Dorothy and her friends were worried to get out of the forest as soon as they could, so they hurried along the yellow brick road. Soon they came to a wide river.

“What can we do now?” Dorothy shouted. “There isn’t a tree tall enough to fall across this river.”

“There’s no problem,” the Scarecrow（稻草人）said. “The Tin Woodman（铁皮人）will use his axe（斧头）to build a raft（木筏）.”

And this is what the Tin Woodman did. And while he was busy making the raft, Dorothy found some wild fruit and nuts（坚果）, and she ate them hungrily. Then, because it was taking the Tin Woodman a long time to finish the raft, Dorothy lay down and went to sleep.

The night passed without any problems, and the next morning the raft was ready. Dorothy sat in the middle with Toto. The Lion stood at one end and nearly sank（下沉）it because he was so big and heavy. The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman stood at the other end. They both had long poles（杆子）that they used to push the raft through the water.

At first all went well, but then the river became so deep that the poles could not touch the bottom.

The Tin Woodman said, “If we cannot stay near the land and the yellow brick road, the Wicked Witch（坏女巫）of the West will use her magic and put a spell（咒语）on us.”

“And then we won’t meet the Wizard（巫师）, and I won’t get a brain,” the Scarecrow said.

“And I won’t get a heart,” the Tin Woodman said.

“And I won’t get any courage,” the Lion said.

“And I’ll never get home to Kansas,” Dorothy said. “We must do something to get out. We must meet the Wizard.”

—Adapted from The Wizard of OZ

Hiking is a fun way to get some fresh air and exercise. Here are a few simple tips to help you make sure that your next hiking trip is both safe and enjoyable.

First, it is always best to hike with at least one other person. Not only is hiking more fun with a friend, it is also safer. If you get hurt, your friend can go for help. If you decide to hike alone, make sure that you let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back. This way, if you get lost or injured, someone will know where to look for you and when to send help.

Next, make sure you have plenty of water. Even if you are only going for a short hike, it is important to have lots of water on hand so that you avoid dehydration. Plan to bring one liter of water per person per hour of hiking. You can begin to dehydrate before you even realize it, so make sure to sip your water frequently, even if you are not very thirsty.

You should also make sure that you are wearing the right clothing. You should wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes and thick socks. If you're going on a long hike, you might want to bring an extra pair of socks just in case. Your clothing should be comfortable and easy to move around in. Clothing that is too loose might catch on rocks or branches, but clothing too tight might become uncomfortable as you walk. You should also wear your clothing in layers. This way, you can take off or put on layers based on how hot or cold it is outside. A hat and sunscreen are also a must; your head and skin need protection from the sun even when it is cold out.

These are just a few tips for a basic hiking trip. No matter where, when, or for how long you plan on hiking, remember: a fun hiking trip is a safe hiking trip.