Basic
information and guidance about hiking
About one and a half million years ago mankind learned
how to stand upright and walk. So in some way you could say
that hiking was invented in the Stone Age. Nowadays when we
talk about Hiking and Trekking we mean it in the pastime
sense of the word. It is hard to say when walking as a means
of hunting and surviving became walking for fun and
recreation. Throughout the years man has always used walking
as a means of relaxation. Going for a stroll is a great way
to meditate on possible dilemmas or to get away from things
and clear your mind.
General hiking tips:
1. Make sure that you drink enough water.
Also make sure that you bring enough water with you or you
can find water supply during the hike. In hot weather
dehydration is especially dangerous.
2. Be careful what you pack. The most
important rule of hiking is smart about what you pack. A
beginning hiker generally becomes exhausted carrying a sack
full of trail munchies, games, a portable CD player, three
sweaters, and a video camera. Although pictures are nice,
consider carrying a disposable camera for a more enjoyable
hike. ( Learn more about Minimizing
your pack)
3. Think before you step. Keep an eye on
the trail well in front of where you are walking, and always
consider the path before bounding forward.
4. Bring your own medicines.
5. Never hike alone. NEVER- under any
circumstances venture into the woods by yourself. Outdoor
adventures are fun for the family, but hiking is only a
group sport. The chances of becoming lost, sustaining
injury, or losing supplies is much higher when alone, making
the sport extremely dangerous.
6. Don't don and doff layers continually.
Though it is good to dress in layers, choose which layers,
and stick with them for a time. Otherwise, you will exhaust
yourself and try the patience of the group you are with.
It's generally better to be a little cool than too hot, but
don't change unless you are really getting uncomfortable.
7. Put the slowest hiker in front and pace the
group to that person.
This works great in a group of differing ages! With the fast
hikers in the front, they have a tendency to spread out too
much. Then someone small at the back gets exhausted running
to keep up. If you do divide into faster and slower groups,
the one ahead should never get too far ahead and should stop
and let the others catch up on a regular basis.
8. Take regular breaks.
9. Avoid sunburn.
10. Encourage kids not to exhaust themselves
early in a hike. Sometimes little ones run at the
beginning, run out of energy and have to be carried.
11. Always carry out what you carry in.
The first rule with interacting with the environment is:
Leave it as you found it. This rule applies to the trees,
the earth, the animals, the campsite, and even the flowers.
(View the
Leave No Trace Principles)
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