Hiking in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado is an incredible experience, but it’s important to make sure you keep safety in mind throughout your journey. The San Juan Mountains are some of the most rugged and remote mountains in Colorado, and they provide extraordinary opportunities for exploration and adventure. However, even experienced hikers can be caught off guard by the unpredictable terrain and changes in weather. Here are some tips to be prepare to hike in the San Juan mountains to help ensure that your hiking experience is safe and enjoyable.
Guidelines to Prepare to hike in the San Juan mountains
1. Plan ahead. Before you embark on your adventure, make sure you have a plan. Research the area, check the weather forecast, and bring a map and compass. Tell a friend or family member where you are going and when you plan to return.
2. Wear the right gear. Make sure you have the right clothing, footwear, and gear for the type of hike you are doing. Sturdy, waterproof boots are essential, and layering is key in the unpredictable mountain weather. Bring a first aid kit, and a headlamp or flashlight, just in case.
3. Stay on the trail. Hiking off-trail in the San Juan Mountains can be dangerous, as the terrain can be steep and unstable. However, if you must leave the trail, make sure you are aware of your surroundings and have an idea of where you are going.
4. Watch for wildlife. The San Juan Mountains are home to an abundance of wildlife, including bears, mountain lions, and elk. Make sure you know what to do if you encounter an animal in the wild.
5. Be prepared for the unexpected. Weather in the San Juan Mountains can change quickly and dramatically. Prepare for rain, snow, and hail, and make sure you have the right gear and clothing for any weather.
6. Carry enough water and food with you. Unexpected delays can occur and you do not want to be stranded without water or food.
Hiking in the San Juan Mountains can be a thrilling adventure, but it’s important to be smart and stay safe. By following these tips, you can ensure that your experience in the San Juan Mountains is a safe and enjoyable one.
Tragic story
The story about a young family who died in the Sierra Nevada mountains is an avoidable situation. The plan was for a husband and wife along with an infant to hike an eight mile loop in a remote. It was summertime, and the family did not plan for the potential dangers of hiking in the mountains.
Don’t assume that technology will help guide you to safety, especially a phone with just a hiking application. The couple in the Sierra Nevada mountains were using Alltrails but still ran into a grave situation. By planning and packing appropriately for any hike is required to increase the likelihood of completing the hike.
Avalanche avoidance
When hiking during the winter in the mountains an added risk is an avalanche. This is hard to plan for since it’s difficult for most anyone to observe possible avalanche situations. A group of skiers caused an avalanche in Washington state in December 201 which resulted in one death. Unfortunately the skiers were going into the backcountry to ski which is dangerous. It appears that avalanche deaths have been growing in the United States. Backcountry skiing, and hiking after snowstorms where the snow is unstable is dangerous. Avalanche warnings need to be heeded while carrying proper avalanche safety equipment.
An unexpected thunderstorm hit while we were hiking the Turkey Creek trail. It produced hail as the storm blew in cold air. It was hot one minute and freezing the next. As you can see by the photos, I had a raincoat, proper footwear for the changing weather while the rest of the party only had shorts, t-shirts and hiking sandals. That was fine for a hot, clear afternoon but not when a storm blows through at 8000 plus feet in altitude.
Prepare to Hike guidelines
Some guidelines and best practices while hiking are as follows
- Let someone know where you are going and when to be expected back. Check in with this person when you return. Provide instructions for this person if they do not hear back from you at a certain time.
- Plan your route with a map with expected distances and timing. Make an appropriate time to turn around or be done with the hike. For instance, in the wintertime, make it back before dark.
- Study the weather reports for the area that you will be hiking. Understand the expected temperatures and weather patterns. This is especially important when at higher altitudes where the weather can change fast.
- Use the NOAA website or our Pagosa Weather page for hikes in Southwest Colorado.
- Bring enough water! Plan about .5l of water per person per hour for a run of the mill hike. Increase to 1l of water per hour per person for more strenuous hikes or higher temperature days.
- Drink water consistently so as not to dehydrate. Understand the symptoms of dehydration and overheating.
Essential hiking items list
Recommendations from the American Hiking Society
- Proper footwear for the hike.
- Paper Map(s) and Compass. Sometimes your phone will not work or batteries will die.
- Water!
- Food – It’s good to have enough calories with you to eat. Bars are a good source of calories and protein and are easy to pack.
- Raincoat or water protection – Storms can pop up quickly
- Flashlight, whistle and fire starter – These are small and easy to carry
- First Aid Kit – Many outdoor retailers have kits to buy
- Knife or Multi-tool
- Sun protection – sun block
- Shelter – This could be a tent but that is not always easy to carry for a shorter hike. It’s best to have blankets or covering that can be used as shelter like a reflective blanket.