How do I prepare before I go on any hike?
Do you know the ground steps before heading out into the wild? If not, you will find them below!
People are heading outdoors more often these days than in years past, thanks in part to the Coronavirus pandemic that has caused a massive boom in outdoor activities. People go to nature to relax, calm the flow of their thoughts, visit familiar places, climb a peak, compete with others for the number of kilometers they have pedaled, etc. Unfortunately, people often forget that nature has great power, can be dangerous, and should not be underestimated.
This is not due to people having no idea how dangerous nature can be, but rather that they think nothing can happen if they go into nature behind a house or drive to a parking lot somewhere and go into the woods for 3 hours.
Unfortunately, because most people live in the city, we quickly forget how conditions can change in nature, and because people don’t have enough experience, they often underestimate the situation.
I certainly don’t want to discourage people from stopping going to the wilderness, nature is too magical for that, but I want to point out that nature lives by its own rules. So let’s look at some intuitive rules that we can implement that will increase our safety.
These tips are designed for longer periods spent in nature, but you can also use them if you go to walk in the woods behind your house.
1. Weather forecast
The most important aspect is definitely checking the weather forecast for the time you will be outdoors. Nowadays it’s a matter of about 20s and it can make your time in the outdoors a lot easier. Forecasts for several days can be inaccurate but if you look at the forecast in the morning before the hike it is 90% correct.
The first thing we look at is the temperature, then in today’s apps, you can additionally see the strength of the wind, when it starts raining if there is fog, and so on.
From what the weather is going to be like we decide on the length of the hike, where we’re going to go, how we’re going to dress, and so on! So don’t forget this step, it will save you a lot of grumbling and problems!
2. Clothes
After you find out what the temperature and general weather will be, you need to choose appropriate clothing. The most important part is the shoes. Get ones that are comfortable but with good soles. There are plenty of trekking shoes on the market, you just have to choose. Please don’t go outdoors in clogs, high boots, vans shoes (and similar), and don’t go in sneakers in winter. You will laugh, but I meet enough people in these shoes. If they report rain take some waterproof ones (for example with Gore-tex).
Next, you will find that the weather will be cooler in the afternoon and you know you will still be hiking take a jacket, pants, etc in your pack. If they report rain it’s handy to have anything to change into.
Don’t go outdoors in jackets, dresses, and similar stylish pieces, it doesn’t belong outdoors and here you won’t impress anyone with a new fashion trend! (again you will smile at why he mentions this, but again during my travels, not many people go out in these clothes)
The weather forecast and appropriate clothing are absolutely crucial for a good outdoor experience.
3. Check your phone’s battery status
In terms of today’s world, the mobile phone is an important part of the everyday world, and while you should minimize mobile use in the outdoors, it’s also a great helper and sometimes a lifesaver.
If you get lost on a hike you turn on your GPS and know exactly where you are, if you get hurt -> you call for help, if you lose a colleague -> you call him/her. Also how many kilometers you have left, where you left your car, and so on. For these reasons, it’s good to have a charged mobile phone.
For me personally, he has saved me many times in bad weather when I thought I was lost and also when I did luxation of my collarbone on my bike and needed someone to come to my rescue.
So make sure your phone is charged.
4. Mention to someone that you’re going somewhere
If you decide to go on the trip alone, you should mention it to your loved ones or at least mention to a friend that you are going there or thereabouts. And that’s in terms of if something happens to you or you overexert yourself, collapse, etc. and you haven’t checked that your cell phone is dead, it’s good to let someone know where you intended to go so that a subsequent search can narrow down the area where you might be.
This step seems like a trivial one, and if you are going somewhere where a lot of people go, it may not be that important, but if you decide to go somewhere where 2 people a week go, you should consider it. It could save your life.
5. Check the route
An important step if you’re going on a new trail you’ve never been on before and you want to make sure you’re physically fit enough to do it, or that your partner can do it, try entering it into whatever app you’re using and roughly estimate what elevation and how many kilometers you’re going to have to cover.
There have been many times over the years that people have not estimated their fitness and rescuers have had to pick these people up.
In my own experience, there have been a few times when it looked like a short distance on the map and it was only a few kilometers, but I didn’t estimate the elevation gain that was ahead and subsequently had a hard time just from my indiscretion.
Do not underestimate this step!
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You can look forward to more information about the outdoors, world trails, and different apps to help you learn about the outdoors.
Have a great day and don’t forget to take a walk!
