Brian Gander is an experienced superintendent of schools serving the Reedsport School District as both superintendent and special education director. Away from work, Brian Gander enjoys staying physically active by hiking whenever he has the chance.

1. BASIC SAFETY TIPS
FOR HIKERS
Brian Gander, Superintendent

2. Introduction
 Brian Gander is an experienced superintendent of schools
serving the Reedsport School District as both superintendent
and special education director. Away from work, Brian Gander
enjoys staying physically active by hiking whenever he has
the chance.
Hiking is a great way to exercise and experience the natural
beauty of the world, all while spending time with family,
friends, and new acquaintances. However, individuals must
properly prepare themselves for a hiking expedition in order
to minimize the likelihood of getting lost, injured, or
experiencing some other misfortune.
Many of the most important safety tips for hikers must be
practiced before setting foot on the trail. For example, no
hiker, even one taking part in a large hiking group, should
leave home without first informing another person of his or
her whereabouts.

3. Safety Tips
 A person should always try to have at least one hiking partner, but
notifying a family member or friend of your location, leaving time,
and expected time of return becomes critical when hiking alone.
Similarly, individuals should always check the weather and use
online resources to review the condition of hiking trails before
starting a hike. When hiking a new area for the first time, hikers
should remember to pack maps and other directional tools.
There are several tips hikers can implement on the trail, as well. It
may seem obvious to pack food, water, and First Aid equipment on
a hike, but some hikers assume a brief 30-minute walk on the trail
will always go according to plan. In reality, packing for a hike should
be done with the expectation that something might go wrong. With
that in mind, each hiker should have their own access to all
supplies, rather than having one person carrying the water, one
person in charge of the map, and so on. Other important supplies
include a whistle or noise-making device, brightly colored clothing,
and a flashlight.