More Tips Before Hike Day

Hiking with a small group? Here are some extra tips that will make your group trip to the trails a bit more efficiently.

• When traveling with a group, pool your resources together to avoid carrying too much weight on your back. For instance, one person can bring their sun-screen, another person can bring bug-repellent so that everyone can share and lighten the load for everyone.
• Stay together with your fellow hikers. There will be people of different fitness levels. And the fittest ones will want to venture out by themselves while others rest. Avoid separating at all cost.
• Everyone should wear long sleeved clothing. This helps to protect your skin from poison ivy, ticks and other crawlies that attach to you if brushing up against foliage is inevitable.
• Invest in a good hat. A hat that can cover your face from the sun can help greatly. Helps reduce sun burns and you feel a few degrees cooler.
• If possible, invest in walking sticks. They can be pricey, but they take off a tremendous load your back and legs! And you'll increase your stability and avoid nasty injuries.
• Know your path, strengths and weaknesses. Study your course and know what to expect from anyone whose hiked the trail already. Its important to know what obstacles you're facing. That way, you know whether you and your team are fit for the hike.
• Have a map! This one's tricky. There are hikers who feel they know their way around and unfortunately get lost because of lost signals on G.P.S. devices, inaccurate readings, or dead batteries. Maps wont die on you.
• Pack light. I can't stress it enough. For every pound you pack, hikers will tell you it'll feel like 5 pounds on the trail. The lighter the better. So knowing what everyone will bring is important. You can pool your resources as mentioned before.

Follow these tips and everyone will enjoy their day in the wilderness.

Hiking and Changes in Altitude

Doris, a wonderful person and second mother to me, has made a great point about hiking and altitude.

As you explore the many facets of hiking and become better at it, you want to try new trails and paths.  Some trails cover great distances on sea level, but most hikes you see or read about will have a variety of elevation.  So what's to worry?  What's a little climb up a mountain got to do with me?

Altitude sickness, or sometimes referred to as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is an ill-feeling brought about by rapid increases of elevation of over 8,000 feet above sea level.  Some of the effects felt by a person suffering from Altitude sickness are headaches, nausea, and dehydration.  If not careful, dehydration can happen quickly in higher altitudes due to high perspiration, low oxygen levels causing you to breathe harder to compensate.  At the same time, water vapors are rapidly lost during breathing sending you deeper into dehydration.

Altitude sickness can be prevented!  It's only a matter of practice.  

Yes, that right!  The best way to prevent the ill-effects of altitude sickness is to expose yourself gradually to the change in elevation.  Study the trek (or hiking trip) you want to take.  See what kinds of elevations you'll be facing.  Anything below 8,000 should be safe, but it's always good to be prepared.  Slowly start the climb up and notice how you breathe.  Is it hard to breathe?  Take a second to rest, drink water, and enjoy nature while your body acclimates to the new elevation levels.

If you start feeling any effects mentioned above its best to start making your way down and try again the next time you decide to hike.  The best advice I can give is to LISTEN to your body.  It will help tremendously if you listen AND understand what your body is telling you.  There is nothing better than to be "in-tune" with yourself.

If you'd like more information, click on the "Altitude sickness" link above.  Thanks for reading! 

Wildlife on the Trails

Depending on where you hike, you'll be walking through a rich environment full of wildlife all around you.  Birds are most common, immediately hearing the variety of songs carried in the breeze.  That's enough to get your mood and senses going for the day.  

Other common wildlife (although harder to spot sometimes) would be squirrels and chipmunks.  During one of my hikes in the New Jersey Highlands, I heard something that stopped me in my tracks.  I tuned into the subtle, faint sound.  I heard it again: a slithering ruffle through the dried leaves on the ground.  It was unmistakably a snake... but which one?!

During walks in the wild, you will bump into wildlife you wish you would never cross paths with in your life.  Snakes are somewhat common, but only during certain times of the day and seasons where activity is heightened.  For most snakes, midday is too hot during the summers to be in the sun, so they stay undercover of fallen trees, rock crevasse, and leaves.  Its only during the afternoons after a hot day that activity resumes.  

Its a good idea to study what kind of wildlife is common around where you hike.  Learn about the dangerous wildlife and the not-so-dangerous wildlife.  Out of all the snakes in the U.S., only a handful are fatally poisonous.  Find out which snakes are poisonous around your area and study their coloring and patterning.  That should put you at ease when coming across a snake.

So, what happened to me during my snake encounter, you ask?  Well, knowing how to identify snakes, I wasn't too worried as I stood motionless, but I didn't have a snake-bite first-aid kit with me.  As I heard it again, I found it!  It was in front of me the whole time!  I couldn't see it because of its perfect camouflage.  It was a small, non-poisonous Eastern Ribbon Snake looking for a stream or marsh to hide in.  I was safe.

As with everything in the wild, I left it alone and unprovoked.  One good habit to develop as you hike through the woods is to look before you step on logs, fallen trees, rocky outcrops just to be safe.  And always remember to NEVER take anything with you from the wild except your trash.  That way, future hikers can enjoy the wildlife you enjoyed and have a clean trail to enjoy! 

More on "The Ultimate Hiking Guide"

I am happy to introduce Mr. James Warner, author of the comprehensive e-book "The Ultimate Hiking Guide."  He has personally given us his insight on hiking and what his book has to offer for the aspiring hiker in all of us. 

"First, hiking is one of a handful of activities that in reality has the potential to improve your life mentally, physically and spiritually.  Unfulfilled people are always seeking out the shiny new gadget they hope will make their lives complete.

 

Second, my guidebook and all the fancy outdoor gear you can buy are only the means to and end.  That end would be the outdoor experience itself.  So, providing a visual of someone outside, relaxed, happy, motivated, challenged, excited and energetic would be a good thing.

 

Getting them out there with the confidence of knowing how to keep themselves safe and comfortable will prepare them for a possible awakening.

 

If you immerse yourself in the backcountry, shut up long enough to hear and open your eyes to see, you will start feel an energy that you may never have before.

If you allow that energy to be part of your life, it will inspire you; it can change your perspective and improve the quality of your life.  It fosters a greater respect and responsibility for our planet, its precious resources and all who share them.

 

There's a magic in the backcountry I wish everyone could share, but first you need to have a willingness to step out of your comfort zone.  Your readers may consider this a personal challenge from the two of us!"

I hope you consider checking out Mr. Warner's e-book.  It has everything you need to get started on this enriching hobby.  Mr. Warner is very confident and passionate about his work, he's backed his e-book by a 60 day money-back guarantee.  There's nothing to lose, so check it out!  Click the link below to read more about and download "The Ultimate Hiking Guide."

Click Here!

Learn more about New York and New Jersey Trails

The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is an organization that helps build and maintain over 1,700 miles of trails for the public to enjoy.  Check out their website for more information on things like planing a hike, joining a hiking group around your area and becoming involved through volunteering programs!  

Please visit the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference for more information.  If you love the outdoors, there's something for you!

Increasing your Cardiovascular Efficiency through Hiking

If you're new to exercise, you'll want to consult your physician on your health and new fitness lifestyle.  You want to be sure that you can take on new activities such as hiking in a healthy way.

Here are some ways to ease into hiking:

• Begin by picking an easy hike.  Ask some friends or go to your local bookstore and find a book on hike around where you live.  Often, the hikes listed will be labeled by levels of intensity.
• Watch the weather forecast the night before your trip and prepare accordingly.  Even if there is a slight chance of rain, bring a rain coat!
• Plan on how long you'll be hiking.  Hikes can be as long as you like them to be, so pack a snack for the day. 
• With a friend, start the path by treading slowly.  Carefully walk around large rocks and fallen trees.
• Focus on your level of exehursion and breathing.  If you begin to feel tired, take a rest and drink some water.  Continue along the path when you feel ready.

The first hiking adventure should be around 30 minutes in length.  This helps your body to adjust to the new activity levels.  Remember that if your hiking for 30 minutes, you should travel 15 minutes out then turn back which should take 15 minutes to return to base. 

Still feel like you need more information before you start?  I'll be making more posts in the near future featuring nutritional tips, helpful hiking accessories, and workouts to stay fit for strenuous hiking trips for advanced adventure seekers.   

Can't wait?  Check out this Ultimate Hiking Guide that will give you comprehensive tips on how to have successful trips.  Click the link below.  

Click Here!

Health Benefits of Hiking

Looking for a way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city? Do you want to lose a few pounds? Would you like to find an easy way to exercise that's practically free?

Hiking, or trail running, is a great way to start your fitness lifestyle. Let's face it: fitness is not a destination, its a journey. This journey can be a brisk walk through a park or a strenuous run up a trail to reach the top of the peak for breath taking views.

On this blog, I'll give you some great health benefits of hiking, help you find hiking trails close to where you live, give you tips on how to enjoy your hiking experience safely, and provide links of the best places to get the right hiking gear for you!

So what can a walk in the trees do for me?

Hiking can have a wealth of health benefits! Let's start looking at what makes hiking different from just a regular walk:

• Hiking can be mentally liberating; freeing you from any work, family or personal related issues that may be very stressful.
• Hiking is physically rewarding, increasing your cardiovascular efficiency and strengthening your heart and muscles.
• Most hiking trails are set in wooded or forested areas so you can enjoy the sounds and scents of nature.
• Depending on how easy (or strenuous) the hike is and how fast you're going, you will be burning MORE calories than your casual walk This is due to the toughness of the hike, type of ground you walk on, its incline and total elevation.
• It has been proven through studies that by taking a friend, you'll keep your commitment to your health and less likely be discouraged to exercise.
  

A causal walk simply doesn't give you the feeling of accomplishment that hiking can provide. To feel the physiological and psychological benefits of a hike, all you need is 30 to 40 minutes and you'll immediately notice the difference. You'll notice a change in breath, heavier and deeper. You'll start to sweat and the cool shade of the trees will keep you cool while you burn calories. That beats a treadmill in my book any day.

I've hiked everything from one mile trails in city parks to strenuous 6 mile climbs up occasional steep, rocky paths to glorious views at the top. And there is nothing more rewarding than sorting out my mental files of the week while enjoying panoramic views at the top of my favorite hiking path.

So how can you get started?

As promised, taking on the hobby and/or fitness lifestyle of hiking is free. You can find hikes around your home town by going to Trails.com. There you can find many trails that you might not have been aware of. You don't have to sign up with them to get great information. Most of their content is there for free. Write down the trail(s) you'd like to try and search for books on them. There is a wealth of information in published form on the best hikes in your area.

You can sign up for local newsletter that feature outdoor activities like hiking. If you don't mind spending a few dollars, try joining a hiking group. Often times there is a fee, but you'll have expertly guided hikes by a professional that can help ease you into the hobby and make some new friends, too!

As you progress into your hobby and find enjoyment, you'll want to get the proper gear to make the experience more meaningful. Hiking gear is not hard to find, but the choices can be overwhelming. Contact your local sporting goods store and ask if they carry hiking gear. My first recommendation for gear would be a good pair of hiking boots. Do your research and ask around to see what brands and styles are best for your adventures in the wild. Read online reviews for the recommended boots. Shop around the internet for the best pair and see how much they go for. You can then go to the store and get fitted for a good pair of hiking boots. A note about hiking boots: don't feel too squeamish spending around $100 for hiking or trail running shoes. You'll want ultimate comfort whenever possible. Your feet will thank you.

So, you're on a budget?

Doing a little homework can go a long way! You can find great deals online. But there's nothing better than going to the store and trying them out. Once you find which hike you're interested in trying out and how hard the path will be, look for boots that will fit the job. Always read some reviews on the boot. I can't stress this enough! I made a few bad buys that cost me dearly. If I had read the reviews, I would have found out that the stitching on a particular boot comes apart after a few hikes, therefore losing its waterproof value, saving me money! I can't advise enough how important it is to read reviews on big investments.

Now you have your boots and you're ready to go. Before you head out, you'll want to pack some things that will be a great help along the way:

• snacks (trail mix, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, etc.)
• water (plenty of it!)
• a small first aid kit
• a hat or bandana, sunglasses and sunscreen
• poncho and an emergency blanket (a thin aluminum sheet to use in case of hypothermia)
• extra clothing (in case of changes in weather)

So where can you find some good hiking gear for low prices?

There are fantastic brands and online stores that will help you find the right gear for your needs. Remember to find out what other people are saying about the quality of the product before you buy. Read reviews often. Read the negative reviews first and work your way to positives. If there are no positives, then maybe that brand or type of gear is not worth your hard-earned money. That saves money!

In essence, hiking can have wonderful health benefits. Both mental and physical changes occur when you take the time out to take a hearty hike. You relieve built up stresses, sort out problems and possibly find solutions while enjoying some sun, fresh air and nature. It doesn't cost a thing to start and if hiking is for you, investing in some well researched, highly recommended gear can help you make the most of your hiking adventures. So what are you waiting for? Take a hike!