Hiking is a rewarding hobby that can be highly addictive. Once you start spending more time outdoors, you won’t want to stop! With that said, there are a few things that can go wrong when you’re out on the trail. These tips for first-time hikers will help you to stay safe.
Pack Appropriately
Before you go out on any hike, you’ll want to make sure you’ve packed everything you need. Even if you’re planning a shorter hike, there are a number of essentials that you’ll want to bring with you. One of the most important things you need to bring is water; you need to make sure you stay hydrated when you’re outside. Energy bars and other snacks can also be helpful to bring.
You should bring sunscreen and bugspray as well. You may also want to bring a small first aid kit so that you’ll be able to treat yourself if you wind up with any scrapes or cuts.
Let People Know Where You’re Going
You won’t always be able to get a cell phone signal when you’re hiking. This means that you might not have a way to call for help if you hurt yourself. You should make sure that people know where you’re going to be hiking before you head out. If you don’t return at the appropriate time, people will be able to get you the help you need.
It’s likely that you’ll be safe throughout your hike. However, if something does go wrong, you’ll want people to know where to send help. Let people know where you’re going to be hiking, and they’ll be able to send for help if you do need it.
Know Your Limits
A lot of people assume that they can handle long, challenging trails on their first hike. A 10-mile hike might not sound like much, but it can actually be exhausting. It’s best to start out small and move onto tougher hikes later on.
Hiking is harder than it looks! If a trail caters to advanced hikers, then a brand-new hiker might not be ready to face all of the challenges it offers. Be aware of your limits and work to stay within them.
Dress Appropriately
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when you’re hiking is to wear the wrong kind of footwear. If you wear shoes that don’t support your feet, or shoes that haven’t been broken in yet, you could wind up with a nasty blister.
It’s also a wise idea to keep your legs covered, even if the weather is hot. If you wear pants that are made from a thin and breathable material, you should be comfortable even as temperatures rise.
First-time hikers have a lot to look forward to, but they also need to make sure they’re ready for all of the challenges ahead of them. If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll be able to get more out of hiking and have fun every time you hit the trails. Learn more about hiking and how to stay safe!