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Four Historical Areas to Hike
When you’re hiking, you can’t help but feel that you’re directly experience some sort of natural history – usually, the history of the Earth. But there’s more to the history you can experience if you’re willing to go out and take a look at some of the more famous areas you can hike. If you’ve been wanting to spice up your hikes by ditching the ordinary state park trails and head to somewhere historical, it’s time to lace up the shoes or boots and get going. Here are some historical areas you can hike.
1. Lolo Trail, Idaho.
What passed through Idaho? The Lewis and Clark Expedition, on their way to the Pacific. Find Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures and you’ll be able to experience what Lewis and Clark experienced on their journey through North America’s frontier. If you ever wanted to know what it was like on an expedition like that, around two hundred years ago, this hiking trail is one of the best ways to do it. What better excuse to enjoy the scenery of Idaho and the majestic beauty it offers?
2. Bartram Trail, North Carolina.
In the late 18th Century, William Bartram traveled through the southern portion of the Colonies – and then states. He recorded his findings in a book called “Travels”; the trail the commemorates his journey begins at the Georgia border and heads 80 miles before it joins the Appalachian trail. Along this path, you’ll also see the Blue Ridge mountains, a large section of the Appalachian mountain range that runs through the area.
3. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Valley Forge wasn’t an especially happy time for George Washington or the Continental army, but today you can enjoy the trails of Valley Forge National Park.
4. Louisiana Purchase Boardwalk, Arkansas.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition was created in order to explore the recently-purchased Louisiana Territory. Well, in Arkansas you can find where the surveying of the Louisiana territory took place – signs along the hiking trail give you different facts about the Lousiana Purchase and how it took place. This is known as an especially beautiful area that attracts plenty of photographers.
You don’t have to be in a famous state to check out some history. Chances are, there’s some interesting hiking near where you live; you only need the patience and the preparation to find out where it is.
Photo Credits: michaelwm25
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Hiking 101
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!
Have you ever been hiking and forgot the bug spray, if so then you are fully aware of what a disaster that can be. Even the most successful trips can turn into a nightmare. The last thing that you probably want to do is try to keep annoying bugs off of you all day long. The bug spray will stop all of those worries and it will stop you from getting bit by these little buggers and then possibly contracting some disease that could have been avoided.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.
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Essential Gear for the Consummate Backpacker
When you’re a backpacker or a hiker who enjoys long jaunts through undiscovered territory, it goes without saying that you need to pack light. When you’re traveling solo, there’s no additional aid or transportation: just you, your feet, and gravity. Because of this need to stay light, it helps to narrow down the few essential items you’ll want to bring with you on your next backpacking trip.
- A Water Filter – Bringing a water filter, especially as you travel along a lake, river, or stream, will be greatly beneficial. Why? It reduces the excess energy you’ll have to spend preparing to filter water while keeping you adaptable. After oxygen, water is the most essential compound we need to get our bodies going: do you want to be ready when your bottle runs out?
Keep in mind that many water filters are not very heavy. They might take up a little more space than you’d like, but the trade-off is more than worth it.
- Proper shoes/boots – Since you’ll be spending a lot of time on your feet, you won’t want to break in a new pair of shoes or boots the moment you decide to go backpacking. Instead, you’ll want some comfortable shoes that have already been broken in, and shoes that you know you can rely on after all of the wear and tear that walking in the wild is bound to bring them. Having your feet well taken care of is also an integral way to keep your spirits up well after you have started your backpacking trip.
- A Swiss Army Knife – We all know about the practicality of a Swiss Army Knife, so why is it so especially important that you bring one along with you while backpacking? Putting the practicality aside, a Swiss Army Knife is tiny, lightweight, and won’t take up the kind of space some of your other tools will. Some people even clip their knives or include them on their keychain. Besides, you never know when it will come in handy.
- The proper “living” equipment – If you’re backpacking out in the wild and plan on spending more than a few nights out under the stars, you’ll need to remain both comfortable and warm. Both are integral to getting a good night’s sleep, which will be even more important when you’re out backpacking throughout the day. Bring a small, lightweight sleeping bag that covers your body and traps heat well, as well as a pan for cooking.
When filling your backpack, keep these essential items in mind so you know what to be prepared for – and how to pack it light.
derekdalton - A Water Filter – Bringing a water filter, especially as you travel along a lake, river, or stream, will be greatly beneficial. Why? It reduces the excess energy you’ll have to spend preparing to filter water while keeping you adaptable. After oxygen, water is the most essential compound we need to get our bodies going: do you want to be ready when your bottle runs out?
