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Healthy Hiking
Hiking for Fun and Fitness
By Tamar Weiss
Endless wonders of nature await anyone who will just take the time to notice them. How simple it seems to don a sturdy pair of shoes and walk out into the great outdoors. And it is that simple.
Hiking in the open-air is an exercise for both body and spirit. Set upon such an adventure and you may awaken an inner peace, solitude, rejuvenation and appreciation of earth's glory, feelings that lay buried beneath worries and tasks. Minimal planning and expenditure (if any) are all that are keeping you from unloading everyday burdens and embracing the world of nature.
"Hiking is a sport which anyone in reasonable physical condition can do," says Bill Greer, founder of GORP.com.
Depending on the hike you set out on, Greer says you will need appropriate shoes (good walking shoes for easier hikes and sturdy hiking boots for longer, rockier ones). "You may want a daypack for carrying water, food and foul weather clothing," he says.
Of key importance, explains Julia Hooper, a travel specialist with Away.com, is to know what type of hike you are embarking upon. This way you can know how to prepare yourself and what to bring along. So before setting out on the hike, "check hiking guides and visit the ranger station; you want to know what the weather conditions are going to be and if there have been any wild animals sighted recently," Hooper says. "Some areas, especially high mountain peaks, will involve quick weather changes, so you need to be prepared with the right clothing and extra changes of clothing." Another particular that hikers must keep in mind is pick the right distance for your own physical condition, says Greer. A beginner should not choose a difficult or long hike.
