Wear protective footwear when wading near the shoreline. Shuffle your
feet along the bottom of the water body (rather than raising them up and
stepping), as most of these critters sting from the top rather than from the
side. Stingrays, especially those of the tropical variety, can be quite nasty in
the shallows.
If you are fishing in these areas, remember that not all fish can be
eaten. Though there are no hard-and-fast rules to distinguish edible from
poisonous fish, most of the poisonous ones live in shallow water around
reefs or lagoons, have box-like or round bodies with shell-like skins cov-
ered with bony plates or spines, and have small, parrot-like mouths. As is
often the case, being informed about the potentially dangerous creatures
in a region can go a long way toward preparing you.
Like mountain areas, coastal regions can be susceptible to fast, vio-
lent weather changes. Storms can blow in seemingly without notice; be
prepared to seek appropriate shelter.
If you’re planning on traveling by water, you should have a working
knowledge of local tide patterns, including currents and rip tides. If you’re
on land, make sure you build your shelter beyond the high-tide mark.
Very low on the probability scale but high on the danger scale are
tsunamis, series of waves generated by undersea disturbances such as
earthquakes. Tsunamis can cause waves to travel as fast as 450 miles (724
km) per hour, reaching heights of 100 feet (30 m). Tsunamis are sometimes
preceded by rapid changes in water level; they typically arrive as a series of
successive crests (high water levels) and troughs (low water levels).
If you suspect a tsunami is approaching, move to higher ground
immediately. Stay away from the shore. Finally, do not assume that the
danger has passed if a lengthy period of time elapses between waves. Tsu-
nami crests can be 90 minutes apart.
Mountains
Full-blown rockslides and mudslides are significant hazards in mountain-
ous country but are fairly rare. Much more common is the rockfall, which
can occur at any time. Take extra care when traveling at the base of rock
walls, cliffs, or rocky slopes.
When snow is present, the risk of an avalanche occuring is a real one.
Stay away from open, exposed slopes that are bare of vegetation, as this is
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