With the increase in fitness awareness and desire to be once again an active culture, there is a growing popularity of the day hike.
What is a day Hike? A day hike is really a walk through nature of any varying distance. The day hike is great for starting to get back outdoors. With minimal preparation anyone can do a little research and find an opportunity to connect with the natural environment around us.
As with any outdoor adventure there is some planning required, however the planning is minimal and does not require much time to do. Planning should consist of
- Where are we going?
- How long will my hike take?
- What do I need to take with me to have a safe and enjoyable experience?
Where are we going? How do I find a local day hike?
There are many online resources that have been created over the years to make finding a hike near you. Hike Speak is a great resource along with Trails.com, alltrails.com, and even Yelp.com can help with locating a trail head (the start of your hike) near you. Most of the websites will just ask for your zip code to provide you with a lengthy list of options including various lengths and skill levels.
How long will my hike take?
The average person walks between 2 and 3 miles per hour. Plan your day early enough to be able to complete your hike when you feel comfortable. To ensure daylight most people plan their hikes at the beginning of the day to provide an adequate amount of time to finish their trail with a heavy safety margin. If you are going into more remote locations, let someone know where you are going and when you anticipate your return. When in remote locations cell phone reception is not reliable. In the event of unplanned circumstances someone should know when and where to look for you.
Night hiking offers an added set of rewarding challenges, but should not be the goal for inexperienced hikers. Night hiking makes navigation harder and increases the chance of error when ascending or descending steep trails. Plan according to your skill level and minimize risky situations.
What do I need to take?
Day hikes require minimal gear making them desirable for people new to outdoor exploration.
Water: For hikes less than 5 miles you need at least half a liter of water to carry on your person. As for hikes between 5 and 10 miles it is recommended that every person have at least one liter of water for themselves.
Food: On hikes less than 5 miles a light snack is encourages to keep a sustained energy through the hike. Plan snacks that are easy to work with such as Trade Joe’s Trail Mix which is a great buy and very convenient. The goal is to have a snack that can be easily digested and provide easily accessible energy. Protein bars sound like a great idea, but they take longer to digest not giving you the boost in blood sugars sometimes needed for the final stretch of the trek.
Safety: A few basics to consider include a pocket knife, small first aid, whistle and a pocket flash light. While the goal is to never need to use your safely equipment, it is better to be prepares and not need it, than need it and not have it. All of these items are compact enough to fit in a small backpack or even fanny pack. For added measure I always travel with at least a printed map of the area. Most areas will have signs with a trail, but it is best not to rely on signs always being available.
As a rule of thumb, stay within your comfort limits. A day hike is a great way to unwind from a hectic week, do not press too far and put yourself in unnecessary danger.
Good luck on the future adventures!
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