Stepping out into this heavenly trail makes you forget all your problems. Hiking up the mountain, looking at the morning sun and the lushing green grass is a different type of therapy in itself. As the great nature poet William Wordsworth said.
Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books;
Or surely you’ll grow double:
Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;
Why all this toil and trouble?
The sun above the mountain’s head,
A freshening luster mellow
Through all the long green fields that have spread,
His first sweet evening yellow.
Now let’s dive straight into planning a hiking trip successfully and effortlessly.
Inquire, Search, Study
Choosing the destination wisely is important. First, you need to enquire about the place, the level of climbing, the feasibility to reach there. Once you have decided the spot, start searching about it on the internet, look for the best routes, and even read a few reviews given by some local guides on maps.
Carry Only Essentials
We have heard traveling professionals say, “One should always travel light.” In terms of hiking it’s really important to follow this rule. You should carry only the amount of things that you can carry. Things like enough water and food, knife or multi-tool, first aid, small towel, and spare vehicle keys are a must-have. You can learn first training aid from Coast To Coast First Aid and Aquatics in Toronto.
Keep Someone In The Loop
The hike is generally pre-planned or at times the location might change due to various reasons. In any of these cases, you should remember to inform this someone from your family or a friend by sharing the location details. Keeping someone informed about where you are is really necessary.
Communicate With Locals
The kids loitering around, the oldies next to the road, the women working near the houses know a lot more about the place than what you read on the internet. So, talk to them. Try to find out the best way to reach the peak point, ask about any threats while climbing, suggestions on how long it will take to reach back. This will help you have a clear picture and prepare your mind for the hike.
Make A Trail
Getting lost in the wild, not knowing where you have landed happens quite often. To avoid such confusion, you should observe some key points while you hike or anything you find unique could be a clue to track your way. If you’re unable to find any of these unusual things you could just shove in a stick at some places and those could be your checkpoints which would take you down to the baseline.
Activate Your Senses
Keep an open eye on the route, people following you, plants and creatures almost everything that surrounds you. Pay attention to the tiniest sound that you hear. If you smell anything fishy around keep your safety kit handy. Active senses would keep you safe from these dangers if there are any.
Maintain Distance
If one domino falls it takes all the others along with it. It’s the same case with people standing close to each other while hiking. If a single person loses his balance there are chances he might tumble down with his companions. To break this chain you should keep a distance of 2 feet or climb diagonally.
Take Breaks
You don’t have to push your body too hard, save a lot of time and reach there fully exhausted. Rather, have a constant speed, take a few minutes rest and reach there energetically. Stop once every hour for 10 minutes even if you don’t feel like you need some rest. This way you won’t get completely drained out nor be tired.
Just See Don’t Touch
You might come across such intimidating things which you would love to touch and explore. But, it’s not safe at all, you might develop an allergy, rashes, itchiness, and get into trouble. So better keep your hands to yourself and just observe and never instigate.
Know Your Limits
At times the elevation would be beyond your reach, you might lack stamina or there would be insufficient water to keep you hydrated and food to provide you with the energy. That very moment you should decide whether you should continue hiking or just stay in there for a while and get back to the foothill.
Conclusion
Hiking is something anyone and everyone can do, with the right preparations. Also,
According to a study done by researchers at Stanford University, spending quality time in a natural setting reduces tension, calms anxiety, and can lead to a lower risk of depression. This proves it’s a wonderful decision to go out on a hike right away.