Colorado Hiking Tips for Western Colorado and Utah Deserts and MountainsColorado hiking tips for Western Colorado and Eastern Utah region are quit similar because of the dry air and altitude changes. Always bring more clothing than you feel you will ever need and a good light rain suit so that you will always have it with you. Many times I have been out hiking and have used my rain suit as a wind breaker or to get warm when the temperatures dropped. Water is something that most people don't ever bring enough of because its heavy. With all the fancy hydration packs and water purification filter bottles on the market today, nobody should should die of thirst. . Good Colorado hiking tips include having two lighters in case one fails(preferably windproof), matches, signal mirror, whistle, large plastic trash bag, compass, space blanket, 20 ft.length of 1/8 nylon cord, candle, knife, nylon wire ties, toilet paper, insect repellent, roll of electrical tape and a light source like a small flashlight or better a LED headlight so your hands are free. Building a fire can be the difference between life and death. Make sure that you not only have the tools to build it but the knowledge also before venturing into the outdoors. There are many easy to light fire starters on the market. I carry a can of Sterno with me to heat water or to smear on wood to get it going. Very easy to light. Some common drugs to bring include asprin in case of heart problems, naproxen or ibuprofen for muscle or joint pain, Imodium for diarrhea, Benedryl in case of an allergic reaction or bee sting and antacids for stomach relief. More hikers are depending on the hand held GPS which I also really like but remember that anything man made can fail when you need it most. Have a good map that shows North and South and look where roads and trails are located. An excellent Colorado hiking tip is make sure you have a compass and know that the sun sets in the west. Something I saw recently is the Spot Messenger that is a GPS receiver and a Globalstar satellite transmitter that has a distress beacon, text messaging and e-mail. The bottom line is there are people getting lost and lose their lives every year because of lack of preparation. Have thin layers of clothing so you can keep adding and removing them as the day goes by. Have a good first layer like Under Armour underwear or polypropylene to help wick away moisture. Never let yourself get to heated up so that your clothing becomes wet. I sometimes hike up to tree line in early morning hours while hunting with just a tee shirt and heavy frost on the ground trying not to sweat. Make sure you have more than one good pair of hiking shoes because you will have wet feet sooner or latter. I carry a light hat with ventilation holes and a stocking cap if the weather changes. A warm hat when its cold makes all the difference. People lose 75% of body heat out the top of their head. Likewise when hiking up steep terrain get the hat off so you cool down. Because of the higher altitude and thin air of this area in general make sure you use plenty of sun screen,light protective clothing, and wide brimmed hats to protect your head. Even up high where its cooler you are closer to the sun and you can get a nasty burn if not protected. An excellent product for Colorado hiking that is becoming more popular are hiking poles that are similar to ski poles. I use a pair when hiking in steep rocky or icy terrain and they are great. They telescope out, lock, and will fit anyone giving excellent stability and give your arms a workout to. Take extra care if traversing slides as you may not be able to stop if the stones start to move. If I have to cross a slide I look for a spot where animals have been crossing and walk in their tracks. When hiking above tree line and you see or hear a storm coming head down into the trees to avoid getting hit by lightning. Out in the open you will be like a lightning rod. Colorado is one of the highest for lightning strikes on people. The most important of Colorado hiking tips is always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. I have been guilty of not doing this many times but as I get older I seem to be more aware of my vulnerability. For information on High Altitude Sickness Look here for more information on Colorado Hiking Tips Link to Forest Service Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails Link to McGinnis Canyons Hiking Trails Link to B.L.M. B.L.M. Fisher Towers Moab Utah Hiking Trail Link to Colorado National Monument Hiking Trails
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Having enough water to drink will keep your muscles from tightening and keep soreness down. I always carry about twice the food and water that I feel I will use and glad to bring it back with me. At least if I get lost or hurt I have a backup reserve. Water purification tablets are small and always good to have too. Plan hikes so that you will cross a good water source at least once a day.
