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Hiking is a fun and relaxing way to get exercise, as well as a wonderful way to enjoy nature. As long as you stick to marked trails in city, state or national parks and forests, you should be fine. There are, however some precautions that you should take, to make your hike safer and more enjoyable.
You should of course start with the proper equipment. If you are only planning to be out for a few hours, you can probably carry everything you need in a fanny pack or a small knapsack. When you are hiking you expend a great deal of calories, so take plenty of food. If you are going to plan on being gone long enough to eat a meal, take that plus additional food. For your meal, a peanut butter sandwich, a piece of fruit and maybe something sweet will provide a good combination of carbohydrates, protein and fat to keep your energy up throughout the day. For snacks, try to bring things that do not add a great deal of additional weight but provide a fair amount of calories. Granola bars, raisins and nuts are all good choices. Many seasoned hikers make their own snack mixture with any or all of the following: nuts (peanut, sunflower, walnut), chocolate chips, shredded coconut, raisins, dehydrated fruit, pretzels, M&M’s or other small candies and pretzels. Mix these up according to your tastes and carry along two or three ziploc bags in your fanny pack. Take along water to eat with your meal and at least an extra 16-ounce bottle for each person that is hiking. For hiking in anything except the hottest weather, you will not need a sports drink, and will probably find plain water more refreshing.
You will want to take along a small first aid kit. A small blister or insect bite that can be quickly mended and forgotten is much better than struggling through a hike miserable and injured. Some items you will find useful are a few band aids in various sizes, moleskin, which can be cut and placed over a blister to protect it, an insect bite stick and a few pain relief tablets. These items can be placed into their own ziploc sandwich bag and stuffed into your fanny pack, taking up minimal room. One thing to keep in mind is that if you do not carry a pocketknife, you will probably want to pre cut your moleskin into small squares.
In addition, in your fanny pack or nap sack you should stick a small flashlight and a poncho or trash bag that you can use as a poncho. Even the nicest weather can change quickly, and nothing will make you more miserable than trudging back to your car, soaking wet. The flashlight is one of those things that you will hopefully never need, but if an emergency arises, or you get lost, you will certainly be glad to have it.
Now that you have your bag packed, you are ready to go. You can locate trail maps from the park service office, scout them carefully before deciding on a trail. Do not overestimate your fitness level, or the length of time it will take you to hike the trail. It is better, particularly in the beginning, to be conservative. Once you have decided on a trail, write down the name of the trail and the time you start your hike and leave it on the dashboard of your car. If something should happen to your group, this will make the park ranger’s job much easier.
Throughout this article I have mentioned “your group” several times, and that is the most important piece of advice I can give you. Never hike alone, and never separate once you start hiking. Start together and stay together, even if it means turning back earlier than some in your group would like. One of the most rewarding things about hiking is reflecting on it later with your friends. By planning ahead and taking reasonable precautions you wil have plenty of hikes to enjoy.
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