Hiking | Expect Experience

An Adventurer’s Dream

July 9, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

A waterbar in New York's Catskill Mountains. T...

Image via Wikipedia

A great way to stay in shape is to take up the hobby of hiking. Hiking can be a very enjoyable and relaxing activity, but it will also help you to stay in shape. Hiking in the great outdoors allows you to get some fresh air and to see wildlife in its natural environment.

Finding great places to hike isn’t very difficult. Most government parks include hiking trails. You can also check various websites that list hiking trails in your area. Take advantage of resources such as canada 411 to find hiking opportunities close to where you live.

You will want to make sure that the trails you choose are at or below your skill level. Some trails are designed for more experienced hikers and you should be aware of the skill level of a trail before you begin your hike.

Choosing the right trails is important, particularly if you are a little out of shape and need easier trails with little rough terrain and virtually no significant elevation. Once these trails become easier for you, it’s time to move to the more advanced option. Some of the more difficult trails may include hiking through forests, hills or even mountains.

The point of hiking is simple – to get or stay active, enjoy the great outdoors, and have fun. This is a family activity that even your children will enjoy. Use it as a learning tool to become educated about plants and animals and identify different types and species. The possibilities for fun while hiking are endless.

Is Hiking Only During the Summer?

May 9, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Windbeeches on the Schauinsland in Germany (Bl...

Image via Wikipedia

Hiking around in the great outdoors is a very common practice during the summer time, but a lot of people hang up their boots and take to other pursuits when the cold weather rears its ugly head. As sad as it is, a lot of people get all gloomy and end up skipping out on the winter, even though it’s one of the most beautiful seasons of the year for taking a long hike.

You can hike during the winter, but only if you know how. There are a lot of different aspects of hiking during the winter time that many summer time hikers never really think about. For one thing, you need to pack more calories into your snack schedule during the winter, because your body has to work harder to keep itself warm. For another thing, making sure your water doesn’t freeze up will be another issue. Speaking of water, obviously you can sweat during the winter time. But do you know how to properly layer your clothes, so that you can moderate how much you sweat as you exert yourself?

There are a lot of different components to winter hiking. Even the gear you use is different for this time of the year. Insulation and fabrics designed to wick away sweat are extremely useful in the cold, and keeping your feet dry is especially useful. Trench foot can cause serious damage at up to sixty degrees, even when you’ve only had wet feet for six hours or so. Before you venture out into the winter wonderland, make sure you know how to make it back from there safely.

Filed Under: All About Hiking, Seasonal Hiking Tagged With: Hiking, Outdoors, Weather

Why Outdoor Enthusiasts Need Insurance

February 21, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Trekking the North American outdoors is a popular recreational activity. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, looking up an insurance quote may not be the first thing that occurs to you when preparing for your next outdoor excursion. However, whether you will be hunting, fishing or hiking, the wilderness does present its risks. You want to be sure that you are protected in unexpected circumstances.

The Exciting Outdoors

Hiking a beautiful mountainous trail, fishing in a pond or hunting deer are ways to enjoy outdoor environments while getting exercise, relaxing and picking up some fish or deer meat for dinner. It’s common to focus on the positive aspects of getting away from the day-to-day routine and avoid thinking about what might possibly go wrong on such an excursion.

The Challenges of the Outdoors

Outdoor activities remove you from your daily, comfortable surroundings. Unless you live in the wilderness, you don’t come into contact with bears, snakes, alligators, wolves and mountain lions on a daily basis. You can learn how to keep yourself as safe as possible, but even so, that can of mace may not be enough of a protection to keep bears and other dangers away.

When spending time outdoors, you also deal with environmental and weather hazards. You might experience frozen ground leading to slipping and falling. Muddy terrain and unstable patches of ground can also cause accidents.

How Getting an Insurance Quote Can Help

Given all of the things that can potentially go awry in an outdoor trip, getting an insurance quote prior to your trip can give you assurance. There’s no telling what can happen when you’re out hunting deer. You have no control over a nearby novice gunman. Whether you’re dealing with unstable terrain, wild animals or rookie hunters, purchasing insurance prior to your trip can ultimately result in greater medical care and a savings to your wallet. With such precautions in place, you can relax and enjoy your outing.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Hiking, Hunting, Outdoor recreation

An Experience Under the Stars

February 8, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Image via Wikipedia

Camping outdoors, under the stars, enjoying the full moon image, and bonding with surrounding nature . . . a mountain vacation is indeed peaceful and almost spiritual to experience. There is no traffic, no interruptions, no “busyness” or other daily distractions to interfere with your vacation pursuit of solitude and perhaps even enjoying a different kind of physical fun, like hiking. Hiking is definitely a physically demanding sport, so be sure to adequately prepare for it with the proper gear, clothing, tools, fluids, and camping essentials to make your experience safe, fun, and full of wonderful memories.

Hiking and camping trips are ultra physical activities that also make for a good vacation. There are numerous places to try out your hiking instincts, and there is nothing like cooking bacon and brewing coffee over an open campfire! Imagine trekking in the mountains of the Himalayas, seeing the sights, experiencing the sounds, and inhaling that fresh mountain air as you scale that steep mountain or maneuver through those winding trails. A Himalayan adventure is just one option among many, with various other locations offering similar fun and excitement that you can’t wait to share with your family and friends!

But, even if they can’t be there with you when you stand on that mountain peak and bellow out through the valleys, you can still let them know you’re thinking about them by sending them a picture text or message. Or, for nostalgia and a more memorable keepsake, send postcards of the amazing sights and sounds that you experience in the mountains. They can keep those postcards to add to their scrapbooks, on their refrigerators, or on their desks at work. It’s a great idea to share your experience and is also a way to spark conversations as you reminisce about your visit and exciting events that occured while you were on vacation.

Filed Under: All About Hiking, Hiking Techniques Tagged With: Hiking, Himalaya, Mountain

The Triple Crown of Hiking

February 3, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Within the United States there are three internationally acclaimed hiking trails known as the Triple Crown of hiking: the Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. Each of these trails has its own unique topography and character. All three trails have been designated as National Scenic Trails under the National Trails System Act of 1968.

The Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail runs 2,175 miles through the Appalachian Mountains from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine, passing through Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. The Appalachian Mountains also form the geographic boundary between the Eastern Seaboard and the Midwest United States.

The terrain ranges from flat to areas that require the use of the hands to move forward or up. As the trail moves north, the terrain becomes more rugged. The average altitude is around 3,000 feet above sea level.

The Continental Divide Trail

The Continental Divide Trail is often called the “King of Trails” and is most challenging of the three national scenic trails. The trail stretches 3,100 miles from the Mexican border to the Canadian border making it the longest of the three. The Continental Divide Trail winds through the Rocky Mountains and a variety of other terrains in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.

Portions of the Continental Divide Trail are considered wilderness and as of 2004 slightly over 70 percent of the trail has been completely cleared for hiking.

The Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail differs from its two cousins in that it is a hiking and equestrian trail. The trail covers 2,650 miles from the U.S-Mexican border to the Canadian border at British Columbia, Canada, and passes through the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Cascade Range in California, Oregon and Washington.

An average of 300 hikers attempts to cover the entire length of the Pacific Crest Trail every season – less than the number of climbers that have climbed Mt. Everest.

Filed Under: All About Hiking, Seasonal Hiking Tagged With: AppalachianTrail, Hiking

Hiking in the Spring

January 29, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Springtime is one of the most beautiful times of the year. As the flowers begin to bloom and animals come out of hibernation, many people are excited to work off their winter pounds by hiking. Hiking in the spring has its own set of challenges and rewards.

If you have certain breathing problems, you need to keep them in mind while hiking. Problems with allergies tend to spike at this time of the year, and hiking can aggravate those problems. In particular, hiking in the woods can be exceedingly difficult. Flowers are in bloom, pollen is in the air, and animal fur is all over. These are all common allergy triggers, so be sure to take a non-drowsy allergy medication if you have allergies.

Temperatures during the springtime vary wildly. They can dip to the cooler temperatures of winter or creep up to summertime temperatures. Therefore, it’s important to keep an eye on the weather forecast and dress appropriately.

Springtime tends to bring higher precipitation levels than any other season. Therefore, it’s fairly likely that you’ll encounter rain or the aftermath of a rain shower on a spring hike. Be sure to wear hiking boots that can deal with the slickness that rain creates. Slipping on a rainy incline can lead to a broken ankle or worse; you need to have gear that can deal with that.

Similar to the risk of rain, early spring can be fairly dangerous. As winter snows melt, they can cause a rundown of moisture into hiking areas and cause slick or unsafe hiking conditions. The higher the elevation, the longer it takes for this to occur. Plan accordingly for runoff of melted snow and don’t hike where it may be dangerous.

With a reliable hiking partner and safe hiking gear, springtime can be one of the most rewarding times to go for a hike.

Filed Under: All About Hiking Tagged With: Allergy, Hiking

Hiking in the Winter

January 27, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

When the winter blues hit, there is little that helps more than some physical exercise. One of the best ways to get some exercise and shake off the depression is hiking. Although there is a bit more preparation required for winter hiking, it is definitely worth the extra work.

As you plan a winter hike, keep in mind the shorter days. Winter has the shortest days of the year, and with the short days come cold temperatures and heavy wind. Using the weather forecast, track the sunrise and sunset times for your area. Plan on finishing your hike well before the sun is expected to set. Not only will the sudden onset of nighttime leave you confused and with a poor sense of direction, it can also leave you exposed to the frigid cold.

Since you will be dealing with the cold and wind, you need to dress warm. Rather than dressing in two heavy, puffy layers, dress in lots of thin layers. Dressing too heavily for the winter can leave you sweaty and dehydrated. Wearing layers allows you to adjust your clothing to the fluctuating temperatures. Be sure to bring a hiking backpack that has enough space for your various layers.

Wintertime has the unfortunate side effect of ice. Ice can be incredibly dangerous to a hiker, since a slip in the woods could leave you vulnerable to the elements. It’s even more dangerous when there is snow on the ground, since the snow can mask the ice and give you a false sense of security.

Because of the increased physical dangers of ice and snow, it’s imperative that you hike with a partner. If one of you slips and gets hurt, there’s someone available to go get help and seek medical care.

Even if it’s not the most popular time to go hiking, winter is a great time to reconnect with nature and explore.

Filed Under: Seasonal Hiking Tagged With: Hiking, Wintertime

Hiking in the Fall

January 25, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

As the leaves change color and families return to their regular routines, hiking still fits in most schedules. Although everyone thinks of summer as the best season for hiking, fall is an equally wonderful choice.

First, the beginning of fall is a lovely time to hike. You still have the long days of summer but you also get the cooler temperatures. These cooler temperatures can take the edge off of a long hike and keep you from becoming drenched with sweat. Even as the days grow shorter, hiking is still a fun activity. The shorter days become cooler, allowing you to hike in areas that may have been too hot during the summer.

If you hike during the late part of fall, plan to start no earlier than 8 or 9 AM and to be done by 4 or 5 PM. The shorter days can lead to you being in the woods when the sun goes down. This change can leave you disoriented and confused, a very dangerous state for a hiker.

The cooler temperatures of fall mean that you need to take extra steps to stay warm. It is not typically as bitterly cold as the winter days that follow, but it can definitely get breezy. Dress in many layers when hiking. You never know what the weather will be throughout the hike, and it’s important to be able to dress and undress as you need to in order to remain comfortable.

It is highly recommended that you hike with a partner during the fall. Night can set in earlier than anticipated. If that should happen, it is imperative to have a partner that can help you get out of the woods and back to a safe area.

Hiking during the fall can be a fun and exhilarating experience as long as you stay safe and warm.

Filed Under: Seasonal Hiking Tagged With: Hiking, Recreation

Hiking in the Summer

January 22, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Once the kids are out of school and vacation hours can be used up, it’s time to go for a hike. Summer is one of the most popular seasons for hiking, since it’s warm and the days are longer. Use these tips to stay safe and have the most fun you can on your summer hiking trip.

First, plan your hiking trip around certain hours. Between 10 AM and 2 PM, the UV rays of the sun are the strongest and you are most prone to sunburn. Even if you are hiking in the woods and are under a cover of trees, the sun can still seep through and leave you with a painful sunburn. Hike early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Since the days are so long, you can safely wait until late in the afternoon to start your hike. Even in the off-peak hours, apply sunscreen.

Be sure to liberally apply bug and mosquito spray. Summer is bugs’ favorite season, and failing to use insect repellent can leave you with painful welts or bites. Bring the repellent with you so you can reapply throughout the day. As you sweat, you are likely to sweat off the repellent and leave yourself vulnerable to hungry insects.

Pack lots of water! The summer heat can be brutal all over the country, and it is very easy to get dehydrated due to sweat and heat. Bring lots of cool water; a great way of saving space is packing the water in collapsible bottles. The bottles stand up like a regular bottle when full. Once you are done, however, they collapse to lie flat and save space in your hiking backpack.

With these tips, it’s incredibly simple to have the time of your life on a summer hiking trip. Stay safe, hydrated, and protected from the sun.

Filed Under: Seasonal Hiking Tagged With: Hiking, Recreation

Picking a Hiking Backpack

January 20, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Image via Wikipedia

There’s a reason that the phrase “taking a hike” can be used to refer to breakups; both things involve a lot of packing and moving. Hiking involves lots of equipment, including water, layers of clothing, boots, and safety tools. Investing in a high-quality backpack is very important for protecting your equipment and making your hike more efficient.

Categorizing a hiking backpack involves many different factors, including the type of frame and the size of the backpack. Some backpacks are frameless. In the frame backpacks, there are two additional types. A hiking backpack can have either an external frame or an internal frame.

Internal frame backpacks tend to be more popular amongst hikers. They are considerably more flexible than backpacks with external frames, so they can expand to hold more equipment or compress slightly if there is less to carry. External frame backpacks also sit further from the body because of their rigid structure. Internal frame backpacks hug the body better, so they are more comfortable to carry and they improve your balance.

A splash cover is important for any hiking backpack. Since hiking backpacks aren’t waterproof, a splash cover can be put on the hiking backpack to protect the equipment that could be ruined by water.

In order to ensure that you’ve chosen the right backpack, you should go to a hiking or sports store and try several different kinds. You’ll be wearing the backpack for long stretches of time, and it is imperative that the backpack doesn’t strain your back or cause pain. To test it, wear the backpack around the store. Note if it pulls at your shoulders or causes you to walk unnaturally.

By evaluating your hiking needs and ensuring a comfortable fit, you can pick out the best hiking backpack for your gear. It’s a big investment, but it’s one that will last you for many years.

Filed Under: All About Hiking Tagged With: Backpack, Hiking

An Adventurer’s Dream

Is Hiking Only During the Summer?

Why Outdoor Enthusiasts Need Insurance

An Experience Under the Stars

The Triple Crown of Hiking

Hiking in the Spring

Hiking in the Winter

Hiking in the Fall

Hiking in the Summer

Picking a Hiking Backpack

Categories

Recent Posts