Preparation for Hiking In Your Local Area

Preparation for Hiking

What is hiking?

Hiking, as we will use the term here, is taking a long walk, usually in the woods or along a nature trail. It is different from backpacking because with backpacking, you plan to stay overnight, or to cook a meal and so you carry your supplies with you, set up a tent and camp. While you may hike while you backpack, we are preparing for simple day hikes, hikes that can be complete within the daylight hours.

So, where exactly are you going? when will you return? What will you bring with you? You will have to figure that out for yourself, but here is some information to help you get started and give you some basic information in preparation for wilderness travel.

Things You Need

Because hiking does have some potential hazards, you will need to be prepared for your hikes. There are some things you need to have when you hike.

1. Knowledge of where you are going and the trail you will take. Knowing the terrain , as well as the distance of the hike is important and it will help you estimate how long the journey will take you. You may need to have a map and a compass or a GPS to keep you on track, but these may not always be necessary. It all depends upon the trail.

2. Water. Be sure to take water in a canteen or bottle that you can carry with you. There are small day pack made for such excursions that make carrying supplies easy, so you may want to have some kind of day pack for this purpose.

3. Flashlight. While you will most likely not need a flashlight for a day hike, a flashlight will prove helpful if for some reason you stay out longer than you anticipate and need to see the trail to get back in the dark. This kind of situation has happened to competent hikers before, some who did not have a flashlight in their time of need, so plan to take one in your day pack, just in case.

4. Appropriate-to-the-weather clothing. It is ideal to dress in layers in case of a weather change. Long sleeves can serve to keep you warm in cold, or in heat, protect against sunburn and bug bites and short sleeves are great for when you work up a sweat hiking or it's hot out. It's nice to have some options when you are in the wild, so think ahead, be prepared... bring both, and check the weather before you set out for the day.

5. Sunscreen and sunglasses or hat to shade the skin and eyes and head.

6. First aid kit. This can be as simple as some antibacterial wipes and stick on bandages, but you may need to be sure you have other items like mosquito repellent, mole skin (for blisters) smelling salts, tissue or tweezers and alcohol wipes.

7. Whistle. A whistle is a good way to signal others of danger or a need for help.

8. A buddy. Yes, do not hike alone, hike with a friend.
Going outside can be a big adventure, after all the wilderness is where the wild things are. It can seem both magically delightful and downright scary sometimes at the same time. Surely a person can go into the wilderness alone and be just fine, but that is not the recommendation here. Because we know that two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. After all, if one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it's just too bad, because there is no one to help him. And not only that, but if it is cold, two can sleep together and stay warm (How can you keep warm by yourself ?) Also, two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. (from Ecclesiastes, Chapter 4:9-12. GNB)

9. Good, comfortable shoes that will keep your feet from slipping when you are on uneven ground. Boots or tennis shoes are great for hiking, but remember, if you buy new shoes for hiking, break them in by giving them some wear time before a long hike to help your feet adjust to the new shoes. There is nothing worse than sore feet from new shoes on a three hour hike.

10. Bandanna. You will marvel at the usefulness of such a simple item, as a bandanna is useful for many things. You can wet it and wear around your neck to help keep you cool. You can use it to press a wound to help stop bleeding. It can become as sap barrier, use it for sitting down on logs so the sap stays off of your clothing or for sitting on sand in your shorts. It can be a dust barrier for you mouth and nose in a dust storm, just like in old western movies. You can also use it tied around your head, to keep the hair our of your face or the beads of sweat on your forehead from dripping into your eyes. You can even use it to carry nature items you collect, even tie it to a stick and carry stuff just like a hobo. You can clean your glasses, blow you nose, use it as a sunshade or bug deterrent by hanging it under your hat, or filter small rocks from water in a pinch. It can serve as emergency toilet paper, or trail marker if you need to remember which trail you took. I am sure you can think of your own uses, but first you need to have one to use.

11. Notebook. Keep a trip log of the place you hike, note special things that happen, people you meet, Items you want to take on your next excursion. You will be happy you did.


God gave us eyes to see and ears to hear... so as you travel,take in the sights and smells and sounds of nature around you. You will see how marvelously God created everything, and you will get a glimpse of your own strengths and weaknesses and develop new outdoor skills that will last you for a lifetime.

Everything takes preparation. Preparation simply means being ready for what is about to happen.

Before you set out to hike in the wilderness, the group leader should make hiking plans for your group. Keep in mind that the plans on this blog were written for a novice group of hikers. The group consisted of several moms who wanted to get out and enjoy the great outdoors and learn a little bit about our local area along the way. We met one day each week for a short wilderness hike around Spokane, WA with kids of all ages in tow. You may tailor the course we used to suit your needs and abilities anyway you would like to.

For help finding easy hikes in your area, I recommend that you first contact your local sporting goods store, or ranger station. They will be happy to assist you with guidance in selecting hikes suitable for families with kids, and provide you with any tourist type of information you can use in selecting suitable hiking trails for your local area. Choose the easiest hike first and progress in difficulty or duration as you progress each week.

Each participant will need their own water bottle or canteen that can easily be carried, and good hiking shoes. Other supplies may be necessary depending on your local area and the season you hike in, so be sure every member of your hiking group knows what they need to have on hand.

By planning your outings in advance, every participant will know exactly where the group is meeting and hiking. Organizers will know who is expected to arrive and how many are in your group and be better equipped to keep track of who is and is not with your group in order to help prevent anyone from getting lost. It's also important for someone who is not going on the trip to be told where your group will be hiking on a particular day, in case you do not return. Being prepared will make your hikes run smoothly.

Also, be prepared for an unexpected emergency. Have items on hand like flashlights, a whistle, first aid supplies, extra water and even snacks in case of need. Plan your trips well so that you will not be out on a trail after dark, and remember that life in the wilds, away from civilization is very different. It can be dangerous. Remember that there are poisonous bugs and snakes, wild animals, cliffs and precipices, human frailties like hunger and thirst, low blood sugar and fatigue and there is other people too. You may be stepping out of your comfort zone as you embrace the great outdoors, but you can prepare the best you can, and then simply trust that it will be an adventure.

Being in nature makes one feel a little vulnerable, however, with wisdom and knowledge, and even teamwork, one can overcome obstacles should they arise. ON a trail on a simple day hike, you will most likely navigate the wilderness pretty well, but sometimes even those who know many things about nature, fist aid, survival skills and good health will find themselves in a tough and unexpected situation.

In the city or in the wild, you can hike with confidence when you hike with the High King! If you find yourself in trouble remember the three C's. stay calm cool and collected. Remember that God is with you where ever you go. If you find yourself in trouble, do not hesitate to pray, because God is a very wise and noble being who hears our prayers and answers when we call.


For information about some of the great hiking places in and around Spokane, see:

http://www.rei.com/passport
and click on the State of Washington... (or your state of choice for REI does these great hikes all over the USA) Then click on Spokane. All these hikes are great and easy and fun to do with kids! there are also some great worksheets (See: bonus activities) to print for your family.

If you feel more adventurous... try these:

http://www.localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_7840.asp

http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=15074