My background is in natural resources. I have a master of science degree in forest resources protection from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

As the fall camping season is now coming to a close, I’ve decided to put my growing concerns over a worsening climate into a survival message for my fellow hikers and camping enthusiasts.

Working in natural resources protection, as a full-time New York State DEC Forest Ranger in districts in both New York’s Adirondacks and Catskills, and as an assistant ranger in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area here in Region 6, my professional experience includes training and fieldwork in survival situations involving wildfire.

Our wildfire training taught us to make safety our first and foremost priority. A survival message can mean the difference between life and death.

When it comes to the violent wind storms and violent lightning storms that I am now experiencing in the Adirondacks, I am becoming increasingly concerned about what some of us now see as “climate change” and others recognize as “crisis.” What do these concerns mean to outdoor recreation in our beloved Adirondack Mountains and Catskills?

Now, in my 70th November, I’ve been an avid outdoorsman for a lifetime. Long years of personal experience are now convincing me that the climate is indeed worsening. For 60 years now, I’ve been a frequent observer of weather conditions in the northwestern Adirondacks. I’m seeing more large-diameter balsam fir breaking off mid-trunk. I’m witnessing more uprooted pines and windfalls of large-diameter hardwoods. Yellow birch. Beech. Maples.

It’s the more violent wind gusts that are doing this. In addition to an increase in wind velocity, I’m also experiencing more intense thunderstorms with strong winds and more lightning. It’s my observation that violent winds and lightning are more common now than 10 to 15 years ago. Many a night I find myself listening for trees going down. Mountain winds shrieking in the treetops high up overhead.

My training as a New York state Forest Ranger included firefighting. Safety was first and foremost. Safety meant having an escape plan and an escape route to follow to a nearby place of safety. The fire-fighting escape route can be applied to safety during periods of violent winds and thunderstorms An escape route needs to be as short as possible so that campers can quickly reach an area of safety during a violent weather event. It’s necessary to go out into an open area, such as a beaver meadow or shrublands for safety from windfalls. Make sure that the distance between you and the tallest trees is greater than the height of the trees.

Considering lightning safety, avoid camping under tall trees as lightning strikes the tallest trees.

It’s my understanding that lightning can travel across the ground surface. And run across wet ground. Anyone in contact with wet ground is in danger of electrocution. The drier the ground is, the safer your campsite will be from lightning.

Select a well-drained campsite away from tall trees. Make sure your tent is on a waterproof ground cloth, like plastic sheeting. A thick foam camping mat can increase insulation and safety.

All of us need to adapt our outdoor survival skills and knowledge to a worsening climate. Survival messages are becoming increasingly essential. To avoid loss of life and injuries. Adapting our outdoor activities to the increasing hazards of more violent winds and increasingly severe thunderstorms can be part of our climate crisis resiliency.

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A resident of Colton, Dave Cree Hassig served as a full-time New York State DEC Forest Ranger in districts in New York’s Adirondacks and Catskills.