Some people have fought many years of their lives to preserve therich heritage of the outdoors and nature we now enjoy. Thatdedication and effort have been rewarded by fantastic hikingopportunities in our local, state, and national parks systems. In honor of their efforts, let’s break out of our winterhibernation and venture into the crisp, clean outdoor air and hitsome of those dirt trails.
Here are 4 steps to an enjoyable hike, no matter where your feetdecide to take you.
1. Know the area you will be going into. Although many states,like California, Colorado, or Wyoming have exceptional hiking hotspots, even your local park will have some kind of usefulinformation. Whether it’s a website with information and traildetails, or a map at the park office, trailhead, or visitorcenter, always check before you head out on your hike so you knowwhat to expect.
2. Know the conditions you will be facing, wherever you go. Nothing is worse than traveling to a hiking destination only tomiss the hike, because it was raining or freezing and you weren’tprepared. If the trail is flooded out, or snowy conditions haveshut it down for an extended period, you should be able to findthis out as well. It is also good to know if there are anyplants or animals to watch out for at your hiking location. Wiping with poison ivy won’t feel good in the morning.
3. Wear clothing that works and fits the terrain and hikeconditions. There are many options in your clothing arsenal, tokeep yourself comfortable, here are a couple of pointers: – Try and stay away from cotton. Instead, look for synthetic andnatural fibers that pull moisture away from your body, or atleast stay warm when wet. – Also, go for layers to keep yourselfwarm, versus carrying around a huge parka, in case you are hit bya freak snowstorm. – The two most important pieces of clothingfor any hiker, are good socks and good shoes. Don’tunderestimate the pain a hike can cause with uncomfortable shoesand socks. Finally, a hat in cold weather is a great addition,since your body loses over half its heat through your head.
4. In addition to knowing the weather conditions, you will needto be prepared with a first aid kit that matches the hiking youwill be doing. In most cases a simple kit will do. You can pickup a simple first aid kit at a local department or sporting goodsstore. Or you can build you own, which should include thesebasics: – Different sizes and shapes of bandages and gauzes. -Various types of tape for wounds or fixing tools. – Suntanlotion. – A light emergency blanket (preferably with some kind ofwater resistance). – Aspirin, allergy, laxative, andanti-diuretic medications. – Small multi-use tool with a knife,scissors, and a needle and thread. – A cell phone can come invery handy in emergencies. It is recommended that you pack allof this in a waterproof bag or container.
These tips should ensure a comfortable, short hiking adventure.
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.
