Screamline

There's a place that my husband and I often go to hike. It is so magnificent! Even mentioning the name sets us in an exciting state of letting loose and not be bothered by all the anxieties in life. This magnificent place transforms us into children of the wild, running alongside creeks that wind down into the so-called Wild Horse Canyon.

The trails are somewhat steep, rocky and lined with mosses and all sorts of little growing things. At the top of the trail is a large waterfall that pours all its water into the canyon. To get there, it will take you almost an hour. Sometimes when there is a dry season, we can hike all the way to the bottom, which is even steeper and harder to navigate. It was spring of last year, there was this one day, since the weather was looking great, we decided on taking a hike into the canyon. I brought for us something to eat for lunch and other things into our backpacks, even a camera.

At the start of the hiking path, I observed a stick was leaning up against one of the huge pine trees along the way. The fine looking stick would be great for support, that was what I thought when I took it. It was my first time to assist myself with a walking stick and it just felt like using it at that time. We hiked around streams flowing pretty full since we had a lot of spring rain. The day was so magnificent. We had just about reached the bottom or as it were, the top of the waterfall. My husband went ahead of me. He walked on the trough of the small pool. Just as I was about to cross, I broke the number one cardinal rule of hiking - watching where you are going. I was staring at the sky when I stepped on a rock. Then, I fell hard in the water. I realized I had sprained my ankle pretty seriously and the pain was agonizing. I rested for a while and contemplated. Then, I realized we still had to climb back up. We realized our cell phones did not work that deep into the canyon and hills. Terrific. We knew a short cut to the road though given that we had trekked there numerous times. My husband and I began climbing after I persuaded him that he had to get the car while I take the route nearest to the road on my own. Anyway, thanks for the handy walking stick that some Samaritan had left for me. It was a big help. I never thought that it would be that hard, if not for that walking stick, I wouldn't be able to get out. In the end, I was on crutches for some weeks because of a serious ankle injury.

For safety purposes when hiking, first rule - watch where you go. Always observe your environment. Include in your back pack a little first aid kit, some snacks, and a bottle of water. Make sure your footwear is suitable for the outdoor activity. Mine was strong enough to protect my ankle from getting the worst possible thing that would have happened. Understand what you are about to do before actually doing it. You could get yourself killed if you accidentally lose your footing as you step on a rock or a tree root or loose dirt and find yourself at the bottom of some hill.

Stepping on snakes can be prevented once you are conscious of your steps. Bring someone along when going out for a hike, rest during intervals and slow down. Besides, taking a break gives you an opportunity to really look at your surroundings and "smell the flowers". Unless if you already know the place and is familiar with all the ins and outs of the area where you are hiking, just follow the trail. If you had to take a leak or want some private time, you better let your hiking buddy know where you are off to. Bring in your back pack only the essentials like food and water, and some outdoor handy device. Also include materials that can be of help in case of urgent situations -a flashlight and possibly a sweater for the cold. Verify first if the weather condition is suitable for hiking. In case of a chance of rain, include light rain gear.

Remember, to bring along a stick, it could really come on handy!