Tips for first-time hikers
I'm going to be hiking for the first time, and it's going to be in a woody mountain in the backcountry, and I'd like to have some to-dos, not-to-dos, must-carries, and what precautions I should take while hiking in forests like this.
Info that may be useful:
I'm a couch potato, I'm not fat but I'm not that dude who exercises a lot
I walk 3 to 4 miles a day (I walk to work, it's not so far away and I get to enjoy some fresh air)
I plan on hiking for a day, maybe two
I bought some gear, like a backpack for campers, some knives, survival matches, some canned food (my favorite), a tarp, an iron pot for cooking, I'm not really sure of what kind of shoes I should wear, and I'm thinking about bringing a first aid kit on me as well.
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/11411. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
1 answer
If this is really your first time hiking, ever... then don't start out in the back country. That's like doing your first climb ever on a Grade V, or your first trip skiing on a black diamond.
I would advise the following for "first hikes":
- Hike no more than five miles
- Test a mile walk with your planned shoe/sock combo ahead of time
- Eat more than you think you need. Hiking can burn a lot of calories
- Make a written checklist for gear
- Hike a well traveled and populated area so that you can get help if needed
- Avoid extremes of cold/heat/weather
Unless you are going with an experienced partner, then a long/backcountry hike your first time out is a serious mistake. You have to ramp up not just your body, but your experience. You have to make sure your gear works. Start with short 2-3 mile hikes and increase distance/remoteness as you gain experience.
Adapted from: How far is a reasonable distance for someone to hike on their first trip?
Also see this related community wiki: First time camping, need advice
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/11412. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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