CMC

Hiking Safety Handbook teaches the skills you need to hike responsibly and stay safe. Art Hogling, director of the CMC Hiking Safety Seminars, brings decades of experience and the latest research to bear on crucial safety topics. 

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Wilderness travel can bring tremendous adventure and joy to life. But for the unprepared, the same backcountry experience can bring pain, fear, and in the worst-case scenario, even death. Education and experience are the key elements that keep the balance on the joy side of the equation. Wilderness safety education has been an important value of the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) since its founding in 1912. Decades of classes, schools, field trips, and lectures have created a safety culture that has enabled safer outdoor experiences for generations of adventurers. This handbook has its origins in those classes.

BREAKING A CHAIN OF ERRORS

Risk managers studying accident records have identified a phenomenon that appears again and again in incident analysis. Experienced rescue personnel recognize it, and it shows up repeatedly in safety literature. It is a variously called the “chain of errors,” “the domino effect,” “the cascade of bad events,” or “the ripple effect.” Veteran mountain rescuer Mark Scott-Nash describes it as a “chain of seemingly unrelated incidents whose warning signs are not heeded.” Sandy Stott, accidents editor at the Appalachia Journal, describes it as “bit by bit, that is how a hurt happens,” and “the little increments which get us to a time and place where a whole slope lets go, or a cloud descends, when everything changes instantly.”

The warning signs can be “outer” or “inner” signs. Examples of “outer” signs are visual evidence of recent avalanche activity or an overwhelming verbal disagreement among team members. Examples of “inner” signs are your unease about conditions on the climbing route or the dynamics of the group, neither of which you can precisely put into words. Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles courageously heeded inner warning signs when she withdrew from international competition in Beijing. Widely expected to win gold medals in her events, she said that she knew she should not attempt dangerous feats if her mental senses were exhibiting warnings. Skier Marc Peruzzi says, “If you aren’t feeling it . . ., which is to say if your head isn’t in the right place, it is best to back off.” Here are some examples of "outer" and "inner" warning signs:

You brought one quart of water but meant to bring two.

The quarrel you had with your spouse last night is preying on your mind. Your focus is not on the trail.

It is a clear day, and you got an early start. You’re several miles up the trail when the morning sun pops over a ridge, and you realize you left your sunglasses at home.

The mosquitoes are out in force. You do not have any bug repellant.

Your smartwatch, cell phone, or personal locator beacon indicate low battery power.

Showers occur, and your rain gear “wets out,” not repelling water and soaking through to your inner layers.

The trail requires you to cross a raging stream on a snowbridge or slippery fallen tree. You must recross the same stream upon return, when snowmelt will make it faster and deeper.

The trail is vacant of other hikers. When you do spot a person, they act strangely and dodge off the trail when spotting you.

You can’t remember if you locked your car and rolled up the windows.

You’re following “Leave No Trace” clothing guidelines by wearing dull green and gray clothing so you make less of a visual impact in the wilderness. You encounter dayglowclad hunters and remember it is hunting season.

You startle a large mammal that runs off into the brush. Five minutes later, you realize it has returned and is following you. 

You brought your tent for your overnight trip, but you forgot your tent poles.

Safe hikers learn to tune in to an inner sense that things are starting to go wrong. Certain occurrences trigger subtle warnings, easily missed if you are not paying attention. Individually, any one of the events listed here is not enough to call it a day. But when you experience three or more, it is wise to back off your hike and save your adventure for another time.

Colorado Waterfall Hikes, 2nd edition, the latest guidebook to be published by CMC Press, describes 52 enjoyable hikes to beautiful waterfalls around the state. 

Order your copy of Colorado Waterfall Hikes 2nd edition today!

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MAXWELL FALLS

Arapaho National Forest

Difficulty Moderate

Round-trip Distance 3.8 miles

Hiking Time 1.5–3 hours

Starting Elevation 7,800 feet

Highest Elevation 8,300 feet

Maps Trails Illustrated #100: Boulder, Golden

Restrictions Dogs are allowed but must be leashed at all times. Violators will be prosecuted. $1,000 maximum fine. Please clean up after your pet, take the bag(s) with you, and dispose of it properly.

For More Info Arapaho National Forest, Clear Creek Ranger District, 303-567-3000

COMMENT: This is a particularly nice hike on hot summer days. The trail travels through a slice of the Arapaho National Forest south of the town of Evergreen. Its ups and downs will provide you with a good workout and reward you with a cooling rest next to or above Maxwell Falls. The waterfalls are on a section of Maxwell Creek that originates on the eastern flanks of 10,760-foot Black Mountain to the southwest and flows northeast, joining Cub Creek near South Brook Forest Road (CR 78). The best time to explore this hike is on weekdays, if you prefer to share the trail with fewer people.

GETTING THERE: Head 1.0 mile south of Evergreen on Jefferson County Road 73 (CR 73). Turn right (west) onto South Brook Forest Road and drive 3.6 miles to a small parking lot on the left (south) side of the road. Limited additional parking is available along South Brook Forest Road. Observe parking signs to avoid receiving a fine. GPS: N39° 34.95' / W105° 21.65'. You can also reach this trailhead by traveling north on CR 73 from Conifer and US 285.

THE HIKE: This hike begins at the Lower Maxwell Falls Trailhead, at 7,800 feet in elevation. It is possible to reach the waterfalls from the Upper Trailhead as well, but that makes the hike much shorter and less interesting.

The Maxwell Falls Trail begins in the southwest corner of the parking lot, to the left of the trailhead sign. Please read and follow all of the information on the sign. The trail heads up a northeast-facing gully and has a gentle, steady uphill grade with a nice dirt surface and large rocks sprinkled about. It levels out for a while then crosses a drainage after 0.7 mile, switchbacks to the right, and heads uphill again. After a left switchback, it continues up to a saddle on a ridge between the gully and the canyon to the west. There appears to be a five-way trail junction at this saddle, but only a small sign with “TRAIL” and an arrow pointing straight ahead is there to direct you. Continue straight across the saddle.

The trail now descends into the canyon with a gentle, winding traverse of the hillside, and follows along Maxwell Creek, crossing it once (at mile 1.4). After crossing the wooden bridge, turn left and continue up the Maxwell Falls Trail; the Cliff Loop Trail goes to the right. The trail then ascends the west side of the canyon as it becomes steeper and rockier. You’ll pass small, pretty cascades to the left of the trail, then large boulders and a cliffband on the right.

At 1.7 miles, the trail curves left and heads south. You’ll soon notice a faint trail heading downhill to the creek on your left. At this point, you have the option of hiking down to the base of the waterfalls on this separate trail, or to the top of the waterfalls from an overlook on the main trail. If you want to reach the base of Maxwell Falls, take this trail down and follow it about 150 feet along the creek to the south. GPS: N39° 34.09' / W105° 22.67'. Return to the main trail. Otherwise, continue on the main trail as it switchbacks to the right. Continue uphill and, after about 350 feet, veer to the left to reach the overlook with a view of the waterfalls from above. To reach the top of the falls, continue south from the overlook about another 120 feet. GPS: N39° 34.09' / W105° 22.68'. Sit and enjoy a rejuvenating rest.

Return the way you came.