Getting started
Hiking is an activity that can be enjoyed by anyone no matter of your experience level. It can be as simple as taking a walk in a forest near your home. But it can also be about walking in remote mountain chains for days at a time. If you are new to hiking however it's recomended that your first trips are a bit closer to civilization and not so long. By starting with shorter hikes you will not suffer as much from mistakes such as not being properly dressed or finding that your muscles are getting to sore for you to walk. Then, when you start to feel more comfortable and sure of what to do in different types of situations you can slowly start to increase the difficulty of the hike.
When you are going to start of with your first hiking trips there are a few things to keep in mind. The first and most important one is that it is not a competition. You do not need to take risks. If you are not sure wheather or not you should do something risky for example climb a difficult place or jump over a crack in the ground the answer is almost always no, especially for less experienced hikers. Another thing to keep in mind while hiking is that you should be aware of your circumstanses and how your body feels so that you can plan ahead of time. If you for example are walking and start to feel a little bit sore and tired you might want to stop and set up camp although you actually could walk further. You have to remember that it requires both time and energy to find a campsite and set up a camp. If you keep walking until you are completely exhausted you might not have enough energy left to do so.
When you are going to start of with your first hiking trips there are a few things to keep in mind. The first and most important one is that it is not a competition. You do not need to take risks. If you are not sure wheather or not you should do something risky for example climb a difficult place or jump over a crack in the ground the answer is almost always no, especially for less experienced hikers. Another thing to keep in mind while hiking is that you should be aware of your circumstanses and how your body feels so that you can plan ahead of time. If you for example are walking and start to feel a little bit sore and tired you might want to stop and set up camp although you actually could walk further. You have to remember that it requires both time and energy to find a campsite and set up a camp. If you keep walking until you are completely exhausted you might not have enough energy left to do so.
Preparation is extremely important for a successful hike especially for newer hikers. Carefully consider what things you should bring with you. For help and tips on what to bring click here. But preparation is not just about the equipment it is also about having a plan. Before you start to pack you have to decide on a route that you want to walk. How else will you know what and how much you should pack. When you are deciding on a route consider the following:
Follow the tips from this article and you will have a great time on your first hikes. Good luck and happy hiking!
- Is the ground suitable for walking? You probably want to avoid high mountains and deep swamps etc.
- Is it to long? Can you really walk this far, even if something unexpected happens that makes you stop more often or walk slower than planed?
- Where along the route are you going to set up camp? Divide the trip in to different segments so that you know how long you have to walk each day.
- Start out by hiking with others. You can learn a lot from hiking with people that are more experienced than you.
- In the beginning you can hike along marked trails. This will keep you from getting lost and the ground is better to walk on.
- Hike in a season when the weather is nice. Hiking in a season where the weather is nice (in most places the summer) makes it much easier and more enjoyable for beginners.
- Remember to have fun and enjoy the hike!
Follow the tips from this article and you will have a great time on your first hikes. Good luck and happy hiking!
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