Hiking is the preferred term, in Canada and the United
States, for a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails (footpaths), in the
countryside, while the word walking is used for shorter, particularly urban
walks. On the other hand, in the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland,
the word "walking" is acceptable to describe all forms of walking,
whether it is a walk in the park or backpacking in the Alps. The word hiking is
also often used in the UK, along with rambling (a slightly old-fashioned term),
hillwalking, and fell walking (a term mostly used for hillwalking in northern
England). The term "bushwalking" is endemic to Australia, having been
adopted by the Sydney Bush Walkers club in 1927. In New Zealand a long,
vigorous walk or hike is called tramping. It is a popular activity with
numerous hiking organizations worldwide, and studies suggest that all forms of
walking have health benefits.
Hiking Tips For Beginner
While SectionHiker is a backpacking blog, I also do an enormous amount
of day hiking and like it because it can be such a social experience.
Here are some tips that I provide day hikers who are just getting
started and contact me seeking advice, to set them on the right path.
1. Find a Group or Club to Hike With
The fastest way to become a good hiker is to hike with other people because it’s fun and motivating. If you live on the Atlantic seaboard there are many regional chapters of the Appalachian Mountain Club that lead frequent hikes you can join. The same goes with the Washington Trails Association and the Sierra Club on the west coast and throughout the country. Meetup.com is also a tremendous place to find local hiking groups, meet people, make hiking friends, and plan your own hiking adventures.
2. Hike once a Week at a Local Park
Day hiking takes practice and conditioning if you want to
build up to more strenuous and challenging hikes. Try hiking at least once a
week at a local park, either by yourself or as part of a group. You’ll develop
your footwork skills, get practice planning hikes, test out new gear, and build
up your physical endurance. It doesn’t matter where you hike, as long as you
hike. Make it easy on yourself and find a nice park with a few trails that
isn’t a big distance from your home. If you keep the barrier to going low,
you’re more likely to go.
3. Learn to Hydrate Properly
Beginner hikers often don’t carry enough water on hikes. Plan on carrying about 1 liter for every two hours, although this can vary based on time of year, weather conditions, your pace, body weight, and the difficulty of a hike. Learning how much water you need in these conditions is an important skill, so pay attention to what your body needs.
4. Find Comfortable Hiking Footwear
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