As climate change increases the risk of wildfires in the American West, hikers may encounter smoke and flames more frequently.
For example, hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail have witnessed multiple fires this year. Some even had to evacuate.
Chris Rylee is a member of the Pacific Crest Trail Association.
Reilly: “There were some hikers here and there who were stuck in the evacuation and had to use safety gear to call in search and rescue support to get out.”
He said it's crucial to find a way to keep up with emergency alerts while hiking. He recommends bringing a GPS-enabled device to call for assistance.
Rylee: “A lot of people are trying to get away from technology and unplug…but people do need to be responsible for understanding this type of emergency information.”
Hikers should also prepare for the possibility of fire before hitting the trail. Riley recommends bringing a map with possible escape routes and telling people where and when they will be.
People should learn how to predict the likely path of a fire so that if they are near a fire, they can get to safety quickly. For example, flames tend to move faster uphill with the wind.
By staying prepared and vigilant, hikers can continue to enjoy the outdoors even as the threat of wildfires grows.
Reporting credit: Ethan Friedman/ChavoBart Digital Media
Only 28% of U.S. residents regularly hear about climate change in the media, but 77% want to know more. Help us bring climate news to more people.
Republish our articles for free online or in print under a Creative Commons license.
