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General Tips For
Hikers
Hiking is one of the most popular
and timeless of recreational activities, for good reason - you don't need much
to do it, you can go on your own or with a family and best of all, it doesn't
have to cost a thing! Whether you're hiking in the mountains, in the jungles or
in the woods just down the street, here are a few trips to make your tramp
through nature a safer and more comfortable one.
Dress Right
• Try not to wear cotton: it
dries very slowly, holds moisture next to your skin and is heavy when wet. There
are many new synthetic materials more comfortable and practical to wear during a
hike.
• If you're trekking in a cool
climate or during the autumn/spring, dress in layers. During a trek, remove one
of the middle layers so that your body doesn’t overheat and break into a sweat.
Perspiration and dampness destroy the heat-trapping advantages of most clothes,
so its important to keep the skin dry as well as warm.
• If you're trekking in the
tropics/ summertime, bring a light long sleeved shirt to wear when you're on
open ground at high altitudes. The sun feels fiercer higher up in the mountains,
so you might want to cover up. Also, take a water-resistant jacket, poncho or
collapsible umbrella for protection against rainstorms.
• If you suspect you'll be going
through water, or damp weather, try going to the swimsuit department for your
hiking shorts. Men's water shorts with built in liners are comfortable as they
are very water repellent and dry very quickly. If you're worried about modesty,
there are bermudas or long board shorts also available. If you have problems
with thigh chafing, you may want to wear Lycra shorts which are tight around the
thigh, thus preventing the problem.
• Wash your clothing as often as
possible. Clean clothes feel better and wear better. They are also warmer as the
accumulated oils in dirty clothing reduce their loft and conduct heat away from
the body.
• To keep your feet toasty warm,
try wearing two layers of socks, the outer layer woollen and the inner one
cotton.
Footwear
• Spend little more time to get a
correct size of your shoes, as poor-fitting shoes can be tormenting on a long
trek. Try on boots in the afternoon as your feet swell as the day wears on. You
should have 1/4-1/2 inch of room at the end of your toes.
• Women trekkers should go for a
'gender-specific boot', as these have an anatomically accurate designs and are
easier on their feet than wearing men's boots.
• No new shoes! Wear good,
‘broken in’ hiking boots with thick socks. A strenuous trek is NOT the occasion
to break in new boots, unless you are willing to risk turning your feet into
hamburger patties.
• If river rafting or water
activities are going to take place, bring reef boots as well — they’re better
suited for stepping in and out of inflatable crafts and walking on slippery
rocks.
• Bring sports sandals to wear
around camp and to the bathroom in the middle of the night; it saves the trouble
of lacing up hiking boots.
Foot care
• If you usually get a blister in
a certain place, apply duct tape, athletic tape, or Compeed (an excellent new
blister-preventive Band-Aid) to that spot before you start your hike. When
making moleskin or duct-tape patches, round the corners to discourage peeling.
Sometimes Vaseline applied ahead of time will also prevent blisters.
• Rubbing the feet with deodorant
has been shown to prevent blisters, apparently by shutting down the sweat glands
in your feet. Do it daily for three or four days before the hike. Rub everywhere
except the tops of your feet, which are more sensitive. The same tip can also be
adapted to deal with cold feet in winter. The first week of winter, spray your
feet three times with an aluminum chlorohydrate antiperspirant. After that, once
a week. This will stop 50 to 75 percent of foot wetness which leads to foot
coldness.
• Damp, cold feet not only feel
awful, but also encourage bacterial growth and other problems, so try to keep
them warm and dry at all times. When taking a rest break, take off your shoes
and socks and let your feet air out. You can also rub your feet with alcohol and
elevate them to reduce swelling.
• If your socks are wet, change
into a dry pair and hang the socks that you have removed from your feet on your
pack to dry as you walk.
• Don’t wear your boots to sleep
- your feet still need to get some fresh air and circulation.
Skin Care
• Pack plenty of moisturizer and
lip balm to keep your skin moisturized. The dry climate and cutting winds at
higher altitudes can take their toll on your skin.
• At higher elevations you are
exposed to 50% more UV radiation. Wear sunscreen or sunblock at all times. Use
lip balm with SPF rating to protect sensitive lips. In winter, go for a formula
that’s oil based, as water based formulas are ineffective under a minimum
temperature. Wear sunglasses for eye protection. Better yet, if trekking in
snowy conditions, wear goggles for better protection. Fresh snow can reflect up
to 90% of the sun’s dangerous UV Rays.
• Head gear. Bring one or two
bandanas or a similar size scarf. They are great to protect your head and/or
neck from the sun and serve as excellent hand towels.
• Keep cool. You may want to
carry a plastic mister bottle filled with ice water, for a refreshing spritz to
the face now and again.
Packing
• Pack your clothes and sleeping
bag in plastic bags or waterproof pouches inside your duffel. Not only will they
help keep everything dry, no matter the weather, they'll help keep your gear
sorted. Bring some Ziploc bags for organizing and keeping things clean and dry.
• Bring a headlamp instead of a
flashlight. Then you have BOTH hands free to shuffle around in your tent in the
dark trying to find something. It also works great for reading at night.
• Pack anti-itch cream and a
mini-first aid kit. If travelling to a remote area, consider antibiotics and
other medications as well.
• Carry wood, strike anywhere
matches and some kindling, in waterproof containers in your pack for starting a
fire in an emergency. I collect lint from our clothes drier, mixed with
Vaseline, for this purpose.
At The Camp
• Try to find a level camping
site. If that's not possible, try for a slight incline where you're lying down
with your head uphill. Some people like to sleep in the reverse directions, so
that blood does not collect in the feet and lower legs. Better try each and see
which suits you.
• Lay down on the spot you have
selected for your tent. While you are there, find roots, rocks, pine cones etc.
that need to be moved or adjusted for. Do not remove the soft forest litter.
• Make the ground cloth for your
tent out of an emergency space blanket. You have the lightest ground cloth and
it is available to serve its other purpose. Place it inside your tent.
• You will tend to hunker down
into your bag when it is cold. Just don't bury your head in the bag as breathing
into the bag will cause it to become wet and lose its insulating qualities.
• Fill up your water bottle
with hot water at night and bring it with you when you crawl into your sleeping
bag. It'll keep your toes, feet, and hands warm and cozy, and you'll have cool
water in the morning to drink.
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