Hiking is a tremendously enjoyable pastime, whether you are young or old and whether you enjoy spending time alone or in the company of others. The essence of hiking is to leave life behind, if only for a few hours, and explore the world around you using only the power of your body. If this business of hiking is really new to you going for a walk in a park is probably a good way to get started. One of the major benefits of hiking is improved health. The most unique feature about hiking is that it can be enjoyed anytime of the year.Hiking is just walking with an Attitude. The following suggestions are intended to help you ease into hiking if it is a new experience for you. That way if your muscles or your feet aren't used to hiking or if you find you are not properly dressed for the weather you won't suffer unnecessarily. One of differences between hiking and walking around in town is that you need to become more aware of your circumstances and what you need in order to take care of your body. While you are hiking there generally won't be a car, bus, house, store, or any other shelter to duck into if you get too hot or too cold or too tired or too hungry. Learn about hiking by doing it at the time of year when the weather is the nicest. Summer in most areas is usually the best time of year for hiking because the weather then is most pleasant, but if you live in an area such as the desert you may want to start hiking in the spring, fall, or even winter when temperatures are more moderate.
Start out by hiking with others in a group. It is also a good idea at least at first to go with other people who have already been hiking and know what to expect and can help you out when you don't know what to do. If you don't have some hiking friends that are willing to take you along with them, you can probably find some more formally organized groups to go with. Others really enjoy the solitude of hiking alone. There is something to be said for both approaches, but I recommend hiking with a group first if you are inexperienced.
One of the most common mistakes made by the hiking novice is the wrong choice of footwear. Sandals for example probably aren't a good choice for winter hiking where there is a lot of snow. The best type of footwear and clothes to wear while hiking will vary some based on locale and weather. Give your feet a chance to get used to any new hiking footwear by wearing it for short periods around your home or for short walks in the park. Some people prefer hiking boots, but you do not need boots to go hiking especially if you are just going hiking for a few hours or a day. Hiking trails vary greatly depending on the place you are planning to trek. If you've never hiked or spent much time walking in the woods, foregoing the flatness of sidewalks for the bumpiness of mountain trails may require a bit of adjusting. Most hiking clubs offer a schedule of guided hikes in a variety of natural locations on trails that you might not always find on your own. There are a number of trails in this area which provide opportunities for a short stroll, a good day- long hike, or an overnight trip. There are many historical sites located on these trails.Everyone heading out for a hike should at least carry the ten essential items to help avoid trouble or assist if they encounter difficulties: map, compass, warm clothing, extra food and water, flashlight or headlamp, matches/fire starters, first aid kit/repair kit, whistle, rain/wind gear and a pocket knife. Using the compass and the map, choose a reference point nearby railway, road, river, etc. A signboard with a map will help you plan your hike. You'll definitely want to get a map or book for the rest of your hikes because there is so much to see on the trails that you won't want to miss a thing. Having a good map is especially helpful when trying to decide between different routes to the same destination. Always have a map of the area you are hiking, as well as a compass. Experienced hikers swear by a map and compass for finding their way around, and for getting out of tight spots, and learning to read a map is one of the essential skills for any novice hiker. Hiking is four seasons of fun for all ages. If you can walk, hiking is easy. Just because hiking is fun doesn't mean that you can forget about safety all together. Hiking is also much more than simply a walk in the park' and does require a little bit of forethought. For the reason everything in hiking is very important.