Hiking is such a great hobby that will improve both your physical and mental health It’s a hobby you can take at your own pace. and best of all gets you outdoors with nature. Like anything, there are a few things you need to know and be educated on before you start. This is to help stay safe because there are of course risks with climbing up mountains and it’s so that you can keep having the best experiences.
Many of these tips really encompass New Zealand’s Mountain Safety Council’s Outdoor Safety code. This is a great code to be familiar with as it breaks down 5 key steps to planning an outdoor adventure. These steps are: Plan your trip, tell someone your plans, be aware of the weather, know your limits and take sufficient supplies. I’ll explain these more below.
Hiking is an exercise for me, it’s a break from the stressors of life and it’s a chance to see this world’s beauty for myself and appreciate what’s around me. So, it goes without saying, I am stoked to help introduce you to such an awesome hobby and give my hiking for beginners tips to help kick off your hiking journey.
Hiking for beginners tip #1: Leave no trace
Leave no trace includes 7 principles that aim to minimize environmental impact on the outdoors from people. They are absolutely crucial to understand and follow to keep mother nature the pristine beauty that it is. If you’re going to remember anything, these leave no trace principles should be it.
Thes principles include the following below and more in-depth information about each can be found at Leave no Trace.
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize fire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- be considerate of others
Basically, don’t litter, throw fruit peels and take your garbage out with you. Stay on the trails, don’t go off track on sensitive ground (like on wildflowers). Don’t disturb the environment, respect wildlife and be considerate of others on the trails. So no loud music, make room for each other and say hello! The better we treat out trails and the outdoors the longer we will be able to use them.
Hiking for beginners Tip #2: Plan out your hike
Can you jump in your car one day and head out on a hike without any preparation? Yes you most likely can but it’s not necessarily the smartest thing to do especially if you’re a beginner hiker. Planning out a hike– where to go, what the weather will be like and packing right can really make or break a great hike and keep you safe. Here are some steps in the planning process you don’t want to skip.
Pick the right track
Picking the right tracks for you and your fitness level is key. If you’re just starting out, opt for a short flat track then graudate to something a bit longer or find a shorter track with little elevation or an undulating gradient. Each week or every few weeks add a bit more to your hike whether it’s distance or elevation to help build upon your fitness to tackle big mountains in the future.
As your fitness builds, hikes will become easier and it’ll be a lot more fun to take on new and more challenging tracks. If you push yourself too hard or too fast though, hiking really starts to lose it’s shine and your nice Sunday day out just feels like a slog. Not to mention you can put your self in danger with taking on too much.
navigation
Many tracks here in New Zealand and in popular spots around the world are quite easy to navigate and very obvious as to where the track is. I still encourage you to always have some kind of navigation with you. Whether it’s a GPS (make sure you know how to use it), a physical map or maybe an app on your phone. It’s quite easy though to lose the path if bad weather rolls in, if there are old paths joining and multiple path junctions.
If you use an app make sure it can be used for offline use. The first app I downloaded for navigation wasn’t for offline use so when I wanted to see how much further I had to go, nothing would load! Even if you’ve gone up the same trail many times, it’s really important to be prepared and have some kind of reliable navigation.
check for any track closures
Wherever you are hiking, chances are, there there is a website that has all the track info you need on the trails in the area including closures and alerts. It’s important to check these before you go so you don’t drive all the way out there and have to turn around.
This is particularly important here in New Zealand as many tracks are closed certain times of year because of lambing. These tracks don’t always have signs either so unless you check beforehand, you might never know and you may end up crossing over land and disturbing animals that shouldn’t be disturbed.
HIKING FOR BEGINNERS TIP #3: tell someone
Before you hit the trails even if you’re going with another person, make sure to tell someone where you are going, what time you’re starting and when you’re expected back (with a bit of a buffer) or a time when they should worry.
Sometimes hikes do take longer than you think for a number of reasons– scenery, photography, maybe you’re just taking your time so you don’t want anyone to worry too soon.
Along with telling someone your plans, it’s a great idea to carry a personal locator beacon or some kind of emergency device that with a press of a button will sound the alarms for assistance. Many people keep these in their pack but the best idea is actually to wear it around your neck in case something happens and you can’t get into your pack.
HIKING FOR BEGINNERS TIP #4: stay hydrated
The exact amount of water one needs to take on a hike can be a little bit up in the air. There are a lot factors that may cause someone to drink more. For example the weather. If it is hotter out, we tend to sweat more and therefore need to drink more to replenish our bodies properly.
Our level of exertion is also a main factor and changes depending on track distance, terrain and elevation. You’re also likely to give more of an effort if you’re carrying a heavier pack.
I’ve read in a few places that a good rule of thumb is, 1 litre of water for every 2 hours of hiking. Assess your own fitness and experience to get an idea of how much water you may would need. If it is your first hike ever, you may want to think about packing a litre and a half for a 2 hour hike. Having extra water is always better than not having enough. Dehydration can lead to serious issues and the best thing to do is prevent it.
I personally need to drink a lot more water than the usual person even on easy tracks. Because of an old head injury and headaches, I make sure to remember to drink water, even when I don’t feel thirsty. Using a water bladder in my backpack with a tube has been the best way for me to have quick and easy access to the water in my pack.
HIKING FOR BEGINNERS TIP #5: good footwear
Having the right footwear is essential for getting out on the trails. Painful feet and not having that support can ruin a hike and even put your safety at risk. Don’t think you have to have the most expensive or newest boots on the market, but you do need ones that fit your feet properly and have the grip you need.
There are plenty of options for boots out there with different price ranges. I always suggest high hiking boots so you have that ankle support. Hiking shoes are a great option if you’re just starting out and sticking to trails with little or very gradual elevation. I also suggest getting good socks that are either wool or synthetic.
HIKING FOR BEGINNERS TIP #6: pack right and light
There are 10 essentials you should consider having with you on all your hikes. It might feel like things are overdone but you never know when you might need these things for your own safety. These 10 essentials include:
- navigation/maps
- first aid kit
- sun protection- hat, glasses, lotion
- matches/lighter
- headlamp with extra batteries
- enough water
- extra food
- additional clothing
- tools
- emergency shelter
Although you might think, pff I won’t need any of that, I’ll just be out for a few hours, this list is really a just in case. I always carry a jacket in my pack even in the middle of summer in case the weather changes at the top of a summit or unexpected weather rolls in. Do I use it, nope not usually but it’s there just in case. If I start a hike later, even though I’m sure I’ll be back before sundown, I bring a headlamp, just in case. It’s for those just in cases and as they say, when you really need something, it’s that time you don’t have it.
As far as packing light, there are a few things to consider so you can get that weight down in your bag. Even for a short day hike I suggest carrying a pack and the essentials. To help keep it nice and light transfer liquids like sunscreen into a smaller travel-sized bottle instead of just bringing the big one it comes in. Wrap food in beeswax wraps or recycled bread bags instead of a container and bring extra clothing that is lighter in weight but still warm and effective like merino.
HIKING FOR BEGINNERS TIP #7: find a partner
It’s perfectly fine to go hiking alone but it may be a lot more enjoyable going with a friend or two especially when you’re starting out. This is a great way to get comfortable with the new hobby and can also be a lot safer.
If a friend isn’t too interested, nowadays its quite easy to find someone who shares the same love for the outdoors. I’ve personally met a few people in my area from Instagram and have organized meet ups for a bunch of us to go together. Many areas have hiking groups you can join and platforms like Facebook and Instagram to connect with like-minded people instantly. Of course, listen to your gut when meeting new people and be safe.
HIKING FOR BEGINNERS TIP #8: don’t underestimate
This might be more of a reminder than a tip but I always say to people, don’t underestimate the world of hiking. It’s easy to think that a way up this way or that way off track isn’t that long, that the weather ‘looks fine, you don’t need a jacket’, that you don’t need a map, food or water but it’s really important not to underestimate the aspects of hiking and do what you can to be prepared. Be sure to respect the tracks that you’ve chosen by picking the right ones for your level of fitness and experience and don’t think you know better to not have the proper gear, take safety precautions and check the weather.
more inspo for beginner hikes in New Zealand
Beginner Friendly hikes in Canterbury
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