Wear brightly colored clothing. Bright colors help you to be identifiable to your group or in the event that you become lost and someone is sent to rescue you.
Hike with others. While no one heads out with the intent to get lost, it happens. Use the good old fashioned buddy system. Or, if you’re in need of some solo soul searching and the peace of a solo hike, ping your location to close friends and family. When hiking with children, it’s not a bad idea to post pics periodically, including a location and landmarks.
Stay hydrated. Don’t wait until the morning of your hike to start guzzling water (your bladder may not enjoy that very much). Instead, get hydrated leading up to the hike and carry water with you on the trail. According to the American Hiking Society,”Without enough water, your body’s muscles and organs simply can’t perform as well. Consuming too little water will not only make you thirsty, but susceptible to hypothermia and altitude sickness.”
Carry an emergency kit. Your kit should include a rain coat, lots of water, first aid essentials, a whistle, small flashlight, and snack food (preferably high in protein).
Communicate. Spare your loved ones the scare and check in with them before your hike, during (if possible) and definitely when you return.