Above- this couple from Derry, NH, friends of the author, are on the summit of Mt. Flume in Franconia Notch. N. Woodstock is in the background. Though this photo was taken in August, note their appropriate apparel: leather hiking boots; lined nylon water-resistant mountain jackets and pants; layered clothing; and protective headwear. It was cold on the summit that day. Because Mt. Flume is such a remote mountain, as well as being difficult to hike, more than a few hikers have been rescued from there.

An Old White Mountain Tale, and Hiking Safety:

Hypothermia is a significant danger for White Mountains hikers. Hypothermia is an illness that results from the the dropping of the core body temperature. Hypothermia most likely has been a related cause to most hikers’ injuries or deaths in the Whites, since one’s judgement is affected as the core body temperature decreases. The physiological response to this cooling of the body is to shift the blood supply to the most vital organs. A result of this shift of the blood supply is that one’s higher reasoning or judgement is adversely affected. There are other causes for hiking injuries and deaths, or just plain disastrous hikes, also. These will all be examined here. Injuries or deaths incurred while hiking and the circumstances that lead to them seem atypical, especially if one reads about them in newspapers or hears about them from word of mouth. Unfortunately, the events that have led to many hikers’ deaths are shrouded in mystery. Most of the events are described in the media such as “he or she slipped and fell,” or that the hiker “was experienced, and had hiked many time before.” The events, in many cases, are not known and have to be reconstructed by rescuers to find out what happened. An understanding of what went wrong is important to all hikers, so that the same errors will not be made.

An old tale about a young woman who died many, many years ago in the White Mountains puts hiking safety into a personal perspective. The incidents leading to her death were detailed. From the following story about her, you may learn about the fundamental safety practices necessary to protect yourself while out on the trail, and what is necessary to prepare for a hike.

The tale of Nancy Barton, after whom Nancy Brook, Nancy Pond, and the Nancy Cascades in Crawford Notch are named, is known more as a heart-rending tragedy caused in part by miscommunication and her failed, lovesick pursuit of her lover.

Nancy’s tale takes place on a wintry December day in 1778. Nancy was a servant for a Col. Joseph Whipple of Jefferson, NH. Nancy had fallen in love, rather deeply indeed, with one of Whipple’s hands, one Jim Swindell. She reportedly entrusted Jim with her savings, which they intended to use for marriage. While she was away in Lancaster, Col. Whipple and Jim left inexplicably for Portsmouth, NH.

Though one account says that Col. Whipple disapproved of the relationship and intended to send Jim away, and another maintains that Jim was taking Nancy for her money, these probably were not the case. It is doubtful that Col. Whipple would have attempted to interfere in the couple’s relationship. Col. Whipple was a local employer and leader known for his firmness, but he was also known for his generosity and kindness, especially in times of hardship. He most likely would have encouraged them to have children since there was a limited population in the Whites at that time.

Because this took place during the dark days of the Revolutionary War, Col. Whipple was most likely recruiting Jim for service in the struggling Continental Army. Another member of the Whipple clan, Brig. General William Whipple from Portsmouth, NH, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and leader of forces against the British at Saratoga, NY, was rebuilding regional forces after a failed campaign in RI that year.

Whatever the circumstances were, Jim evidently did not say good-bye to Nancy, probably for fear that she would attempt to talk him out of service. Upon her return from Lancaster, she was distraught over Jim’s departure. She then pursued Jim and Whipple on foot through the snow and the cold. She hiked twenty miles to the nearly extinguished embers at their vacated campsite. She decided to continue on in her relentless pursuit, until exhaustion, hunger, and an apparent fall in the brook that is named for her took their toll. She was found frozen by a search party in a sitting position with her head in hands. Her clothes were clad with ice, and her hiking stick was found nearby. Jim died shortly after in an insane asylum, probably as a result of suicide. It is said that Nancy’s cries of sorrow can still be heard in the vicinity of the brook! (Bolnick, B.,D., 1990, p.209; Hixon, R.,M., 1980, p.121; Whitney, D.C., 1974, pp.411,412; Poole, E., 1946, p.20).

This story is quite relevant to the modern day hiker, aside from its grievous romantic aspect, because it illustrates the importance of all of the rudimentary safety practices that should be observed by hikers. Since she technically was hiking en route to an intended rendezvous with Jim, Nancy was probably the first hiker on record to have died from hypothermia and exposure in the White Mountains. In fact, so profound are the factors that led to her death, that this could very well be deemed the classic case for studying safety practices and hypothermia prevention. Scrutiny of this old tale phrase by phrase reveals much more than a love story gone awry. It correlates to modern day hiking in so many ways, that it isn’t that old of a tale at all!

Below- signs like this one posted on the Edmands Path in the Presidentials are there for a good reason. Look at how rough and narrow the trail is. It takes the average hiker about 40-60 minutes to hike one mile on a trail this rough, in good weather. Imagine how treacherous and slow the pace would be in snow, a hard rain, or during a thunderstorm! If you're not prepared, do not proceed!

“Nancy (hiked)...on a wintry December day.” This phrase reveals several problems with Nancy’s hiking itinerary. First, short days and bitter cold nights make the White Mountains an inhospitable place during this month and the three months following. Hiking on snow cover, as Nancy probably did, is very tiring even when it is hard-packed on the trail. You can hike the Whites in the early season starting in mid-April up to the late season, at the end of November. This timeframe is contingent on the weather and how much snow there is.

Hiking in the winter months from December through the end of March is not recommended unless you go with an experienced and trained winter hiker. Even in April well into May, Tuckerman Ravine can be a dangerous place to hike because of avalanche danger. Winter hiking in the Whites is an extraordinary experience, but it is also hazardous. The statistics for rescues and deaths associated with winter hiking in the Whites continue to mount to this day. Hiking during the winter months requires excellent physical fitness. Quality apparel for protection from the weather as well as crampons and snowshoes are strongly recommended. Unfortunately, some hikers place too much faith in their equipment, and don’t have the specialized training, experience, and skills necessary to do winter hiking. Wearing crampons is no guarantee from slippage on ice! Momentary lapses in judgement can be fatal, which may happen if hypothermia starts to affect the hiker. Deadly falls can be attributed to this. Most importantly, experience and a keen knowledge of the terrain are needed. The weather is even more unpredictable in the winter months than at other times of the year. Also, the dangers of avalanche and icy cliffs can be fatal if the winter hiker is not constantly on guard.

An experienced winter hiker is someone who has lived in the mountains and hiked every day for at least a whole winter season or more, including during snowstorms. An experienced winter hiker knows life-saving techniques and has technical and survival skills to supplement his or her thorough knowledge of the weather and the terrain. In other words, he or she knows what to do to get himself or herself or others out of trouble, without assistance. If a hiking friend is asking you to go along on a January hike to Lion’s Head and Tuckerman Ravine, and he or she does not have this experience, it would be best to decline the invitation! While you’re at it, coax him or her, to wait a few more weeks until the snow is gone. It does go away before long, you know!

Returning to the discussion of Nancy’s itinerary, a second problem was that she most likely didn’t take heed to the weather, nor could she tell what the weather had in store for that day and night. She just left on a whim to pursue Jim and Col. Whipple, even though it was probably snowing. Weather information is readily available to you, the modern-day hiker. The electronic and printed media available today give very accurate weather predictions. Use them! Keep yourself updated and plan or reschedule your hike accordingly. Once a snowy weather pattern develops in the Whites, it persists for a good part of the winter.

A third problem was that she hiked alone. There was nobody there to help her. Today, many people go solo on their hikes for a variety of reasons. The majority of solo hikers interviewed by the author were solitude seekers. Hiking solo, whether you’re a man or a woman, is not recommended unless you are physically fit. You must know exactly where you are going, know how long it will take to get there and back, and have the necessary clothing and pack items to effectively deal with an emergency on your own. In other words, you must be totally self-sufficient.

“She was found...by a search party.” This implies that Nancy didn’t tell anyone where she was going. The search party probably deduced after a critical period of time, which may have made the difference in saving her life, that she had pursued Jim on foot. For you, the modern-day hiker, this type of situation can cause problems, especially if you hike solo. First, if you get hurt on the trail, no one will know where to look for you, unless your car is recognized at the trailhead. Finding your car may not be much help to rescuers. Considering that the average length of a trail circuit is six miles, and that you could be anywhere on it in a deteriorating weather situation, this would delay any emergency medical care that you may need if you should get hurt or fall ill on the trail. Second, loved ones and friends will needlessly worry until your late return.

With all of the widespread means to communicate that are available in this era, such as cellular phones, calling cards, answering machines, it is easier than ever to keep family or friends updated on your itinerary.

However, miscommunication happens occasionally, which can produce the same result as no communication at all. Therefore, always inform someone of your intended whereabouts in person before you hike. Give he or she an approximate time of return, too. If you have several alternate hikes planned, which is a good idea if it may rain, let that person know about any changes in your plans. If you leave a message on an answering machine, remember to state your new time of return. There is cellular phone service in some areas of the Whites. The author has had difficulty connecting in Waterville Valley (Sandwich Range) and the Lincoln Woods. However, there is service on all the Presidentials.

“She decided to continue on...” This is a common problem with inexperienced hikers; not knowing when to turn back. Physical fitness, top quality apparel, and the necessary pack items do buy you time if you run into trouble. However, nothing that you can do, wear, or bring along in your pack will match the ferocity of White Mountain weather for long, once it turns bad. When the sky turns dark and the breeze turns to wind, especially on the Presidentials, learn to turn back immediately. It won’t get any better up ahead! Recogniton of this potential danger figures greatly in making your hikes to the Whites safe.

Unfortunately, you have to quit the hike sometimes! Always assume that the potential exists for your hike to be abandoned because of the weather. This way you won’t feel the need to press on. Besides, turning back is a good reason to come back on a nice day. Not only will you finish the hike safely and comfortably the next time around, but you won’t miss any views because of cloud cover, either. You will be able to execute the hike in less time, too, because you will be familiar with the trail (or part thereof) that you have already hiked.

The urgency to press on can cause another problem– taking shortcuts by leaving the trail, otherwise known as bushwhacking. Nancy probably did this in an attempt to catch up to Jim and Col. Whipple. Any time you leave a White Mountain trail for the neighboring woods, you are at the mercy of rough terrain, an unknown density of vegetation farther ahead, and obstacles caused by or related to water such as cascading streams or beaver swamps. Maps may not have the updated data on these obstacles. In the Whites, there is no such thing as a shortcut through the woods, at least in the author’s opinion.

The hardwood forests in low elevation areas are really the only ones that can be bushwhacked. Even then, bushwhacking in these woods isn’t worth the bother because the trails through them are usually turf. The walking is usually fairly easy there.

“Nancy was a servant...intended...marriage.” Nancy probably was a teenager at the time of her death. In colonial America, teen marriages were very common, if not encouraged by parents. Today’s teens lead more sheltered lives, at least in respect to the outdoors and certainly from marriage. The author has noticed that many teens, despite their enthusiasm, lack trail sense and experience. Most teens have very good if not excellent physical capability, as Nancy showed with her twenty-plus mile trek. But many lack familiarity with the trails, or lack map reading and compass skills, or forget water, as observed examples of their behavior on the trail. Some aren’t sure of the limits of their capabilities in respect to the mountains. Teens, therefore, are a high-risk group for injury, sickness, or even death when they set out alone, with a friend, or as a member of an unsupervised group. This includes all teenagers up to and including those that are college-aged.

Spend time with your teen to make sure that he or she is properly outfitted and has a complete understanding of the dangers that may be encountered on the trail, especially the weather. It is particularly important that you teach him or her to know when to turn back, as previously discussed. Stress that potential peer pressure to move on is risky business when clouds move in or when the wind starts to whip. Reassure him or her that it is wise to turn back, and that he or she should attempt to persuade his or her friends to do the same, rather than continue on into the face of potential danger. Make sure that your teen knows what to do if he or she gets caught in a storm.

Many young people, like Nancy Barton, have died in the Whites. Her loved ones and the small but close community that she lived in at the time probably had great difficulty accepting her tragic death. This is the reason why she hasn’t been forgotten, even to this day. Spare yourself this worst pain of all, that which has been needlessly suffered by the more than 100 families of White Mountain hikers in the 20th Century alone. Please spend the time with your teen hiker.

“She hiked twenty miles...” In her desperation, Nancy made three critical errors revealed in this four word phrase. First, she did not have a set destination. She merely wanted to catch up with Jim and Col. Whipple. Second, she exceeded her physical capability. Third, she had to have hiked at night, since this happened in December. The author has yet to meet a hiker who can cover twenty miles in the Whites during the daylight in December, and on snow to boot!

It is important that you establish a destinations for your hike. That way you can judge how long, how far,and how timely your hike will be. It is also important that you evaluate the combined distance and vertical climb to and from your destination(s), to make sure that you can actually complete your hike. Most adult hikers interviewed by the author set a range of 5 to 10 miles a day for themselves, which is at least half of what Nancy did.

Hiking at night is very tough in the Whites because the trails are a bit rough, on the average. It is easy to trip and fall. If you fall on a rock, you may get seriously hurt. Hiking at night in the snow is even more dangerous. Occasionally you may have to walk back to your car in the dark because you made a wrong turn at a trail junction, or you may be forced to take a detour because of a washed-out trail, or you started out late and miscalculated the length of time it would take to execute the hike. The only way to avert these problems is to always pack along a flashlight with fresh batteries, even in the summer.

Occasionally, an uncomfortable overnight stay in the woods may be a better alternative to walking in the dark and possibly injuring yourself. Don’t worry. There is nothing in the woods that will deliberately hurt you. Just hang your pack up on a tree away from where you will sleep, that is, if you can. Animals such as bears and skunks are only interested in food and are aware of the volatility of the human intellect– thus they have no interest in dealing directly with you!

“Exhaustion and hunger took their toll...” Nancy didn’t take any breaks, nor did she bring any food. These two problems are actually interrelated. The human body derives its energy from the breakdown of carbohydrates by oxidation. Oxidation occurs either anaerobically or aerobically. The anaerobic form is called glycolysis, and the aerobic form is called the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle, or the Krebs Cycle. The body also builds up an oxygen debt during sustained physical exertion such as hiking, because energy is reduced to lactic acid. When you stop hiking, you allow the deficient oxygen to replenish itself and free the chemical energy retained by the lactic acid.

What this means is that you must pack along food on every hike and that you must take breaks, frequent ones if necessary, to allow your energy level to come back. Learn to pace yourself so that you can take several short breaks that serve three functions: energy boosting, drinking water and chances to look around and get your bearings. If you feel over-exerted, stop! Don’t push yourself to the brink. Some hikers measure their pulse to make sure it stays in a prescribed range.

Find out from your doctor or from a professional physical fitness trainer what your aerobic pulse range should be. Don’t feel that you have to keep pace with other hikers; if you can’t do it, you can’t do it. It’s okay! Don’t be discouraged. Just plan an easier hike the next time around.

Your body cannot sustain physical exertion without caloric intake, which fuels gycolysis. Before you hike, always eat a breakfast that is low-fat, low protein, and high in complex carbohydrates. This allows your body to convert the carbohydrates to glycogen, a stored form of energy. Eat well the night before, too. In the early spring and in the fall, you need extra calories to help keep warm, too. (Williams, S., 1993, p.422.

Always bring enough food to get you by for 24 hours. A few sandwiches (of your choice) made of decent bread and packed in rigid but soft plastic sandwich savers, fruit, and candy bars are examples of suggested foods to pack. Note that these foods won’t get easily crushed in your pack, and will thus remain palatable.

Deciding on what foods to pack along is determined pretty much by trial and error. Your tastes, your budget, and the actual amount that you want to bring along are all factors. Trail mix and granola bars are conveniently packaged and filling, but the author has noted, as well as have other hikers, that these foods seem to induce thirst more than the ones previously mentioned. The author doesn’t recommend packing survival foods, as he has seen a few hikers pull out of their packs. These foods aren’t very palatable. What are becoming increasingly popular are the new 40-30-30 energy bars, which taste quite good.

As a final note, always know exactly what you have packed for food, and make sure that you keep careful track of it during your hike. Eat well, but only eat what you have to in order to reserve food for an emergency overnight stay in the woods.

“She was distraught...” Nancy had a hard day before she died, no doubt. Hard days occur more often than not in this age, too. Concerns about your job, worries over finances, an argument with a loved one or a not so loved one are all examples of stress inducing problems that can have a great affect on you and your ability to hike. That is, don’t hike if you don’t feel up to it, even if you feel you must get away. You need your wits about you when you hike the Whites, especially the Presidentials. Having too much on your mind can lead to trouble, adding to what you’ve already got.

If you’re feeling down, don’t hike any mountains or long trail circuits that will make you feel achy or generally worse than before. If you have to, put your boots, pack, and hiking stick away for awhile. Take it easy! If you really feel the need to get away, put on your sneakers, fill a single water bottle, and try one of the easy waterfall hikes, like Ripley Falls. They’re easy hiking destinations, and they are about as therapeutic as they come.

Getting lost can also produce distress, and in some cases, panic. This is a legitimate fear by inexperienced hikers or by novices. Pre-hike study of trail descriptions and maps, as well as staying on the trail, can prevent this situation. Also, never be afraid to ask for help from another hiker. If you know about what your pace is in miles per hour and get in the habit of checking your watch each time you stop, you will have a rough idea as to how far you have hiked in between.

Unfortunately, some hikers have a terrible sense of direction, even with a map and a compass in hand. Experienced hikers get “turned around” on occasion, too. It is embarrassing, but experienced hikers know how to get “unlost”, as the author calls it, and recoup their errors. Some hikers look for shortcuts through the woods. This is called bushwhacking, which is bad business in the Whites. Nancy did this, and it may have compounded her troubles, which will also be explained later.

The hiker should understand why maps, trail descriptions and compasses are used together before using them. These devices should be used in conjunction with each other, not separately. By following only a compass, for example, the hiker won’t know what’s out in front of him or her. Unforeseen hazards may hinder progress and force a change of direction. Many times the surroundings begin to look the same once that heading has been taken on, so that the hiker may begin to doubt the accuracy of the compass and start to panic. A map is useless unless the hiker knows which direction he or she is headed. The Whites do not comprise that large of a land area, compared to, say, the the Rockies in western Montana. If you become lost out there, you are lost, because of the size of the region. In the Whites (the folowing hikes), you are never more than seven to nine miles from any road. Therefore, you can become “unlost”, as was previously mentioned, by carefully examining the surroundings.

If you do become lost, but are still on a trail, stop and take a break. Drink some water and look at your watch. Become part of the woods, so to speak, by listening to and studying the surroundings. Don’t take out your map and compass yet. Relax. Taking a break to settle down and to become familiar with your surroundings so that you can think deductively is the most important first step to becoming “unlost.” Besides, you won’t be able to hear much if your heart is pounding.

Take a careful look around with your optics, if you have them. Ask yourself the following questions: Do you recognize anything at all, such as distant buildings, a distant body of water, a tall summit, or a rock slide? If you see a small plane in the sky, one towing a glider, or several heading to or from the same direction, watch them. There are three small airports located in the Whites: Conway, Twin Mountain, and Franconia.

Now look around at the surrounding vegetation. What do you see? Is there a mixture of evergreens and smaller hardwoods trees? You’re probably in a transition forest fairly high up on a slope. Are there mostly hardwoods? You’re most likely not that far from the trailhead in this case; those trees are usually near the base of a mountain. Or, you're on the wrond side of the mountain.

What animals are around, or signs of them? If you see moose tracks on the trail, there is probably a pond or a swamp nearby. Dark-eyed juncos prefer transition forests. Ravens flock near summits.

Check out the blazes along the trail. After taking a careful look around, listen for recognizable sounds. Do you hear human voices or sounds made by humans? If so, which way are they headed to or coming from? Voices travel in the Whites; don’t assume that whoever you hear is close by.

Listen for cars and trucks shifting gears in the distance. If you can see cars but you can’t hear them, you are high on a mountain slope. In most cases, vehicles cannot be heard from 3500 feet or higher. If you do hear them, try to pinpoint the direction of the nearest highway. Do you hear or see a brook or a cascade, even a distant one? Can you smell smoke from a campfire? Smoke follows the updrafts on a slope, so the camp is most likely below you.

How long have you been on this trail? Is it getting easier to walk on than it was ten minutes or a half an hour ago? If the trail is getting easier to walk on, you may be on a col between two summits or most likely you’re headed back to some trailhead near a street, even if it isn’t the one you started out on. Think about the last trail junction or destination you encountered. Was it uphill or downhill from where you are now? Now take out your map and compass and mark the direction of that brook or other objects on it. You most likely will be able to figure out where you are by piecing together the direction of distant objects and how they relate to your immediate surrondings!

If you are not on a trail, find and follow a brook, stream, or streambed in the direction of its flow, or decline. Never do this after dark, in case you come to a waterfall. Nearly all of the brooks, streams, and rivers in the Whites eventually run parallel to or cross a highway, a road, or railroad tracks. This may not be a quick fix to your problem. Cascades, waterfalls, and flumes may cause detours that could be time consuming. When you do come out on a road or highway, you may have to walk a considerable distance to get back to your car, that is, if you know where it is. If you commit yourself to hiking along a brook, stream, or streambed, anticipate an overnight stay in the woods. Leave yourself enough light in the day to make camp, and remember to hang your pack high on a tree so critters won’t get at your limited food supply during the night.

Was Nancy lost? No, and she may have deliberately bushwhacked through the woods to see if she could catch sight Jim and Col. Whipple or their campfire. The tale says that she hiked more than twenty miles to Jim’s and Col. Whipple’s campsite. The most direct present-day route from Jefferson to Crawford Notch is by Cherry Hill Rd. Assuming that Cherry Hill Road was the former bridle path that the two men had taken, a distance of twenty miles meant that Jim and Col. Whipple camped near Davis Brook, opposite Mt. Crawford. Nancy Brook is two miles beyond that. These logistics fit in with the context of the tale.

In the author’s opinion, she cut over the summit of Little Mount Deception (whose name is rather fitting) in hope of sighting Jim’s and Col. Whipple’s campfire in the Notch, which she evidently did. The approximate 800 foot vertical climb up that mountain probably contributed greatly to her eventual exhaustion. Eight hundred vertical feet may not sound like much, but that is approximate distance up the summit cone of Mount Washington from Tuckerman Junction (first picture). The point is, she knew where she was going—but the shortcut just turned out to be yet another contributing factor to her death.

How does this concern you? If you don’t know where you are, you have a better chance reaching civilization if you stay on a trail rather than cutting through the woods. If you do know where you are, you will be better off to stay on the trail.

“...An apparent fall in the brook...her clothes clad with ice...” This phrase reveals a lot about Nancy’s apparel. Nancy wasn’t dressed for a long hike. Consider the typical clothing worn by a young woman during the colonial wartime era. Nancy probably wore a poplin weskit over a blouse, a petticoat and other undergarments, a long overskirt, a cloak, and a bonnet. Because she was a servant, she probably wore hand-made clogs with wooden soles rather than boots because of the limited availability of leather. This footwear, at least minimally, protected her feet from being stepped on by cows when she milked them, or for when she mucked their stalls. Those barn shoes, so to speak, were appropriate for servants performing those routine duties in that era.

There were four problems with her apparel: first, her clothing was composed of a lot of absorbent cloth that retained water and perspiration. This wet clothing drew the heat away from her body. This caused hypothermia, which is what killed her. Second, her clothing was probably heavy when it got wet, which most likely had made her even more exhausted prior to her death, coupled with the long hike. Third, the footwear she had was unsafe for icy brook crossings. Fourth, because she had no food as previously mentioned, one can assume that she had no pack, either. These are the four major concerns that you, the modern day hiker, must address when selecting your hiking apparel.

This recommendation, in light of Nancy’s troubles, poses an interesting question. If Nancy was here today and the two of you would go hiking, with her dressed in the clothing that she wore during her era and you dressed in your normal casual attire, who would be better off? The answer, believe it or not, is that she would be better off, even though your footwear and your pack would be much better than what she would have! Your clothing would be your overriding disadvantage.

Today’s clothing industry has made cotton products so inexpensive and so readily available that “two for the price of one” is more or less expected when you go clothes shopping. Cotton sweatshirts, gym pants, blue jeans, underwear, stockings, flannel shirts, T-shirts, corduroy pants, and denim jackets are all examples of this type of clothing. At the very least, Nancy’s cloak and her bonnet were made of wool. Why is cotton so bad for hikers? Osmosis is why. Cotton is derived from plant cells that can diffuse fluids through the cell walls, even in its dead or clothing state. Saturated cotton clothing, whether it be from perspiration, rain, or snow, acts like a heat exchanger that sucks the heat energy out of your body, causing hypothermia.

Your clothing should have a minimal amount of cloth and as little cotton as possible, but it should have a sufficient amount of thermal protection and weatherproofing. Even though the newer garments on the market do not look warm, they are designed to keep you dry even in the severest of weather conditions, and they efficiently manage the heat energy that your body produces. You will actually feel warmer (and cooler in the summer) with this clothing than if you wear multiple layers of cotton clothing and a parka.

Nancy didn’t have a selection of clothing available to her because there was a war going on. The mere availability of clothing rather than its composition and design was the concern at the time. She was one of the deceased hikers whom the saying “cotton kills” was referring to. But you, the modern day hiker, are more at risk in your casual attire than she was and you do have a much wider selection of clothing to choose from. The selection of hiking clothes available at outfitters is outstanding. Take advantage of this. Go to your local or Internet outfitter and take a look around.

Be selective about your clothing for hiking, but make sure that you get a complete outfit, even if your budget limits you to getting it piece by piece. Most hiker’s clothing is designed as an integral multi-layered system. If you buy only one or two parts, you won’t be fully utilizing the protection that the clothing can provide. When you go to buy clothes, think in terms of what is the safest and the most comfortable to wear. Consider durability and support from the manufacturer as well. Some fine lines of hiking clothes offer lifetime guarantees on their clothing. That is why this clothing is such a good deal; it does what it is supposed to, it’s durable, you get what you pay for, and someone reputable backs it up.

Your boots are the most important part of your apparel. As with clothing, the selection of lightweight hiking boots at outfitters is outstanding. Don’t buy cheap boots, and make sure that you have a backup pair. Proper fit, good tread, light weight, and most importantly, rugged construction are essential. Do not select boots by their looks. They’re going to get muddy or dusty anyhow! A hiking boot is actually a safety shoe of sorts. Just think of how your bare feet and ankles will look and feel when you take the boots off after you’re done hiking. That’s what counts! Good boots absorb a lot of impact, too, which will protect your knees to a certain degree.

Finally, you need a pack if you plan to hike more than a few miles. Amazingly enough, the author has observed people, including groups of people, on long hikes without (at least) one.

“..., and hiking stick nearby.” Not everything that Nancy did was wrong. A hiking stick is advantageous for several reasons. First, it helps greatly in crossing streams, as it helps to maintain a hiker’s balance. Second, it can act as a long arm in giving a trailing hiker a long hand up a steep embankment or up a slide. Third, it saves your knees! A hiking stick can absorb several tons worth of impact over the course of an average hike. Some of this impact is transferred to your upper body. All in all, you can hike farther if you use a hiking stick. If you hike a lot, this helps tone your upper body, too.

“Nancy’s cries...can still be heard...” The author has hiked near Nancy Brook, and hasn’t heard anything of the sort. But the safety aspects of this old tale ring loud and clear! The odds were heavily stacked against Nancy Barton. In essence, she really didn’t have much of a chance. But the odds are in your favor. To summate this discussion of Nancy’s tale as to how it relates to the modern-day hiker, here is a list of the main points:

- Hike only from the beginning of April to the end of November, weather permitting. Work on your self-reliance and safety training during the off-season. Do hike planning, physical fitness training, and outfitting in the off-season. Study trail guides and analyze maps so that you are well versed when you get back out on the trail. Take a first-aid course and sign up for a CPR class at your local hospital, fire department, or school.

- Tell someone reliable where you are going in person, and when you will be back. Inform him or her of any changes in plans, including the new time of return. Hike with a partner or as a member of a party.

- Watch, read, or listen to weather reports before you hike. Turn back if the weather starts to deteriorate rapidly, especially in the Presidentials. Seek shelter immediately if you cannot get off the mountain.

- Teenagers need pre-hike supervision. Make sure that he or she is properly attired and that he or she is fully aware of the dangers out on the trail. Make sure that he / she knows when to turn back.

- Plan your hike carefully so that you know how difficult it will be. Have a specific destination(s) planned for your hike.

- Hike only what you know that you can do to complete the hike. If you feel overly tired, weak, or ill, turn back.

- Hike during the daytime. Leave early enough for your destination so that you will have plenty of light to get out of the woods. Pack a flashlight with fresh (sets of) batteries just in case.

- Take an adequate amount of breaks while out on the trail.

- Eat well the night before a hike, and eat a good breakfast the day of a hike. Always wear a backpack or a lumbar pack of sufficient size for any hike over several miles. Pack along enough food for 24 hours. Pack along water, too (to be discussed in the following section in detail).

- Be certain that you will be up to hiking before you do so. Know where you are going so that you won’t get lost. Always stay on the trail. Be alert! Keep a mental or written note of trail junctions or destinations and where they are relative to the trailhead. Bring a compass, a map, and guidebook (or trail description)with you.

- Wear hiking boots and hiking clothes. Pack along lightweight weatherproof outerwear. Minimize the cotton content of your clothing. Don’t wear street clothes, unless you are on a short hike on a nice day. If you do opt to wear cotton clothing, bring a change of clothes in your pack.

- Consider using a hiking stick.

Below- the Ridge of Caps on Mt. Jefferson. This photo is a fine example of the deceptive danger that may be encountered in hiking the Presidentials during the late autumn. This picture was taken the first week of December 1996. What appears to be the white-capped summit at the top of the picture, is not- it is a ridge. The summit is another 0.5 mile beyond that, and over 600 vertical feet higher! The trail was coated with rime in spots, and it was very cold at the summit. It was about 55 degrees at the trailhead.