Trail etiquette for your next adventure

The West Coast has a variety of trails to explore and here are some etiquette tips to prepare for the next adventure.

Pack out everything you bring in
✓ Respect trail closure signs and wildlife advisories
✓ Know today’s weather forecast, tides and ocean conditions
✓ Stay on the designated trail
✓ Dress in layers and equip yourself for sudden weather changes
✓ Bring enough water and research trail accessible water
sources before you leave for your trip
✓ Leave a note on your windshield if you are a solo hiker
saying when you expect to be back at your vehicle
✓ Use designated re pits, and if none are available to dismantle
ones you create
✓ Bring a bear hang rope or use provided bear caches to store
food overnight
✓ Bring a garbage bag to dispose of packages and uneaten
food
✓ Plan meals meticulously to avoid excessive waste
✓ Leave your camping spots the same or better than when
you arrived
✓ Use provided toilet facilities or dig a hole to go to the
bathroom, bury it and pack out used toilet paper
✓ Check with the band offices in the area to see if there are any traditional or sacred areas that you need permission to enter

DON’T

✘ Don’t feed wildlife
✘ Don’t venture onto rocky headlands, drift logs, or beaches when the surf is high
✘ Don’t leave food at your campsite overnight
✘ Don’t forget to check if you need permits for your desired
hiking/camping area
✘ Don’t sleep on fragile parts of our ecosystem like an area
with many plants or a bed of moss
✘ Don’t rinse or wash dishes in a water source
✘ Don’t dump garbage down composting toilets
✘ Don’t bring dogs into areas where they are prohibited
✘ Don’t forget the importance of excellent preparation, including meal planning, map and route planning, a well-stocked first aid kit, and an evacuation plan

If you encounter a bear, cougar or wolf:

Pick up small children. Face the animal, stay calm and retreat slowly. Do not run or play dead. Talk in a normal voice. In the unlikely event of an attack, try to appear bigger. Be aggressive. Shout, wave a stick, and throw rocks. Attacks are extremely rare. Free-roaming pets may attract predators and be attacked. Keep dogs on a leash.

For more information visit tofinohiking.com or westerlynews.ca