Tips for successful outdoor adventures this season

StatePoint – The great outdoors do not hibernate in the cooler months, and neither should you. Consider the following.

Stay warm

Don’t ignore your comfort or health when hitting the trail or pushing off from shore. Your regular weight clothing may not provide sufficient thermal protection, depending on your surroundings. Look for outerwear designed for the temperatures and wind-chill you will be encountering.

Keep time

Whether you are hiking, fishing or rappelling, stay one step ahead of Mother Nature with information.

“Your cell phone may not be working well enough to give you the hour or your location – which is important to know when you are wondering whether it’s time to head back home,” says Landon R. Mayer, a fly fishing guide and author. “However, a tough solar powered timepiece that’s both rugged and resistant to low temperatures will keep you up-to-date.”

Stay hydrated

It may be cool, but that doesn’t mean your risk for dehydration disappears. When you are active, you need to replenish your body with fluids to stay healthy.

Pack more than enough water for the length of your journey. Likewise, stock up on nutritionally dense snacks.

Tell someone

Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return home.

Even if you are a novice to the outdoor lifestyle, there’s no better time of year to go on an adventure than now.