Hiking is one of the best outdoor activities that everyone should try. It can even be extremely enjoyable if it’s well planned in advance. So regardless if you’re going on a walk in the woods or in an epic journey, planning it beforehand will ensure that your hike will be a success. That said, we’ve listed down some smart and easy tips on how you can make your hiking trip safe and fun.
- Inform Others About Your Hiking Plan
According to hiking experts, sharing your plans with those closest to you is essential – especially if you’re planning to hike alone. You need to inform then when you’ll start, as well as the time you’ll be returning. Doing this allows them to send help in case you failed to return back on time. You’ll also become more comfortable with the idea of hiking since you know that your family and friends are aware of your whereabouts.
- Test All Your Hiking Gear
Before hiking, it’s crucial to ensure that all your gear is in their tip-top shape. Take an hour or two to do a trial run on everything to be sure that all is well. Make sure that your backpack doesn’t get too heavy and that you bring an extra pair of good quality hiking boots just to be on the safe side. Carrying a gear in its good condition is essential to making the most out of a hike.
- Bring Enough Water and Food
A good thumb rule here is consuming a pint of water for every four miles and 1.5 pounds of food each day. This ensures that you don’t fall short of essentials while you’re out in the woods. If you’re hike is going to take you several days to finish, then ensure that you pack enough food and water. Alternatively, consider bringing water purifier tablets along in case you run out of potable water.
- Pack a First Aid Kit
Before you go hiking, make sure that you bring along a first aid kit containing all the essential items. While everyone has different medical needs, your kit should basic medical items like bandages and gauze, a roll of medical tape, eye drops, medications (such as antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, an epipen), bear spray, snake bite kit and your prescribed medications.
- Review Important Trail Etiquettes
A hiking trail can be a rough-and-tumble place, but it also has its own set of unwritten or unspoken rules. In the case where you encounter another group of hikers in a narrow trail, the one going downhill should stop and give way to the group going uphill. Also, avoid leaving trash along the way. Carry your litter with you and dispose it at the designated spots.
Hiking is undeniably a fun outdoor activity that you can enjoy with your family or friends. Make the most out of your outdoor experience by simply following the aforementioned tips.
