Search:

A Newfound Love of Hiking

By: Nadia Eshott Have you ever felt an urge to bask in the sun, feel the wind in your hair and get a little dirt under your fingernails? It's natural to want to spend a little time in the wilderness, because human beings are just animals, after all. That's why learning to hike is the perfect sport for our stressed-out society.

Hiking is considered by some to be a recreational pastime. To others, however, it's much more than that. Some people begin a lifelong love of hiking as very small children. They remember spending family vacations as endless hours spent tackling the trails with mom and dad. A child's newfound love of hiking will blossom into skills and memories that he or she will carry throughout their lives.

Many hikers develop their love of the sport much later in life, sometimes well into the senior years. Older kids in scout troops embark on weekend journeys. Teenagers traipse through the woods to find a secluded spot to hang out with their friends. Stressed-out executives can't wait until five o'clock, so they can kick off their wingtips and strap on a pair of hiking boots.

A newfound love of hiking can happen at any age and for any reason. The one thing that's constant is that hiking is the perfect way to shake off modern worries and enjoy all of nature's wondrous gifts.

Hiking for beginners can be tricky, and you can always spot a first time hiker. Rookies hobbling under fifty pounds of gear for a two-night trek. A backcountry pack overflowing with a ten pound tent, a dozen bagels, two spare pairs of shoes and loads of whatcha-macallits carefully packed "just in case".

It may be easy for seasoned hikers to snicker at the rookies, but let's face it; every one of us been there at one time or another. If you're a beginning hiker, don't worry; in no time at all you'll be confident enough to lose the excess cargo from your pack and travel lean enough to log plenty of miles on your hiking boots. Over time, you'll be learning the ropes and fine-tuning your craft along the way.

While you're honing your craft, here are some helpful tips that can help to clear the trail:

Know What's Ahead

Hiking is all about freedom, but that doesn't mean that there are no rules. Safety always comes first, and safety guidelines should always be followed. The most important rule to remember is that you need to be prepared for anything. Consider all of the mishaps that can occur in the wild, and assume that they will happen. Prepare for every situation and you'll be able to handle any potential accidents. Packing inadequate clothing, ignoring your map and making a bad judgment call are all invitations for disaster. There are potentially life-threatening situations waiting around every corner, so you need to know what to pack, understand how to handle dangerous situations and be able to keep a clear head as you deal with any difficulties. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you leave on your hiking excursion. Knowing the conditions of the trails will also help you to pack the right gear. Weather can turn without warning, so bring along a lightweight rain jacket at all times. Know the trails and stay in tune with your surroundings at all times. If you plan to hike in a conservation area or national park, speak with the park managers about necessary permits and local conditions. You can find maps online and at the book store. Bring the maps along, and make sure that you know how to read them.

Know Your Equipment

Hiking for beginners leaves no room for vanity. No one cares what you look like, or whether you're coming across as a hiking "dork". Outdoor temperatures can drop quickly after the sun sets, so make sure your sleeping bag is insulated. Staying warm is infinitely more important than looking cool. And it's a lot smarter. Hiking equipment is not about coordinating your ensemble. It's about staying safe -- and it can save your life.

Relax and Have Fun

In the end, hiking is all about having fun. Otherwise, no one would do it. To a hiker, lacing up a pair of boots and stomping for miles through remote wilderness is a luxury vacation. Mosquito bites and scratches are five-star amenities. If you're hardcore about your love of nature, all the trouble pays off in fun and freedom.

Your newfound love of hiking will really sink in when you realize that you can leave all of your stresses at home. As you breathe in the air and feel the sun's warmth you'll realize that, at that perfect moment, you haven't a care in the world. With all that nature has to offer, what's not to love?

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Writer Nadia Eshott enjoys writing for some of today's best known web sites, on hiking and recreation and creative recreation issues.
Feel free to grab a unique version of this article from the Uber hiking article directory

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated