It's hiking season in the White Mountains again! We welcomed the start of a monsoon more typical of long past, more normal years of precipitation, so the Forests will remain open for all to enjoy the extensive and well maintained trail systems. With a few steps of preparation, hikers can confidently stride down any mountain path with confidence knowing they are prepared to deal with a wrong turn at a trail junction or one of those other more dramatic “story telling experiences” that get told at family reunions or wedding get togethers.

The very first thing to pack for your hike is a healthy serving of common sense to make changes to your plans and maybe not accomplish all of your objectives if the conditions are telling you to do that. Nobody will want to hike with you again if your outings become death marches that take a few days to recover from. Some folks are gluttons for punishment though and don't feel good unless their muscles feel bad temporarily (more power to you!). Just take a few extra minutes to be prepared for more involved complications and a lot more time to get help.

So, for most excursions on developed trails in the Rim and White Mountain area, the following Top Ten Monsoon Musts should compliment that common sense we don't want to leave at home.

1. Tell someone, not in your party, where you are going and when you'll be back. You can't always count on a cell signal on many trails up here. And sometimes, the entire system goes down for long periods. Remember to turn the phone to Airplane Mode with weak cell signals to preserve your battery. Maybe consider getting one of the “Help, I've fallen and can't get up”, for hikers, like the satellite communicator SPOT or Garmin inReach or other models.

2.   Learn to navigate by using a map or reliable phone app, compass and portable GPS. Be able to describe to rescuers your exact location using coordinates. Practice with your GPS finding “Geocaches” by visiting geocaching.com.

3.   Be prepared for the weather and hiking conditions by carrying rain gear, warm fleece, good socks and sturdy hiking boots or shoes. Cotton t-shirts, shorts, and casual tennis shoes can turn a short hike into a potential hypothermia situation with the frigid White Mountain monsoon downpours.

4.   Bring extra water after drinking more water well before you start hiking. Even though it might be cooler at our high elevations, you will still perspire and need water but you might not glisten as much as you do in warmer more humid conditions. The extra weight of the water is well worth it. And don't forget about Fido and Duncan since many trails don't have healthy water available to the pooches. Dogs can become dehydrated faster than people! 

5.   Bring a small first aid kit with an extra day or two of prescription medications, blister bandages, tape, tweezers, scissors, chemically activated cold pack, Ace bandage or large scarf, rubber gloves, gauze bandages, Tylenol or other pain meds. toilet paper, wet wipes, and other individual personal hygiene needs. 

6.   If you have a vehicle breakdown in a remote area, it's probably best to stay with the vehicle unless you know for sure that help is nearby. It's much easier for searchers to find a vehicle! Just remember to procrastinate on cleaning your vehicle and you might just have enough water, diet Pepsi and snacks to survive comfortably for quite a while.

7.   Use sunblock! It may be cloudy or not very intense sunshine when you start the hike, but we are always closer to the sun with less ozone to filter out the harmful UV rays that cause sunburn at our elevations. Spray bottles or stick applicators can help distribute the protective layer without getting your hands all gooey. 

8.   Bring a headlamp in case you get stuck out after dark and especially if you want to be blown away with a star-lit sky. You'll have to wait at least an hour past sunset to start seeing some amazing constellations, and be prepared to have difficulty finding even the Big Dipper among all of the background galaxies, stars and alien worlds. The best use of the headlamp is focused down on the trail as you walk to highlight and tag as an enemy bogie any rocks, logs, or potholes in the trail. A downward angled headlamp is also a good way to prevent blinding any other members of your hiking party and ruining their night vision. Try red or green lights to help preserve that night vision while also still providing illumination to navigate by.

9.   Bring a survival kit with a lighter and fire starter, candy bar, emergency shelter, whistle, small compass and a signal mirror. Some folks combine the survival and first aid kits, but make sure all hikers, especially kids, carry a whistle and rain gear or a trash bag with head hole to stay dry if separated from the group. Let them pick out their own hiking backpack or fanny pack and they may just want to carry it along with their own water.

10.   Don't mess with the wildlife like rattlesnakes, baby critters, or osprey nests found along many of the trails that weave back and forth across many of our rivers, like the Black or it's East or West Forks. If backpack camping, you might want to expect visits from mice, skunks, foxes and even bears, lions or wolves, so making food unavailable to them is critical. If just hiking down a trail during an encounter and yelling or clapping doesn't scare the critter away, you may want to consider a short detour and drawing on that ration of common sense.

One principle that works for many people when “temporarily misplaced” or “not totally synchronized with a map location” is to remember “STOP” and what each letter stands for:

S stands for Stay put to make it is easier for rescuers to find you.

T stands for Think about what you need to do to stay dry and warm and safe

O stands for Observe your surroundings looking for shelter, other hazards, or ways to draw attention.

P stands for Planning on how to save energy and be comfortable in case you may be there overnight.

If someone is overdue or missing, don't hesitate to call the Sheriff for help. Both Navajo and Apache Counties have trained search and rescue volunteers who can respond within minutes of being activated by the Sheriff with ATVs, UTVs, K-9 units, “ground-pounders”, and drones. The DPS helicopters with dedicated EMTs are also available to the Sheriff.

With just a few minutes of thought and preparation (and a couple teaspoons of common sense), anyone can confidently enjoy what the White Mountains have to offer in a safe and responsible manner. Be prepared!