Precautions

Unfortunately enjoying nature is not always totally safe. Not paying attention to where you are walking or where you are placing your hands can sometimes be painful. Mother Nature can bite you if you are not careful. The ground that you will be walking on in both parks can suddenly become uneven and could result in a sprained ankle or make you fall and bust your you know what. Remember from my previous blog about the land bridges over the top of the cavern. They are OFF LIMITS for the simple reason that is too easy to slip, fall, and get seriously hurt. Our Fireman/EMS want to have as good of a time as you do. Please make sure they do by not getting hurt. If you do get hurt, have someone get them for you. Do not move until they determine your injury was not serious. Both parks have plants, bugs, and animals that are not always friendly. Dangerous plants would include all types of poison ivy, oak, and sumac. There are also patches of Prickly Pear cactus in the parks. Having a good pair of tweezers is a good idea. Rattlesnakes inhabit this park system too. Although it is unlikely you will encounter any snakes in February, unseasonably warm weather could end their hibernation prematurely. If you hear a rattlesnake, do not panic. Stand still until you can determine how close it actually is to you. In general, a snake can only strike as far as half its body length. If you see one several feet away from you, you are generally in no real danger. Simply back up slowly and give the snake its space. This is the snakes home, not yours. And contrary to popular belief, they will not chase you. Scorpions are another possible danger. Be careful where you put your hands when they come into contact with the ground. Scorpions can hide themselves right in front of you and they like to roam for food at night. Wearing shoes at all times is wise. This tip comes from a dedicated barefoot person who wears shoes in parks. Ticks are also in both parks and can carry diseases such as Lyme disease. The best way to avoid ticks is to not walk in tall grasses and if you do, you should be wearing long pants(some people put rubber bands around their ankles) and shoes. When you go to sleep at night, many people leave their shoes outside of their tent. Very bad idea. Don't think that only scorpions hide in shoes. Ticks love your stinky shoes too. I found out this the hard way in Belize when I discovered a black cloud moving up my leg one morning. I spent the next hour in a resturaunt sitting in my underware while four people frantically removed thousands of them from my leg. Very creepy. Keep you shoes in your tent at night. Mosquitos should not be a problem this time of year, but it never hurts to bring insect repellent. The water in the lake is very cold this time of year. A six pack or two in your belly will not keep you warm in the water. You could become hypothermic if you decide to swim. Camping is sometimes alot of work, but with proper planning and remembering these safety tips, it is always a beautiful experience. Matt Man signing off.