| Assess Your Hiking Abilities | | | | involves a slow and steady process. Having this in |
| Abilities needed for hiking are not just limited to | | | | mind, it is best to set activities for training that are |
| physical abilities. While physical stamina, strength and | | | | realistic and attainable. Every time a goal is reached, it |
| endurance are needed in order to withstand the | | | | is strongly encouraged to make the next goal a |
| challenges of hiking, mental preparedness is also | | | | notch higher. |
| needed in dealing with unavoidable circumstances. | | | | You can start off by setting short hikes on regular |
| In other words, assessing and evaluating physical and | | | | intervals. Ideal starting distance is 1-3 miles which can |
| mental abilities are essential in preparing for a | | | | be done once or twice a week, provided that it's |
| beginner's first hiking trip. | | | | done under favorable weather conditions. The ideal |
| Assessing one's physical abilities starts with identifying | | | | place to start would be your home, of course. That |
| one's capacities and limitation. There are a number of | | | | way, you can make sure that you can come home |
| factors that need to be considered - most of which | | | | before the sun sets. |
| are beyond the hiker's control. Factors such as | | | | From there, you can steadily increase your hiking |
| altitude, weather and terrain conditions are just some | | | | distance every after a couple of weeks until you've |
| of them. | | | | reached 9 miles. |
| Aside from assessing one's physical and mental | | | | Once you've reached 9 miles, you can now consider |
| abilities, Identifying technical experience related to | | | | carrying a small backpack, which you will need to |
| hiking also helps in planning for the appropriate hiking | | | | carry some snacks and drinks. |
| trip. Compass navigation and knowledge about | | | | By maintaining your hiking distance, you can now |
| camping are just some of the technical abilities that | | | | gradually increase the weight of your backpack until |
| help prepare a hiker more efficiently. | | | | you've reached 22 lbs. |
| Being mentally stable is an important requirement in | | | | For a few more weeks, just maintain the 9 mile |
| hiking. While the challenges involved in hiking are | | | | hiking distance while carrying a 22-lb load on your |
| unpredictable, knowing how to deal with them | | | | back. |
| without being fazed and rattled all the more increases | | | | Note that a flat terrain is very much different from a |
| the success of the hiking trip. A beginner in hiking | | | | hiking terrain. Having this in mind, when you have |
| then is advised to assess himself on how he deals | | | | established that you're able to steadily hike on the |
| with such uncertainties. Note that hiking obstacles | | | | recommended distance and load, you can now start |
| involve a lot of unforeseen situations - from getting | | | | venturing on more challenging terrains slowly and |
| lost in the trail, to encountering accidents such as a | | | | gradually. |
| twisted ankle - and so on. | | | | Muscle aches, skin irritation and blisters are common |
| Once you have identified your areas for | | | | problems in hiking. So, just make sure you do it |
| improvement in hiking it is recommended that you | | | | steadily, gradually and with presence of mind. It |
| start getting into shape and turn those weaknesses | | | | would be giving false hopes if one were to say that |
| into strengths. | | | | such mishaps can be avoided. Truth is, these |
| Now, you ask, how does a beginner in hiking get into | | | | accidents are inevitable in hiking. It is for such reasons |
| shape? | | | | that physical and mental preparation should be done |
| Note that the key to getting in shape for hiking | | | | prior to the hiking trip. |