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Should You Have a Walking Rhythm When You Hike?
Have you ever gone on a hiking trip as a beginner, and even though you enjoyed it, noticed that some other hikers seemed to pass you at unreasonably fast paces? Did you wonder how they were able to achieve that pace without seeming to lose a step or even really exert themselves? The secret to achieving this kind of effort when you go hiking is in your walking rhythm, and you can learn to do it too.
What is a walking rhythm?
Quite simply, it is the effort you make to hold your pace steady, no matter what kind of terrain you’re on. Even if you have to adjust your pace to go faster or slower over different types of Earth, you’ll still have a basic idea of the pace and tempo that you should be traveling at.
The hiking rhythm is about noticing this tempo and making your body use its full range of movement to achieve it. Your arms should coincide with the movements of your legs, and your legs should moving to a steady “1,2″ beat. It’s not hard to find this beat when you’re already out there walking, so feel free to give it a try on your next trip.Maintaining a hiking rhythm that challenges you sufficiently enough to stimulate your muscles and get your heart rate going will be the key. You don’t want to overexert yourself with an unrealistic rhythm, but you don’t want to feel unchallenged either. The best way to find a good walking rhythm is to find one that feels difficult but sustainable at the same time. If you’re not ready for a challenge, stay with a steady, moderate pace that won’t exert you too much.
A walking/hiking rhythm is easy to begin, but it can be difficult to maintain. It becomes mostly a mental battle – it’s all too easy to let your mind wander to other things when you’re trying to focus on something as simple as your walking rhythm. That’s why some people use mantras to keep them going. Your mantra can be simple and easy to remember, such as repeating “left, right,” or you can remember the beat to a song you enjoy and try playing it out in your head.
What will embracing a walking rhythm do for you? First, you’ll have a greater degree of control over your total exertion throughout a hike. Second, you’ll be able to incrementally increase your pace once you have control over it, allowing you to get to the level of the “fast” hikers mentioned at the beginning of this article. Third, it will help promote mental discipline and create clarity of mind when the rest of your world is busy, busy, busy.
Photo Credits: JonF119
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Four Tips for a Solid (And Safe) Campfire
Having a campfire ready at the end of a long day is great; you can lounge with friends, roast marshmellows, and fight off the cold. But how do you make sure you have a campfire that doesn’t constantly need to be poked and prodded – and how to make sure it doesn’t get out of control on you? Here are four tips for having a solid – and safe – campfire on your next trip outdoors.
Tip #1: Build a suitable fire pit. Don’t build a fire on the ground – dig into the earth so that your fire has less exposure to the outside world. The fire pit should leave room for the size of fire you plan on having so that the wood doesn’t “poke out” onto the area near the pit. Make sure the fire pit is in a well-protected area that’s separate from dry brush and other easy-burning materials.
Tip #2: Separate the fire and the surrounding terrain. If your fire gets big enough, it can start burning the grass and brush nearby – that’s a situation you don’t want to have. So make sure that your fire pit is separated from the surrounding terrain from objects that won’t burn: use rocks. Work to make sure the fire is contained within the rocks – if you see a piece of wood in the fire that sticks out over the rocks, keep in mind that embers can drop out of your fire pit.Tip #3: Avoid simply “piling” wood – plan your fire. Once you have a little fire going, avoid the “constant feeding” of your fire simply by piling wood on top of wood. Carefully place your wood to keep the fire contained and stably burning. A great fire that will burn strong and stable without the need for poking and prodding is the “upside-down” or pyramid-style fire. Don’t simply gather sticks and throw them in the pit – use some thought.
Tip #4: Be ready to put the fire out at a moment’s notice. Have some water nearby and be ready to use tools like shovels to contain a fire before it breaks loose. Remember that it’s best to nip a fire in the bud – once it gets large, it becomes very hot and will be harder to put out. You can always start another fire, but it’s hard to put a big one out. Don’t let the fire break through the fire pit.
The more stable and safe your fire is, the better you’ll feel about having a fun, friendly time lounging around it.
Photo Credits: codymcarlson
