You interested in hiking? You do not know where to start?
Forget ploughing through webpages or magazines looking at hike venues or locations. Start in understanding what is required for yourself based on your knowledge, or no knowledge of what hiking entails. Skill yourself before you embark on a hike!
Health
Are you ‘reasonably’ fit? Do you have any medical conditions or physical differences? You could be easily misled if you read a news article sharing how a person that has a specific disability managed to hike easily. A hike is not the same for everyone. There are instances where people that allowed their pride or shame in choosing not to disclose a physical and/or medical condition led them to be stranded on terrain or a hill that made the descent an almost impossible individual task. As an example, if a ‘hiker’ experiences breathing difficulties higher up a hill, aside from resting and hoping to recover, it may be likely that the hiker may not be able to walk down even with the aid of other walkers. And encouraging the affected hiker to attempt going down may be disastrous or even fatal. A safer bet would be to get fit on a treadmill or ‘measured’ walking in a park or on flat ground. Consult your doctor if you are uncertain. You want to be satisfied your health is in good order.
Interest
What is your purpose of a hike? Is this a flight of fancy or something more committal? Explore what is driving your interest. Is it a curiosity because you watched an adventure programme, a movie? Or you heard amazing stories from friends, relatives or even professional hikers? Or did you read an article how skills saved a hiker from the brink of death or from a travel magazine? You need to first determine why you are doing it. Then question what sort of commitment you have that is going into this health and wellness activity. And whatever is driving your interest, you will need to be mindful that this is a physical, and also a mental activity. Our physical tolerances and dexterity are twinned by our mental capacity and courage to overcome extreme pain and environmental conditions, where no amount of advanced planning can be accounted for when we journey and face Mother Earth.
TreK
There are many hike trails, journeys and venues. Different locations provide varying experiences of physical fitness, scenery, water obstacles, slippery slopes, fauna, wildlife (do not fear as some wildlife have become accustomed to human presence or at times, interference), damp (due to rainfall or falling into a water patch), and a myriad of other visual, auditory, and physical sensations. The maiden trek has to be one of sense and sensibility. Do not assume the first hike as an easy one. No hike is easy or difficult the first time. What is important is to select a hike that aligns with your physical ability and capacity – two very different nouns with very different outcomes. It is advisable to go on a maiden hike with a group of hikers that have some level of experience. And do not plan a hike party or trip with long lost friends. Some of you might end up in the forest, lost! The trek is a journey; not a race. Take it in your stride and discover more about yourself during this venture. And learn how to use the available equipment, if any, in your trek. There are some very courageous folks that go on a seeming walk, and end up in a torturous state. Some get lost or suffer injuries. Research your treks – a hike is to be enjoyed.
Equipment
In leisure hiking, get some decent hiking shoes. It does not necessarily have to be waterproof, but it has to have firm grip. If you are not ready to invest in hiking clothing, then wear a pair of jeans and a long sleeve cotton shirt. You might even protect your head with a cap or bucket hat, and aid your jaunt with a walking stick or wooden pole. But if you are intent in making hiking a long term commitment, then head to a good shop that sells outdoor walking clothing. You will need walking trousers & shirts, shoes (preferably waterproof), a cap or bucket hat, an adjustable pole, and a backpack to house a host of other items. Invest time in researching what is required for the long term as a hiker.
It is important that you do not associate hiking as casual walking. In hiking, the terrain and forestry can be vastly different and may consume one mentally. Effective planning is crucial in avoiding mishaps. The hike is to be enjoyed. And most importantly, a hike is not the same for everyone.
