It seems like there have been a number of stories about lost or stranded hikers in the past month and I suppose as the weather warms up we’ll be seeing even more. Springtime, in particular, can be more dangerous than other times of the year for a few reasons:

• Weather changes quickly in the spring. I find it funny that almost everyone, no matter where they live, thinks their area has the craziest weather in the country. Yep, in the springtime you may have a hot day followed by a cool one or a sunny day followed by thunderstorms or even snow showers. That’s spring - the weather is changing.
• For many of us who skip camping and hiking trips in the cold winter months our outdoor skills tend to be dulled a little while after living indoors. The same goes for physical stamina as well - spring may not be the best time to attempt that summit you couldn’t quite reach at the end of last summer due to exhaustion. Get a few moderate hikes under your belt before you attempt the tough stuff this year.
• Trails and campgrounds may still be wet even if it hasn’t rained in days. Snow melt and general spring sogginess can happen well into June so be prepared.

That last tip is particularly applicable to the group of friends who found themselves stranded in a flooded Beegam Gorge near Platina, CA. After the guys realized they were stuck they did all the right things and a helicopter found them just one day after they failed to return from their trip.

My favorite part of the story comes at the end when the helicopter pilot offers the group a choice: be airlifted to safety but leave their dog behind OR take a GPS to help them navigate out of the gorge themselves. The dog’s owner decides they’ll take their chances with the GPS (bravo!) but in the end they are able to give the dog a sedative so he too can take the helicopter ride out.

Now that’s a happy ending

The view on a hike near Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.

If you’re looking for a hiking to-do list this summer, check out this article SFGate.com posted last month on hiking 5 prominent California peaks. The hikes stretch from Mount Lassen in the Cascades to Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the continental US, in southern California. If you’re hoping to make the trek up Mt. Whitney reserve your permit now - spots for the summer fill quickly!

The SFGate list also includes some family favorites like Mount Tallac in the Tahoe area and Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. If you’ve haven’t been to Yosemite yet move it to the top of your hiking and camping wishlist - it’s easily one of the most scenic places in America.

California has so many great mountains it’s tough to pick the top 5 peaks to hike. What are some of your favorites the SFGate list left off?

A “paid hike” on the Daniel Boone Scout trail, part of Grandfather Mountain.

If you’re looking for new or relatively unused hiking trails, here’s an insider tip: go on a restricted hike. Restricted hikes take place in areas that require a permit (paid or free) or a guide to enter and many times they offer some of the most amazing outdoor experiences you’ll encounter as a hiker. The PressDemocrat.com, for example, recently published a good article about undiscovered hikes in Sonoma County, CA that mentions a few “restricted hikes” that sound incredible.

Restricted hikes exist for a number of reasons. In some cases permits or guide requirements may be in place to limit access and ultimately environmental impact. In 8th grade my class took a field trip to a place called “Heggie’s Rock” in rural Columbia County, GA where granite dish gardens support two endangered plant species. Restricted access helps protect the ecosystem and makes hikers aware of the uniqueness of Heggie’s Rock.

In other cases hikes may be restricted for safety reasons. At Tallulah Gorge State Park in north Georgia, hikers are required to get free day use permits to enter the gorge. The hike down is steep and rocky while the hike back out of the gorge can be a real physical challenge. At the bottom of the gorge the river creates slippery surfaces and many have been injured sliding down the rocks and swimming in the shallow pools. Permits allow park personnel to keep track of who goes into the gorge and, more importantly, who comes out. There are limits to the number of permits given out each day and park personnel enforce a “no flip flop/crocs” rule at the time of application.

Finally, hiking permit or guide systems may be in place for revenue reasons. It takes money to support and preserve recreation and wilderness areas and permits help agencies recoup costs. In some places in Europe guides are required when entering wilderness areas and are intended to sustain employment for a specific class of workers. In other cases like at privately owned Grandfather Mountain, permits are a source of revenue. The upshot: fewer hikers on the “paid trails” means more solitude.

At first glance permit or guide requirements may seem unfair or unnatural but in many cases they serve an important purpose. With a little advance planning and a willingness to spend a few dollars you can get special access to some amazing hiking spots - reserve your hike now!

We’ve been saying it week after week: camping is an inexpensive way to enjoy a family vacation. Today we found two more ways to make camping even more affordable:

• The Polk County (Iowa) Recreation Department is selling camping coupon booklets with savings worth about 30% over regular rates. Seven day electric campsite coupon booklets sell for $100 (a $133 value) and non-electric campsite booklets are just $70 (a $28 saving). Coupons don’t have to be used on consecutive nights and they’re valid at all 4 county recreation areas and campgrounds. Now that’s a value!

• Last chance for free camping in Stanislaus National Forest in California! Five popular campgrounds in Sanislaus National Forest - located between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe - will begin charging fees for camping starting next year. In the meantime, get out and enjoy the great outdoors at Union, Utica, Pacific Valley, Lumsden and South Fork campgrounds without spending a dime.

No more excuses - get out and camp this summer!

In an effort to step up conservation efforts (and perhaps boost state tourism along the way), the California State Parks Foundation is releasing 40 free podcasts each featuring a different state park hike. The website already has two podcasts posted including one by legendary rocker Sammy Hagar of Van Halen fame. Each podcast is narrated by a different California resident and includes ambient sounds recorded inside the parks themselves. The website also features video and articles to celebrate state parks and the foundation’s 40th anniversary.

The nice thing about the content being produced by the California State Parks Foundation is that you can get a feel for some of the state’s natural beauty no matter where you live! I know I’ve been talking about technology and the outdoors a lot lately and this is just another example of how the two are converging - in a good way if you ask me. Podcasts can help raise awareness of our natural resources while allowing a wider audience to view (or hear!) them without over-running the parks with vehicles and campfires.

We have our own list of the best hikes in California here on Tripleblaze.com and while the list isn’t perfect yet, it keeps getting better as more folks review and rate their favorite trails. Check the list to see if your faves are there!