What do you need to do for outdoor hiking?
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by Rich Remick
Everyone should be very familiar with walking, and with some effort and training, it is not difficult to make your feet able to cope with long-distance hikes. However, in order to make the outdoor hiking process easier, we have edited this novice guide, hoping that everyone will enjoy the whole journey, inspire and encourage more people to participate in outdoors.
Preparation
Yes, you can walk, but can you walk a couple of days on the ups and downs with your backpack? And couldn't lie in my own bed at night for a good rest. If you are prepared in advance, I believe that this will not be a problem! If not fully prepared, then.... The whole process may turn into a kind of torture.
Take note of these activity suggestions below.
1. Carry a hiking backpack that fits your body shape when hiking
2. Do not wear new shoes to challenge long-distance hikes.
3. Try to use trekking poles that release the pressure on your knees when you go uphill and downhill.
4. Practice long and continuous days of hiking
5. Regular exercise and physical development
Select the appropriate path
Beginners are advised to choose a less intimidating route for their first long hike. Also do not ignore the following reminders:
If you don't want to carry a tent, sleeping bag, and stove, then living in a mountain house is a good choice.
Advantages: The backpack is lightweight, can sleep in bed, and does not need to cook your own food.
Disadvantages: You must be sure that you can reach the destination you set every day, and that the mountain house lacks privacy and does not have the sunrise view from the tent that appears online.
Walking 10 kilometers in the city is one thing, and walking equal distances between the mountains is another. It may be possible to walk 5 to 6 kilometers per hour on flat land, but it may only be three to four kilometers an hour on the trail, and the speed will be slower if the terrain is more undulating. When it comes to topography, be careful to climb the height when choosing a path. Simpler routes climb lower because they are relatively flat, and more challenging routes typically climb higher.
The first two days and the last day were the most difficult, both psychologically and physically, and after a few days the body would begin to enter the condition slowly, so the route was not necessarily too short, and it was recommended that the number of days should be extended and then the number of days of rest should be taken into account.
We recommend that beginners can walk 15 to 20 kilometers a day on flat terrain when engaged in hut-to-hut treks. If you plan to camp, you need more rest time, and it is ideal to arrange a walk of 12 to 17 kilometers a day. If the slope of the chosen route changes greatly, it would be ideal to walk an average of 10 to 15 kilometers per day.
Plans, Plans, Re-Plans
1.Read outdoor information, refer to other people's records, ask those who have hiking experience, and familiarize yourself with maps, after all, you can't always rely on your phone's GPS in the wilderness. Advance planning includes the following:
2.Choose the season of hiking wisely (winter is not suitable for novices). Too much rain can lead to flooding, closed paths, or overly wet and muddy camps. If it is too hot, it is easy to feel tired and need to be replenished with a lot of water. Summer usually means longer days, while some areas are hotter and drier and prone to thunder and lightning; in subtropical areas, we need to pay attention to the rainy season.Remember to confirm the weather conditions before departure,because there are unexpected storms, and you may need to change your plans or even cancel your trip at any time, but it is better than being stuck in a storm. (Preparatory days and evacuation plans are necessary)
3.Plan the location of the camp, rest, and water, and mark these locations directly on the map so that you can know the distance between the current location and the next rest stop. Everything has to be filed, and no one wants to be confused in the dark about which way to go.
Onion-style wearing
The skills of outdoor wear have a lot to do with the level of exercise.
Here are our recommended rules for wearing:
Bottom - It is recommended to select wool materials such as Merino wool, long sleeves and trousers.
Mid-layer - T-shirt with trousers, mainly of dry material, polyester fiber or wool (wool is the best temperature regulator to help keep your body warm and dry). This is a good choice with high flexibility.
Insulation/Heating Layer - Choose a plush or technical fiber-filled coat according to environmental conditions. Featherweight is lighter and extremely warm, but if in a humid environment, the technical fiber can provide a certain effect of warmth even if it is wet.
Outer Layer - Raincoats and pants that are highly waterproof and breathable to avoid the risk of loss of temperature from moisture.
shaded hat, warm cap, gloves, wool stockings, brushed coat or sweater.
Adjust your clothes to weather conditions. Remember, when you stop to rest, don't wait until it's cold. It's too slow. Put them on before you start shivering! Try not to sweat too much. It's normal to sweat under your arm when you're healthy, but soaking your back with sweat may mean you're wearing too much, slowing down or reducing your clothes
Staying healthy
Have enough sleep and adequate rest.
Handle hot spots for friction before blisters are generated.
Adding plenty of water, drinking just two litres of water on foot is not enough, and you even need to drink more in hot weather.
In some places, water may not be drinkable directly, filters are needed, there are many types of water on the market, prices vary widely, and water purifiers are a good option.
If you're hiking alone, it's a good way to protect yourself from the sun even if it's cloudy.
Rehydration salts (such as blistered drinks made from precious mineral water) are a good thing to add a little taste to the water while supplementing the body with electrolytes.
Eat more and eat better, Snickers is good for energy and tasty, as are pasta, nuts, beans and vegetables. Dried or cured meats and hard cheeses add flavour and have plenty of calories without putting on too much weight.
Carry first aid kit, including (but not limited to) painkillers, ointments, bandages and anti-inflammatory drugs, antiseptic drugs, antihistamines, pressure bandages, a small scissors and a knife
Rest, recharge energy, replenish moisture
On long outdoor hikes, short but frequent breaks are the best, and lunchtime can be reserved for a little longer. It is recommended to take a 5 to 10 minute break every hour, you can sit down, take off your shoes, socks and backpack, put on your coat, drink some water and eat some snacks. Avoid eating during short breaks and do not drink wildly, you may want to consider taking a longer break to recover. It is recommended to hike for no more than six hours a day and to depart as early as possible so that you do not travel in the dark.
Enjoy yourself and respect others
Outdoor hiking is a wonderful experience for all, and there are some small etiquette that should be truly observed:
Leave a clean environment for later outdoor enthusiasts.
Walk without leaving a trace and take the garbage away. Littering is not only unsightly, but also harmful to animals and plants.
Hikers give way to cyclists, and then both give priority to horses.
Maybe you're intimidated by the beauty along the way, but you don't need to scream. In addition, no one likes people who amplify the sound music in the tent in the middle of the night.
Respect the wild animals, do not approach or feed.
Leave the trails as they are as they are and avoid damage.
Trails are shared with everyone, so groups are lined up in a row. (Reducing the area of grassland trampling)
If you are hiking with your dog, be sure to tie a rope loop.
When you want to go to the toilet, please walk 50 to 75 meters away from the trail, bury the excrement after the toilet, and take the toilet paper with you.