Tips to Stay Safe in the Mountains This Summer


I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend and have adjusted back to life without a day off this week. We've been sweltering in Seattle's heatwave (no true AC in our unit), but it's finally abiding. But all that heat means melting snow and the official arrival of summer up here. I cannot wait to hit full throttle on the upcoming backpacking season!

Mountain Safety Tips

Let's talk mountain tips for those hitting the trails.

1. Get off ridgelines and summits by 1pm

This is my biggest recommendation for those hiking in places where afternoon T-Storms roll in. Being on exposed slopes increases the risk of getting struck by lightning and other impacts of the elements. A good way to beat this risk is to start your hikes at sunrise, giving you ample time to get down into the trees (or even your car) by the time a storm develops.

2. Bring a Water Filter on All Hikes

In most cases, drinking from a stream in the mountains isn't going to kill you in the USA, and you should 100% drink water in an emergency. But to stay on the safe side, carrying a water filter is hardly a nuisance. Something like this Katadyn 1L Water Filter Bottle is perfect and can be rolled up to conserve space.

3. Always carry an extra layer/rain jacket

No matter the temps, I try to carry some sort of jacket with me and it's usually a rain jacket. Recently, Jaimie and I got rained on for five of our nine-mile hike, and by the end, we were quite chilled and soaked to the bone. Even with a rain jacket on, we were wet, but I can't imagine how cruddy we would feel without one.

It's always better to be safe than sorry.

4. Cell Phones may not work. Use a Satellite Comms Device

Depending on where you are and your service provider, you might not have cell service in the backcountry. (The new iOS18 update this fall will have satellite comms ability.) Still, having a satellite communication device that won't run out of battery can be lifesaving. I added this to my pack last year and enjoy having the peace of mind to check in and let my fiancee know I'm still alive.

5. Eat Plenty of Salty Foods

Yes, I'm telling you to eat some chips! Ha, or really anything salty. I usually turn to nuts (trail mix) and beef jerky for my salt intake, considering chips get crushed easily. Whatever you choose, bring a lot and enjoy.

The reason for this is that salt helps your body absorb water, and you lose salt when you sweat. Eating salty foods helps replenish what you lose and keeps your body's electrolytes in line.

6. Hiking Poles Greatly Help (For me at least)

Above the treeline, the terrain can get chossy, rocky, and downright unfun. Hiking poles are a nice way to add stability and save your knees. Some may only want to bring one pole and keep one hand free for moving over tough terrain.

Gear Corner

Summer camp and hike season is upon us. Here are a few items I've been using.


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Hi! I'm Alec, an outdoor writer, photographer, and content creator.

Alec is a landscape photographer and outdoors storyteller with a zeal for pushing boundaries in the wild. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, and visiting remote places, allowing him to photograph locations the rest of the world shies away from. In addition, Alec loves to write about his travels and craft articles that help educate and inspire others to find their joy in nature.

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