-
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
-
Five Reasons Why You Should Walk Daily
If you’re a sedentary person walking may seem like a way to transport yourself, not an exercise, but the opposite couldn’t be any truer. Walking has many benefits that go beyond just exercising including strengthening your mental health and being fun. This article will provide you with five reasons that you should add a daily walk to your busy schedule.
2. Stress Relief- Walking is a great way to relieve the stress that is caused by everyday life. Taking a walk has been proven time and time again to help you relax your mind and even to help you sleep after a long day of work. Why wouldn’t you turn to walking as a stress reliever instead of alcohol or food?
1. Exercise- Walking is a great exercise, no matter how under appreciated it may be. It can be just as powerful as running in terms of losing weight, you will just have to walk longer and perhaps further to reach your goal. Walking is a cardio exercise which means that it raises the rate at which your heart beats. This means that your heart will not work as hard when you’re sitting or resting which will be easier on your body in the long run.3. Environmentally- Walking to your grocery store or to go out to eat may not seem like a big deal but you’re helping the environment by doing so. Carbon emissions are being constantly blamed for Global Warming among other issues and you can play your hand to help the fight while exercising yourself in the process.
4. It’s fun- You should walk because you enjoy walking. If you’re not enjoying going for a walk you can always try to add an iPod or a friend to the equation. Turning your daily walk into a social experience can be a great way to get more out ofspending your time doing it daily.
5. It Can Be Done Anywhere- Walking requires nothing more of you than a pair of legs. It is probably the most flexible exercise there is because you can do it at work, at home, and you reap the same benefit no matter where you do it.
There are many more reasons to walk, but these five are a few reasons that many people overlook as benefits of walking. It’s important to remember that while walking may not be lifting weights, it’s still notable exercise that requires you to work your heart.
Photo Credits: Caveman 92223 — On the Long Road…
-
Five Safety Tips for Water Crossings During Your Hike
When it comes to your water crossings during a hike, one fundamental rule should play itself out: safety comes first. When you’re hiking, your goal is to get from point A to point B. Even if you want to do it with a little adventure, that doesn’t mean you should risk your life. Here are five tips for handling water crossings safely.
Tip #1: Avoid a water crossing when possible.
If there’s a bridge two miles down the river, then you’re going to be hiking to that bridge. The only time you should even think about handling a water crossing yourself that is more than a flowing creek should be when it’s absolutely necessary. This means avoiding the crossing altogether until you can find a bridge or safer, shallower place to cross.
Tip #2: Don’t underestimate the water.
Underestimating the power is one of the most frequent errors of the traveler exposing himself to danger. Whether you’re talking about tides, undertows, or simply water current, water is a force to be reckoned with. Just because you can enjoy a light cup of water doesn’t mean you know the strength of a river. Being safe about a water crossing means having a deep respect for the type of control the water could gain over you if you made the mistake of getting in it.
Tip #3: Scout for a good location.
If you must make a water crossing by yourself, you’ll need to do some reconnaissance first. This means scouting along the river for a narrow, shallow place to cross that doesn’t pose as much danger as other parts of the river. This may cost you some extra time, but the time will be worth it if it saves your life.
Tip #4: If you get caught in the current, float on your back with your legs forward.
Having your legs toward any boulders or jagged rocks that you would potentially drift into will keep your most vital areas – your head and organs – protected. You’ll also be able to use your legs to soften the overall impact. Try to remain calm if you’re in a floating situation.
Tip #5: When you can, try to come up with a solution.
If you can situate yourself on a rock to try and evaluate a way to the nearest side of the water, be sure to do that. Don’t frantically try to outswim the current – instead, see if there’s a way you can get to the closest sure even by using the strength of the current.
These tips don’t cover everything there is to know about water crossings. Remember that the best solution is prevention: even if finding a bridge is an inconvenience, it’s better than crossing yourself.
Photo Credits: Josh Parrish
-
What is the Purpose of Hiking Poles?
You might have heard of skiing poles and understand their purpose – after all, if you’ve ever been on a pair of skis, you know that you can’t just “shake” your way downhill if you’re still on a flat surface. Sometimes you need poles for extra leverage, and to give your hands access to the ground in order to gain needed support. If it makes so much sense on a ski hill, why not bring poles to the hiking trail when you’re exercising during the summer?
Hiking poles can be just as useful as ski poles, even if you don’t need them to slide across the ice in the summers. Here are a few of the purposes many people find hiking poles serve:
-Easier traveling.
Believe it or not, hiking poles really can have a tangible difference on your overall experience. This doesn’t just mean the short-term experience or the quality of the hike, but the long-term effects of walking up and down hills for a long period of time. Hiking poles will help support your weight, reducing the stress placed on your legs, knees, and ankles.
It’s not simply about making it easy on yourself during the actual hike, but making hiking as a lifelong hobby easier on you. If you’re looking to become a long-term hiker, you might want to look into skiing poles.-Stabilization.
In addition to carrying the load, hiking poles serve another useful purpose: leverage. Like ski poles, hiking poles will give you more adaptability to adverse weather conditions, such as when it starts to sprinkle, or when the previous winter’s snow is still melting. You can’t always rely on your own two feet when you’re out and about on the trail; there might be mud or other difficult terrain that you don’t want to risk slipping in. A hiking pole or two will give you added leverage, making you feel like you have three or four legs instead of just two.
-Flexibility.
In addition to providing leverage, the hiking poles are an instrument that prepares for the worse. What if you’re coming up on a stream in which there are slippery rocks? A hiking pole can be dug into the bottom of the stream, giving you something to use as leverage when there’s nothing else around. It also gives you a greater range because of the reduced pressure on your back, as well as an increased ability to trek uphill.
To many, hiking poles are simply ways of taking the hobby too far – but if you’re like me, you see the value in “going to far” for the sake of a healthy, long-term hobby.
Photo Credits: Rick McCharles
