Philmont Diaries: Don't Step on the Critical Edge
Smack in the middle of an unrelenting stretch of switchbacks, we stopped for a quick water break. We were on day eight of a two-week backpacking trip and thoroughly exhausted.
For some reason, someone in the back of the pack needed to get up to the front. I stepped to the side to let them pass, but unfortunately for me, I stepped towards the down-slope.
Right on the critical edge.
My foot slid out from under me and I started falling down the side of what was essentially a cliff’s edge. I tried to grab onto a tree branch, but all my adrenaline-filled-hand found was a sorry, broken skewer of a branch.
I really didn’t think I would be facing a life or death experience on this trip, but there I was. Cliff hanger, hanging from a cliff, and that’s why they call her cliffhanger.
A hand stretched out and grabbed onto my forearm. They hoisted me up, safe and sound, back onto the trail. My hand had a gash in it and my knees were scraped and bruised, but otherwise I was fine.
I could’ve been tumbling down the hill like Princess Buttercup if someone hadn’t caught me right away. Although, I would have ended up with less than romantic results.
The critical edge
As I discovered firsthand, the critical edge is vulnerable to collapse. It is the outside edge of a trail that protects the land around it. When the critical edge is stepped on repeatedly and worn down, the integrity of the trail wears away with it.
A well-maintained trail protects the wild-land and wildlife surrounding it. Properly built trails keep erosion from spreading. They also provide a better hiking experience for us explorers.
A smooth, clearly marked trail is much better than a dilapidated trail littered with toe-stubbing rocks, wouldn’t you say?
Watch where you step
Conservationists do their best to stay on top of trail maintenance, but even the best path is subject to the wear and tear of time and mother nature.
While the sights are beautiful, it’s important to stay vigilant while hiking, particularly if the terrain is treacherous or in the middle of dangerous critter territory.
Further along in our trip someone in my group nearly stepped on a rattlesnake! Walking where you’re meant to will protect both you and the trail you’re on.
Exhaustion impairs thinking
I knew better than to step downhill to let someone pass. One of the rules of leave-no-trace is to walk on durable surfaces.
I’m the type of girl who likes to get up before the sun rises and have all my hiking done by noon. I can’t stand hiking in the heat of the day.
To accommodate my preference, I try my best to make it to bed at a reasonable time the night before. Just like I would the night before a 5k race or a swim meet.
Get the rest you need so you have the energy to hike far and think smart. Bad decisions lead to twisted ankles.
Hike with people you trust
I made a mistake, but luckily my hiking buddies had my back. Hiking isn’t what most people view as a sport. It doesn’t appear in the Olympics or as an option for high school sports.
It’s kind of just walking in gorgeous places after all.
But I learned some of my most valuable teamwork lessons while hiking with my crew. If one person gets hurt or sick, the whole crew has to hike slower and redistribute gear to accommodate.
Hiking with the right people will get you where you’re going in one piece and with a smile on your face.