10 Health and Safety Tips for Fall Travel

Fall represents the end of peak-season travel in many areas and, as a result, hotels, tour operators, and airlines begin lowering their prices in an effort to lure customers and stretch the tourist season out a little bit longer. Along with the drop in temperatures, you may also notice a slight drop in the price of gasoline at the corner service station. All of this is to the smart traveler's advantage, particularly if you want to check out the brilliant scenery by going on a short day trip or hike before the less inviting winter weather arrives.

The crispness in the air is a reminder that not only is there little time to waste, but also that it's time to think about the different things you need to do in order to be safe and healthy during a fall trip. Whether your trip involves getting out on the trail or on the water one last time, there are some basic precautions you should take.

I live in Portland, Oregon which provides a variety of outdoor options. And like many other areas in the Pacific Northwest and around the country, travelers in this area should expect to see sudden changes in weather in the fall. Being ready for these changes can reduce the likelihood of your trip resembling an episode of "Man vs. Wild."

With Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge within easy driving distance, it doesn't take long for me to get to a remote area. The same is true, however, for many people in other urban areas, such as Seattle, Spokane, and - especially - Anchorage. But being in close proximity to wilderness does not make those areas less dangerous. Year after year, there are numerous accounts of people getting lost during what was supposed to be a short day hike, or injuring themselves by simply falling while on the trail.

I have been hiking in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest since 1989, and have been fortunate in never having been lost or hurt in the outdoors. Sometimes, I have to admit, it has been due to nothing more than good luck. If you are planning on taking one of those short day hikes to admire the changing leaves, I'm going to share with you some simple rules that have kept me out of trouble:

1. Honey, do I look fat in this?: Dress in layers and be prepared to spend at least one night in the woods if you get lost. I wear Gore-Tex lined boots, wool-blend socks, and have a waterproof jacket or shell handy.

2. A little help from your friends: Tell at least one person where you are going and when you expect to return, especially if you are hiking alone.

3. Yes, you do look fat: Bring water and high energy food. Now is not the time for dieting. You will need those calories if you get lost.

4. Plus the kitchen sink: In addition to the water and high energy food, stuff the following into a small backpack: waterproof matches, lighter, flashlight, wool socks, sun glasses, camping knife, map, a gps unit if you have one, and your (recently charged) mobile phone. Better yet, do what I do and follow someone else's list. I have a Recreational Outdoors, Inc. (REI) backpack that has a tag sewn into it listing "essential" items for a short camping trip. If you are going anywhere the least bit remote, don't assume that your phone will actually work.

5. Is someone setting off fireworks?: Study your map ahead of time. It sounds obvious, but if you grew up in a rural area like I did, you know that "fall" also means, "hunting season." Therefore, you need to know if you are going to be in an area open to hunting and, if so, plan on wearing a bright orange hat or vest so you are not mistaken for a trophy buck. Other than meeting a bear on the trail (see below), there are few things worse than being shot at.

6. Knowing your place in the food chain: If you live in Alaska or in portions of Idaho, Wyoming, or Montana, you need to remember that this is the time that bears use to fatten up on berries and salmon before hibernation. Be sure to have an alternative trail picked out in case you arrive at a trail head near a salmon stream and see that the trail has been closed to bear activity.

7. Knowing whether you need tire chains: Is your vehicle capable of handling some snow? If you live near the mountains, it doesn't take long to climb high enough in elevation to see white stuff covering the road.

8. I'm sure I parked the car right here: Do not leave anything of value in your vehicle, including your keys. Unfortunately, with fewer people around, the bad guys feel braver about breaking into your car while you are on the trail. If you want to keep something safe, take it with you on the trail or place it in your trunk. Except your keys.

9. Hey - watch me dive off of this rock!: If you are going to be on the water, keep in mind that bodies of water fed by melting snow are probably going to be shallower because the lower fall temperatures create less run-off. Rocks and snags that were once deep enough not to poke holes in your boat (or your skull) are now just below the surface.

10. Don't overdo it: Take it from a middle-aged guy who is getting lazier by the minute. Slow down and enjoy the scenery. It's a better way to travel than staring up at the ceiling of an ambulance after you've had a heart attack.