About
Why go for a hike?
Hiking is the best way to get fit, reduce stress, and connect with nature all at once! Hiking varies in duration and difficulty. You can take an hour-long hike or a month-long backpacking trip. You can climb to a summit or hike on flatter trails. You don’t need to be the most in shape person to hike, but it is important to never go past your skill level. Hiking has its dangers, and you should never push yourself to do more than what you’re capable of. If you want to do more difficult trails or longer durations, then you need to practice and be patient!
Location
Where should you go to hike?
There are so many places you can hike! Various terrain around the world makes for different experiences. There are mountains, deserts, valleys, forests, and many other types of terrain you may come across. With little experience it is best to stay on marked trails. Once you gain experience and wish to hike off the trail, that is also an option. You can look up local trails near you or go to a national park or national forest. The national park website is a great resource for learning about the area you will be hiking in, it includes trail and safety information, details about the terrain and animals in the area, and more.
Equipment
Everything you need to take with you
Before you go out for your hike, make sure you pack the right equipment. These are the items you want in your pack!
- Food and water – vary depending on length of hike, always bring extra
- First aid kit
- Compass or map of area
- Appropriate footwear and clothing – dress in layers, research what shoes to wear for the type of terrain you will be hiking on
- Flashlight
- Bear spray
- Fire starter
Types of Hiking
Day-hiking
This is the most common and most accessible way to hike, and the best type of hiking for beginners. It can range from an hour-long hike to 12 hours but does not involve any overnight camping.
Backpacking
This type of hiking involves at least one night of camping, requiring more experience because you will have to set up a camp, make a fire, hang up food in bear bags, and more. You need a lot more supplies such as food and water, and great knowledge of the area you are in.
Section-hiking
Some trails are thousands of miles long and can take months to complete. You may decide to tackle these trails by section-hiking, that is only hiking certain portions of the trail at different times until completed. Section-hiking is also good if you just want a feel for what the hike is like but don’t want to commit to the whole thing.
Thru-hiking
The most advanced form of hiking is thru-hiking, which is hiking those super long trails all at once. This could take months to complete, so make sure you have experience before trying to complete a thousand-mile-long trail. A popular trail attracting thru-hikers is the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) which is over 2190 miles long! Fun Fact: It typically takes a thru-hiker 5-7 months to complete the A.T.
Health Aspects
Physical and mental benefits of hiking
It is a no brainer that hiking has a multitude of physical health benefits. Since it is a cardiovascular exercise, it is really beneficial to heart health. It reduces the risk for heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. It also helps build muscle, endurance, and balance. It is a full body exercise so the benefits to your body are endless!
Not only does hiking have great physical health benefits, but it also has mental health benefits. Being in nature is very serene and relaxing, hiking helps reduce stress and depression, as well as builds your skills in being more present and attentive. Also, any kind of physical activity releases endorphins in your brain which make you feel happy! Healthy mind and body, it’s a win-win.
