Tell friends or family and also let the local ranger station know your plans, experts say. If there is no one at the ranger station, leave a message on the telephone answering machine or put a note on your car. Whitney points out that the problem for many hikers in Red Rock Canyon is not so much getting lost as getting stuck. People will sometimes get stuck up high and not be able to find their way back down. He recommends looking back often and picking out key landmarks such as a particular tree or odd rock formations that will be reminders of how to get back.
Hikers also can build their own landmarks by making small piles of rocks.
They should be sure, however, to knock the piles down on their way back since they may not have chosen the best route and don't want others to make the same mistake or get confused. Like any physical activity, it's a good idea to start slow, taking the easier trails first then gradually working up to the more difficult ones, notes Howard Booth, a hiker for the past 50 years and chairman of the local Sierra Club's wilderness subcommittee. If possible, go with someone who has actually traversed the particular trails and learn from them, or join one of the local outdoor groups such as the Sierra Club or Las Vegas Mountaineers that offer guided hikes. Clubs such as these often provide classes on subjects such as reading topographical maps, he adds. Proper clothing is important.