A Few Tips For Beginner Hikers
Kim here! I went on my first hike of the summer last weekend and am already itching to get out there again! It’s one of the best ways to immerse yourself in nature, get some exercise, and take in beautiful views.
If you’re looking for a socially distant summer activity, I would def recommend hiking! Read on for a few of my tips for planning and getting the most fun out of your next hike!
HOW TO CHOOSE A HIKE
I always do online research to find a hike that fits my needs. I look specifically at:
The hike length. This is usually listed in miles. To estimate how much time a particular hike might take up I use 30 minutes per mile as my benchmark. So if a hike is listed as 8 miles round trip, that would be around 4 hours for hiking. And add on 1-2 hours for lunch/leisure. So this hypothetical trip would take around 6 hours total. Knowing how long a hike will take is useful to plan what time you need to leave your house and be at the trail head. You definitely don’t want to be halfway through your hike when the sun is going down!
Elevation gain. This, along with the hike length, indicates how difficult a hike will be. Also, if I see mentions of “switch backs” and/or “stairs” in the trail description, I know that this hike will be a challenge and my thighs will feel the burn!
Scenery & other features. At the hottest point of summer I love looking for hikes that end at a lake or waterfall to swim in. When the temps are cooler I’ll look for trails that have flower filled meadows or a summit with a view.
Dog friendly. There’s no way I’ll let my pupper miss out!
Parking Requirements. A lot of hikes require some sort of pass or entry fee. Additionally, the road leading up to the hike can sometimes be rough and unpaved, so I have to make sure the Prius can handle getting there!
WHAT TO BRING ON YOUR HIKE
A hiking partner. Even if I were an experienced hiker, I would NEVER hike alone. I’ve seen people get injured on a hike and need help getting down. People get lost or go missing on hikes too. So it’s always best practice to have a buddy and it makes the trip fun too.
Breathable clothing. The kind of stuff you can move and sweat in. I Iike to have a long sleeve shirt or jacket with me as well because the temps can change quickly when you’re going up or down in elevation.
Supportive footwear. This is the first year and first hike that I’ve worn hiking boots. They do provide more grip and ankle support. However, I did just fine hiking in my Nike running sneakers for years too!
Food & water. I always pack a full lunch for a hike, which usually consists of some kind of sandwich and fruit (carbs, protein, and sugar). It’s better to have more food than you need than not enough. For water, I’ve been bringing 1.5L with me and that has been enough for me, my husband, and our dog. We do bring a separate water bottle that we keep in the car to make sure we’re plenty hydrated before and after the hike too.
Backpack. To fit all your food, water, outer layers, cell phone, wallet, keys, etc.
I don’t want anyone to think that they don’t have the “right” gear for hiking. You can definitely make do with the things you already have at home!
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST… LEAVE NO TRACE
I’m sure anyone who chooses to hike is a nature enthusiast. However, it is still easy to forget or overlook certain things during your hike. Leave No Trace was created to provide 7 principles for enjoying and preserving the natural beauty of any trail you hike:
Plan ahead and prepare
Travel and camp on durable surfaces
Dispose of waste properly
Leave what you find
Minimize campfire impacts
Respect wildlife
Be considerate of other visitors
