Hiking Guide

From the Appalachian Trail in the East, to the Pacific Crest Trail in the West, and countless miles in-between, some of the best backcountry hiking destinations in North America are accessible in our national parks. Going out for a hike can mean just a few hours outside or a multi-day adventure. If you’re ready to graduate from day-hikes to overnight backpacking trips, make sure to prepare before leaving the crowds behind and heading deep into the wilderness and backcountry. Related Articles : https://www.hikingbay.com Planning ahead When you head off into the wilderness or backcountry without a plan, anything can happen, and not all of it good. Doing your homework can save you from life-threatening situations, especially for novices. • Visit the National Park Service websites for trails and hiking, and wilderness and backcountry camping. • Request the proper permit. Check the park’s page on nps.gov to see if the park requires one. • Obtain detailed maps of trails you plan to hike. L...

The great outdoors can be truly inspirational and there is no better way to explore it than by hiking. New to hiking? This guide is aimed at providing you the knowledge you need to embark on your first hiking adventure. Asses your Ability If you over exert yourself the enjoyment can soon be taken out of a hike leaving you reluctant to venture out again. It’s important to understand your capabilities and limits before deciding on your first hike. No hike is “too easy” so start small and work your way up to more difficult, longer hikes. A certain level of fitness is of course required. If you are a fit person you may find you can walk further with less effort than those who are not so fit. If you have good balance you may find you can handle trickier terrain easier than others. Pick a Partner It is not recommended to go hiking alone especially if you are a novice. If you are not overly confident ideally partner up with someone more experienced than you. They can pass on useful tips befo...

Careless hikers are more likely to tumble off a cliff, poke a diamondback rattler, and otherwise get themselves in trouble’s way. And frankly, our nation needs more outdoorsy people, not less. So Backpacker asked me, the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Backpacking and Hiking, to answer all of your camping, hiking, cooking, training, you-name-it questions. I’m no gonzo, Everest-scaling, bear-wrestling hardman, but I’ve hiked enough miles to recognize which mistakes first-timers tend to make. Let's count 'em off: 1. Wearing denim like Johnny Depp on 21 Jump Street News flash: Denim is cotton, so wearing jeans (and jean jackets for that matter, Mr. Depp) is a poor choice for any hike, especially in rainy or cold weather. That’s because cotton retains moisture instead of wicking it away like wool and polyester fabrics. Once cotton gets wet, it takes a long time to dry out; that moisture on your skin siphons away body heat through convection, leaving you shivering in yo...

I’ve never thought of myself as a huge hiker, but after Lulu was born it became one of my favorite things to do. Probably because some physical exercise was quite welcomed after being cooped up inside with a baby for days on end. Plus, Lulu – and most babies it seems – loves being outside. Babies are happy little cooing nature lovers. Here are my top tips for hiking with a baby. Invest in a Good Quality Baby Carrier I love my Ergo 360 — the baby can be worn on the front facing in or out, or carried on your back. You’re not going to want to just hold your baby in your arms while you trek up the side of a hill or mountain, or try to push a baby across rocky terrain in a stroller. Instead, you’ll want to use a baby carrier that can be strapped to your body. Related Articles : https://www.hikingbay.com I like the Ergobaby 360 since it can be worn with the baby snuggled into either your front or your back. (Or side, but that’s probably not conducive to hiking well.) It also comes with an ...

I’m a hiker—“born to hike,” as my husband likes to joke. It does my heart and soul good to strap on a pack and head out on a trail, especially when I’m alone and can let my mind wander where it will. The experience of hiking is unique, research suggests, conveying benefits beyond what you receive from typical exercise. Not only does it oxygenate your heart, it helps keep your mind sharper, your body calmer, your creativity more alive, and your relationships happier. And, if you’re like me and happen to live in a place where nearby woods allow for hiking among trees, all the better: Evidence suggests that being around trees may provide extra benefits, perhaps because of certain organic compounds that trees exude that boost our mood and our overall psychological well-being. 
 Hiking in nature is so powerful for our health and well-being that some doctors have begun prescribing it as an adjunct to other treatments for disease. As one group of researchers puts it, “The synergistic effect ...

From a multiday trek tracing the routes of a Japanese poet, to a classic clamber in the Argentinian Lake District, here are 23 of the best hiking trails in the world. Walking boots and waterproof coats at the ready. 1. Pennine Way, United Kingdom Pennine Way -- the first official long distance trail to be established in England. Stretching 268 miles from the Derbyshire Peak District to the Scottish Borders, the Pennine Way is the United Kingdom's most famous long distance path. The entire walk takes around three weeks, passing over wild moorland east of Manchester and through the picture postcard Yorkshire Dales, before crossing the ancient border of Hadrian's Wall and on toward Scotland. One for outdoor fanatics, camping enthusiasts and anyone who can handle the vagaries of great British weather. 2. Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Spain The Camino de Santiago route was highly traveled during the Middle Ages. Rather than following a single path, the Camino, also known as the...

Choose the right season What time of year is best suited to mountain hiking? The mountain hiking season lasts from June to September, broadly speaking, but conditions vary from year to year during that time. Check snow and water levels before you head out. In June there might be plenty of snow on the trails and a lot of water in the streams. The first autumn snow often falls in August. But higher up, around Kebnekaise for example, large areas are covered in snow all year round. Notify someone about your route and planned return Before you leave, inform a family member or a cabin manager about your route and planned return, or add it electronically using the Mountain Safety app. It’s important that someone knows your planned route and when you expect to return, so they can raise the alarm if you don’t come back as planned. In mountain cabins and shelters there are guest books where you should make a note to show you’ve been there. If someone is reported missing these messages can be us...

Do you want to try Hiking but don’t know where to start? This guide can help you prepare for your first hike wherever you are headed, ensuring you are safe and comfortable in 11 basic tips. The great thing about hiking is you get to pick your speed and difficulty for the perfect amount of challenge that suits you. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started! 1. Decide how long you have to hike As this is a beginner’s guide to hiking, we’re not looking to hike the Appalachian Trail – but rather trails that can be done in less than a day, that won’t require you to pack a tent, or bring extra change of clothes. Pick a hike based on how much time you have – do you have the entire Sunday? Or do you just have a few hours on a Tuesday afternoon? 2. Decide if you’ll be hiking solo or with a friend/group Solo hikes may have its advantages (mobile meditation anyone?), however it is also more dangerous should anything happen while you’re out on the trail. It would be recommended buddying up w...