I'll admit it. I'm a newbie when it comes to hiking, so these mistakes may make those knowledgeable seasoned hikers want to face palm. They're superior to the couch potato, who rarely sees outside their front door, and could tell you with ease which direction the sun rises and sets, which berries would mean certain death, and what side of a tree moss grows. As for us aspiring outdoors-men, we have a lot to learn, but learning from others mistakes can make for a smoother trail. And hey, maybe these tips will make it less intimidating for those couch potatoes to explore the great outdoors.
5. Ixnay on the Bug Spray I hate inhaling bug spray. Who doesn't? So often I brave the pesky insects on my own. Plus there are a lot of chemicals in bug sprays that aren't so good for you. But you know what else aren't so good for you? Bug bites and those nasty critters called ticks. I don't think I got a single mosquito bite on this trip but I frequently swatted at horse flies. The trail I hiked had many areas where you had to stomp through tall grass or bushes, the perfect environment for ticks. My husband had a good collection of them clinging to his legs (I think they preferred his manly hair) while I dealt with a little less. We stopped and picked them off along the way and also found more during our thorough check at home. My advice on this... brave the chemicals instead of the bugs. OR Have any of you tried a natural bug repellent while hiking? Did it work? 4. Dressed for a Run Looking at my attire you would think I was getting ready for my morning run. I sported a thin, spaghetti-strap tank top with those running shorts that seem to be the staple of a fraternity girl's wardrobe. I topped it off with my Mizuno running shoes and socks that went maybe 1 inch past my ankles. My reasoning? The tank top was made of thin breathable fabric, the shorts were comfortable and would keep me cool, the shoes we made for long walks and the socks would of course protect me from the ugly ticks! How could I be so wrong?! The shirt actually wasn't too bad (for this trip) but everything else was completely off. Wear longer pants and socks to help with ticks and try to wear shoes with good grip, I had a few scary slides on hills. 3. Skimped Out on Breakfast My husband and I value our sleep, but we also knew the drive to our destination and the trail itself would take awhile, so we needed an early start. We naturally squeezed in as much sleep as possible and rolled right out of bed and into the car, grabbing one of those breakfast bars along the way. Yes, those not as good for you as you think sugar loaded 10 grams of protein bars. Those weren't nearly enough to energize our poor bodies through the 2 hour drive and 3.5 hour hike. Don't get me wrong, we thought of snacks, but a measly packet of Crunchamame (roasted edamame, it's delicious!) was not enough. We also brought sandwiches for lunch which my husband couldn't get through 3 bites of. Your body isn't exactly in the mood to eat during a strenuous hike. Treat your body right and eat a good breakfast before your hike! 2. Underestimating Hills This trail had it's share of killer hills. From steep to subtle, after an hour of hiking every change in elevation was noticeable. With our bodies running on empty and drenched in sweat, seeing a hill in the distance called for mental preparation. I'm a pretty active person, I play roller derby and run occasionally. The thought of hills didn't worry me at all. That is until not even a third of the way into the hike the possibility of not making it to the top of a hill was believable. There were quite a few times I had to sit down at the top of a hill to catch my breath and quell the nausea. Hills are no joke. Make sure your body is fueled and your shoes are grippy! 1. Failing to Acknowledge the Importance of Hydration Last but certainly not least, the most foolish mistake of all. Not having enough water. We brought, drum roll please......4 bottles of water! To top it off they weren't normal sized bottles. One was a tall, skinny, GLASS (glass=heavy) bottle, one was a shorter glass bottle, and the last two were conveniently light, flimsy, plastic pouch sort of things that you could roll up when empty (super neat but don't carry nearly enough water). Not long into the hike we realized how much of a mistake we had made. We started to ration our water, saving the bottle with the electrolyte mix to get us through the final stretch. I remember a particular big gulp was so refreshing and rejuvenating it took all I had not to finish off the bottle. I feel like if we were properly hydrated, tackling those hills might have been a little easier. Make sure you drink plenty of water before, during, and after your hike. Bring more than you think you will need. I hope you learned something and don't make the same mistakes we did! Share your mistakes in the comments and we'll all be expert hikers in no time! Happy hiking!
2 Comments
I get up early. Eat a huge breakfast, take a lot of time talking about it. Plan plan plan! This part is the most important. Check over your list and go get all the important stuff which by the way is everything. By now it's lunch. Eat a huge high c
6/3/2014 11:48:51 pm
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Jessica
6/5/2014 02:15:25 am
So are you saying you prefer to hike early evening? Or are you saying you'd rather not go hiking and just say you did? If so, you're missing out on some great outdoor fun!
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“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.” - Helen Keller AuthorMy name is Jessica. I live in Louisiana. I love exploring the outdoors and sharing my experiences. Archives
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