Table of Contents
Start little and choose the right trail for your fitness level:
Choose a hike a little shorter than the distance you will typically walk on a flat or paved surface.
To measure the time needed to hike the trail, figure a speed of about 2 miles per hour. Next, study the changes in elevation and add an hour to your approximate hiking time for every 1000 feet of gain.
After you have been out once or twice, you will have a sense of what distance and steep inclines work well for you.
Familiarize yourself with the trail:
Acquire a map of the region and review reports and data once you have chosen a trail. Some outstanding online services are open.
Find out whether a circle is a trail, or if you’re going to have to backtrack or spot a second vehicle.
Please care of any trails that intersect where you might probably make the wrong turn. I also like to search for a nice lunch spot with a view, like a lake or a mountain.
Check the weather:
Leading up to your walk, and testing the weather again a few hours before that. This will provide you with useful data on how to dress and which to pack.
If the environment is supposed to be awful, instead of being shocked on the trail, it will give you the opportunity to change plans.
Tell someone where you will be:
It’s important to understand the itinerary and what time to be concerned about and call for help from someone not on the hike. Notice that I didn’t say, “when you expect to be finished.”
The “bother thinking time” might be several hours later than your scheduled end to allow slow hiking, amazing views, or maybe a delay causing a bruised knee.
Another choice is to bring an alert system, such as a SPOT tracker, allowing you to call for satellite emergency assistance. One caveat is that devices such as the SPOT are not an excuse for shirking responsibility for your own personal protection.
Pack the 10 essentials:
- Navigating (map & compass)
- Security of the sun (sunglasses & sunscreen)
- Isolation, insulation (extra clothing)
- (headlamp/flashlight) illumination
- Supplies for First-Aid
- Fire (candle/lighter/waterproof matches)
- Package and Equipment for Repair
- Nutritiousness (extra food)
- With hydration (extra water)
- (tent/plastic tube tent/garbage bag) Emergency shelter
Wear the right shoes and socks
A hike can be ruined by sore feet. Invest in professional shoes and socks for hiking. This does not mean heavy leather boots, as opposed to the old hiking boots I began with, there seem to be a lot of “light hikers” available that need little break-in.
Still, don’t skimp on socks and… no wool, for goodness sake! The way to go is with wool or cotton socks. Also, just in case, prepare blister seasonings.
Dress for success:
Wearing clothes right is key to comfort on your hike until your feet are taken care of. It will get damp and stays that way, leaving you feeling clammy and causing chafing.
Miss something from cotton. Go for synthetics instead. Wear layers that you can add or shed as appropriate to easily adapt to your temperature and weather.
finally, pack an extra warm layer above what you think you’re going to need, preferably something that will block air too.
Keep it light:
Okay, now as I say to you to pack all of this stuff, I’m going to tell you to keep your pack light. It means opting for the light or lowest of each item.
As an example, a travel-size tube of sunscreen instead of the 16-ounce tube you found on sale.
Pace yourself:
You might feel like you are powering forward like a hero when you first get on the trail. By the end of the day, though, you’ll be nil if you don’t pace yourself.
Pick a pace that you can maintain all day, instead. At first, it might feel a little uncomfortable, but after a couple of miles, particularly uphill, you’ll be happy to have saved your strength.
Leave no trace:
Unless we care for them will the beautiful trails we enjoy remain beautiful. Take the time to read and observe the Seven Principles of Leaving No Trace.
Taking care of our natural spaces is up to any outdoor enthusiast.
I hope you can get out hiking this season using these tips. Where are you going? To share your ideas, leave a comment; I would love to hear them.
Always remember to take the Best Hiking Backpack with you. Because without a hiking backpack your hiking will not be complete.
