We salute you for wanting to go on your first hike this year. What’s more, you are doing a highly responsible thing by learning about your first steps before leaving on a hike. So here are the three crucial stages of your first hike preparations that you should not skip.
Plan ahead
First and foremost, you should start with research first. The amount of planning you have to complete before going is enough to wish for project management assignment help. Yet, this work is all necessary to keep you safe and well. As someone who is less experienced in hiking, you should learn as much as possible before engaging in such an activity. Later on, you will be able to rely on your experience. Hence, the preparation part of your journey will not be as time-consuming and challenging as it is now. Yet, until you feel comfortable enough on a hike, you should plan your routes carefully.
Your preparations should start with choosing and learning everything you can about the trails you take. See whether they are okay for the beginners to take. See how many hours they will take you from start to finish. Take into account your fitness level. For example, if you’re not in your best shape, double the average expected hike time for your trip. Also, even physically fit people may take a longer time on a trail if they lack experience in hiking. After all, it’s not all about your physical capacities. See how many people usually choose the route this time of year and who they are. If there are lots of families with young children, you should be fine too.
Always make sure you have enough time to end your hike before sundown, as hiking at night is extremely dangerous. Moreover, don’t forget to check the weather on your chosen hiking day. Don’t ever start a hike when the rain or snow is expected. Maybe research nearby hospitals and ERs just in case. You may not have a perfect internet connection in nature, so do your location exploration ahead of time.
At last, think of the landscape that you feel you can enjoy the most. Our nature is diverse and unique. Everyone can find something to their liking. You can look for trails in forests or hill areas. Maybe take a trip to a mountain lake or enjoy the walk to the wild ocean beach.
Pack wisely
As a hiking newbie, you may struggle with your packing. It’s okay. You will make several mistakes on your first few hikes. Experience and life lessons will give you an idea of what you have been doing wrong here. However, there are some essentials that you simply can’t go without. First aid kit, for one, should always be your main priority when packing. Bring everything you may need with you in case of any emergency. Start with the antiseptic wipes of gels, bondages, pain-relief meds, tweezers (in case of ticks or splinters), and sunscreen (regardless of the time of the year). Don’t forget your allergy pills or prescribed medication if you take any. You can even look at some anatomy assignment help articles to see what to expect in case of any injuries on a trial.
Once you are done with the first aid kit, move on to practical clothing. Choose clothes that will keep you warm and protected from insects and little scratches from the surrounding. Give preferences to wool or synthetics over cotton and other natural fabrics. Wool and synthetics dry really fast and keep your body warm the longest.
Many people struggle at this stage of packing. Picking something practical and comfortable may not always be our main priority. Yet, it’s not like you need a custom term paper writing service to help you with this task. See what local hiking shows have to offer, ask some outdoors lovers in your social circle. Just make sure you’ll be comfortable with your choices on a hike.
Pay close attention to the type of shoes you are wearing for the hike. It’s best not to wear brand-new shoes for your first outdoor adventure. Not because you may harm your shoes, but because you can destroy your feet. You should give any new (even if it’s the best hiking shoes on the market) a proper trial before relying on them on a hike. Nothing will ruin your day in nature more than bloody feet.
Tell people where you go
Last but not least, do tell someone about your plans for the hike. Don’t just leave home and ride to an unknown destination. By doing so, you put yourself in a very dangerous situation. In case anything happens to you or you don’t come home on time, people won’t be able to find you soon enough. Also, when something happens to you on the hike, and you haven’t given any instructions on where to find you, well, no one will come for you right away. Thus, your rescue will not be as timely and efficient as it could be.
So, at the very least, tell people the area you are going to. For the very best, use apps that can track your location and give access to your GPS signal. Choose people you trust to have an eye on you while you are on a trip. Thus, if you go missing and need urgent help, they will send a rescue team to the exact spot where you are.