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| Duck Lake, Carson Pass Area, CA |
On the return portion of our hike, however, we encountered a problem. Nearly a mile from completing the hike, we came upon four hikers. One of the hikers was in distress, draped over a rock, and suffering from a probable combination of dehydration, heat stress, some level of altitude sickness and insufficient food intake. She was responsive but not talking. The group asked us for water. Thanks to one of the ladies in my group, we had plenty of extra water to offer. We did what we could to make the hiker comfortable and stayed with the group until help arrived. Search and Rescue arrived first, assessing the situation, and then the paramedics showed up to finish things and to transport the hiker to a nearby hospital.
I say that we had a blessed day, not only because of the good outcome, but because I learned some really important things by watching yesterday's events unfold. I think these things are worth passing along.
1. Be prepared: Whether you are taking a short walk, going on a longer hike, or even just a trip to the park, have the right things with you: water, food, clothes that shield the sun or elements, proper and well fitting foot gear, and a basic first aid kit. Have your identification on you as well.
2. Know your route: It goes without saying that a good map is critical. If you are just going on an established nature walk for example, then the map from the facility offering the walk might be sufficient. Anything else though requires more information. A map with elevation numbers, contour lines, and a key for distance is helpful. And do your homework beforehand. The hikers we encountered yesterday had no idea that the elevation where they were hiking was so high (or what that could mean). Their home was at 5000 ft and they were hiking at about 9000 ft. As this article states, altitude makes a huge difference.
3. Drink (and bring) plenty of water, more than you think you want: We were told yesterday by one of the hikers that the woman in trouble hadn't drunk enough water. And in fact, after talking with them, it was apparent that they didn't have enough water between the four of them. My own experience with dehydration taught me that taking more water than you need is critical. Becoming dehydrated is insidious. It creeps up on you and by the time you realize it, it may be a little too late. I now carry electrolyte tablets in my pack (to add to water) and have added Aquatabs and an extra container in case I need to purify extra water. For a short jaunt in a city park, these things may seem excessive. For anything else, including a trip in the car, they really are necessary.
4. Have your medical info. on your person: One of the first questions asked of the hiker yesterday was did she know what type of medications she was taking. She could only nod her head yes or no in answer; she couldn't speak. It came out that she had high blood pressure and was taking medication for that. (High blood pressure can be aggravated by altitude.) Although I carry my medical history, list of medications and surgeries, and contact information (including the number of my cardiologist) in my wallet, I realized that my hiking buddies didn't know this. And they wouldn't know where to look for it. I resolved to do a couple of things: get a medical bracelet, inform my hiking crew of my medical info each time I go out with them, and make sure they know where my first aid kit/medical info is in my pack. What if I couldn't speak for myself?
5. Be honest about your physical abilities: I learned this from first experience a while ago. Just because you used to be in shape or even if you do some physical activity every day, you won't necessarily be prepared for hiking. Even a hike listed as "easy" can quickly turn strenuous due to weather, altitude, physical condition, medical conditions, medications, lack of water or food, and any other number of things. Seasoned, well conditioned hikers have perished in the Grand Canyon due to heat exhaustion and dehydration. My own hiking experience is limited, but I can tell you that I have talked with more people who were very surprised that they were struggling on a hike. These are people that used to be in shape, have hiked extensively in the past, but who are now trying to get back to hiking. It's tough. My only answer is to be honest about what kind of shape you are currently in. Not how you used to be but how you are now. The comment from one of the hikers yesterday was that the downed hiker essentially bit off more than she could chew.
6. Inform your hiking group of any issues: One of my hiking buddies belongs to another hiking group and she told me that they all tell each other right at the start of the hike if they are experiencing any problems that day. Tiredness, hurt feet, a headache, or just getting over a cold. These are all things to let your fellow hikers know about.
7. Be brutally honest: Having experienced this myself, it's embarrassing to have to tell someone that you don't feel well and are struggling. It's also really frightening to realize it and accept it. It definitely feels like a chink in your mortal armor. The sooner you do it, however, the more likely you are of getting help. We learned yesterday that the downed hiker had been struggling for awhile. While it would have been disappointing for the other hikers to turn around early, that may in fact have been the best solution for everyone. People are wonderfully patient and forgiving. Even if you are in the midst of embarrassment and maybe want to cry a little, people will help you. And you won't die from the shame or attention.
8. Keep calm and talk in a normal voice: The experience yesterday was a first for me. I have never seen anyone in distress like that. I watched everyone closely though to see how they were handling things. It's different of course for the people directly experiencing the crisis. People who are helping, however, have a unique opportunity to help to calm others down. Quiet, soothing tones are a good start. Reassuring words work. I watched my hiking buddy gently place her hands on the downed hiker, reassuring her and talking to her soothingly. What a miracle of kindness to witness. And in the end, the hikers all thanked us for being so calm and helpful. There were lots of hugs too. In this day and age where you can't touch anyone anymore, it was reassuring that maybe the human touch is still welcomed in some cases. Still needed.
I learned some other things too yesterday. People are willing to help. They want to. I watched my hiking buddy pull one thing after another out of her pack, trying to find some way to help the downed hiker. I also learned that we are better as a group. Being an individual is fine. We are all taught to be strong, to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps, but honestly sometimes you need other people. There is strength in numbers. And there is no shame in that. I also realized (finally!) that just like baseball, soccer or basketball, hiking is a sport. It isn't walking. It's an activity that requires conditioning, practice, fine motor skills, the right equipment, and a very large dose of humility. It is a very mental endeavor. When faced with physical limitations, such as sucking in large amounts of air going up a hill, you mental state can quickly plummet. Resilience is the key to survival here.
And did I say it was a blessed day? Yes, I did. Not blessed because things ultimately went well but blessed because of all of the pieces of the puzzle that came together to make the outcome a good one.: trained first responders, thoughtful individuals with extra supplies who were willing to share, optimal weather, and dare I say, a force beyond any of us moving quietly in the background. Yes, a blessed day indeed!
Thanks,
Libby
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