How to Stay Safe While Hiking

A resident of Methuen, Massachusetts, Benjy Orbach has served as an operations manager with several companies. Benjy Orbach enjoys spending his time outdoors and takes great pleasure in hiking.

Hiking is a popular pastime among outdoor enthusiasts. Taking some time to plan is the first safety tip for every hiker. Pay attention to weather forecasts before selecting your hiking trail and the best time to begin. It is equally important to inform a friend of your plan before you begin.

Also, make sure to bring all the gear you need. Besides wearing quality hiking boots, you should also equip yourself with water flasks, flashlights, emergency flares, and a first aid kit. It would help if you prepared a checklist of all the equipment you need before hiking.

It is equally important to listen to the trail guides when hiking. Most trails have professional guides on the ground to help hiking enthusiasts. Consider registering your presence with them when you arrive at the trail before hiking. Besides helping hikers make informed decisions, trail guides also help first responders locate hikers during an emergency.

Having some company while you hike does not only make for great conversation, it also reduces the chances of running into any problems. It would be best if you went with a colleague or in a group while hiking.

Wandering off the trail will increase the chances of you getting into trouble. It is better to remain on the path. Consider getting a map of the trail to give you a good idea of where you are at every stage of your hike. It would also help to look out for any markers that the guides have put on the trail. 

Toys for Tots Provides Holiday Gifts to Native American Children

Benjy Orbach studied business administration and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree before beginning a career as an operations manager, where he oversaw activity in two Miami, Florida warehouses. Now residing in Metheun, Massachusetts, Benjy Orbach acts as an on-site leasing agent while also supporting charities, such as Toys for Tots, an organization that delivers gifts during the holiday season to underserved communities, including Native Americans.

Established in 1947, Toys for Tots started as an effort to bring gifts to children in need. Bill Hendricks, a major in the Marine Corps Reserves, launched the program and recruited his fellow marines to gather 5,000 toys and gift them to underprivileged children in the Los Angeles area. In 1980, the organization extended its efforts to assist the Navajo Nation, a community with whom the Marine Corps had maintained a relationship since World War II when members of the tribe provided coded communications to the military.

The program grew over the next several decades to include children from many other Native American tribes on reservations in Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington. Each year, Toys for Tots distributes toys and books to more than 180,000 Native American children.