Take a Walk in Nature
Need a low impact workout that’s close to nature? Try hiking. Hiking is a fun and relaxing activity that can be done alone and with friends or family. It’s good to find simple hiking tips beforehand. That way you’ll be able to enjoy the hike more knowing you’re well prepared.
But, why hike? Aren’t there other kinds of exercises to be done? Yes, but you know what they say. A walk in nature walks the soul back home. If you’re about to skip this idea because you think hiking is hard, well, think again.
Hiking isn’t necessarily as hard as you may think, and the rewards you’ll see at the end are still worthwhile. In this article, you’ll find hiking tips for beginners to prepare the perfect hiking trip.
Hiking Tips for Beginners
Hiking is a physical activity that offers you many health benefits. It can decrease the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Aside from that, hiking is a worry free activity and an excellent choice for those who’d like to reduce stress.
The first two hiking tips for beginners that’ll be needed is to have the right tools and cultivate a positive mindset. If you know what to pack, it’ll be easier to feel great and keep your energy levels up while hiking.
What to Bring on a Hike
A very important thing to pack is adequate food and water. Make sure to think about how long you’ll be hiking, that way it’ll be easier to know how much food and water to bring. Having a navigation tool will certainly be handy. It’s important to know where you are and where you’re going at all times.
Bring a first-aid kit. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should have things like bandages, blister treatment, antibiotics, and any other kinds of medication that you think you’ll need. Wear sunscreen before you leave and bring it with you to reapply as you go. Oh, and don’t forget to bring a raincoat.
Choose Right the Trail Level
It’s always better to start small and work your way up, especially if you’re beginners to hiking. Start by selecting a hike that’s a little shorter than the distance you can normally walk on a level surface. Choose a trail that you can handle, then give yourself time to build up to more difficult trails.
Try to determine the estimated time required for the hike to make sure you’ll be able to make it and enjoy it. Hiking trails aren’t as smooth or level as normal walks, so be sure to keep that in mind when counting the estimate.
Check the Weather
To be safe, always check the weather forecast before hikes. Forecasts give hikers valuable information on what to expect during the hike. That way you can dress appropriately and bring the things that you may need.
If the weather forecast isn’t so good, take it as a sign to start changing plans. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Also, pay attention to the time of the year. Expert or not, it can be dangerous to hike new trails in the dark.
Keep Others Informed
Yes, sometimes it feels amazing to be able to get away from everybody and just enjoy some time alone in nature. However, it’s highly important that someone not on the hike knows your whereabouts and itinerary. Keep them informed on your route, and what time they should be worried if they don’t hear back from you.
The “worry time” doesn’t necessarily have to be the time you’ve estimated to finish. It’s OK to add an extra one or two hours to allow yourself time to slow hike, take pictures, or to just sit down and enjoy the view.
Leave Without A trace
We don’t want to live in a rubbish bin, right? So, do your part to help keep our world clean. The beautiful trails will only stay beautiful if everybody works together to keep it that way. It’s up to all of us to take care of the natural spaces we go to. Always take your rubbish with you.
Carry the rubbish in your bag or pockets ‘til you find a rubbish bin. Another thing you can do is to bring a small rubbish bag to keep it separate from your other belongings. This is in the case that you have rubbish that is dirty or wet and don’t want it to make a mess.
Final Hiking Tip: Stay Hydrated!
Drink your way to better health by staying hydrated. As mentioned previously, remember to bring adequate water with you on the hike. Imagine having gone for an hour or so then realizing you forgot to bring water. What a nightmare!
Grab your Muggo Smart Bottle before your hike. If you’re the kind that prefers a warm cup of tea over water, then opt to take a Muggo Mug with you. Muggo Mug is a forever on-the-go mug that will keep your drink perfectly warm for you. Happy hiking!
