Hiking Trail Tips
Hitting the hiking trails can be exhilarating and an experience you want to have on a regular basis. But if you haven’t done a lot of hiking before, you’ll want to keep a few tips in mind before you hit the trails. You want the experience to be as pleasant as possible so it will be something you’ll want to do again and again—especially if you have easy access to those trails within your community. Here are a few tips to get you started off on the right foot.
Tip 1: Start Easy On Your Fitness Level
There are a variety of trails out there and while some are easy, others can be quite a challenge. If you’re just starting out, start with something on the flat side that has a short distance and work your way up from there. Once you accomplish some easier trails, you’ll have the confidence to go deeper on longer, harder trails. You’ll enjoy the landscape no matter what.
Tip 2: Watch The Weather
While San Diego County has more sunny days than cloudy days, you never know what might be coming a few hours later. You’ll want to dress right or avoid storms completely so check the weather forecast and hour-by-hour details before you head out ill prepared.
Tip 3: Pack The Essentials
You don’t need to have a large overnight bag with everything but the kitchen sink for a short hike, but you should take a few essentials like water, perhaps a trail mix or snack bar, a map of where you’re going, and items of those natures.
Tip 4: Go For Comfortable Shoes
It’s nice to look good, but when you’re hiking around the woods, does it really matter? Leave the fashionable boots and jeans at home and go for something purely comfortable. You’ll be a lot more comfortable with moisture-wicking clothing and socks that are not made out of cotton. Wear hiking shoes and break them in before you hit a long trail.
Tip 5: Leave No Trace
As you are out on the hiking trails, the most important rule or piece of etiquette you can follow is to leave no trace. You need to leave the trail as you found it. If you finish you water bottle, take it with you. If you eat your granola bar, stick the wrapper in your pocket. Respect the trail, the others who use it, and the wildlife who make the area their home. You should also respect the peace and quiet within nature. If you want to play music while you hike, fine. Just bring your headphones along and blast the music into your own ears.
Enjoying Hiking Trails To Their Fullest
Before you take on that first hike, you need to prepare and fuel up on water and carbs and protein. Study the trails within the parks in San Elijo Hills to see which ones look like a good starting point. Don’t worry, once you get into the hiking thing, you can cover them all in turn eventually. You might even run into others in the community that share your passion and can walk alongside you at times.
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