Backpacking Safety Guide (page 4)
Minor injuries are usually a part of every trip. Clean and cover any scratches with a bandage to prevent dirt getting in the open wound. Cover blisters with moleskin to prevent rubbing. Bruises you pretty much just have to deal with. Apply plenty of sunblock and insect repellent throughout the day. Pay attention if you get a headache. This may be a symptom of dehydration or altitude sickness.
If I get a headache on the trail, the first thing I do is think back to when I last drank water. Most people are not used to drinking the amount of water that you need for such sustained activity, and tend not to drink enough. If the headache is accompanied by dizziness, fatigue (other than just being tired because you are working hard), sudden visual snow, dark or decreased urine, and/or thirst, dehydration may be the culprit. Stop and immediately drink some water. If you have powdered Gatorade, add that to the water; the electrolytes will help hydrate your body faster. Usually dehydration is a minor ailment, but treat it immediately, as it can become a serious condition.
That headache could also be caused by altitude sickness. This is common if you are hiking 8,000 feet or more above sea level. If you get a sudden headache while in high elevations that is accompanied by dizziness, shortness of breath, weakness/fatigue, nausea, a feeling of “pins and needles,” and/or malaise (a general feeling of uneasiness or “out of sorts”), you may be experiencing altitude sickness. The best thing to do is to descend to a lower elevation as quickly as possible; usually the symptoms will subside in a few hours after doing so. Altitude sickness can lead to serious complications if you stay too long at an elevation your body can’t handle. If your trail is in the high country, you can avoid making yourself ill by acclimating yourself to the change in air pressure. Whenever possible, hike the higher elevation portions of your trail during the day, and camp for the night in lower elevation areas. Or you can gradually increase the altitude where you camp by no more than 1,000 feet on successive nights. Don’t let altitude sickness scare you away from exploring the high mountains, though: it is from up there that you get the best panoramic views.
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