So you’re interested in taking your first hike, wonderful! Although you don’t really need a guide to get started, here are some useful tips that I wish I knew when I was first starting off. Remember, everyone is different so make sure to modify as you see fit!
Bring enough water. The last thing you want to do is run out of water on the trail like I did… learn from my mistakes and pack in more water than you think you’ll need. It’s always better to have more than less.
Bring snacks to get you through the hike. Having snacks boosts energy and moral – trust me! Not sure what to pack? Check out my favorite hiking snacks.
Hike with friends whenever possible. It is always safer to hike with someone than alone in case of emergencies. Having an extra set of eyes to spot things, and some witty banter along the trail always is a nice addition to the trek.
Make sure to have a map and scope out your trails before starting. You can easily get turned around as some trails aren’t as well marked as others, so having a physical copy of a map or a photo on your phone is the best way to go. Sometimes trails have cell service, other times you are in the middle of nowhere so having a photo or physical copy will give you access no matter where you wander. I also recommend have a small compass on you just in-case you get turned around. You can easily pick up a small key-chain and clip it on your pack or to your car keys and reference it when necessary.
Check the weather prediction before hitting the trail. Weather can change rapidly so you want to be prepared. Dress in layers, if you start early enough it’ll get warmer throughout the day and if you’re moving and grooving you’ll want to have layers to remove to remain cool. Comfort on the trail really helps the overall enjoyment of the hike. With that being said, rain gear – A nice rain jacket will make all the difference. They make specialty hiking or outdoorsy rain jackets that have built in ventilation so you don’t over heat while hiking. Staying dry will make or break your hike if you come across unsuspected rainfall.
Having the proper footwear. So you tried out hiking and decided that you wanted to invest in better footwear for the trails. If possible, try to go to a store and try on some boots before buying. I wore the wrong size hiking boots for several years. When I got off the trail my feet hurt for days after. I just thought that that’s the way it was when you’re slamming your toes on the edge of the boot when doing an incline. It doesn’t have to be that way! And before you get on me for being so naive, I have large feet. Finding the proper footwear for woman’s size 11 is insanely hard. If you didn’t know, after size 11 in women’s shoes, there are no half sizes. So I have to choose between a snug size 11 or a way too big size 12. It took years of trying to find shoes that were right for me. I eventually gave up on women’s sizing, went to an outdoor store, started trying on men’s hiking boots, and finally found the right size. A men’s 9.5. This completely changed hiking for me. It felt like I was walking on clouds. And I am still delighted to put on these shoes whenever I hit the trail. If your hiking shoes don’t feel like this and it’s uncomfortable on declines or any other aspects of the trail I highly highly recommend going and getting fitted at a store. And if you’re worried about style, don’t worry. Most hiking boots men and women’s look the same. Plus I always gravitated towards darker colors cause they’re going to get muddy anyway.
Be aware of what local animals are in the environment you’re hiking in. Look into the bear population, moose, rattlesnakes (they are also located on the east coast) and other wild animals. Doing a little research in the area that you are hiking in to find out what animals inhibit it will just come in handy in the off case that you do encounter a wild animal. It’s also just fun being able to spot and name animals/animal tracks along the hike! I recommend staying alert while hiking so you can keep your eyes and ears open for animal sounds. This is good information to keep in the back of your mind – here’s my quick guide for animal encounters.
Wear sunscreen and bug spray. Ticks are awful creatures and carry diseases. If you can avoid a bite, the better. Most people use a Deet product. That is controversial because it’s a heavy chemical and most people don’t want that on their skin. Fair enough. Some things I do to prevent putting deet on my skin is, I spray only my clothing. I wear long pants and hiking socks. My go to is leggings so it’s easy enough to tuck the pants into the socks without looking too extreme and it mostly keeps the creepy crawley’s off my legs. After each hike, when you go to take a shower, check yourself over or have someone else help, to see if you picked up any buggies. If they bit, remove them – I use a tick key as you want to make sure to remove the head of the tick cause that can separate and get stuck in your skin, gross – and keep an eye on that area for the next couple of days. If you see any sign of a ring go to the doctors immediately to get it checked out.
Pack tissues. I always forget and wish I packed them. So be better than me and remember. They will come in handy if you sneeze, touch something sticky, or your snacks get a little too messy.
Bring a camera! Trails are stunning and you’ll find so many cool things along the forest floor which you might want to capture. This totally isn’t necessary but I love it and you just might too!
Lastly, start off on smaller trails with less elevation change and work your way up to tackle more challenging trails!
You got this!
