Hiking Tips For Beginners: Learn Before You Go

I first got into hiking when I started traveling the world. I always liked being outside, but it wasn’t until I explored more that I fell in love with the art of hiking. When I was 18, I left to do a six months volunteer program in Australia. It was an amazing six months, where I experienced so much of Australia’s natural beauty by exploring trails all over the place. On one trip to the Rainbow falls, in Blackdown Tableland National Park, I remember thinking, I feel like I am walking in an enchanted forest. The natural beauty of the Australian bush was so overwhelmingly beautiful. There were so many shades of green, in the trees, bushes and grass. And endless amount of vines spreading from tree to tree with big redish boulders popping up everywhere. After about 30-ish minutes of walking I saw The Rainbow Falls. It was like a hidden gem deep within the bush of Australia. As the sun hit the waterfalls, little rainbows appeared. It was truly breathtaking and inspired my passion for hiking and to explore the nature of every country I travel to.

If you are new to hiking, congratulations on choosing to participate in an extremely beneficial hobby. Hiking is a great way to spend time outdoors and is good for both your mental and physical health. If you have any fears or worries about hiking, just relax, breath in and out, and know that there is nothing to fear or stress about. I made this blog to help you get started hiking and have the best journey you can have.

Here are four great tips for any beginner hiker:

1. Get good footwear.

No matter if you are hiking a mountain or a simple trail through the woods, having good footwear is very important. Good footwear is truly a life saver. There are a few different styles of hiking footwear that you can choose from, hiking shoe, hiking boot, and a trail runner. Each of these footwear were created for a different purpose, so choose the one that is best suitable for your adventure. Some factors to keep in mind when shopping are, ankle support, waterproof, traction, comfort, where you are going, how long you are going for, and what equipment you are carry. You want to find a shoe/boot that is going to be durable for the toughest terrain you are going to face. The prices can get high for good quality shoes and boots but I 100% recommend investing in good quality hiking gear. I also recommend buying different styles of shoes for different hikes. I own three different styles of hiking footwear that I wear for different hikes. For example if I am going on a overnight hiking trip, with a large, heavy backpack, I am going to wear my hiking boots, but if I am just going on a light easy trail that goes through the forest I will wear my trail runners.

2. Research the trail.

Before you go, you should know! Hit google and do a little research on the trail you are going to hike, especially if you are hiking in a foreign country, or going out by yourself. Find out what the terrain is like, what the elevation levels will be, the current condition of the trail i.e. is there still snow or has there been a lot of rainfall that could cause erosion or flooding, what type of wildlife could you encounter, the length of the trail, are there toilets nearby etc.

“Hiking and being submerged in nature is truly one of the best experiences a person can have.”

 

3. Bring WATER and snacks.

My number one tip for living a happy life is to bring water with you wherever you go, in order to eliminate the possibility of becoming dehydrated and sad. This rule is super important to follow while hiking. You are moving your body, and using your energy. You need to make sure that you are refueling as you go. Bring a reusable water bottle or Camelback water bag, and some healthy snacks like bars, apples, dehydrated or fresh fruit and vegetables, and hummus.

4. Wear layers.

It is always great to either wear layers, or bring layers to add on later. While you are hiking you will be outside (duh) and you want to be able to be adaptable if the weather or your body temperature changes. Pro tip: bring an outer layer that is waterproof i.e. a rain jacket.

Hiking and being submerged in nature is truly one of the best experiences a person can have. Whenever I feel stressed out of my mind, or unproductive, I try to take a hike break, and I feel refreshed and recharged. You know what they say, a hike a day keeps the doctor away! If you are new to hiking, let me know how these tips helped you and feel free to ask me any questions. If you are a trail pro, comment below with more great tips to help out our new hiking enthusiast.

Peace and love to all the trail junkies,