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How to Hike With Your Dog
Have you ever gone out on a hike by your lonesome – or with a friend – feeling guilty at the prospect of leaving Man’s Best Friend home alone?
There’s no reason to feel guilty, particularly as you can even start bringing your dog along with you on your hikes. Doing so will help you bond with your dog, bringing you both into a situation where you feel somewhat dependent on each other to keep going. With your dog with you, you won’t have to exit the house to the pattering of Fido scratching on the wall, hoping to come along.
But before you do bring your dog on a hike, make sure to follow these tips and guidelines:
- Make sure your dog has all the vaccination he/she requires. You might already have this covered, but it bears mentioning because of the unpredictability of introducing a dog back into the elements. If you’re not sure, make sure to call or check with a veterinarian before you bring your dog hiking with you.
- Get your dog in shape. Just like you wouldn’t expect yourself to tackle Mount Everest after many years as a couch potato, you can’t simply expect your dog will be in hiking shape, even if you take daily walks. Introduce your dog to hiking with a small hike to begin with – this will both help them get into shape and familiarize them with the environment you’ll be bringing them in to.
- Bring a leash. This is often required at certain hiking trails, but even if not, you’ll want to make sure you have control over your dog. You never know what kind of critter might come along and steal away your dog’s attention. Even if you have a good verbal command over your dog and leashes aren’t required, bring a leash the first couple of times just to be sure. You can always let go of the leash if the dog wants to go explore.
- Remember that you’re drinking for two. Don’t forget that your dog, just like you, will need to keep hydrated, particularly on hot summer days. This might mean a little extra packing. If your dog pants heavily, it’s a fair sign that he or she is already getting dehydrated and needs some water.
- Consider your dog to be like bring a smaller person along with you. How would you prepare to bring another person along with you? You’d need extra supplies of the same things like food and water, yes, but you’ll also need to be prepared with a first aid kit.
Following these simple guidelines a few times will get you used to the idea of taking your dog with you on your excursions into the woods and the great outdoors. But as with anything, make sure you and your dog are ready before you start embarking on your adventures.
Photo Credits: Artbandito -
A Thousand Mile Journey: The History of Hiking
Have you ever relished the primeval nature of hiking, returning to the elements in the woods, the plains, and along rivers, and wondered how many people like you have done the same throughout history? As it turns out, hiking is one of the most fundamental forms of exercise mankind has developed, which has afforded it a long and extensive history – from the stone age to the information age. Here’s a brief history of hiking.
If you want to be technical about it, the history of hiking began around 1.5 million years ago when early man learned how to walk upright. Since early man was also nomadic, this meant that walking and hiking was a part of daily life in the stone age, before the development of agriculture meant that man could settle and begin walking for recreation’s sake.
However, it hasn’t been until modern history that hiking – and especially the most extreme form of hiking, mountaineering – became as popular as it is and saw other milestones really be conquered. More modern technology and the further exploration and charting of mountains helped hikers conquer new heights, one at a time.In 1874, hikers/mountaineers named Grove, Gardiner, Walker, Sottajev, and Knubel scaled the summit of the highest mountain in Europe, Elbrus. Some years later, in 1913, mountaineers reached the top of Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America. Mount McKinley stands at over 20,000 feet in Alaska, making its conditions treacherous even for 20th Century mountaineers.
As technology progressed and these accomplishments encouraged further trekking up mountains, hiking up to even greater heights became possible. In 1953, Mount Everest was conquered. In 1985, it was conquered once again – this time by Dick Bass, the first person to reach the highest peaks in all seven continents.
Nowadays, hiking doesn’t just include mountaineering and adventurous sojourns into the heart of the world’s most extreme environments. Hiking can simply be a brief walk through the woods or an all-day adventure that takes you through peaks and valleys and back again.
Like other sports, what you accomplish from hiking will depend on what you put into it: if you want to be the next person to climb Mount McKinley, it will take tremendous energy and dedication. But the intrinsic rewards of hiking are obvious once you return from that first hike, feeling satisfied from the fresh air.
Do you have what it takes to take the next steps in hiking history? Even though people might have already conquered a peak before you had the chance, you can still conquer it for yourself.
And who knows what’s possible? Perhaps you’ll be the first to take on Olympus Mons, the highest known mountain in the solar system.
Photo Credits: Matthew_Dutile
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A Thousand Mile Journey: The History of Hiking
Have you ever relished the primeval nature of hiking, returning to the elements in the woods, the plains, and along rivers, and wondered how many people like you have done the same throughout history? As it turns out, hiking is one of the most fundamental forms of exercise mankind has developed, which has afforded it a long and extensive history – from the stone age to the information age. Here’s a brief history of hiking.
If you want to be technical about it, the history of hiking began around 1.5 million years ago when early man learned how to walk upright. Since early man was also nomadic, this meant that walking and hiking was a part of daily life in the stone age, before the development of agriculture meant that man could settle and begin walking for recreation’s sake.
However, it hasn’t been until modern history that hiking – and especially the most extreme form of hiking, mountaineering – became as popular as it is and saw other milestones really be conquered. More modern technology and the further exploration and charting of mountains helped hikers conquer new heights, one at a time.In 1874, hikers/mountaineers named Grove, Gardiner, Walker, Sottajev, and Knubel scaled the summit of the highest mountain in Europe, Elbrus. Some years later, in 1913, mountaineers reached the top of Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America. Mount McKinley stands at over 20,000 feet in Alaska, making its conditions treacherous even for 20th Century mountaineers.
As technology progressed and these accomplishments encouraged further trekking up mountains, hiking up to even greater heights became possible. In 1953, Mount Everest was conquered. In 1985, it was conquered once again – this time by Dick Bass, the first person to reach the highest peaks in all seven continents.
Nowadays, hiking doesn’t just include mountaineering and adventurous sojourns into the heart of the world’s most extreme environments. Hiking can simply be a brief walk through the woods or an all-day adventure that takes you through peaks and valleys and back again.
Like other sports, what you accomplish from hiking will depend on what you put into it: if you want to be the next person to climb Mount McKinley, it will take tremendous energy and dedication. But the intrinsic rewards of hiking are obvious once you return from that first hike, feeling satisfied from the fresh air.
Do you have what it takes to take the next steps in hiking history? Even though people might have already conquered a peak before you had the chance, you can still conquer it for yourself.
And who knows what’s possible? Perhaps you’ll be the first to take on Olympus Mons, the highest known mountain in the solar system.
Photo Credit: vipnyc
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The Highest Peaks on Earth
In the strictest sense of the word, a mountain is simply another landform that towers above other land. In some cases, we call these hills or peaks, but when the landform is big enough, we give it a better word: a mountain.
The Earth’s wide variety of climates and terrain includes both the peaks and the valleys, the swamps and the deserts, but mountains appear on every single continent including Antarctica. According to some studies, about 25% of the land on Earth can be described as “mountainous.” So which are the peaks that stand high above all others?
Let’s look at it on a continent-by-continent basis:
- Europe – Mount Elbrus, standing at 18,510 feet in southwestern Russia along the Caucasus mountain range. With two summits, Elbrus is full of lore especially in local areas, with names that range in meaning from “tall” to “eternal.” Standing even higher than the mountains in the Alps, this giant was first ascended in 1874.
- North America – Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, standing at 20,320 feet. McKinley also has meaningful alternate names, as Denali means “the great one.” You can find Mount McKinley in Denali National Park in central Alaska. Mount McKinley was first ascended in 1913.
- Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro, at 19,330 feet. Located near the border of northern Tanzania, Kilimanjaro stands out like a sore thumb along the eastern African planes, giving it a stunning view of the surrounding area. Kilimanjaro was first ascended in 1889.
- South America – Aconcagua, at 22,841 feet. Aconcagua, taller than Mount McKinley, is the tallest of all mountains in the Americas, and is located between the Chilean and Argentinian border in the Andes mountains. Its first recorded ascent was in 1897.
- Asia – The famous Mount Everest is the highest peak in Asia and the world at a gargantuan 29,029 feet. It should be noted that the Himalayas boast over 100 mountains taller than Aconcagua, which is taller than any peak in the Americas, Europe, and Africa. This gives an idea of how large and tall the mountains of the Himalayas are.
- Mars – I had to throw this bonus “not on Earth” one. Olympus Mons, Latin for “Mount Olympus,” is the tallest known mountain in the Solar System, standing at about three times as tall as Mount Everest, at approximately 88,580 feet.
Now you know which mountains stretch higher above the others, as well as the dominance of the Himalayan mountain range, which is in turn dwarfed by Olympus Mons. While you don’t have to scale any of these today, you might consider taking a trip to one of these amazing sights: just remember to bring plenty of supplies if you decide to head to Mars.
Photo Credit: eamoncurry123 -
The Highest Peaks on Earth (And Beyond)
In the strictest sense of the word, a mountain is simply another landform that towers above other land. In some cases, we call these hills or peaks, but when the landform is big enough, we give it a better word: a mountain.
The Earth’s wide variety of climates and terrain includes both the peaks and the valleys, the swamps and the deserts, but mountains appear on every single continent including Antarctica. According to some studies, about 25% of the land on Earth can be described as “mountainous.” So which are the peaks that stand high above all others?
Let’s look at it on a continent-by-continent basis.
Europe:
Mount Elbrus, standing at 18,510 feet in southwestern Russia along the Caucasus mountain range. With two summits, Elbrus is full of lore especially in local areas, with names that range in meaning from “tall” to “eternal.” Standing even higher than the mountains in the Alps, this giant was first ascended in 1874.
North America:
Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, standing at 20,320 feet. McKinley also has meaningful alternate names, as Denali means “the great one.” You can find Mount McKinley in Denali National Park in central Alaska. Mount McKinley was first ascended in 1913.
Africa:
Mount Kilimanjaro, at 19,330 feet. Located near the border of northern Tanzania, Kilimanjaro stands out like a sore thumb along the eastern African planes, giving it a stunning view of the surrounding area. Kilimanjaro was first ascended in 1889.
South America:
Aconcagua, at 22,841 feet. Aconcagua, taller than Mount McKinley, is the tallest of all mountains in the Americas, and is located between the Chilean and Argentinian border in the Andes mountains. Its first recorded ascent was in 1897.
Asia:
The famous Mount Everest is the highest peak in Asia and the world at a gargantuan 29,029 feet. It should be noted that the Himalayas boast over 100 mountains taller than Aconcagua, which is taller than any peak in the Americas, Europe, and Africa. This gives an idea of how large and tall the mountains of the Himalayas are.
Mars:
Olympus Mons, Latin for “Mount Olympus,” is the tallest known mountain in the Solar System, standing at about three times as tall as Mount Everest, at approximately 88,580 feet.
Now you know which mountains stretch higher above the others, as well as the dominance of the Himalayan mountain range, which is in turn dwarfed by Olympus Mons. While you don’t have to scale any of these today, you might consider taking a trip to one of these amazing sights: just remember to bring plenty of supplies if you decide to head to Mars.
Photo Credits: Kappa Wayfarer
