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Posts Tagged ‘Trail’

Hiking Safety

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

: Image via Wikipedia

Hiking is one of the most popular sports, and with good reason–fresh air, the beauty of nature, and a fun way to get exercise are just some of the things that draw people to the great outdoors to enjoy a hike.

As with any sport, safety should be your priority. These tips will help ensure you have the safest experience possible while hiking:

• Don’t hike alone. There is too much that could go wrong during a hike to go hiking alone–you could get lost, fall down and sprain an ankle or worse, lose your water and become dehydrated, and so forth. Instead, make sure you hike with at least one other person and make sure someone at home who isn’t going knows where you’ll be and when to expect you back.

• Protect yourself from the sun. Sunblock, hats, and even a lip balm with an SPF are all important for ensuring you don’t get burned while on your hike. Reapply often, even if it is cloudy outside or you are in shaded areas.

• Get a good idea of the area and weather first. Do a little research of the area you will be hiking in before you go. Find out what the terrain is like, whether the trails are paved or marked, whether there is wildlife in the area, and so forth. Knowing what to expect will also help you know what to avoid. Check the weather before you go as well. If a storm is moving in, you may want to postpone your hike.

• Stay away from restricted areas. It may sound like common sense, but each year many hikers are injured because they have gone into areas that are clearly marked as dangerous or restricted. Even if it looks harmless or beautiful, trust that park rangers know best and steer clear from areas that should be avoided.

Practicing these safety tips will help ensure your hiking experiences are enjoyable.

Tags: Hiking, Outdoors, Trail | Posted in All About Hiking, Hiking Techniques, Seasonal Hiking | No Comments »

Hiking Basics

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

: Image via Wikipedia

Hiking is a great sport and excellent exercise. While it may seem that hiking is as simple as finding a trail and walking, there is more to it than that. These hiking basics will help beginner hikers learn hiking and nature etiquette and tips so their hiking experience will be fun and enjoyable.

1) Stay on the trail. Sometimes it’s tempting to veer off of the marked trails you’re hiking and go exploring on your own, but it’s in your own best interest if you stay on the trail. It’s easy to get lost, and even if an area looks safe at first glance, you never know why an area may be marked restricted.

2) Respect nature. Don’t pick flowers, capture or feed wildlife like frogs or lizards, or tuck articles in your backpack as souvenirs. Nature is meant to be enjoyed by everyone. In some national parks and places, it is actually illegal to remove or disturb natural artifacts and surroundings. At the same time, never litter and make sure you follow guidelines for proper trash and waste disposal.

3) Choose your hikes carefully. New hikers start slow and pick a few easy day hikes to start with. Then you will get a good idea of your actual fitness level and hiking basics, like how often you need to rest. When choosing a hike take into account such things as altitude (higher altitudes can make breathing more difficult), your fitness level, steepness of the hike, and length of the hike.

4) Be prepared. You should always be prepared for your hike. This means taking enough water and snacks or food on your hike, depending on the length, making sure you are protected from the sun with plenty of sunscreen and hats, and dressing appropriately for the climate and duration of your hike.

These hiking basics are important for anyone who is new to hiking.

Tags: Hiking, Outdoors, Trail | Posted in All About Hiking, Hiking Techniques, Sports | No Comments »

Basic Hiking Courtesy

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

: Image via Wikipedia

On various trail systems, you will encounter all varieties of hikers, each with different skills sets and expectations for what the behavior should be like between one hiker and another on the trail. Despite the inherent humility and kindness endemic to the idea of hiking, there are always people who harbor certain pretensions and suppositions about what is and is not permissible on the trail.

When you’re out exploring nature, it’s best to know what is expected of you and of other hikers, though the question whether or not you should moderate the behavior of others is entirely up to you. Nobody likes a preacher, but sometimes, a sermon is what is needed.

Some basic things to know about hiking etiquette start with a respect for nature. When you’re in the woods, you should bring nothing out that you didn’t come in with. This means you shouldn’t destroy plants, trees, or even dislodge rocks when possible. Additionally, you shouldn’t leave anything behind. Bring what you need, and don’t leave yourself or the woods wont for anything.

If you’re on a longer hiking trip that involves camping, don’t make a new site if it’s not necessary. If you’re on trails already made by other park districts and hikers, most chances are that someone has already camped out there before you. Stay within the boundaries of the campsite, avoid spreading out, and be sure to bury your waste. Doing these things make life easier for the people after you and more pleasant for the surrounding forest and its intricate eco-system.

Above all, when it comes to hiking, be considerate. Nature has its own rhythm and music. Don’t interrupt it with boisterous yelling and loud music. This is disrespectful to nature as well as other hikers trying to enjoy it. And if the trails are narrow, or you and your group are moving at a more deliberate pace, don’t hold up or block the trail for the faster-paced hikers.

Finally, don’t forget to enjoy yourself. Following a few basic principles of hiking etiquette can make your trip better for everyone.

Tags: Camping, Hiking, Trail | Posted in All About Hiking, Hiking Techniques | No Comments »

Making Your Own Trails

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Hiking almost always involves following established trails. But what if there are no trails? Then what do you do? Make your own.

Of course, as with anything, there are certain parameters that must be followed when blazing your own trails, and if you really want to get involved with this hand-dirtying job, it’s always best to consult your local park district first. Parks are usually maintained by a paid team of workers who often have backgrounds in forestry, geology, and other earth sciences. They know how nature works and what works best in nature. If you don’t know what you’re doing when you cut a trail, you could be stirring a brewing recipe for erosion, cut through poisonous species of plants or even happen upon a buried gas or electric line without knowing it.

So, first thing’s first – consult the park district. Often times they will be looking for volunteers to help cut and establish new trails, and if you want to be involved in your community, there is no better and more fulfilling way to do it than to know that your handiwork is what went in to creating these trail systems.

But let’s say you’re a landowner yourself. First thing you will need to do is chart a path, which involves surveying and staking out where the path is to go. You may need a machete or small chainsaw for this preliminary charting session. After you’ve selected your trail, you will also want to investigate what plants you may be cutting through. You don’t want to cut through a patch of poison oak and inhale the dust from the saw. Once you cut all of the trees and plants (which shouldn’t be done too liberally), you’ll need to upturn some of the earth and lay down mulch or gravel to at least hold off the weeds and plants for a while.

Trail blazing is a lot of work, and requires a lot of continual upkeep, and trails keep people on the path and lessen the human footprint in the forest.

Tags: Blazing, Trail | Posted in All About Hiking, Sports | No Comments »

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Posts Tagged ‘Trail’

Hiking Safety

Hiking Basics

Basic Hiking Courtesy

Making Your Own Trails

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