BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. — The North Carolina mountains are known for beautiful, scenic hiking routes that get a lot more traffic this time of year. But rescue squads caution hikers to be safe s as they head back to the trails, especially beginners.

What You Need To Know

  • Jennifer Pharr-Davis says water, food and a first-aid kit are essential for every hike

  • When bringing kids, she says to make sure to bring kid-specific medicines

  • Pharr-Davis recommends maps, a hiking app for your phone, and a compass to know your surroundings

Jennifer Pharr-Davis is a long-time hiker, author, mother, wife, hiking tour guide and small business owner. She’s also a former hiking record holder for the fastest ever thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. In 2011, she hiked the entire trail, doing roughly 47 miles a day for 46 days. Pharr-Davis was 28 at the time and has since had two kids  —  now 4 and 8 years old.

“We, as a family, hike a lot,” said Pharr-Davis. She says hiking can be a safe, fun and educational experience for the entire family. Often, you won’t find many kids on the trails. Parents say they think they’ll get bored quickly and tire easily.

However, Pharr-Davis has some tricks and tips on making the experience fun, like identifying plants and flowers.

“My plant ID went up because they kept asking me if they could eat things that we found on the trail,” laughed Pharr-Davis.

She says her kids also learn a lot about the history of the land they’re hiking through.

“When you’re with kids, it’s really engaging in your environment, and maybe that’s a better way to do it anyway,” said Pharr-Davis. “We play games; we look for flowers.”

Her daughter, Charley, likes to make fairy gardens. Her son, Gus, loves to try and find salamanders.

While keeping the kids entertained is important, Pharr-Davis says it’s equally as important to come prepared and have a plan in place. Packing a backpack with all the essentials, like water, snacks and a first-aid kit is a priority.

“Bandages, sunscreen.. we always pack toilet paper and hand sanitizer,” said Pharr-Davis. She also keeps a trowel in her bag to bury the waste, but they also take their trash with them.

Pharr-Davis says it’s important to bring kid-specific medicine in case of an emergency like an injury or allergic reaction.

“Really, what I think we’re teaching them is like how to live out here and how to feel comfortable and confident,” said Pharr-Davis. Her kids know if they’re ever separated from her to stay put and yell for help.

Pharr-Davis says it’s important for adults to know their surroundings, and you can do so by having a map or hiking app on your phone.

According to Pharr-Davis, these tools help show how far you have to go, what other trails will intersect, and where you might hit the water. 

She also urges everyone to watch out for snakes this time of year, as they like to come out onto the trails in the sun late in the day.

Davis also prioritizes checking her and her kids for ticks once the hike is over. 

“We usually use our hands because deer ticks are so small, they’re hard to see,” she said. “Run your hands over any exposed skin.”

However, Pharr-Davis’s number one safety tip is not to risk your life attempting to get a picture.

“Take a selfie in the forest. Don’t climb waterfalls to get a selfie. Be careful where you take your pictures,” she explained.

Pharr-Davis said some of the best trails you can find are Black Balsam Knob, Mt. Mitchell, and the Dupont State Forest. But she says all get really packed on the weekends. The Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah National Forest also offer some great trails.

Her business, Blue Ridge Hiking Company, offers privately guided day hikes and backpacking trips if you need help getting started and finding the best spots.