By Mary O’KEEFE

The weather has cleared and people are heading to the mountains to go hiking, so once again CVW is reminding people to follow a few rules to stay safe when enjoying the great outdoors.

“The biggest problem is people not being prepared for the weather,” said Sgt. John Gilbert, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept.-Crescenta Valley Station. Gilbert is the Montrose Search and Rescue (MSAR) coordinator.

“We are going into the hot time of year and a lot of our trails don’t have coverage,” he added.

It is important to remember that weather conditions in the valley are not always the weather conditions in the mountains. So being prepared is the best defense hikers have to make certain their day in the mountains does not end with an MSAR search.

According to American Hiking Society, there are some simple rules to follow when hiking:

• Know your limits and listen to what your body is telling you.
• When the going gets rough, know when to turn back.
• Dress properly. Have a hat to protect your head and the right shoes/boots.
• Bring a map and compass/GPS.
• If you think you have enough water, bring more along with a way to purify water if needed.
• Bring extra snacks that won’t melt.
• Bring matches or something to start a fire if you find yourself in an area overnight and need to keep warm.
• Bring a flashlight.
• Bring a whistle.
• A first aid kit, even a small one, will be helpful.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must.
• A comfortable backpack is also recommended.

This may sound like a lot of items for just a hike in the wilderness but many of them can be easily carried in and out in a backpack.

Remember that hikers never think anything will go wrong until it goes wrong so be prepared. It is also a good idea to let people know the planned area to be hiked – not just an area, like Angeles National Forest, but specific trails they will be on. Make sure to let people know a planned time of return. Remember, too, there are many areas where cellphones will not work so it is important to have someone who is not hiking with you to know the planned route.

“Keep from overheating,” Gilbert added.

He also added for those who are taking dogs to remember they overheat as well.

“We get a lot of animal-related rescues,” he said.

Sometimes a dog will overheat and just stop walking so hikers should know not only their own limits but also those of their hiking canine companions.