Hiking 411 | Beginning Hikers 101

After you've gotten into basic physical shape in advance of a hiking adventure, there are a few other things that'll assist you in getting completely primed. Basic conditioning is great, but there are various activities that are applicable to hiking, another specialized type of activity.

Walking barefoot around your yard and house can help harden the soles of your feet. Even though you may be wearing hiking boots and good socks on your hike, having something a little stronger under them than soft skin is never a bad thing.

A select cream, Benzoin, is something that you might want to check out. It isn't needed to begin, but it can help with sores and makes the skin stronger with time. It'll also destroy germs. Never a bad supplement to hiking packs.

Blisters are a topic all by itself, but upon getting one you will want to pierce it and wait for it to heal before going much farther - if you have that option. Protect those parts prone to developing them with moleskin or a bandage.

Trim your toenails, but don't trim them down into the fold of the skin. If they rub or split, walking will really be a pain.

Build stamina by hiking in stages. Starting out with a mile or two (2-4km) trek is fine. However, even if in good shape, 5 miles should be about the upper limit when you're initially starting out. Hikes almost always involve traveling over slanted and rough surfaces. There's a lot more energy required for a hike than for just a plain ol' walk down the street.

When you're able to handle more than 5 miles, you should begin lugging a hiking backpack. Be sure to bring water bottles to begin with, either sealed or reusable. Many hiking trails have receptacles you can toss the empties into, but littering is not kosher, as you should know.

Pack some sort of mineral replenishment food, or at worst a sports drink. Stay away from those with high sugars. It isn't actually as bad for you as is oftentimes alleged. On the contrary, it's central to life. But the sort that is in some drinks does not give it in the form or quantity you want for ideal results.

If you are hiking on unmarked trails (going 'off the map' so to speak) or in an area not known to you, one should be escorted by a well-informed hiking guide. A GPS device, one you know how to work, is valuable too. For the most part, try to steer clear of these unless you're more experienced, but often the urge is too great.

DON'T LOSE YOUR WAY. That's the most frequent way that novice hikers transform a 2-hour sojourn in the sun into a 2-day search and rescue attempt by professionals. Some, obviously, will not be very happy with you if they find you. Likewise, you won't be very cheerful to be out in the wild for 2 days either.

Working up to longer, more demanding hikes will make you appreciate the experience that much more. Sometimes hikers throw in the towel because they have a bad experience such as getting hungry, cold, sick sore, injured, bug bitten or.... All of these things can be avoided if you use common sense.

Hiking Adventure

Beginning Hikers 101