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)
>> More Hiking tips
•
Hiking in Vietnam
•
Minimizing your pack
•
Walking speed
•
Good walking rhythm
•
Resting and hiking rest intervals
•
River and water crossing in hiking
•
About the foot, foot wear and shock
•
Choosing the right foot wear
• Lacing
techniques
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