the Garmin InReach Mini with me on hikes. It is a PLB (personal locator beacon) that uses satellites to communicate when there isn’t any cell service. You can connect it to your phone and send texts, navigate with GPS, share your location with a trusted contact, check weather updates, send an SOS call and request Search and Rescue to your exact location, and more! It is the best piece of gear for those of us that love to go off-grid and head out into the wilderness where cell service is limited or non-existent. It makes a GREAT Mother’s Day gift, too!

4. Carry all of the hiking essentials, especially for evening hikes!

Here in California, we mainly hike in the evening once it starts to get warmer during the day. Because of that, its super important to be prepared in case the hike goes longer than expected and leaves you hiking in the dark. Temperatures can drop very fast, so having insulation and a reliable light source is crucial! Regardless of the time of day, I ALWAYS hike with a headlamp and an emergency bivvy, among other necessary pieces of preparedness gear.

For a full gear list of essential hiking items, check out this blog post below!

I hope these tips helped jumpstart some new ideas of how to stay safe and have fun as a family on the trails! Make sure to drop your email below to stay in the loop with new posts, product discount codes, and so much more!

xx,

Kaleigh

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