Thinking of Going on a Hike….11 Key Tips Before Venturing Out.

Sep 10

Whenever my family and I travel we always plan a day or two of hiking. Even if we’re in a big city. One of my favorite memories was our trip to California with my 20 year old son, Ryan. He’s getting older and those one on one times are becoming far and few between. I was so happy to have the opportunity to spend a whole day with him. We planned on visiting the Griffith Observatory and hiking the trails of Griffith Park. It was a great day. We ventured on the dusty path meandered our way upwards on a 4 mile hike. Along the way we admired the unique vegetation, and landscape around us. At the top we were greeted with the amazing reward of an unforgettable view of Los Angeles. We connected that day and now we have a cherished memory we won’t forget.

That's the thing about hiking, you feel like an explorer. You connect with nature and at the same time you’re building relationships with the people around you. Plus the added bonus of building muscle and burning calories.

Here are some helpful tips to get you started:

Plan ahead. Find the nearest state or national park. Download the trail map and choose the easiest path to begin. Some parks have a Facebook page where you can ask and chat questions about the best trails for your level. Choosing a trail with a reward are the best hikes. This can include a spectacular view, a river, a waterfall, a lake.
Tell Someone If you're hiking on your own and check back with them upon your return. If you don’t want to go it alone, a good idea is to join a hiking group. Many groups of all types and levels can be found on Facebook.
Stay hydrated. Make sure to bring a filled sustainable water bottle. The stainless steel bottles keep the water cold.
Bring a tightly sealed protein snack. You don’t want nature’s creatures to track your scent.
Wear light layers. Especially for spring and fall hikes. The mornings start out with a chill and quickly heat up by midday. Consider wearing clothing that won’t trap heat.
Comfortable walking shoes. Breaking in a new pair of hiking boots is not a good idea. Wear shoes that are slightly worn and you know will not produce aching feet or blisters.
Don’t be a little red riding hood and stray from the path. Stay on the path at all times. If you’re on a new trail, you may want to snap a photo of landmarks or keep notes on your phone of the turns you’ve taken along the way. Take note if your trail is a loop or a one way.
Carry in Carry out any rubbish.
Bring a portable charger. Just in case your batteries run low. The best are the solar powered chargers. I swear by these. You’ll never have to worry about losing phone power again.
Disconnect. Take in the surroundings and live in the moment. I like to take a short video of my hikes. Hold your phone up, press video and just record your walk for a few minutes. These are great to revisit. I often watch the video of Ryan and I venturing the trails of Griffith Park.
Don’t forget the bug spray.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” (anonymous)