Hiking Terminology 101

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Anyone who has taken up a hobby on more than a semi-regular basis knows that with each hobby or endeavor, there are typically certain words that develop known only to the community devoted to that hobby. Hiking is no different, and if you want to become a truly avid hiker, you’re going to have to speak the language. Don’t worry; this isn’t like learning Spanish. It simply means picking up some basic hiking terms, some of which are listed here.

• Day Packs: Day packs are like smaller versions of backpacks that you’ll use for a common hiking jaunt, packing only what you need for a day’s worth. Backpacks are more suitable for more long-distance hikes and for the different activity of backpacking.
• “From the Skin Out” or FSO Weight: As the title suggests, “from the skin out” refers to everything you’re carrying with you that you weren’t born with. In other words, FSO weight includes everything you’re carrying, from your sunglasses and clothes to your backpack and hiking stick.
• Packweight: Different from “From the skin out” weight, the packweight refers to the actual backpack you’re carrying itself. Don’t include food and water in this weight: simply refer to the actual weight of your backpack.
• Pronation/supination: Both of these refer to the angle at which your foot hits the ground. Pronation refers to rotating your foot inward; supination refers to rotating your foot outward. These are also popular terms with runners, who need to make sure that their form is ideal for the pounding that their feet will take. As you can imagine, this is also important for hikers.
• Guiding stars: Guiding starts are ways that help you find your direction at night; they’re different in the northern and southern hemispheres. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, you’ll look for the North Star; if you’re in the southern hemisphere, try to find the Southern Cross.
• Cairn: A formation of rocks or simply a pile of rocks that helps indicate the direction of the trail. Needless to say, keeping on your trail is of vital importance to a hiker that doesn’t want to get lost.

These terms simply work as some “basic” hiking terminology: if you want to learn more, simply remain exposed to the hiking community and you’ll pick up more advanced terms. Don’t be embarrassed to ask another hiker what a term might refer to; after all, we all had to learn them at some point or another.

Hiking 101

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

So your headed on a hiking trip, these are usually big fun! Well, that is if you remembered some of the little things that can make or break your adventure. Usually when people plan they think “big”, in other words they remember all of the big stuff but very often it is something very small that you might have overlooked that can be the determining factor of whether or not your trip was a success or another hiking nightmare.

When creating your checklist for the backpack it is important not to forget the little things that at the time may not seem important but later you may really regret that you forgot them. Forgetting some of the little things can really ruin your trip even if you did remember the big stuff. What if you went out and bought a great new pair of boots but because they were new you got some blisters when you wore them? If you don’t have something in your backpack to treat your blisters then you remembered the big thing, which was the boots but forgot the little thing that you overlooked and now you are likely miserable. Make sure that you throw in a pack of moleskins next time!

Iodine tablets can be a genuine lifesaver and should always be included in a backpack. Unfortunately these are often one item that is forgotten but they are never forgotten more than once because of the potential that they offer. Hiking and water just seem to go together but even if you come across the most sparkling stream that you have ever seen, drinking that water could be a very bad idea. The iodine tablets will allow you to treat the water so that you can drink it without having to worry about getting ill. Drinking water under those conditions can cause you to become seriously sick. Iodine tablets are cheap and the perfect way for you to be able to enjoy clean drinking water in no time.

Never leave home without the flashlights and some extra batteries, even if you just put new ones in, bring extras. No flashlights means darkness, darkness means that you are stuck and unable to move around because you can’t see where you are going. You could easily trip and fall or slip, especially in areas that you are not familiar with. Never assume that all areas are flat. So as you can see, clearly the big stuff is awesome but forgetting the small stuff can literally ruin your hiking trip.

Three Reasons to Pack Light When Hiking

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

One thing that might separate any experienced hiker from a complete beginner is seeing how the hiker is packed. An experienced hiker will have a good backpack, one that is steel-rod enforced that helps to distribute the weight of their towage across their body, instead of dragging down on their shoulders and neck. The experienced hiker might look under-prepared on first glance, traveling light, but carrying only the essentials.

The novice hiker might look like a walking hike-cyborg, a person with too many machines, too much to carry, and no respect for what carrying weight over long distances will do to their energy. While it’s true that some hikers can handle more weight than others, there’s no doubt that someone carrying too much for their own strength and energy levels is in for a pretty tough lesson about hiking.

#1. You’re preparing for the second half of the hike, not the first.

A rule of thumb for preparation is that you’re not preparing for everything that’s expected – although that’s part of it, as well – but preparing for the unexpected. By carrying too much equipment with you, you might be prepared for every situation, but you’re really only preparing for the first part of the hike – the time when you aren’t exhausted from carrying so much equipment. If you need some technology to navigate your way home, carry it with you – but only if you need it.

#2. Reducing your resource needs.

As you expend less energy by carrying less weight, you’ll also create less of a need to consume energy. Consider it the hiker’s paradox: the more food you carry, the more food you’ll need to eat to maintain your energy levels. This might not be as true during shorter hikes because you won’t need as much endurance, but on longer hikes, your endurance is a key factor, and reducing your resource needs is one of the reasons to pack light.

#3. Hiking is tough enough.

If you’re a serious hiker who’s tackling the terrain, it’s no fun to be held back by the weight you’re carrying. Hiking is tough enough, so pack light in order to give yourself the license to move with agility and relative speed, chasing high points and tackling long distances. For you beginners, you’ll understand this once you get out there. Some people increase their exercise intensity by adding weights to a run or jog, but unless you’re a serious hiker, there’s no reason to do this the first time out.

Photo Credits: The Sunshine Rabbit

5 Backpacking “Tricks” to Use

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Backpacking and hiking can be difficult – not only on your body and your feet, but also on your mind when you’re sick and tired of moving. Thankfully, being in the outdoors doesn’t have to always be so uncomfortable – or so tricky. Here are five backpacking “tricks” you can use to enhance and improve your experience.

1. Bring rain gear.

Rain gear is simple and lightweight – all you need is something water-resistant just in case it rains. For many people, this might be packing a poncho, but anything that is water-resistant and lightweight should work well. You don’t want to get caught in the rain and have all of your stuff soak through – remember to cover your backpack or fanny pack as well. Keep a close eye on the weather forecasts to help you prepare for rain, but always be ready in case the weather unexpectedly goes from sunny to rainy quickly.

2. Bring Gold Bond Medicated Powder.

This can do wonders for the feet and will help you lift your spirits after a tough time out on the trail. If you’ve been hiking or backpacking a while, you’ll know the need to treat your feet well – they’ll be doing much of the work on your journey. The better you treat them, the better you’ll feel overall.

3. Don’t over-pack when you put food in your bag.

Many people want to cover themselves for emergencies, but they also add weight when they do this. A rule of thumb is to keep your backpack under 40 pounds. If you’ve been a backpacker for quite a while and notice how you always bring home extra food, it might be wiser to take other emergency supplies like first aid or water instead.

4. Go on trial backpacking trips to make adjustments.

You may think it’s great to bring a miniature coffee grinder with you on a backpacking trip, but you also might find that the device simply doesn’t work as well when you’re using it in the wild. These are the sort of things that only experience can teach you, so build that experience by going on short hikes and seeing how you fare. Cut out what you don’t need and emphasize what works out there. Keep track of what you’ll need to improve before you head out the next time.

5. Bring a compass.

You may think your sense of direction is keen, but if you get a good compass and know how to use it, you’ll want to make sure that you’re actually being accurate. A compass will tell you where you can head; bring a map along with you as well so that you know which directions will take you where.

Photo Credits: pfly

Take up Hiking in Three Steps

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

With the summer months rolling around, people all over the United States are always looking for new ways to get into the great outdoors and soak in some vitamin D. It’s easy to say you want to get more active this summer, but how many of us actually follow through on those promises? If you want to take up a sport this summer, why not take up hiking? Hiking will be easy to start and if you follow the three steps detailed in this article, you can kick-start a new habit in no time.

Step #1: Scouting.

If you’re going to be hiking this summer, the first thing you’ll need is a place to do it! Of course, this means that you’ll have to do a little investigating in your area. Take an hour or two and write down all of the potential spots you can find in your area – a simple Google search can yield some great hiking trails. Then take a Saturday some time in the next few weeks and check out these different areas – which trails seem to be your speed? Which trails seem like they’re for kids, and which ones are more your style? It wouldn’t hurt to take a little preview hike on some of these jaunts so that you know what to expect.

Step #2: Buying equipment.

You don’t necessarily need a whole lot of equipment if you’re going to become a hiker, but making sure that you’re stocked and ready to go can really help you to start the habit. Some people find it difficult to take up a new exercise or habit unless they’ve bought all of the necessary equipment. For example, new cyclists might not feel right until they have the right bike and the right helmet. Buying equipment will send a signal that says you’re ready for this new habit.

What kind of equipment can you expect to purchase in order to take up hiking? You’ll want to make sure to have a good pair of shoes as well as a backpack or bag to store food and water. Make sure that you have a good Nalgene water bottle. Some people enjoy ditching the technology when they get outdoors, but you can feel free to bring watches, cell phones, and even GPS watches with you.

Step #3: Get in shape – even before the season starts.

If you live in a cold-weather area, there’s a good chance that your local climate is just now starting to warm up and become more suitable for outdoor exercise again. Get in hiking shape by exercising your legs at least four or five times a week – a stepclimber inside a gym can be great for hiking practice. Don’t avoid hills – in fact, you’ll want to get used to them.

Photo Credits; elliottcable

How To Get Ready For Your Hiking Trip

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

Hiking is one of the most popular ways for people to exercise, because it combines beautiful scenery with the easiest cardio there is, walking. Hiking can require some extra equipment and attentiveness from the hiker however. So what equipment and preparations should one make for their hiking trip? Follow the tips given in this article and your hiking trip will be a success.

Get The Right Gear

It’s essential that you bring the right equipment no matter what kind of hiking trip you’re going on. Hiking boots are very important for helping you navigate the rough terrain that is often experienced during a hiking trip, and will often help to keep your feet more comfortable through the entire experience. Depending on the type of hiking trip you’re going on, make sure that you bring a backpack with the appropriate amount of any outside resources you may need on your trip. This includes food, water, or any medication, especially if you’re hiking overnight. Also keep in mind that it may be convenient to store your tent and sleeping bags inside of a backpack.

Get Exercise Before Going

Before going hiking it’s a good idea to exercise so that you’re not overwhelmed by the difficulty of your day. This can be accomplished by simple cardio activity such as walking or riding your bike a few times a week. Due to the naturally rough terrain that you experience on a hiking trip, it’s recommended that you exercise on an inclined surface so that you can adjust to the type of exercises you will be doing. Remember to never over-exert yourself however as that’s counterproductive and that you may only hurt yourself.

Map Out The Trails

It’s very important that before you going hiking that you know where it’s that you’re going exactly and the distance you will be traveling. If you’re hiking with a limited time, you may not want to take the longest trail as you may not be able to return in time. Likewise, make sure that if you do choose the longest trail you’ve properly conditioned your body to last such as long journey. Make sure that you always bring a way for you to determine your current location while hiking, whether that is a compass or a GPS system.

Most importantly, remember to have fun because hiking should not feel like a chore. It’s always a good idea to stop and enjoy the scenery and to not worry so much about the technical aspects of camping. If you follow these simple tips you’re on your way to a hiking experience that you won’t soon forget.

Photo Credits: Bassel Safadi

Finding Light Gear For Your Backpacking Trip

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

There are two ways that you could potentially remember your backpacking trip. You might remember the peace that comes with solitude, the connection with nature that comes when you remove civilization from your life and head out under the sky. You might remember the stars over your campsite each night, and how it brought about deep questions about your life. Or, you can remember how uncomfortable the experience was, how heavily your backpack weighed you down, and the blisters on your feet.

Needless to say, we want to avoid the latter backpacking trip. Which is why it’s so important that your backpacking gear be as lightweight as possible – the more it can get out of the way of your experience, the better. It’s one thing to pack one lightweight item, but once your supplies add up, you realize just how quickly twenty pounds turns into forty. If you want to make sure that you carry as little weight as possible, you’ll have to consider all over your supplies and their impact on your traveling weight.

What supplies will you want to consider?

The North Face Ion 20 Backpack weighs under two pounds and has a suspension system and molded foundation that provides for comfort. The less backpack you’re carrying, the more supplies you can bring: that’s the idea behind a backpack like the Ion 20.

Other features include a rain cover, a front “stash” pocket, and water-friendly options. Needless to say, you’ll want a backpack like this if you’re interested in staying as comfortable as possible during your backpacking trip.

MSR DuraLite Classic Cookset. This cookset registers at over half a kilo or just over a pound (20.6 ounces, to be precise), which means that you won’t have to notice that you’re carrying so much cookware. If you plan on having some nice hot meals at night before you rest, you’ll want to make sure that you have a set of cookware that is lightweight.

Remember that backpacking doesn’t have to be all about the supplies. Instead, you’ll want to make sure that your supplies simply stay out of the way as much as possible. The experience is about you, not your supplies, which is why you shouldn’t let them weigh you down.

Photo Credits: kevindooley

Backpacking: Is it Better to Pack Light or Pack Heavy?

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

In the world of backpacking and outdoorsmanship – for lack of a better term – there are a few schools of thought. One of the most popular ideas for backpackers is that packing light not only reduces the weight on your back, but makes everything simpler when it’s time to set up a camp. Another school of thought feels that extra weight is worth the extra convenience. And yet another school believes that you should be able to survive with a flint, a knife, and the clothes on your back. Who’s right?

If you want to learn more about yourself as a backpacker, you’re going to have to tackle two different ways of learning: experience and experimentation. You never learn anything unless you actually do it, and in order to do something, you’ve got to take a leap of faith and actually experiment.

For those of you light packers out there, how many times have you actually gone backpacking without your light equipment? Is there better equipment out there that improves the quality of life you have when you’re backpacking?

Some people believe that packing light for hiking and backpacking is a great idea. But they don’t think it’s because you should pack light, it’s that you should pack next to nothing at all! Survivalists are people who enter the wilderness, striving to learn how to live by their wits and skills alone (with perhaps a tool or two). Although this skill certainly isn’t easy to learn, it can be easy to maintain with experience.

What kind of backpacker or hiker are you? Are you able to point to an experience in your life where you can definitely say “This is why I know the other way of doing it is wrong”? Have you given another way of doing things an honest try?

If you want to backpack more often, you should learn the many different skills that come with backpacking, not just a specific way of doing things. After all, isn’t the fun of backpacking the novelty of creating new experienced and seeing land you’ve never seen before? Why not blaze a few new trails?

Photo Credits: thechosenrebel

Top Camping Strategies for Maximum Fun

Monday, July 27th, 2009

Okay, so maybe your camping trip doesn’t exactly require the same amount of planning as the invasion of Normandy, but if you want to be prepared to have some fun on your next trip into the great outdoors, you might want to include a little foresight and strategy.

So what are the top strategies for camping? Read on.

• Mentally walk yourself through the trip. Our daily routines are forgettable because they’re our routines – we don’t know exactly what goes into them. You don’t want to be caught in the wilderness realizing you’d really like to brush your teeth or to wash up, only to find you didn’t plan these things out in advance.

  Take out a piece of paper and consider an average day. Then ask yourself how much of this routine you’d like to bring with you on the camping trip. Even if you’re going rustic, you’ll want to make sure all of your needs and wants are accounted for before you head out.

• Simplify – Keep things as simple as possible. Even if it costs a little more money to buy simpler things, if you’re an avid enough camper, it will be worth it in the long run.

  For example, buying a throw-pitch tent (which requires as little setup as possible) might cost a little more upfront, but it will be worth it when you’ve finally found your site. Quechua 2-Second Tents can cost as little as around $60 and take all of the guesswork and sweat out of setting up your site.

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  These smaller tents might not be Hiltons in the wilderness, but they also take the worry and work out of maintaining a tent that doubles as a mansion.

  If you’re really keeping things rustic, ask yourself what kind of amenities you might need in the wild, and the simplest ways to use them. Since you’re going to need water, bringing a portable water purifier, though expensive, can make the experience different for you. Many water purifying bottles fit in your backpack.

• Prepare yourself for emergencies – Communications are essential to being ready for medical emergencies or other situations that you might not be aware of. The more rustic your camping experience, the more you’ll have to be prepared.

  If you’re a true explorer, a GPS watch and a satellite phone could mean the difference between getting lost in the woods and having a fun hiking experience. You don’t want to rely on traditional cell phones for your communications, as these cell phones aren’t consistent when you go into wild areas.

Keep in mind that camping is all about fun. This means that you’d do best to do most of the work when you’re back at home, still preparing for the trip. The better you prepare for a fun camping experience, the more relaxed and secure you’ll feel when it’s time to have some fun.