PTA Site Map
Pinhoti Trail Alliance
Connecting Alabama to the Appalachian Trail
Health and Safety
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has a great page that covers most
every aspect of these subjects. While some of the information may be
AT specific, the majority is for hiking in general.
Remember that your health and safety is your responsibility and your success in dealing
with these issues is dependant on the choices you make in each situation. Hikers do not
exist in a protective bubble.
Fortunately, the simple act of hiking through the woods tends to dissolve outside
distractions and quiet the 10,000 busy little voices inside your head. When a situation
arises that requires your attention, you will be aware of it. If you have limited hiking
experience, then take a few minutes to read the ATC page linked above and make
decisions now about what you should do in any given situation.
Panic is what leads to most bad choices and unless there happens to be a Bear charging
you at the moment, you don't have a good reason for going into fight / flight mode!
Remember that book "I learned everything I know in kindergarten"? Well, you already
know everything about survival. It's been passed down through the gene pool for the
last 10,000 years (the 10,000 busy little voices!). Just force yourself to sit down for a
minute, drink some water, look around at the bugs and leaves and let your subconscious
mull it over for a bit. You'll come up with a good idea.
Here is a list of local contact numbers:
Cheaha State Park ~ 256-488-5111
USFS office in Talladega ~ 256-362-2909
USFS office in Heflin ~ 256-463-2272
USFS HQ in Montgomery ~ 334-832-4470
Sometimes, calling 911 may be a good idea too.
FYI: If you want to know what type a certain bear is, sneak up behind it and kick it. Run
like crazy and climb up a tree. If the bear climbs the tree and eats you, it's a black bear. If
the bear just pushes the tree over and eats you, it's a grizzly bear : )
PTA Site Map
Pinhoti Trail Alliance
Connecting Alabama to the Appalachian Trail
Health and Safety
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has a great page that covers most
every aspect of these subjects. While some of the information may be
AT specific, the majority is for hiking in general.
Remember that your health and safety is your responsibility and your success in dealing
with these issues is dependant on the choices you make in each situation. Hikers do not
exist in a protective bubble.
Fortunately, the simple act of hiking through the woods tends to dissolve outside
distractions and quiet the 10,000 busy little voices inside your head. When a situation
arises that requires your attention, you will be aware of it. If you have limited hiking
experience, then take a few minutes to read the ATC page linked above and make
decisions now about what you should do in any given situation.
Panic is what leads to most bad choices and unless there happens to be a Bear charging
you at the moment, you don't have a good reason for going into fight / flight mode!
Remember that book "I learned everything I know in kindergarten"? Well, you already
know everything about survival. It's been passed down through the gene pool for the
last 10,000 years (the 10,000 busy little voices!). Just force yourself to sit down for a
minute, drink some water, look around at the bugs and leaves and let your subconscious
mull it over for a bit. You'll come up with a good idea.
Here is a list of local contact numbers:
Cheaha State Park ~ 256-488-5111
USFS office in Talladega ~ 256-362-2909
USFS office in Heflin ~ 256-463-2272
USFS HQ in Montgomery ~ 334-832-4470
Sometimes, calling 911 may be a good idea too.
FYI: If you want to know what type a certain bear is, sneak up behind it and kick it. Run
like crazy and climb up a tree. If the bear climbs the tree and eats you, it's a black bear. If
the bear just pushes the tree over and eats you, it's a grizzly bear : )
PTA Site Map
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