Hiking and camping, though not for everyone, has its charm of the open wilderness and the closeness to nature.
It is never too late to start exploring the great wild outdoors. Away from the city’s hustle bustle, hiking and subsequently camping there can be a fun and rejuvenating activity if planned well and executed even better.
That said, when you are out on an outdoor trip, there are many aspects to take care. Also, you need to be careful when you are a first timer because you are unaware of what to expect. There is a big chance of getting hurt and lost when you don’t have your basics in place. Let us look at some points that you have to take care of when you are on a hiking trip. So what are you waiting for? Tick – Europe Backpacking Trip off your bucket list.
Hydrate and eat enough
Hydration is a vital part of hiking and camping trips. Your body tends to get exhausted if it doesn’t have an adequate amount of water. Usually, along with water make sure you also carry glucose or any other drink that gives your body enough salts and mineral intake and not just water. This is essential since you tend to perspire a lot.
After a whole day of trekking, usually you are so tired to cook a full meal for yourself, but make sure you keep snacking through the day on nuts and protein or nutrition bars which give you strength to carry on the whole day.
Travel light
A very significant point that you need to take care of is that you must travel with only the necessary utilities and clothes. Don’t overstuff your bag with the premise that you might need it. It will just make your bag more ponderous and even more tiresome for you to haul across the hiking sites. Another important tip is to keep things handy inside of your bag.
Organise your stuff in a way that things you need handy are not at the bottom of your bag from where you will have to fish it out disturbing the rest of your packing along the way. Make a list of utilities you need and pack accordingly.
Keep a check on the weather conditions
As a beginner or novice hiker, you want your first hike to be as safe and conducive as possible. Make sure you keep a close tab on the weather forecast for the week that you will be travelling in. Mountain summits usually experience showers in the morning to afternoon time. Hiking trails generally run through the dense cover of trees and forests. It is advisable to avoid a hike in pouring rain and lightning in place of personal safety and visibility during this period.
Dress appropriately
There is no denying that at the end of the trek you are going to be sweaty and dirty. How and what you decide to dress in is directly proportional to how comfortable you find yourself during the hike towards your campsite.
Avoid cotton altogether as it is in its nature to stick to your skin once you start to sweat and become body-hugging, heavy and uncomfortable. It also takes a long time to dry out. Use materials like synthetic wool if it is cold or polyester as these fabrics are comfortable, light to wear and they do not absorb moisture as much as cotton. The best option is going for dry fit clothing which is outdoor friendly.
Responsibly explore the outdoors by respecting the wildlife, woods and nature while you are on your hike. Remember, what is a holiday or weekend getaway for you is home to many beings.
Author BIO
Yogi and Suchna believe in taking the road less traveled and stumbling upon some hidden gems along the way! For over a decade, they’ve mapped their way across various continents, sniffed out unusual routes, discovered new flavors and stayed at quirky hostels. TheBackpackerCo is their expression of soul travel.