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Hiking is an activity that will thrill you and allow you to see the beautiful wonders Mother Nature has to offer. It will give you solitude, connect you with nature, and provide you with views that only a handful of people get to see in their entire lifetime. However, mountain hiking is not easy, especially for individuals who haven't done it before. It is not something that you can do every other week or so because it requires both physical and mental effort to be put in.
Hiking requires quite a bit of pre-planning, and if not done correctly, it can leave you stranded on top of a mountain with no one to help you out. You need to have high fitness levels if you want to navigate and climb those rough mountain roads on foot.
However, you don't need to be Superman either! Take a few steps to prepare yourself, and you're good to go for that fun and exciting mountain trip. It is always better to be ready for a challenge than procrastinating your way into a crisis. Take a look at these mountain climbing tips below:
- Research about the trail you will take on your mountain trip
Rule number one: always do your research before traveling to any place in the world! This means doing more than scrolling up and down on Instagram while viewing scenic pictures of your intended destination. A mountain trail that may look epic might be tough to navigate through once you physically set foot on it. You wouldn't want to be caught by surprise on the hike's difficulty, which wasn't apparent in a picture. Read up on blogs and guides about the particular location and familiarize yourself with the terrain and what to expect.
Another thing to keep in mind is a suitable place to stay. Renting a hotel that's close by is the ideal thing to do. You obviously wouldn't want to get tired while walking to the base point and before beginning the actual hike, would you? For example, suppose you desire to climb the beautiful Pigeon Forge Mountains in the USA, Tennessee. In that case, you could search for new hotels in Pigeon Forge and pick one that offers comfortable accommodation, fair rates, and most importantly, breathtaking views! Hikes are enthralling yet tiring. A good place to stay is essential to beat the fatigue after a leg-breaking and adventure.
- Train yourself for the climb
Mountain climbing is not about looking the fittest or being the youngest. It is about having the endurance to navigate obstacles, rocks and climbing sloppy trails without breaking a sweat. Sure, something like this is challenging for first-times. In fact, experienced mountain climbers, to this day, still find it hard to climb every new mountain as there are always obstacles present that they did not plan to encounter.
If you want your mountain climbing trip to be exciting and fun, plan ahead and get in shape before your trip day comes. Do some cardio and weight training a few weeks before actually planning for a hiking trip. This will help you enhance your stamina, especially if you're into extreme stuff. As a pro tip, don't skip leg day. Shouldn't miss that either way!
- Pack your mountain traveling essentials
Being prepared is always better than not being prepared at all! Be it a day trip to the seaside or an adventure into the woods; you need to have the bare essentials to avoid disdain. This is truer for a trip up the mountains to ensure a smooth experience without facing any unnecessary 'challenges.' Once you're up there, you're pretty much stranded till you're there.
Your checklist should include a pocket knife, first aid kit, a headlamp, map, compass, fire starters, match sticks, rope, sunglasses, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Sounds like a lot, but it isn't! A lot of these items can easily fit into a sturdy and spacious backpack. If you're night-hiking, you might want to carry a quilt to stay warm. Okay, a quilt might be a bit too bulky for a hike; but a warm woolen blanket or throw should suffice! Nights up in the mountains can get pretty chilly, and you wouldn't want to ruin your star-gazing experience, would you?
But wait! You're hiking essentials aren't done yet.
- Pack lots of snacks and water
Obviously, you cannot take a three-course meal with you on a mountain trip. But snacks and water are essential. Eating snacks and drinking water will allow you to replenish energy and stay hydrated while climbing uphill. We are not talking about snacks such as crisps, bagels, or sodas here. Instead, take snacks that will give you a boost of energy.
Protein bars, dark chocolate, and whole wheat biscuits are packed with energy and easy to carry. They will provide you the best bang for your buck when you need the power to push through those last few steps to the mountain top.
- Dress according to a mountain trip, not a leisure trip
It's a mountain hike, not the prom! If you dress like you ditch your hiking shoes for flip-flops and stilettos, you're bound to experience difficulty. Be practical and functional with what you choose to wear. If you decide to take a mountain trip in the winter, wear warm clothing such as a bulky jacket, gloves, and winter boots. These clothes will allow you to fight the cold and enjoy your trip instead of freezing to death and missing out on the whole purpose of the hike. And if you still want to make a fashion statement, there's plenty of fashionable sporting gear available to make your selfies look super chic. Invest wisely.
Conclusion
It may sound like a lot, but being prepared is always better than having no plan of action. Know what to expect and pack accordingly. Better preparedness will help you enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature rather than worry about what to do if things go down the slope, pun intended!
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