Hit the Trails, but Pack Extra Caution

Autumn is a fine time to get outdoors, especially since it’s such a fine time to hit our hiking trails.
Crowds thin to a trickle, and nasty bugs like mosquitoes and black flies are history by now. Fabulous fall colors beckon. Early morning frost and fog shroud everything in mystery, often giving way to bursts of welcome sunlight as the day progresses.

Like any type of recreation, hiking carries certain risks, and your safety is best ensured with extra preparation and caution. But shorter days, colder nights and quickly-changing weather can make a simple day hike in autumn even more risky than a summer excursion. Extra precautions are indeed in order.

"It's wonderful to get into the mountains and enjoy the late-season pleasant weather and fall colors, but please be careful out there,” said Andrew Engelson with Washington Trails Association. “Plan your hike and check conditions. Let someone know where you will be and when you plan to return. Bring warm clothes, and be prepared for any weather. And pack the backcountry essentials that could save your life should you get lost or injured.”

Last week, Mary Hyde Wingfield, of Seattle spent a cold and hungry five nights lost in the backcountry of the North Cascades. While on a day hike on the Stetattle Creek Trail, she left the trail, lost her bearings and ended up lost in rugged terrain without a map of the area. To make matter worse, her friends thought she was hiking in the Darrington area, far south of where she really was. Mary’s story ended well; she fortunately was rescued and safe last Friday.  But this unfortunate incident reminds us that even experienced hikers can get turned around or lost.

"This incident is a potent reminder that, especially this time of year as things cool down, you should always take an extra dose of caution in your backpack," said Engelson.

Here are some tips for safe backcountry hiking in autumn:

   1. Check the latest trail conditions. There is still a great deal of storm damage out there, especially in regions like the Darrington area of the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. Look up your chosen trail on WTA’s online storm damage database. Check for recent trip reports from other hikers. And always call ahead to local ranger stations for conditions.
   2. Let someone know where you are going, and when you expect to return (and call them when you do return!). You can find a trip plan form here to print, fill out and leave behind with someone you know before your next hike. If your destination changes, follow up and let someone know. In several recent search and rescue operations in Washington, rescuers at first did not know where to look for missing hikers because loved ones back home did not know the hiker’s destination.
   3. Always pack the 10 Essentials on any hike, including a topographic map, compass, extra food, extra clothing, firestarter, matches, sun protection, a pocket knife, first-aid kit, and flashlight. This time of year, it’s also a good idea to bring some sort of emergency shelter, even on a day hike. In addition, your car should include a safety kit with chains, warm clothes, radio, food, water, shovel, and first aid kit. Hiking poles or ice axes can be of help on stretches of unexpected icy or snow-covered patches.
   4. Watch weather forecasts. This time of year, weather can turn cold and rainy, even snowy, in an instant. Hikers should turn back if encountering treacherous snow and ice unless equipped with an ice ax and knowledgeable about how to use it, and be aware of avalanche danger.  The website Washington Online Weather is a good source for mountain forecasts, and a good source for avalanche conditions and safety is http://www.nwac.us/.

Great Autumn Hikes

With safety in mind, there is great autumn hiking to be had in Washington’s backcountry.  So along with the ten essentials pack an extra fleece, your camera and a thermos of hot chocolate or spiced cider, and get ready to fill your lungs with cool, crisp autumn air and take in a wonderful palette of Washington’s fall color. Below are three spectacular hikes for you to do just that.

• Maple Pass Loop / Lake Ann, North Cascades 6.5 miles round trip, elevation gain 1800 feet. Maple Pass is all about fall – spectacular colors, late-season huckleberries, and great views. A popular trail for alpine larch, peak viewing is usually mid-October, but should be earlier this year. Bring your camera, because the bright yellow larches punching through the flaming undergrowth on a sunny fall day will make a spectacular memento of your trip. A great family hike, and a short side trip to Lake Ann makes a nice addition. Directions: From Hwy 20 east from Skagit Valley or West from Methow Valley to Rainy Pass and park at the rest area.

• Granite Mountain, Central Cascades West 8 miles round trip, elevation gain 3800 feet. Here’s a great hike to celebrate what great shape you’ve gotten yourself in over the summer! The huffing and puffing will reward you with the eruption of a psychedelic blast of fall color as you gain elevation, culminating in a spectacular view at the summit. Once snow falls though, give this one a miss; avalanche danger and steep slopes make Granite Mountain unfit for winter hiking. Directions: Take I-90 to Exit 47, signed “Denny Creek” to the north side of the freeway, then turn left towards the Pratt Lake – Granite Mountain trailhead.

• Naches Peak Loop, Mount Rainier East 3.5 miles round trip, elevation gain 500 feet. Subalpine meadows filled with huckleberry bushes that seem to be on fire with color make this hike a great one, but it’s the backdrop of “the mountain” that makes it brilliant. To get the best views of Mount Rainier, hike the loop in a clockwise direction, and go on a clear day! Directions: From Enumclaw, drive south on SR 410, then turn left on SR123 3.7 miles to Chinook Pass, and the large parking area on the left.