Читать книгу Afoot and Afield: Portland/Vancouver. A Comprehensive Hiking Guide онлайн

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In general, all water in the backcountry should be considered unsafe to drink. Dayhikers can carry all the water they need. Backpackers, however, will have to purify the water. Boiling is the most effective way to kill the nasty little microorganisms that cause the problems, but the simplest purification methods are filtering and chemical treatments like iodine.

A special hazard in autumn is hunting season. Hikers need to advertise themselves with a bright red or orange cap, vest, pack, or other conspicuous article of clothing to avoid being mistaken for a suitable target. Hunting is prohibited in state and city parks and in some wildlife refuges. It is very popular, however, in state and national forests. Oregon’s general deer-hunting season usually runs from the first weekend of October through early November. In Washington the season usually starts one week later and runs farther into November. In both states, the elk-hunting season is in late October or early November.

Ticks are a minor annoyance in spring and early summer, especially in grassy or brushy areas and in the Columbia River Gorge. Ticks in other parts of the country often carry serious diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Fortunately, only a handful of cases have been reported in Oregon and Washington, so ticks here are more disgusting than dangerous. Still, it’s wise to check your body and clothing regularly when in tick habitat and to remove the little buggers quickly.