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Take up Hiking in Three Steps
With the summer months rolling around, people all over the United States are always looking for new ways to get into the great outdoors and soak in some vitamin D. It’s easy to say you want to get more active this summer, but how many of us actually follow through on those promises? If you want to take up a sport this summer, why not take up hiking? Hiking will be easy to start and if you follow the three steps detailed in this article, you can kick-start a new habit in no time.
Step #1: Scouting.
If you’re going to be hiking this summer, the first thing you’ll need is a place to do it! Of course, this means that you’ll have to do a little investigating in your area. Take an hour or two and write down all of the potential spots you can find in your area – a simple Google search can yield some great hiking trails. Then take a Saturday some time in the next few weeks and check out these different areas – which trails seem to be your speed? Which trails seem like they’re for kids, and which ones are more your style? It wouldn’t hurt to take a little preview hike on some of these jaunts so that you know what to expect.
Step #2: Buying equipment.
You don’t necessarily need a whole lot of equipment if you’re going to become a hiker, but making sure that you’re stocked and ready to go can really help you to start the habit. Some people find it difficult to take up a new exercise or habit unless they’ve bought all of the necessary equipment. For example, new cyclists might not feel right until they have the right bike and the right helmet. Buying equipment will send a signal that says you’re ready for this new habit.
What kind of equipment can you expect to purchase in order to take up hiking? You’ll want to make sure to have a good pair of shoes as well as a backpack or bag to store food and water. Make sure that you have a good Nalgene water bottle. Some people enjoy ditching the technology when they get outdoors, but you can feel free to bring watches, cell phones, and even GPS watches with you.
Step #3: Get in shape – even before the season starts.
If you live in a cold-weather area, there’s a good chance that your local climate is just now starting to warm up and become more suitable for outdoor exercise again. Get in hiking shape by exercising your legs at least four or five times a week – a stepclimber inside a gym can be great for hiking practice. Don’t avoid hills – in fact, you’ll want to get used to them.
Photo Credits; elliottcable
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Exercise Benefits of Hiking
If you’ve ever been hiking, walking, or even running outdoors, you know the feeling of gratification that occurs when you open that door back into the house. You remember how it feels good to be back out of the cold – or the heat, depending on where you live – taking a shower and feeling like you’ve really done yourself a favor. “Hmm,” you wonder. “Why don’t I do that more often?”
Well, why don’t you. There are plenty of benefits to exercise, but what are the benefits of using hiking as your form of exercise? Here are some quick benefits you’ll notice when you start taking those treks into the wilderness:
-Fresh air and sunlight.
Depending on the day, of course, sunlight can be a variable, but when it’s there, you get a nice dose of Vitamin D that humans have been wired to enjoy and soak up since the days of Adam and Eve. The fresh air also does wonder for the lungs, gets you outside of your head for a while, and allows you to fucs on what’s important. Many people even forgo the iPods and mp3 players – why distract yourself? Being outdoors gives you a mental energy and focus, a sharpness that will last you throughout the day, which is why so many people enjoy going in the morning.
-Leg strength.
Hiking has its challenges, and for that you should be grateful – without the challenges, there’d be no growth happening. Hiking is a great way to build lower-body strength and stamina, giving you a confidence about being in the outdoors that you didn’t have before. After you’ve hiked ten miles through some treacherous woods, you feel like you can beat anything, and after habitual hiking, you’ll find that your legs grow stronger, healthier, and ready for action. That’s personal growth you can’t buy.
-Endurance.
Endurance is also one of the hallmarks of the hiker, particular those especially-devoted hikers who can’t get themselves out of the woods. Keep in mind that while you’re enduring out there, getting out of your comfort zone, you’re also building endurance for next time, constantly building up your ability to enjoy this fundamental exercise. The more sweat, the better – you know you’ve accomplished something when you finally step on the bottom of that hill, soaked in sweat, looking up at the hill you just conquered. There’s no feeling that substitutes for the natural high of endorphins that comes with endurance.
These are just some of the benefits of hiking. To experience it for yourself, in short, get out there! You don’t know what you’re missing until you try it just once – and you never know; you might get hooked.
Photo Credits: footloosiety
