With over 800, 000 acres of remote desert and mountains, visitors to Big Bend can wander and explore to their hearts’ content. But with this freedom comes risk. Every year, park staff must rescue hikers who either underestimate the terrain and/or temperatures or overestimate their own abilities. This environment is not forgiving; hikers have died here after going just a few hours without water.

These are just a few examples of how a simple vacation turned disastrous for previous visitors:

• In June 1957, a vehicle became stuck on the River Road. After attempts to dig it out failed, the occupants decided to walk out. The temperature that day was 114 degrees. The man walked 10 miles before dying from heat stroke. The woman left the road and found a spring, where she survived for 6 days before being rescued.
• One weekend in May, a family set out on the Marufo Vega Trail, a rugged, steep, 14-mile route that is best done in the winter. They did not have a map and soon lost the trail. After hiking cross-country for several hours, they ran out of water and had to drink unfiltered water from the Rio Grande. Rangers found them attempting to walk upstream through Boquillas Canyon to reach the trailhead.
• In May of 2004, a man became disoriented while hiking the Grapevine Hills Trail. Since the trail is fairly short (just over 2 miles round-trip), he apparently did not take any water with him. Rangers found his body the next morning less than a half-mile from the road.

Each of these incidents could have been easily prevented with just a little bit of planning. Before heading out on your own adventure, consider how you can prevent your trip from turning into a tragedy.

1. Talk to park staff. Find out about road and trail conditions, get trip advice, and buy the maps and guidebooks you need. Check the weather forecast, too.
2. Let someone know where you’re going. Call family or friends at home to let them know your plans. Tell the camp hosts in the campground. Leave a note on your car stating where you’re going hiking and when you expect to return.
3. Make sure your vehicle is in good condition and has a spare tire, a working jack, and other emergency equipment. Take extra water, food, and sleeping bags just in case. If you’re on foot, make sure all of your hiking and camping gear is in good shape.
4. If your vehicle breaks down or gets stuck, stay with it! It is much easier for rangers to find a car on a road than a person walking through the desert.
5. Know how to signal for help. Cell phones may not work here, so don’t count on being able to call out. Whistles, air horns, mirrors, and flares are all good attention-getters. While wood fires are not normally permitted in the park, they can be an effective signaling method of last resort, since the smoke can be seen for miles and will certainly get the attention of park rangers.

Have fun exploring Big Bend, but remember that YOU are responsible for your own safety. Plan ahead and stay alive!

Safety in the Sun
Even on short hikes, always take water or a sports drink. Wear a hat and loose-fitting long sleeves and long pants, and use sunscreen on all exposed skin.

Never underestimate the importance of drinking enough water out here. In Big Bend’s arid climate, your body loses water much faster than usual. Even a little physical activity, particularly in the heat of the day, greatly accelerates water loss. Headache, tiredness, and crankiness are signs that dehydration has already set in. (Thirst is an unreliable indicator; you may already be dehydrated before feeling thirsty.) Start your day in Big Bend well-hydrated, and continue to drink non-caffeinated and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day.

Food is important, too, in order to replace the electrolytes that your body loses through sweating. Salty snacks help to maintain the electrolyte balance.

This article by park ranger Mary Kay Manning originally appeared in the Spring/Summer 2005 issue of The Big Bend Paisano.