Precautions
"What
constitute the pleasures of the traveler are obstacles, fatigue or
even danger. What charm can there be in a journey when one is always
sure to arrive and find his horses ready, a downy bed, an excellent
supper and all the comfort one enjoys at home? One of the great misfortunes
of modern life is the absence of the unexpected, the lack of adventure.
Everything is so well regulated, so well fitted into its place and
ticketed, that chance is no longer possible; another century of improvements,
and everybody will be able to foresee from the very day of his birth
all that will happen to him up to the day of his death."
- Monsieur Theophile Gautier, 1840
An
in-depth discussion of the hazards and inconveniences associated with
long-distance hiking and wilderness travel would fill several volumes,
and would likely serve only to discourage the uninitiated and amuse
the experienced. The following list intends to do neither, but merely
to mention a few additional precautions you may (or may not) need
to consider before embarking on an extended hike in this part of the
country. As elsewhere in this Trek Planner, my purpose here is simply
to present the realities of the experience so that you can decide
whether or not to attempt such a hike yourself.
Snowpack
Can occur in highest
terrain during spring. Challenges include postholing, hard-to-follow
trails, and risk of sliding accidents.
What to
Do:
Assess challenges
and determine whether detouring is worthwhile. If confronting extensive
snowpack, bring instep crampons and occasionally an ice axe. Watch
for moats near trees and other melting hazards. Use guidebook, map,
compass, and GPS to remain on trail, unless hazards warrant otherwise.
Set a slow, steady pace, and always consider turning back if conditions
worsen. See the section on Snow Travel.
High
Water
Can occur on certain
creeks and rivers during spring. Challenges include difficult fords,
slow tiring progress, chilly water, slick rocks, and continuously
wet feet.
What to
Do:
Assess challenges
by examining river, then decide whether detouring is necessary.
If fording, unfasten backpack hipbelt, face upstream and brace against
the current using a stout stick or hiking pole. Test the creek bottom
before putting weight onto the next foot. Move slowly but deliberately.
Ignore the distraction of cold water, which is only temporarily
uncomfortable. Turn back if water deepens unexpectedly or current
increases. Wear lightweight, breathable footwear which will dry
quickly, or carry fording sandals. See the section on Creek
Fording.
Heat
& Sun
During prime thru-hiker
seasons, daytime temperatures in the 70s and 80s are common in the
low country, with occasional 90's F. Low humidity means strong sunshine
and high UV, especially in spring.
What to
Do:
Drink frequently.
Find shade in riparian zones, beside stock tanks and cliffs. Wear
lightweight, light colored, loose-fitting clothing, including long
sleeve shirt and pants when the sun is strongest. Wear a wide-brimmed
hat and consider carrying a solar-reflective umbrella if particularly
sensitive. Carry a small supply of sunscreen to augment clothing.
Thorny
Plants & Brush
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| Grass
seed loves mesh footwear in autumn |
Cactus and other
thorny plants are common below 6000', and trails are sometimes narrow
and brushy. Burrs, thistle, grama grass seed, and other stickers near
ground level can be a painful nuisance in places during autumn.
What to
Do:
Wear long sleeves
or a lightweight shell jacket in heavy brush, and convertible pants
with scree gaiters to keep legs scratch-free and socks free of burrs.
Cover mesh running shoe uppers with duct tape if stickers poke through,
or better yet avoid mesh footwear altogether following a heavy monsoon
season. Cactus spines and segments can be removed from skin using
a comb (never your fingers). The fine hairs of prickly pear cactus
can be detached with duct tape.
Insects
 |
|
Scorpion
preying nocturnally on ants & spiders
|
Mosquitoes are
infrequently of concern, usually in evening near water in early spring.
Flies and gnats can be a nuisance on warm spring days, but seldom
bite. Ticks are rarely encountered, and do not generally spread diseases
such as Lyme. Scorpions occur in lower elevations throughout, can
be regionally abundant during summer and early fall in Arizona, and
basic precautions should be taken to avoid encounters.
What to
Do:
For mosquitoes,
carry a very small container of repellant or wear a headnet if camping
in the open. Avoid scorpions, which are active at night, by camping
away from rocky portions of drainages and not digging in sand. Use
a ground sheet beneath a tarp, or carry a lightweight tent. Inspect
footwear, loose clothing, and the undersides of gear in the morning.
(Hang these items from tree limbs or bushes during the night if
concerned.) Day or night, check the undersides of rocks and decaying
wood before grabbing these objects off the ground. Read the book
Medicine For Mountaineering (Wilkerson) for an understanding
of reactions and concerns in the uncommon event of a scorpion sting.
Although an unwanted guest in camp, scorpions like other wild critters
want to avoid you and will not usually sting unless provoked. (The
author has sat unclothed and unharmed among rocks later noted to
be crawling with scorpions.)
Snakes
Several species
of rattlesnake occur throughout the region, most notably the western
diamondback. All are more commonly seen by thru-hikers in spring than
fall, particularly in Arizona below 5000'. General precautions should
be taken to avoid unfavorable encounters.
 |
| Western
diamondback rattlesnake wakes defensively from sleep along the
road bed |
What
to Do:
Remain alert.
Get in the habit of scanning the trail or road ahead for sunbathing
or dormant snakes which tend not to rattle unless you approach closely.
Avoid nighthiking on overgrown trail and obscure roadways. Keep
your hands in sight if exploring rocky areas. Wear long pants and
gaiters. Learn to reflexively back away from close encounters, then
circumvent the snake and continue on. If a snake approaches as you
rest, it is probably hunting for small prey and will ignore you
if you remain still. (Nighttime encounters at camp are unusual.)
Learn to distinguish venomous snakes from their non-venomous lookalikes.
Read the book Medicine For Mountaineering (Wilkerson) for
protocol on what to do in the uncommon event that you are bitten.
 |
| Black
bear tracks at the banks of the Blue River |
Large
Critters
Black bear are
common in forested mountains, as are mountain lions in desert canyons.
(You are likely to see a bear or two, and to hear lions at night.)
All are wild and generally unadapted to humans, so the risk of aggressive
encounters is quite low. At the present time, hanging food from bears
at night usually is not necessary, except perhaps at established campgrounds.
Mice
Well known for
marauding shelters and campsites on other trails, mice tend to keep
a low profile on the G.E.T. Avoid established campsites near water
for best odds, or hang food and gear from any available object to
easily thwart most encounters.
Lightning
Thunderstorms
are less common in spring and fall, although westbound hikers may
experience lingering effects of monsoonal moisture in September. Lightning
can sometimes be frequent and vivid, and downpours brief but heavy.
What to
Do:
Watch clouds
in late morning or early afternoon for signs of thunderstorm development.
Plan ahead to avoid open areas or ridgelines in the path of storms.
Avoid traveling in narrow canyons, or camping in washes, whenever
heavy rain may be occurring regionally.
Flash Floods
Usually associated
with the summer thunderstorm season, flash floods can occur anytime
a significant amount of rain falls over a short period of time. They're
of greatest concern in narrow box canyons and slots, the first of
which are fairly common along the GET.
What to
Do:
 |
|
Gold
Gulch near Eagle Creek
|
Watch clouds
in late morning or early afternoon for signs of thunderstorm development.
Be cautious anytime heavy rain may be occuring regionally. Avoid
traveling in narrow canyons or camping in washes at these times.
Small creeks will often subside quickly after a rain storm, and
you may be able to wait for safer fording conditions. Larger creeks
crest and subside more slowly; if in doubt, turn around and find
another way across.
Off-route
Travel
Several slot canyons
are located near the route, some of which are available as side-trips.
A few become semi-technical as they progress, and should not be attempted
in full without adequate experience. Above all else, do not climb
down anything that you cannot safely climb back up.
Wildfire
The wildfire season
in the Southwest normally runs from May through September, the same
months during which G.E.T. hikers may find some of the mountain fire
lookout sites staffed. A primary fire threat early in the season comes
from so-called dry lightning - produced by thunderstorms that bring
little rain which would otherwise limit or extinguish the fires they
sometimes spark. Now recognizing the essential and beneficial role
that wildfire plays in the health of the forest ecology, the US Forest
Service increasingly opts to fight only those naturally-occuring fires
which threaten human life or property, or which risk becoming particularly
aggressive. Lower, less aggressive ground fires are frequently allowed
to burn, merely guided by the hand of man in order to achieve resource
objectives.
While the risk
of crossing paths with an encroaching wildfire is small, it's still
a good idea to monitor the location of any smokes you may see on the
near horizon. During times of high fire danger it also doesn't hurt
to check in with the US Forest Service ranger districts along the
route, in advance of entering a particular area, to verify whether
any closure orders may be in place, and if so, what detour options
may be appropriate. You can also keep apprised of any active wildfires
via the inciweb.org website.
Human
Encounters
Away from towns
and popular areas, you are more likely to encounter ranchers than
anyone else. Most will be friendly and curious, and some may volunteer
water or other kindnesses to those in need. Avoid trespassing, though,
to insure a positive experience for the next hiker. Elk and deer hunters
are sometimes encountered in fall; wear blaze orange as appropriate.
Trail user conflicts are uncommon due to limited traffic.
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking can
be a safe and practical way of accessing some of the more distant
trail towns along the way. Because the G.E.T. is so new, however,
no one is likely to recognize you as a long-distance hiker per se.
Most locals will be able to distinguish you from a drifter, however,
and I have found that certain cultures in the region are very keen
to offer rides to anyone who looks in need.
What to
Do:
For best results,
stand and wear your backpack as you attempt to hitch, so that you
are instantly recognizable as a backpacker. Holding your hiking
poles prominently in view can also help. Use your thumb, but also
wave as cars approach in order to appear friendly. ("But I
am friendly," you say. OK. Fair enough.) Unless near
a trailhead or other visual cue, feel free to begin walking toward
your destination, especially when traffic is sparse. When hitchhiking
back to the route, use a cardboard sign to indicate how many miles
it is (rather than listing the location itself, which may be obscure).
Drivers will be more likely to accommodate you if they know what
you expect of them.
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| Santa
Teresa Wilderness - click to view full-size (1 MB) |
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"Benedicto:
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous,
leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise
into and above the clouds. May your rivers flow without end,
meandering through pastoral valleys tinkling with bells, past
temples and castles and poets' towers into a dark primeval
forest where tigers belch and monkeys howl, through miasmal
and mysterious swamps and down into a desert of red rock,
blue mesas, domes and pinnacles and grottos of endless stone,
and down again into a deep vast ancient unknown chasm where
bars of sunlight blaze on profiled cliffs, where deer walk
across the white sand beaches, where storms come and go as
lightning clangs upon the high crags, where something strange
and more beautiful and more full of wonder than your deepest
dreams waits for you --- beyond that next turning of the canyon
walls."
Edward Abbey
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