Four Historical Areas to Hike

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

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

5 Ways to Get Your Feet Ready for a Hiking Trip

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

If you plan on going on a hiking trip, you’ve probably made some of the preparations: you have an idea of where you’re going and how long you’ll be there. But when it comes to the “crunch time” of really packing up and being totally prepared to head out, many people find that they’ve put off too much until the last minute.

That’s why you’ll want to start getting your feet ready today. With these five tips, you’ll build up both foot muscle and skin strength so that you can enjoy the hiking trip for the fresh air and views without thinking about your feet.

1. Walk barefoot as much as possible going into the trip.

Many of us walk around with socks and sandals, even around the house, and while this makes us more comfortable, it doesn’t exactly put a lot of stress on the feet. Why is this a bad thing? You want to put a little stress on them to get them stronger and work them up to a toughness that you’ll need once you finally hit the outdoors.

2. Trim your nails and check for possible ingrown nails.

Toenails grow slowly, so it’s sometimes tempting to ignore them. But before you go hiking, trimming your nails will help you to avoid jamming them and breaking them. Check for ingrown nails as well – if your toes look clear and are pain-free, chances are you don’t have any. Get your toenails round and short.

3. Exercise with your feet.

Even a little bit of walking every day will help you get your feet used to activity. For the more ambitious, you could try small hikes and jogs, but as long as you’re working out and using those feet muscles, you should be pretty good.

4. Wear comfortable, thick socks.

This can go without saying, but it’s worth the reminder: socks are crucial to keeping your feet comfortable. Test out a few before going and make sure they don’t hole up easily. You might even test them by going outside and using them – just make sure to wash them again!

5. Make sure your shoes are comfortable.

This will depend on your feet type and the type of terrain you plan on tackling, but if you have a pair of shoes or boots that you’ve taken hiking before and don’t put unnecessary strain on your feet, you’re off to a good start. Don’t bring a brand new pair of shoes on your hiking trip, as these sometimes need “breaking in” time and can give your feet blisters.

Photo Credits: David Plotzki