NEW RULES OF THE OFF-ROAD
HIKERS CAN HELP PROMOTE SAFETY BY FOLLOWING GUIDELINES AS TRAILS REOPEN
>THE SPRING hiking season got off to a rocky start with thousands of acres of public lands offlimits because of the coronavirus outbreak. Most trails in California’s beaches, parks and forests have reopened, and Yosemite and Yellowstone are cautiously starting to welcome visitors.
As more places open, hikers and cyclists are asked to follow new rules to responsibly return to the trails. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday issued an order requiring all Californians to wear masks when they leave home. Though your chance of getting COVID-19 in the outdoors is low, you need to bring a mask, practice social distancing, and wash or sanitize your hands frequently.
Beyond that, rules vary depending on where you go. Start by seeking advice at RecreateResponsibly.org, a national coalition of major outdoor retailers and organizations.
“We’re trying to protect one another’s health,” Tania Lown-Hecht, communications director for Outdoor Alliance, which helped bring together the coalition, said in a post on REI’s website. “We all want to do everything we can to maintain access to these places because they’re so important for so many of us right now.”
Also read up on recommendations by the CDC and the California Department of Public Health.
Here are some tips to get you started:
CHECK FIRST
>Before you go, make sure the area you plan to visit is open. Know which rules and restrictions apply; you’ll find them posted on park, forest or beach websites.
AVOID CROWDS
>Always have a Plan B. If the trailhead is crowded, be prepared to explore elsewhere. The point is to avoid big gatherings and not to add to overcrowding.
PACK IT IN
>Pack your own food, hand sanitizer, soap, toilet paper and anything else you may need during your visit. Park stores and facilities may not be open.
MASK UP TO PASS
>Stay at least six feet from others on the trail. If you’re on a narrow trail, use a face covering as you pass. L.A. County’s Public Health Department suggests making eye contact with approaching hikers to let them know you plan to step off the trail to allow them to pass safely. If you’re behind slower hikers, let them know you want to pass. Trail users may want to stick to wide fire roads to make distancing easier.
P L AY IT SAFE
>Avoid high-risk activities that could tax search-andrescue and healthcare personnel, particularly in small mountain towns.
TAKE IT OUT
>Practice leave-no-trace principles, which means packing out your trash and leaving the land as you found it. Find more on best practices at Leave No Trace, lnt.org.