Northeast Georgia Hiking Club walking on the Black Rock Lake Trail.
Lakeside News spoke to officials from three area hiking organizations to get their advice on hiking safety and etiquette. The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC), Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA), and Northeast Georgia Hiking (NEGH) all preach Leave No Trace (LNT) standards that promote safety and courtesy on the trails. The principles apply not just to hiking clubs, but to solo hikers and unaffiliated groups as well.
Education is key to safely enjoying the activity that will bring more than 2,000 hikers to the near 80-miles of the AT in Georgia this month and multitudes to other area paths. GATC Trail Ambassadors and Ridgerunners will be out spreading the word and setting examples on safety and courtesy as hopeful thru-hikers begin their adventure. BMTA members expect to greet hundreds of hikers on National Trails Day June 6 with “Leave No Trace” tips. Hikers meeting NEGH will get a friendly hello and a maybe a trailside chat.
Leave No Trace (LNT) standards form basics of trail safety, etiquette
Trail clubs follow and promote Leave No Trace Standards that stress safety and respect for other trail users and the natural environment. The framework of LNT centers on seven principles:
1) Plan ahead and prepare
2) Travel and camp on durable surfaces
3) Dispose of waste properly
4) Leave what you find
5) Minimize campfire impact
6) Respect wildlife
7) Be considerate of others
Source: https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/
If you get lost
Sometimes the unexpected happens, even to prepared, experienced hikers. The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest website offers advice if a hiker cannot find their way:
• Pay close attention to your surroundings and landmarks and relate this to your location on a map.
• Stay calm. Panic is your greatest enemy. Try to remember how you got to your current location.
• Trust your map. Do not walk aimlessly. If you are on a trail, don’t leave it.
• Stay put if it is nightfall, if you are injured, or if you are near exhaustion.
As a last resort, follow a drainage or stream downhill. This can be hard going but will often lead to a trail or road.
Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/chattahoochee-oconee
Find Trail Partners in Area Trail Clubs
The three hiking organizations cited by Lakeside News offer regular hikes with leaders who plan ahead for each event. They form a valuable resource to meet new hiking friends, enjoy the outdoors, and get exercise on the trails:
• Benton MacKaye Trail Association: www.bmta.org
• Georgia Appalachian Trail Club: www.georgia-atclub.org/
• Northeast Georgia Hiking: www.neghiking.com
Photo: courtesy NE GA Hiking Club
