Planning and Preparation for Your Hiking Trip

Whether your an experienced hiker are a novice to the outdoor adventures of hiking, all good hikers should share one common trait – great planning skills. Planning a hiking trip is critical to make sure that all members of the hike remain safe and have a good time. We wouldn't want anyone to get hurt or fall on their face or anything!

When planning a hiking trip, the first thing that you are going to want to figure out are the more obvious things, such as your destination, the amount of time you have or want to spend on the trip, and what kind of shape you are in. Once you have these things figured out, the next step is to decide how many miles you want to cover. Now, it's time to bust out your map and plan your route and the length of your hiking journey. You want to make sure that you have all of the appropriate maps, guidebooks, and all relevant information you can find about the landscape. This will help you to take into consideration the difficulties, challenges, and/or relatively easy aspects of your hike which will impact your pace and thus the distance you will be able to cover on your hiking trip. Another thing to consider at this point, is your target campsites and/or

resting points for shorter trips. Also, you must remember to consult all of those involved in the trip, and their abilities, so you can all agree on the basics of the trip and make realistic goals for the trip. Also, if you haven't been hiking in a while, or this is your first hike, you should probably train a little bit in the weeks before. This may include some walking of trails near the house or at a public park, or even some running and/or stair climbing or related activities to help and/or resting points for shorter trips. the body prepare for your adventure. Being in good physical shape and cardiorepiratoy health will serve to benefit all hikers.

Next, you should probably consult any professionals or those involved with management of the trails that you plan to hike. Some areas require special permissions to hike or permits that you must obtain before hiking, while other areas are open to the general public. It is best to know all you can about an area before just going out and “wingin” it. These professionals, or management agents, may also be able to give you a good idea of the hiking conditions that you will encounter on you trip including weather and/or otherwise unforeseeable conditions of which you may need to be aware.

Next, make a gear list and consult others when making your list. Those with prior experience in hiking the area that you are planning are a great source of information. Once you have your gear list, use it to pack. Have that list at your side, and check the items off as you pack so you do not accidentally forget to pack something. It would be terrible to find yourself out in the deep wilderness on a cold night without your sleeping bag, don't ya think? One thing that I have learned in my hiking experience is to bring a pencil and paper, along with your gear list, with you on your trip. This way you can make note of things that you may want to bring next time, or want to leave home next time that may or may not have been on your gear list. It's almost like revising draft when writing. Another thing to consider at this point is talking with your hiking partner or group about sharing equipment. If you can share equipment among you, this is a great way for all of you to lose some unnecessary weight in your packs. Carrying a lighter pack is always nice on those long hikes.

At this point, and maybe even before you pack for the final time, make a grocery list and get your food. As with your gear, sharing food and buying light food, such as oatmeal or noodles that you can cook will help to keep your pack weight low. Another consideration may be to buy dehydrated or freeze-dried food. Many of these meals are very nutritional and provide the calories and energy needed for a good hike and are light-weight.

Now once you are packed, you know where and when you are going, you have your directions (if you need them), you have discussed the plan with your hiking team/partner, you all have agreed, and you know how long you will be gone for, and all other aspects of your trip, you only have two things left to do. Be safe, and HAVE FUN!!!