Nurture your sense of adventure by taking up hiking. Enjoy great scenery as you explore the outdoors. Wondering how to start? Here are some pointers.
So, you love the outdoors, and exploring your world on foot appeals to you. You want to take up hiking and, perhaps later, even combine it with camping.
But first, let's look at some definitions. What's the difference between walking and hiking, you may well ask. Obviously, hiking encompasses walking, but the difference is in the execution.
Normally, hiking involves walking from a lower to a higher elevation, using rough and hilly paths.
In hiking, you encounter hurdles and obstacles, and a hiking trail is more difficult than just walking from point A to point B. Hiking may involve walking in reserved parks, mountain paths, and forests.
Walkers may walk on concrete, gravel, and sand trails, without obstacles. Hikers use bumpy, hilly, and sometimes irregular, natural trails.
However, depending on your preference, interest, fitness level, and experience, a hike can be anything from exploring rugged mountain terrain to walking through scenic valleys, to trekking up steep inclines to scaling snow-covered mountains.
Starting:
Before you embark on your first hike, consider the following:
1. How long should the hike be?
As a beginner, start with a hike under five miles (about eight kilometers), with minimal climbing.
Start with trails that take a few hours – as you don't want to over-exert yourself. Pick a trail that is accessible by motorized transport, in case you need help getting back.
2. Pick your hiking location
Start easy. Look for parks in your area. Ask family and friends, even Facebook friends, for recommendations. Get acquainted with the hike before you go.
Read any guides and find out if you need to pay any fees and obtain permits to hike in the area. Know what to expect. For instance, are there public washrooms along the trail?
3. Decide on your hiking companion
Will you be hiking alone, with a friend, or in a group? For a beginner, it's best to hike with a friend or a group, preferably made up of some experienced hikers.
However, if you decide to hike alone, let someone know your hiking whereabouts and the time you expect to be back. Agree that the person should check up on you if they don't hear from you by a certain time.
4. Hiking gear
Wear sturdy, hiking boots and carry a hiking stick. Don't make the mistake of wearing regular jeans and cotton tops as you would for a walk.
For hiking, you need sweat-absorbing workout clothes. These breathable clothes keep you dry and cool when you sweat. Avoid cotton as it gets heavy and will chafe when wet.
Wear long trousers or thick tights to protect your legs from scrapes as you tackle the trail. Wear long-sleeved shirts, for the same reason.
WHAT TO CARRY
Carry enough water, snacks, and extra layers of clothing in your backpack. Temperatures could rise or fall.
Be prepared for rain, although ideally, you shouldn't go hiking in rainy weather. However, if there's an unexpected downpour, don't let it catch you unprepared.
Always watch your step
Just watch where you step. Hiking trails are rough and uneven and it's easy to step into a hole and sprain your ankle. You could slip on a rock, trip on a root, or step on a poisonous snake. Pay attention to the ground and your path, and be conscious of your surroundings.
Final word
As a beginner, start small and ease yourself into hiking. Gauge yourself and only tackle hikes you can manage, depending on your fitness level. That way you will enjoy your new activity.
If after your introductory hikes, you decide this is the hobby for you, then you may want to consider investing in proper hiking gear.
While every hike is different and requires different gear, you need the following if you want to be a serious hiker:
• Hiking boots or sneakers
• A backpack
• A hat, sunscreen, and bug repellent
• Hiking sticks
• Sweat-absorbing workout clothes and a good raincoat
• Bio-gradable toilet paper
• Mini first aid kit
• A camera and binoculars
• A map
• Food and water to last the hike (plus extra for emergencies)
• Emergency thermal blanket.
Enjoy your new hobby.
About the Creator
Wanjiru Ciira
I'm a story-teller with an interest in the human condition. I write on relationships, health, aging, parenting, travel, and fiction. I've a background in journalism - feature-writing, reporting, and investigative journalism.
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