Lighter is Better

July 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Hiker in redwood forest, inside Redwood Nation...

Image via Wikipedia

Speed is only occasionally of the essence when it comes to going out hiking. When you need to be going somewhere you might want to hurry, but most hikes tend to be for leisure. So when you go out hiking for fun, you want to limit the weight you’re carrying whenever you can.

The lightness of a backpack is one of the most important components of its use. While having plenty of storage space can be useful to a hiker, unless you’re going on a more extended hike this can just end up being wasted space on your back. When every inch is rubbing on you or weighing you down, you don’t want to travel any heavier than you have to. After a few hours, you might even wonder why you’re carrying a pack in the first place. The obvious reason is because you need a few of the basics of camping, but tell that to your back.

Often a one day pack can be composed of only two or three pounds of basic equipment. In a situation of that nature, you don’t want to be hauling things you aren’t going to use just because you can. While this might sound like a good idea when you’re walking through the camping gear section, walking through the terrain of a natural area might make it a little bit less fun. If you want to be left behind, keep reminding someone who brought a heavy pack about how light yours is.

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How Do I Find The Best Hiking Trails?

February 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Hiking trails are as varied as those who travel on them. It is very likely that if you do a small bit of research you will find that there are many in the area in which you presently reside. They are just there, waiting for you to come play! Hiking trails can be a very rewarding past time. But it can be difficult to get started. It is not very difficult to find the right trail on which to begin.

Most of the time trails are classified according to difficulty. There are easy trails; which means the terrain is predominantly flat and there are not many obstacles along the way. These are the least strenuous to hike. There will not be any big rocks to climb or mountainous sections. It may have some gentle slopes or hills but nothing too big or challenging.

The moderate classification is for those who are at least somewhat experienced at hiking. The overall terrain is a little more difficult to navigate. There may be some areas where quite a bit of climbing may be necessary. There may be some large formations and rocks as well as water that may need to be crossed to complete the journey. The hills in this classification will be somewhat steeper and trickier to navigate. If you have already been on a few trails go ahead and try the moderate ones they can be lots of fun and very rewarding to complete.

Save the difficult trails until you have explored many miles and varieties of hiking trails. They will offer the most complicated landscape. There may be rocks and cliffs that will have to be carefully climbed. These may be in mountainous regions and require much preparation before attempting. Those categorized as difficult will need careful consideration and miles of experience before undertaking.

Since there are many health benefits that are associated with exercise, anyone who wants to have good health should start hiking. So, set some goals for hiking, start out slowly and enjoy! This will help you to enjoy good health and also commune with nature!

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The Superior Hiking Trail: Best in Minnesota

December 28, 2010 by Leave a Comment

One of the hidden treasures of the North Shore of Minnesota is also one of the most beautiful and scenic hiking trails in the world. It is called the Superior Hiking Trail. Backpacker Magazine ranks Superior Hiking Trail the number one trail in Minnesota, and one of the top ten in America and even worldwide.

When you visit Superior Hiking Trail, you will quickly realize why it is ranked among the best. You will be blown away by the nearly 200 miles of gorgeous scenery, stretching from the Knife River to the Canadian border and running parallel to Lake Superior’s North Shore. You will be treated to breathtaking views of the largest of the Great Lakes, as well as numerous waterfalls, steep canyons and gorges.

A great time to hike the Superior Hiking Trail is during the fall, when the colorful leaves from the abundance of oak and maple trees adds more scenery to take in. Another advantage to hiking the SHT in the fall is the cooler temperatures and the lack of bugs. During the summer, the mosquitoes and gnats can be a challenge, but in the fall, they are no longer an issue. If you do come in the fall though, don’t forget to bring plenty of warm clothes, cause it can get pretty chilly at night, even if you have a blazing campfire.

If you plan to hike the entire Superior Hiking Trail, prepare to be here for at least 2 weeks. Also be prepared for some rugged terrain and steep ascents and descents from time to time. If you have any questions or concerns, the friendly folks at the Superior Hiking Trail Association in nearby Two Harbors, MN are there to help prepare you for all the challenges you may face, assuring you of a fun-filled, worry free experience.

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The Best 3 Hiking Trails in the World

December 25, 2010 by Leave a Comment

If you’ve never tried hiking, you are missing out on one of the great experiences of life. Not only is it a great form of exercise and a great way to fellowship with family and friends, it’s also a great way to explore areas of this planet that are simply not accessible by car, boat, plane or other vehicles. This makes hiking truly a unique experience. So if you decide to take up hiking, here are the best 3 hiking trails in the world:

1. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania-Situated at the tallest point on the African continent, Mount Kilimanjaro can be a challenging trail to hike, but someone with hiking experience will have little trouble getting to the top. One of the great attractions of this hiking trail is its diversity of scenery. On the way up to the top, you will encounter several different climactic zones, such as temperate forests, grasslands, and even glacial valleys.

2. Annapurna, Nepal-This hiking trail is known for its mountainous beauty and gorgeous landscapes. If you come here, plan on at least 3 weeks to hike the whole trail. It is suggested that you come during the months of October and November. The trails here are pretty easy to hike, but pack light because altitude sickness is always a danger.

3. West Coast Trail, Canada-The West Coast Trail of Canada is a beautiful and secluded hiking trail located in the Canadian wilderness. If you are looking for a hiking trail where you will come in contact with limited other people, then this might be for you. The West Coast Trail is seeks to prevent overcrowding by limiting the number of people that can hike there at any given time.

These are just a few of the many wonderful hiking trails you will find throughout the world. If you want a great hiking experience, I encourage you to give one of these a try.

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Winter Hiking: An Unforgettable Experience

December 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment

For many people, the thought of winter hiking seems crazy. Why would anyone want to go out into nearly zero degree weather and walk through miles of snow just to freeze your butt off? Well, maybe you need to be from a northern climate to really appreciate the experience of hiking in the winter. In any case, if you haven’t yet tried winter hiking, I would suggest that you are missing out on one of life’s great adventures.

Imagine a cold winter day, maybe 20 degrees outside. The sun is shining on a layer of freshly fallen snow. You are with your loved ones or friends on winter break or vacation and have not a care in the world. You embark on an unforgettable adventure down a snowy winter hiking trail that seems to run forever.

At noontime, you stop at a warming hut along the path and cook up a nice, hot lunch and drink a few cold ones. Then you get back on the trail and enjoy the rest of the day, basking in the scenic winter beauty. As they used to say on that Old Milwaukee commercial year ago “it just doesn’t get any better than this.”

A few things to keep in mind before beginning your winter hiking adventure:

1. Dress in multiple layers of warm clothes. You can always take off clothes if you are too warm, but if conditions are colder than expected, you will regret not wearing that extra layer.

2. Don’t let the cold weather fool you, bring your sunglasses. There are many winter days when the sun shines just as brightly as the summertime.

3. Wearing snowshoes is best for navigating through the deep, winter snow.

4. For the really deep snow, it is also best to have ski poles along with your snowshoes.

5. Last, but not least, back a thermos full of your favorite hot beverage, you will be glad you did.

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How to Prepare for Winter Hiking

December 20, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Winter hiking is an adventure that everyone should embark on at some point. I realize that if you live in the south, you may not appreciate the idea of walking down hiking trails in the snow enduring cold temperatures and falling snow. True, this could turn out to be a miserable experience if you don’t prepare properly. But, if you take the time to make sure you are ready for the cold climate, I believe winter hiking is an experience that everyone can enjoy.

The first thing to consider when preparing for winter hiking is how warm to dress. I would suggest the more layers of clothes, the better. If it turns out to be a warm day, you can always take off a layer or two, but if you find yourself on a bitterly cold day without proper clothing, you could be stuck out there in total misery. To protect your hands, wear mittens and not gloves.

The next thing to think about is how to keep your feet warm. You will accomplish this by wearing leg gaiters to keep the snow out of your boots. Speaking of feet, the choice of footwear for most winter hikers is snowshoes. They are useful to navigate the deep snow covering the winter hiking trails. Use ski poles in combination with your snowshoes to deal with the especially deep patches of snow.

Finally, make sure you have your head protected as much as possible. This is very important. Always have extra warm clothes to cover your head in case of very strong winds. Ski masks are a good choice, perhaps with an extra pair of ear warmers on top of the mask. Then, have an extra thick stocking cap in your gear to put on if it gets especially cold. Oh, and don’t forget the sunglasses, you will probably need them.

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What You Need to Know About Winter Hiking

December 18, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Hiking is a wonderful outdoor activity in the spring, summer and fall, but many never consider the idea of winter hiking. The truth is, hiking in the winter can be just as fun as hiking at any other time of the year. In fact, hiking on a sunny winter day over a covering of fresh snow is as unique an experience as you will find. The challenge is that in the winter, there are factors you need to consider that would not be present in the other seasons.

One thing you will need to consider is what time of the winter you are going on your hike. It is best to go in the middle of the winter, when the weather is more stable. If you go in early or late winter, you may run into dangers like half frozen streams or melted streams. Falling into one of these streams can be life threatening, so make sure to keep this in mind.

The clothing you wear for winter hiking is another thing you need to think about. It is vital that you protect every inch of your body from colder than predicted temperatures. This will mean packing very heavy, but it will be worth it. You should be wearing multiple layers of clothes, as well as multiple layers of protection on your head. Protect your hands by wearing mittens and protect your feet by wearing leg gaiters. These will keep the snow out of your boots.

For easy navigation through the snowy winter hiking trails, use snowshoes along with ski poles for the deeper areas of snow. Wear sunglasses in case you are fortunate enough to be hiking on a bright sunny day, which happens more often in the winter than you might think. Finally, pack a big thermos full of your favorite hot beverage to enjoy while you are out on the trail.

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Best Winter Hiking: Boulder River Trail, Washington

December 15, 2010 by Leave a Comment

If you are one of those adventurous types that loves winter hiking and you’re looking for a great winter hiking trail in Washington, then Boulder River Trail may be for you. In fact, Boulder River Trail is a great hiking choice for any time of the year, but especially during the winter.

Boulder River Trail is located on the West Slope of the North Cascade Mountains in Washington. It is in Snohomish County near the town of Darrington, WA. The Boulder River Trail is only 9 miles round trip, making it an ideal one day hiking experience.

If you go, be ready to experience the beauty of the trail’s unique towering old growth forests overlooking a naturally preserved river valley and amazing waterfalls. In the winter, you need to be careful of the snow and ice near the river and prepare accordingly.

The first mile of your hike will be along an old railroad track. After that first mile, you will encounter the old growth forest and enter the Boulder River Wilderness. Further down the hiking trail, you will run into two spectacular waterfalls that run into the far bank of the Boulder River. At this point, you will be able to stop and rest at one of the benches that have been provided for your convenience and enjoy the scenic beauty of these waterfalls.

The Boulder River Trail continues with its incredible scenic beauty until you reach the 4.5 mile point, when the trail ends at a ford in the Boulder River. At this point, you will turn around and enjoy the 4.5 miles of beauty a second time on your way back.

All in all, Boulder River Trail is one of the premiere winter hiking trails in the entire state of Washington. If you are looking for a short trail to hike one day this winter, BRT might be right for you.

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What to Do On A Hike

December 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Shahzad Hike 1
Image via Wikipedia

Hiking is an excellent sport for most of the general population. There are areas available around the country that are accessible to people of all abilities, thanks to fairly level or even paved walking surfaces. Hiking is not just about walking around in the woods and climbing up and down mountains. Of course that is the main attraction for most hikers, but while you are out there, take in some of the beauty and features of the land and the creatures living in it. Below are a few ideas to get you thinking about what to see on your next hike. Be sure to leave precious jewelry, like that Chopard watch, at home and take plenty of water and a snack with you.

Hunt for Mushrooms
First, a warning: do not ever, ever eat a mushroom that you can not positively identify. Some mushrooms can kill you after eating just one bite. If you are not a seasoned ‘shroom hunter, do not collect any mushrooms at all but rather take pictures of them. Many of the poisonous mushrooms are more interesting to photograph, anyway. Before you begin the hike, check out one of the many mushroom field guides available at the local library to discover what can be found in your area.

Become a Rockhound
Especially in the western states, rocks are abundant along the trails. While most of them are “just rocks” you may be surprised to see that some of them are quite interesting when they are really inspected. Check out a field guide from the library to find out what features to look for. Do not take rocks from the national parks unless you have been told it is not prohibited. Try to take a portion of the hike along the shoreline because rocks are much easier to identify when they are wet.

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An Introduction To Hiking And Its Benefits

November 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment

What does hiking involved? It is nothing but an outing where you spend some time with nature. You can choose your hiking trail according to your preferences and choices. If you love mountains, you can spend time hiking and climbing mountains. If you are not so keen on elevation, you can try and hike into valleys.

You can even try hiking in a desert if you love a lot of hot sand. On the other hand, if you prefer the cold, you can try an excursion in Alaska. If you do not have the time to plan such a detailed affair, you can simply take a hike in and around your neighborhood and check out any natural reserve where you can spend some time with nature.

If hiking were to be such a simple task, why do people insist on so many precautions and safety measures? Well, if you are taking a walk around your neighborhood, you can still call it a hike but don’t expect others to agree with you.

Hiking normally involves moving out of your comfort zone and checking out other areas and exploring new places. You can try a hillock situated close to your house or opt for a hill range that is situated just outside your city. The idea is not just to enjoy some physical exercise but also to get out of house and check out new spots.

Needless to say, you will have to take additional precautions when you are making such a move. For starters, make sure that somebody knows where you are going. Secondly, try to stay in contact at all times. Thirdly, do your research before you start hiking. Do not get up one fine morning and decide that you are going to start hiking immediately. Rather, plan your approach so that you minimize the risk to the minimum.

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