Hiking can act as an uplifting change of pace when you spend most of your time inside. Know these tips to make your first hike a successful experience.
Your freedom while moving around outside might be restricted at the moment due to COVID-19, but with proper social distancing, you can go for hikes in Pennsylvania. With not much else to do, walking in the middle of nature can be an uplifting change of pace from your current day-to-day schedule. Before you head out, however, you should know these tips to make your first hike successful so that you can stay safe and have a pleasurable time.
Choose a Lighter Trail
You might be tempted to take on a challenging spot from the start, but it’s better to acclimate yourself to hiking in the beginning. For your first hike, choose a lighter trail that doesn’t stretch on for an extremely long distance or include steep climbing and other obstacles. Rather than trying to see what your physical limitations are at this point, you should use your initial hike to see if you run into any unexpected problems. For instance, maybe it ends up taking longer than you expected to cover a couple of miles. You want to realize these details when you have more leeway on an easier trek than while you’re in the middle of a difficult one.
Pack Enough Food and Water
Since you are exerting yourself considerably as you walk over the rugged ground, a vital tip to make your first hike successful is to pack enough food and water. Even if you don’t notice it, your body will lose water through sweat as you continue to move. You’ll need to stay hydrated, so bring a large water bottle with you. No matter what the weather is like, this remains a necessity, though you should expect to drink more if it is hot outside. Likewise, your body will need fuel to sustain your hiking. Bring portable, energy-rich foods such as nuts, protein bars, dried fruit, and jerky. This way, you won’t weigh yourself down too much, but you’ll still get the nutrients you need.
Get the Right Clothing
When you’re out on a hike, you’ll be more prone to pain and serious injury if you aren’t dressed appropriately. As you look for clothes for hiking, go for synthetic fabrics that are breathable and wick away sweat. You should also get a lightweight jacket that repels water for rain. These measures will keep you from getting soaked, which is both uncomfortable and can cause you to experience a loss of warmth in cold weather. For your feet, you should have hiking boots that give you the support and traction to traverse the trail safely. There are different types of hiking boots to consider based on how intense your hikes are. So, if you want to build up to higher levels of hiking after your first experience, you might invest in more heavy-duty boots.
