The hiker is in a fundamentally different station to the casual walker. Everybody enjoys a good walk, a Sunday stroll to aid digestion after a big lunch perhaps, but not everybody is cut out for the hiking life. If you are on the precipice between ordinary walker and hiker, read these top tips and prepare yourself for a life of route planning and trip goals. Warning, these tips might take you beyond the simple trail and into the actual wilderness. Proceed with caution.
1.Dress for all Temperatures
How you dress, and what kit you have, is incredibly important for the novice hiker. Assumedly, by this stage, you have some decent boots and a good backpack. Now you need to perfect your onion game. What does this mean? Layers are a hiker's best friend. By wearing a number of thin layers, you can control your heat regulation more accurately and ensure moisture management. This is especially true in cold weather, which the novice hiker thrives in. You will need a base layer, altered for the time of year, a mid layer and an outer layer. Ideally, you will have layers that add warmth and layers that block out the water. After a day of heavy rainfall, getting warm and having access to dry clothes is essential.
2. Kick it up a gear
Anyone that embarks upon a journey into the wilderness should be endowed with the usual first aid kit and knowledge, basic navigational equipment and access to a cell phone. If you want to take your game from walker to hiker, you might want to consider buying a Personal Locator Beacon, a step down from an expensive Satellite phone. When hiking, there should always be somebody who knows where you are going and where you are supposed to be. If you get into difficulty, a PLB might be the difference between being found and not.
3. Pick your Park Wisely
When you have all your kit and are deciding to go, make sure to pick a National Park with a variety of different trails; from easy half day hikes to longer, more advanced routes. The advantage of Hiking in Bryce Canyon, which you can find over at the Bryce Canyon website, or a similar park, is that there are a whole gamut of different trails to suit a wide array of abilities. As a novice hiker, you may overestimate how good you are; therefore, ensure you know all the safety measures and who to call or where to go if you find yourself in trouble.
4. Stay Comfortable and Confident
Although pushing yourself is important, make sure whatever route you hike is within your capabilities. To discern this, do an easier hike first then talk to others and see what they thought of the one you want to complete. It might be worth reading reviews on your chosen trail and looking at photos online. Don’t do anything you are not 100% sure you can do, and always stay aware of potential hazards in the area you are hiking.
