Hiking is a fun, relaxing way to experience the great outdoors with friends and family, or even by yourself. Hiking is an enjoyable pastime and a good way to stay healthy and happy, as it presents ample opportunity to get fresh air, sunshine, and exercise. It is healthy not only for your body, but also your mind and spirit. More importantly, it is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the outdoors. Leave your worries about time, work and other stressors far behind and reawaken your sense of wonder.
Whether you want to go deep into the mountains or stay closer to home, the places to go are numerous; many state and national parks offer broad networks for trails, as does national forest land.You will feel the sense of accomplishment when you realize that your legs reach the end of journey. There’s always something enchanting about the forest and finding new trails that lead to unknown corners.
“When you’re dressed for success, hiking is a great total-body workout,” says Michael Bednarz, DPM, FACFAS, a podiatric surgeon at Piedmont. “It strengthens the large muscles in your body, while stimulating the feel-good chemical hormones of adrenaline and endorphins that boost your mood and energy levels.”
If you’ve never hiked before, you might feel intimidated by the idea. Transported by your two feet and carrying what you need for the day on your back, you can find the beauty of nature at whatever pace. And, with a little planning and preparation, it’s an activity that almost anyone can do. Here are some suggestions.
First, find a hiking partner with you.
Hiking on your own can be lots of fun. You can get to spend the time alone and get to learn about the real you. However, I’m suggest you to find a hiking buddy or partner. Ask any of your close friends or family with enough hiking experience and knowledge to accompany you. You may also go hiking with strangers. If you don’t know any hikers, many cities and towns have hiking clubs that regularly plan outings.
Second, choose right hiking gear
Hiking is a learning experience, and so is packing for it. We always want to carry all the items we think we need and sometimes forget to take something we really need.
Start by making a hiking essentials list to avoid forgetting something. The hiking essentials list should include items for navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first aid, fire, repairs, nutrition, hydration and emergency shelter.
There's nothing quite like getting a mile or two into the wilderness, then finding that your phone is almost dead. That’s why you need to carry a iWALK portable charger with you. It’s a short distance of hiking, so it’s not necessary for you to take a big and heavy portable charger ,a mini power bank is suitable for you.
iWALK mini power bank is small and can plug into your phone directly to charge. And this cute power bank is an upgraded version based on the previous one. It have more capacity and can see how much the power left through the screen.
Third, stay hydrated and take some food
As a beginner hiker, you may not feel the need to drink much water. Even if you're not going far, you'll never regret having a bottle of water along. Hiking gives us a rush of adrenalin from discovering new places which is wonderful for mental well-being. To hike successfully, make sure you stay adequately hydrated. Don’t stop drinking when you stop hiking. You should continue to intake fluids even after completing the hike to replenish water and electrolyte loss.
A good general recommendation for how much to eat is 200–300 calories per hour. It’s always a good idea to carry a little extra food and water in case your trip takes longer than anticipated.
Forth, wear right clothes for hiking
What you wear on your hike will have a significant impact on your experience. Choose clothing made of quick-drying, moisture-wicking fabrics, such as wool or polyester. Avoid cotton, which takes a long time to dry when wet. It’s wise to carry a waterproof jacket no matter the weather forecast. If you’re expecting wet weather, bring the rain pants along, too.
If you can walk, you can hike.
If you’ve dreamed of hiking, but have yet to try it, it’s time to get out there.
