A Walk In The Hills: The how’s and why’s of hiking

I’ve spoken about my love for hiking in the past.  It’s something that I have enjoyed doing for years.  In fact, hiking was one of the driving factors behind my health turnaround.  I missed going out hiking and wanted to be able to do so again.  In the past few weeks, I’ve been a bit too busy to hike, but I plan on starting again this weekend.  So I thought I would post up a short article about hiking and hopefully get some of you interested in it.

Why Hiking?

There are various reasons to try hiking:

• Great Exercise - Walking is one of the best workouts you can get.  It’s minimal impact and great for your health.  Hiking is walking but with a bit more effort.  You still get the low impact workout, but you can add a bit of aerobic exercise to that, especially if you’re hiking up hills.
• Social - Hiking is one of the few exercises you can do while being social.  It’s a great activity to do with a friend or a group.  It’s fun to walk around, chat with someone you know and enjoy the scenery.  If you have no one in your immediate circle who enjoys hiking, look online for hiking groups and clubs.
• Outdoors - This one is a bit obvious, but it’s one of my favorite reasons to enjoy hiking.  I love the outdoors.  I love walking in the hills, looking around at the plantlife and animals.  I love those rare moments of surprise when you round a hill and see a coyote or when you crest a peak and find yourself in a meadow full of wildflowers.  It’s beautiful and a wonderful break from my day to day life.

How Do I Start?

1. Look online for a park near you.  You can usually find a listing of parks by finding the website for your local county.  They’ll have a list of county parks.  You might also try state parks and federal parks.  City parks are a possibility but they’re usually too small for good hiking.  There are also a variety of hiking sites dedicated to helping you find a great trail near you.
2. Find a trail that seems interesting.  Remember to check for elevation changes.  Climbing up and down hills can be more strenuous than long walks.  So don’t be deceived by a trail that looks short but has a serious climb in it.  If you’re just starting out, look for trails that are relatively flat and around 2 to 3 miles.  That’s a good distance to start out with and can be covered in a little under an hour.
3. Pack the essentials.  You’ll need water and a snack.  Keep it healthy with a piece of fruit and whatever you do, don’t skimp on the water.  You can always pour it out later if it’s too heavy, but there’s nothing worse than being halfway through a hike and having no water.  You’ll also want a hat and sunscreen.
4. Wear appropriate clothing.  Good shoes are a must.  They don’t have to be hiking boots, I usually hike with running shoes for example, but they need to be comfortable and broken in.  You may also want to consider long pants if you’re hiking in an area with poison oak or other such hazards.
5. Bring a friend.  If this is your first hike then you really need to find a partner or group.  Hiking does have some dangers and having other people around you will make your first hike safer and more enjoyable.

Summary

That’s it.  Now all you need is to start walking.  Once you get a bit more familiar with hiking, you’ll be able to go on longer trails, more difficult terrain and really explore the wilderness around you.