Tips for Hiking and Camping
- on 02.10.09
- Hiking Gear
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More and more people today enjoy the simple, wholesome fun of hiking. hiking is an affordable, yet healthy and emotionally rewarding way to spend a vacation or a long weekend and you don’t need to visit a travel agent.
Experienced hikers will always tell you that every detail matters when you pack hiking gear, especially tents and camping stoves. The right hiking accessories and clothing, a properly and ergonomically packed backpack, positive mood and good fitness all these elements play an equally important role in the success of any hiking trip.
hiking boots are the most important part of your hiking gear. The right footwear will serve you longer and take you farther and safer than any training shoes or sneakers will. You can wear a cheaper pair of pants or an old t-shirt, but a good reliable pair of hiking shoes or boots should be as expensive as you can afford.
Many people consider their jackets as another important clothing item for a hiker, especially in the colder periods of the year. A hiking jacket can be a true lifesaver if you choose well. A Gore-Tex top layer will shield you from cold, wet, and windy weather. Many hiking jacket manufacturers use a layering approach in their jackets, so that an outer shell layer becomes not insulation, but goes over insulating clothing. Underneath a Gore-Tex layer your can wear a lightweight and even trendy fleece jacket, which you can use in warmer months and for other sporting activities too.
Light weight towels should also one of your accessories
hiking tents are a must if you plan to camp in mountain regions in all three hiking seasons - spring, summer, and fall. hiking tents can be used for protection from storms, winds, small animals and insects. Along with a tent pack a sleeping bag and an insulating ground pad which also brings warmth as well as ironing out bumpy ground.
A lightweight, dependable back packing stove is much easier to use than campfires which are often prohibited in certain areas. A camping stove manufactured by such trustworthy brands as Primus and Coleman are basically a fuel container and a fire faucet with burner grates. These grates can collapse for compact storage. More expensive models even have electronic ignition so you won’t need matches or lighter. Although it is always a good idea to pack matches anyway in case of ignition failure. Another version of a camping stove is a storm cooker which basically consists of a spirit burner with windshield and handle and a pot or pan for cooking. These stoves are lightweight because you don’t need a propane container, but are sufficient for one or two people only.
The newest models of camping stoves are environmentally friendly, odor-free, and very accommodating. To cook and eat take a pot, spoon, and a cup. To start the camping stove, if you don’t have an ignition feature, lighters are more reliable than matches. Take more fuel than you initially planned camping stoves “eat” more fuel in cold weather.
To fully enjoy your hiking trip you must prepare beforehand. Even a small mistake in selecting your hiking equipment may result in an injury or at the least in discomfort and a negative experience. Check and fire up your camping stove while still at home and double check your hiking gear and equipment using a hiking checklist before you head out.
If you have any questions regarding Hiking and Camping Projects feel free to visit our site UltraLightTowels.com
Sanjay
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Hiking Tips (day time hike, not like camping)?
i know its hot and humid out, but i need the excercise. what can i eat before hand? what kind of snacks should i pack? i know to bring plenty of water and good shoes, but what else should i take?
im going to a trail in the county park
ive never been very athletic, but really need to get into shape, and i think this would be fun (i know exhausting too, i have done it twice when i was younger and in better shape)
but what should i do to prepare?
haha, where would i get speed?
Speed…it gives you so much energy.
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Great for you! Hiking is such a good workout.
Start slow, go at whatever pace you feel comfortable at, take breaks in the shade.
Bananas are great, help reduce cramping. Be careful about granola and trail mix. Some of those can be fattening, and do more harm than good. I usually bring a granola bar or two…but I suggest that you buy them in a health food store, so you aren't getting more junk when your intent is to work it off.
A simple pbj usually works wonders. Make sure your bread is high in fiber…you know, the healthy stuff! Or pb and honey. Whatever your taste is. You don't really need to eat on a short hike though, and I suspect that is what you are after (less than an hour). Just carry something small for "just in case".
Now, if you are going up a mountain for five hours, bring lunch and dinner!!
Just go have fun! Bring a camera for any critters or cool flowers you find.
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Bring a good bug spray
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Eat trail mix along the trail while you're hiking. Never stop and gorge yourself with large amounts of food in one sitting. Drinking plenty of water is far more important than eating. Keep in mind, your body uses up more water to digest food. And never eat when you're out of water. A good trail mix like GORP (Good Ole Raisins & Peanuts) will supply your body with carbs and protein. Without the proper amount of carbs and protein, your body will start to break down amino acids in your mucsles and turn them into sugar to be burned as energy.
For dayhikes, always carry a small first aid kit or blister kit. And always take a map and compass.
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