HIKE SMART - For a safe and enjoyable hike, prepare for your hike before you arrive! Review the hiking tips below.
— Plan Ahead —THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GREAT HIKE OR A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL IS UP TO YOU!Inform others of your plans: It is required for an overnight hike. For a day hike, let someone know which trail you plan to hike on and when you expect to return. Check weather conditions: Sunny and clear mornings are often followed by rain and wind later in the day. Weather information can be found on the park’s Weather Conditions page. — Be Kind to Yourself —KNOW YOUR ABILITIES AND CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE HIKEHike with a partner. Don't hike alone. Frequently people who get into trouble are alone. Stay together. Hikers separated from their partners are more apt to make a wrong turn or lose the established trail. Monitor everyone's condition. Avoid undue risks. Don't take any chances. It's just not worth it. Watch the time. Getting a late start increases the possibility of getting caught in the dark. Know your turnaround time and stick to it. If you are caught by darkness, stay put unless you are very familiar with the trail and have a flashlight. You could be hiking at elevations ranging from sea level to just under 14,000 feet with temperatures that range from hot, dry desert conditions to winter storm conditions with snow possible at higher elevations. Almost everyone who hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes for the first time reports that it was more difficult than they expected. Be conservative in planning your hike! If you have asthma, diabetes, a heart condition, knee or back problems, or any other health or medical issues, limit both your exertion and your exposure to the heat. The altitude, strenuous climbing, dehydration, and intense inner heat will combine to make any medical problem worse. Stay within your training, physical limitations, and abilities. Be aware that efforts to assist you may be delayed due to limited staff, other rescue calls, employee safety requirements, and limited helicopter flying capability during periods of darkness or inclement weather. Do not rely on physical strength alone, hiking smart is much safer. Rangers respond to heat-exhausted hikers often during the summer — don't let yourself become one of them! Use the information below to hike smart. During the day, temperatures can soar into the high 90s or higher. Along the coast there are no trees to provide relief from the sun. The Heat Equation: High Temperature + High Humidity + Physical Exertion = Heat Illness or Death. Earthquakes can produce rock falls -- avoid potential rock fall areas. A volcanic eruption is possible at any time; stay upslope and upwind from active lava flows and their gases. Volcanic gas (vog) can present breathing problems miles downwind from its source. Stay on the trail: earth cracks, thin crusts, and hidden lava tubes are prevalent. 10 Hiking Essentials For the Coast and Lower Elevations
Drink and Eat OftenYou can sweat nearly two quarts of fluid each hour you walk in the heat. Fluid/electrolyte loss can exceed two quarts per hour if you hike uphill in direct sunlight and during the hottest time of the day. Do not wait until you are feeling thirsty to start replacing fluids and electrolytes. By the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Even a mild level of dehydration can make hiking a lot less fun. The more dehydrated you become, the less efficient your body is at cooling, making hiking more difficult. Your body can only absorb about one quart of fluid per hour, so drink ½ to one quart of fluid every hour that you are hiking in the heat. Carry a water bottle in your hand or wear a camel pack and drink small amounts often, alternate between water and a sports drink with electrolytes. Balance your food intake with fluid consumption or else you run the risk of becoming dangerously debilitated and severely ill. Food is your body's primary source of fuel and salts (electrolytes). Carry salty snacks, energy bars or similar rations on day hikes and camping food for overnight trips. Stay on TrailShortcutting on trails within Kilauea and Kilauea Iki calderas is prohibited. Shortcutting causes erosion resulting in the loss of vegetation and creates unsafe conditions for other visitors. There have been many rescues of visitors who have gone off trail in these areas because the shortcut they thought would save them time quickly disappeared, causing them to become lost. There are some areas where it is safe and permitted to leave the trail. Indeed much of the lava viewing is off trail and a fantastic visitor experience can be had in these areas. Check with the backcountry office to find out where it is safe and legal to leave the trail. Unexploded OrdnanceDO NO TOUCH IT! Report the location to rangers. In the Ka’ū Desert and coastal areas west of Ka’aha, there may be unexploded World War II ammunition. The Hazardous H'sWATCH OUT FOR THESE HEALTH HAZARDSHEAT EXHAUSTION - The result of dehydration due to intense sweating. Hikers can lose one or two quarts (liters) of water per hour. Symptoms: pale face, nausea, vomiting, cool and moist skin, headache, cramps. Treatment: drink water with electrolytes, eat high-energy foods (with fats and sugars), rest in the shade for 30-45 minutes, and cool the body by getting wet. HEATSTROKE - A life-threatening emergency where the body's heat-regulating mechanisms become overwhelmed by a combination of internal heat production and environmental demands. Your body loses its ability to cool itself. Symptoms: flushed face, dry skin, weak and rapid pulse, high core body temperature, confusion, poor judgment or inability to cope, unconsciousness, seizures. Treatment: the heatstroke victim must be cooled immediately! Continuously pour water on the victim's head and torso, fan to create an evaporative cooling effect. Immerse the victim in cold water if possible. Move the victim to shade and remove excess clothing. The victim needs evacuation to a hospital. Someone should go for help while attempts to cool the victim continue. HYPONATREMIA (water intoxication) - An illness that mimics the early symptoms of heat exhaustion. It is the result of low sodium in the blood caused by drinking too much water and losing too much salt through sweating. Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, altered mental states, confusion, frequent urination. The victim may appear intoxicated. In extreme cases, seizures may occur. Treatment: have the victim eat salty foods, slowly drink sports drinks with electrolytes, and rest in the shade. If mental alertness decreases, seek immediate help! HYPOTHERMIA - A life-threatening emergency where the body cannot keep itself warm, due to exhaustion and exposure to cold, wet, windy weather. Symptoms: uncontrolled shivering, poor muscle control, careless attitude. Look for signs of the "umbles" - stumbling, mumbling, fumbling, grumbling. Treatment: remove wet clothing and put on dry clothing, drink warm sugary liquids, warm victim by body contact with another person, protect from wind, rain, and cold. Avoid hypothermia by checking at the Backcountry Information Center for the latest weather and trail conditions, taking layered clothing for protection against cold and wet weather, eating frequently, replacing fluids and electrolytes by drinking before feeling thirsty, and avoiding exposure to wet weather. Be a LightweightTHE LESS YOU CARRY, THE MORE ENJOYABLE THE HIKETravel as light as possible, and refer to the 10 Essentials list above. The heaviest items in your pack should be food and water. Use hiking sticks to take stress off your legs. Wear well-fitting and broken-in hiking boots. Bring a small lightweight flashlight and a change of batteries and bulb. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Bring a map, compass, signal mirror or whistle, first aid kit, and water purification tablets. Keep in mind that all trash (including biodegradable rubbish) must be carried out.
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Last updated: July 31, 2020