Pennsylvania trail safety guidance posted

Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward posted trail safety advice on X on Wednesday, directing attention to what hikers should wear, carry and how they should behave on Pennsylvania trails. The post referenced recent local trail incidents, according to the social briefing provided for this story. Ward’s office website identifies her as the Senate President Pro Tempore and a Republican representing the 39th District in Westmoreland County. (pa.gov) Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, or DCNR, publishes similar guidance for hikers using state parks and other public lands. The agency says outdoor trips should be planned in advance, hikers should tell someone where they are going and when they expect to return, and they should leave a written plan and map information behind. (pa.gov) ### What did Kim Ward tell hikers to do? September 2 was the date attached to Ward’s public post, which the editor’s briefing described as a thread on what to wear, what to carry and what etiquette to follow on Pennsylvania trails. The post itself was referenced in the briefing by X URL, but its text was not retrievable through web tools during reporting. (senatorward.com) The substance described in the briefing aligns with Pennsylvania’s published trail-safety advice on layered clothing, water, maps and preparedness. Kim Ward’s office site does not appear to have separately posted the guidance as a news release. Her website identifies her current leadership role and district, confirming the public official behind the post. (pa.gov) ### What does Pennsylvania officially tell hikers to carry? DCNR says hikers should take a paper map because cell phones and GPS units are “not reliable in remote areas.” The agency also recommends carrying water, food, matches, a knife and a whistle, and says a compass is a useful companion to a map. Pennsylvania trail-use materials also recommend carrying a map of the specific trail system being used. (pa.gov) DCNR’s trail etiquette brochure says those maps are typically available through district forest offices or state park offices. (senatorward.com) ### Why does the guidance stress clothing and visibility? DCNR says hikers should “always dress properly for the outdoors,” and its trail-use brochure adds a specific warning for hunting season. The brochure says most DCNR lands with trails are open to hunting and advises trail users to wear fluorescent orange during hunting season so they can be identified more easily as another person. (pa.gov) Pennsylvania’s official safety page also tells hikers to plan enough time for day trips to avoid traveling after dark without proper nighttime equipment. That guidance fits Ward’s emphasis, described in the briefing, on preparedness after local trail incidents. (elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov) ### What trail etiquette does the state ask people to follow? Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation guidance says hikers going uphill have the right of way on shared-use trails, while hikers should yield to horses and pack stock and bicyclists should yield to hikers and horses. The same guidance tells groups to hike single file, announce themselves when passing, stay on the trail, leash pets and pack out trash. (pa.gov) DCNR’s materials also tell users to follow Leave No Trace practices and to keep trails clean. The foundation’s etiquette guide adds that visitors should speak in quiet tones, limit electronic devices and avoid disturbing wildlife. (pa.gov) ### What should hikers do if something goes wrong? DCNR says hikers who need help should call 911 if service is available and should not wait to seek help. If someone becomes lost, the agency says the first steps are to remain calm and stop walking, warning that wandering with unfamiliar landmarks can lead people in circles and extend rescue time. (paparksandforests.org) Pennsylvania hikers looking for the latest official guidance can use DCNR’s outdoor safety and hiking pages and local state park or forest offices for maps and trail information. Ward’s September 2 post put that advice back into public view as fall hiking season approaches in Pennsylvania. (elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov) (pa.gov)