4 Vital Tips for Those New To Hiking

Hiking provides hundreds of thousands of people with a great deal of pleasure and a sense of adventure each year and ninety-nine percent of the time it is anything but dangerous. However, people do have accidents and get lost every once in a while and it can become a very dangerous activity very fast if you are not prepared.

Here are just 4 basic safety tips to ensure that your hiking trips don't get you into difficulty.

Safety Tip No1 - Think about taking a partner of friend along.

You don't need to worry about heading out alone if you are taking a short hike in a local area on easy terrain, but, if you are heading out into heavily forested wilderness areas with steep canyons and winding trails then the likelihood of getting lost or sustaining injury becomes very real and you should think carefully about whether you are wise to head out alone.

Having a friend along can have many advantages, particularly if that person is a seasoned hiker. After all, 'two heads are always better than one' and if you do get lost or get into trouble you're a lot less likely to panic if you have someone with you to help sort out the problem.

Safety Tip No 2 - Ensure that someone knows where you are going.

If you are new to hiking then you should stick to well marked and well traveled routes and should not start to stray from these routes to explore until you have gained some experience and have learned the basics of map and compass work. But, it won't take you too long before you are ready to try some more adventurous trails and the likelihood of getting lost or injured will arise.

Consequently, you must always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return so that they can send out a search party if you do not return as expected.

Safety Tip No 3 - Ensure that you take along some basic equipment.

It is essential that you carry a basic survival kit with you and your local hiking club will be able to give you advice on the items which this should include. Here we're looking at such things as a lighter and matches, a first aid kit, a good knife and a flashlight.

Additionally, it is a good idea to take a map and compass with you together with a fully charged cell phone.

Safety Tip No 4 – Ensure that you take along some basic provisions.

Water or other fluids like sports drinks are essential because you can lose fluid very rapidly even over an hour or two on a hot day. You should remember though that water is bulky, so take along sufficient but not too much. Don't forget though that you must not drink from local streams as natural water sources might appear to be inviting but they are often loaded with bacteria and might make you very sick very quickly.

Also do not forget to take along sufficient food to last you. There's no pleasure in being hungry while you are out hiking but don't forget that you can last a good deal longer without food than you can without water.

Millions of people enjoy hiking every year without incidence because they follow a few simple safety rules.

Visit The-Hiking-Club.com for advice on everything from finding a great pair of Vasque hiking boots to the wonders of a Hawaii waterfall hike

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