If you ever find yourself asking, “Should I stay or should I go?” when it comes to a hike, do like the British people did with their Brexit vote. Go!
If you’re still reflecting, as The Clash’s hit song does, “If I go there will be trouble, and if I stay it will be double,” then, no worries.
A generous payback awaits, making any trouble it takes to go on a hike more than worthwhile.
How so, you ask? Well, let’s see…
First, there are things to plan and arrange when it comes to going on a hike. You’ve got to know where you’re going, at least in a general sort of way. Will you hike a well-travelled nature path in a nearby park, or will you choose a lonely and rugged trail better suited to the adventurous wanderer? No matter what kind of hike you decide upon, it’s a good idea to tell someone what your plans are, including who you are going with and when you plan to be back. That way the people who love you can arrange for a rescue party in the event you don’t return… ahem, just like I had to do several summers ago when my husband and stepson had an unexpected mountain sleepover.
Our entire family learned from this experience. If you insist on wearing shorts on a hike, pack along a pair of blue jeans. At least one bright orange garbage bag per person tucked away in your knapsack will help keep your hiking party warm at night, dry in the rain, and help searchers find you more easily. Of course, there are more precautions a hiker can take, but I’ll leave that for the experts to explain.
I can, though, tell you from experience that good hiking boots can make all the difference when it comes to feeling confident and comfortable on the trail. Personally, I prefer the high-top style of boots, as the extra ankle support makes it easier to steady yourself on rough terrain or when maneuvering over fallen trees. Back when I was young and foolish, I once chewed up a gorgeous pair of brown suede Adidas running shoes from traversing a scree slope of very sharp and very loose rock. It was an expensive error of judgment, and I was lucky to have not twisted an ankle or worse.
Most recently, and thanks to my local library’s hiking group — the Sheep River Ramblers, out of the Sheep River Library — I have come to learn about hiking poles. I thought they would be clunky and awkward, but au contraire. Instead of reaching for an often non-existent tree branch for balance in precarious situations, now I just depend on my always-convenient poles. The poles also give me a little push on my way uphill, and provide badly needed support for shaky knees as I head back down. With my poles shedding 20 years off my “hiking” age, I feel like a frisky nanny goat!
A strong pot of coffee and a hearty breakfast will get your hike off to a great start. But, you’ll still need to pack a lunch-to-look-forward-to and high-energy snacks to refuel along the way. While water is most important, I am learning from my fellow Ramblers that chocolate is pretty high on the list of necessities, too.
Finally, you need to plan time in your schedule for hiking. This might be the hardest thing of all to do, but it’s worth it. The smell of pine in the air, the noisy splashing of a creek, the unexpected views, and the total peace and quiet punctuated by birdsong make all the trouble and effort involved in preparing for a hike all worthwhile. In Japan and other crowded urban areas, they call this “forest bathing” and pay a lot of money for it. Here we call it a hike. Other than initial costs for equipment, gas to get to the trailhead, and food to pack in your knapsack, it’s pretty much free. There are always guided hikes too, and often at a reasonable cost, to help you discover all that nature has to offer.
No matter which trail you choose, hiking is a great way to rejuvenate your spirit and reconnect with the natural world. Going to the trouble to take a hike—now that’s in our best interest!
For more in your best interest, follow Sheelagh @sheesays or visit www.ideagarden.net.
