Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
crews to block passage on false or closed trails. Hikers some-
times spot the remains of abandoned paths called “ghost
trails.”
Bushwacking
off the trail can be very hazardous. Even a
map with 50-foot contour lines does not show a lot of deadly 40-
foot drops! From the top, the slope from the Knifes Edge on
Katahdin looks steep but not impossible to negotiate. But the
incline increases quickly until it ends at a 1,000-foot cliff pass-
able only to those with technical rock-climbing gear and skills.
Stick together
or at least make arrangements to regroup
members of your party at major intersections or summits.
Take a head count before proceeding. Scores of people become
separated from their group or are reported overdue in Maine
each year. Most are quickly located by Park Rangers, game
wardens or members of a volunteer search and rescue group.
If hiking alone, be sure to
leave a note
detailing your route,
and the time of your expected return. That way, should you
have a problem on the trail, someone will be able to summon
assistance.
Do not rely on a
cellular phone
to get you out of a jam. While
they can be invaluable to speed a rescue, too many hikers now
use them in place of proper preparation and common sense.
Batteries die quickly, signals are not precise and incorrect in-
formation or a sketchy location transmitted by cell phone can
delay vital rescue resources. If you do carry one, use it only for
emergencies and bring the right numbers to call in event of an
accident. Cell phones are banned in Baxter State Park (they
are considered a noise-making electronic device).
When you hike always be prepared for worst-case
weather
and to spend an unexpected night in the wild. If, after all the
basic gear is stashed in your pack, you feel the need for a
phone, then put it in.
If
darkness
falls and you have not found your way, stay put
and help will come. Most of the serious injuries from falls in-
volving lost hikers in Maine have occurred after dark. The best
motto - a favorite of the warden service - is “find a space and
show your face.”
Forgetting to use
sun block
while hiking or basking in the
sun along the shore has ruined more vacations that any other
affliction. Use of a lotion with at least an SPF of 15 or higher is
critical during prime sunburn time between the hours of 10
am and 2 pm.
