Temperature: 

The temperature can present many hazards while hiking, and it is essential to be prepared appropriately prior to your hike. Temperature can be dangerous and has many hazardous outcomes if not properly prepared for it. Suitable clothing items to wear/bring are very important to ensure that you minimize any threatening effects on your body. 

Down below are some of the effects of being exposed to cold/hot temperatures: 

• Cold Temperature:
• Hypothermia 
• Frostbites 
• Hot Temperature:
• Heatstroke/Heat exhaustion 
• Sunburns 
• Dehydration 
• Fainting 

Hmmm, these symptoms do not look enjoyable to experience. The following link has many examples of clothing and other items to bring depending on the expected temperature to help avoid these harmful effects on your hiking journey: https://www.cleverhiker.com/blog/backpacking-amp-hiking-clothing-101-tips-for-creating-the-perfect-ultralight-clothing-systemLinks to an external site., 

Source: http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0286/0424/articles/COLD_WEATHER_HIKING_1_600x.jpg?v=1481729755Links to an external site.  Accessed: 10/20/2021

Rain/Storm:

Rain and storms are not something you can avoid with certainty during a trip, but there are ways to help protect your safety. 

Hazards of rain/storms:

• Rain can cause grounds to be slippery
• Thunderstorms 
• Lightning 

The first is to be prepared with proper hiking rain equipment. The second beneficial thing to help protect yourself from storms is to be able to recognize certain clouds. Cumulonimbus clouds are associated with thunderstorms, which can lead to lighting. Down below is an example of what a cumulonimbus cloud looks like. 

Cumulonimbus Cloud 

Source:  https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/courses/atsc113/flying/met_concepts/01-met_concepts/01a-clouds/cumuliform.html Links to an external site.Accessed: 10/20/2021

There is not necessarily a safe place outdoors to be completely protected or to be able to avoid thunderstorms and lighting. However, if you see a cumulonimbus cloud forming, this is your sign to take cover and move to lower dry grounds away from open spaces and large trees.

Snow:

When hiking during the colder season along a mountain, snow is a crucial factor to be aware of. One very hazardous outcome related to snow is avalanches. An avalanche is when a bunch of snow quickly falls down a mountainside. 

Hazards of avalanches:

• Most important: Can be very deadly 
• Can bury you
• Can knock you off your feet and carry you down the mountain

There are 2 main types of avalanches: loose snow (sluff) avalanches and slab avalanches. 

• Loose snow (sluff) avalanches:
• Loosely bonded snow crystals 

Source: https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/courses/atsc113/snow/met_concepts/07-met_concepts/07j-types-of-avalanche/Links to an external site. Accessed: 10/20/2021

• Slab avalanches:
• Cohesive blocks that slide down the mountain 

Source: https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/courses/atsc113/snow/met_concepts/07-met_concepts/07j-types-of-avalanche/Links to an external site. Links to an external site.Accessed: 10/20/2021

You might be wondering, how do you avoid avalanches? Being able to recognize the different types of snow patterns on mountains that indicate if an avalanche will occur is helpful. Being able to identify dangerous-looking snow before going is the first step. Other warning signs of an avalanche are cracks forming in the ground, the ground feeling hallow underneath when you walk, and heavy snowfall and rain the previous day. It is always important that you check the avalanche conditions before you go on a hike up/alongside a mountain. 

Visibility: 

Being able to have a 360-degree view of the beautiful scenery around you is one of the main reasons why hiking is so fun, but it is important to be able to see around your surroundings for safety reasons. 

Foggy weather can reduce your visibility, and causes you to not be able to see far ahead. This can be very dangerous, as you may veer off-track and end up getting lost, and you will not be able to see any other environmental hazards, i.e. hills or holes.

Source: https://www.rei.com/dam/content_081016_0014_weather_basics_backpackers_lg.jpgLinks to an external site.  Accessed: 10/20/2021