Hiking

Hiking is an outdoor activity that can be combined with camping. Hiking consists of walking in natural environments usually on hiking trails. Such is the popularity of hiking that there are many hiking organisations throughout the world today. Not only is hiking a way of seeing the outdoors and getting away from the daily stresses of life but it is also a very healthy pursuit to undertake.

Hiking in the UK and US refers to walking cross country for a longer duration than a simple walk and more than likely over terrain where hiking boots have to be worn. A day hike is a hike that will last for a day and not require an overnight camp. These day hikes are usually mountain hikes to a lake or a summit. Bushwhacking is the term used for hiking through difficult walking conditions such as walking through dense forests or undergrowth..

Camping and Outdoor Equipment

Hiking

Hiking is one of the fundamental outdoor pursuits on which so many more outdoor activities are based on. There are so many beautiful places to be seen in the world that can only be reached by walking or hiking overland. The outdoor enthusiasts see hiking as the best means to actually see and be involved in nature. Those that participate in hiking prefer it to touring in a car for example because the senses are not intruded upon or distracted by engine noise, windows, airborne dust and even other passengers. To hike over long distances you need to be physically fit enough to do the hike and have knowledge of the route you take and any potential pitfalls.

Safety issues

Hiking can pose a threat to your personal safety. Some of the threats can be become quite dangerous circumstances when hiking. Diarrhea is actually the most common illness to afflick long distance hikers in the US.

Other dangerous hiking circumstances include getting lost, bad and inclement weather, and dangerous terrain. Other health issues include dehydration and hypothermia, frostbite and sunburn. Attacks from wild animals can be dangerous as well as can be internal injuries such as twisted ankles. Hikers have a set of behavioural prescriptions to minimize all of these threats.

Attacks by other human beings is also a reality and there are many organizations that can teach you self defence and how to escape any problem. You also have access to mobile phones and GPS devices nowadays and it’s advisable to have at least one of them.

Impact on the environment

The hiker tries to seek out beautiful natural environments in which to hike. But the thing with these environments is that more likely than not they are very fragile and the hiker can accidentally cause damage. One hiker on his or her own will not cause too much damage to the environment, but if you have large numbers of hikers in a particular area then it’s possible for the environment to become degraded.

If for example the hiker’s gather wood in an Alpine area to make a fire this will not cause too much of a problem. But after a couple of years of this happening the Alpine area could become deprived of nutrients that are very valuable to it’s existence. Nowadays there are many protected areas which have regulations in place to protect them. If these regulations are followed then any impact on that particular environment is minimized. The types of regulations imposed are that of restricting camping to only established camp sites, forbidding wood fires and disposing of faecal matter properly.

A good philosophy to have when hiking is “leave no trace”. With this you hike in such a way that any future hikers who follow in your footsteps will not even know that you have been there before them. To leave no trace you have to be quite strict with dealing with food disposal, food packaging and any alterations to the surrounding environment. But the reason you are where you are hiking is because of the beauty. You enjoy the place so take care of it and keep it remaining beautiful.

One of the biggest sources of environmental impact from hiking is that of human waste. These human wastes can actually contaminate the watershed and pose a threat of illness to other hikers. One way to try and eliminate bacterial contamination is to dig catholes from anywhere between 4 to 10 inches deep depending on the type of soil composition and the covering that can be used after use. If you dig these catholes at least 200 metres away from any water sources and trails the risk of any contamination is very minimal. Its etiquette as well to mark any catholes you dig and use by sticking a stick in the ground to mark them and alert any other hikers or campers that come the same way.

When you are hiking there is a chance you will come across endangered or rare species of animals.Many of these animals are very sensitive to the presence of a human being and perhaps even more so when it is the mating season. To try to stop any negative impact it’s a good thing to read up on endangered species and learn about their habits and habitats.

With bushwhacking you have to push dense undergrowth aside to make forward progress. If your progress is impeded by extremely dense vegetation then a machete has to be used to make a pathway for yourself. In Australia bushwalking is the term used for hiking both on and off trails. New Zealander’s call it tramping. For multi day hiking in the mountainous regions of Nepal, India, South America and North America the term trekking is applied.

Borders in various countries are very poorly marked so it’s good practice for you to know where international borders are. There are specific rules governing hiking across borders.

Ten essentials for hiking

The hiking authorities recommend ten essentials to take with you for safe travel in the backcountry.

Map
Compass
Sunglasses or sun block
Water and food
Extra clothing
Flashlight
First aid kit
Fire starter
Matches
Knife

A map and compass are essential for your hiking or camping and outdoor equipment to prevent you from getting lost. The thing with getting lost in terrains or areas that are unfamiliar to you raises the risk of you suffering from panic or anxiety which in turn raises the risk of physical injury. When you go hiking make sure you have a map of the area and the skill and knowledge of how to use the map. You never know if the place you are in will have signs, markings or guides. If you don’t take a map make sure you at least have a compass. Even the simplest of compasses can help you find your way to safety.

A torch will provide you with light and when you are hiking at night you can use it to protect yourself against physical injury by seeing the path you will take. As well as the basic safety benefit of the flashlight, the flashlight is also very useful in helping you find things in your rucksack, taking a look at wildlife in dark crevices and for distant signalling. Always remember to carry extra batteries and bulbs for your flashlight.

Extra food and water is always a must to take with you when hiking. In case of emergencies this extra food and water can help to prevent hypothermia and dehydration. Also knowing that you have additional rations will help to fend off panic in an emergency. Remember though that its not a good idea to eat food without water. The reason for this is that the water helps to metabolize the food.

Extra clothing will help to protect you against hypothermia in an emergency. It is better to have multiple layers of clothes than just a thick single garment. Also having multiple layers of clothes means that you can remove one or more layers to avoid overheating which will cause you to sweat and make the clothes damp. As well as being suitable for protection against insects, the sun, wind and cold these extra clothes can have other uses as well. You can cut them in to bandages if need be, use them as a tree climbing aid and even make makeshift pillows or ropes from them.

Sunglasses or sun block will prevent snow blindness. The sun can cause the human serious problems. It can limit you visibility which in turn can jeopardize your ability to travel safely. Wearing sunglasses also gives your eyes additional protection from such things as tree branches and flying debris. Sun block will stop you getting sun burnt, which to say the least can be very uncomfortable.

A camping first aid kit that is suitably stocked will have items for you to treat burns, cuts, blisters and any body punctures. Depending upon how well equipped your camping first aid is you may even have equipment to deal with small breaks such as a broken finger or to be able to deal with cardiac problems, hypothermia, frostbite and hypoxia. Also take into consideration such things as insect bites and snake bites when making up your first aid kit as these are a possibility when hiking. And of course if you are on personal medication, don’t forget to pack that as well.

A knife is always a must as these have many uses for most activities and should always be apart of anyone’s camping and outdoor equipment. In fact the use for a knife is a very long list. It can be used for such things as eating, building shelter, cutting rope and even surgery. You could even upgrade from a knife and go for a leather for example which is a hand held multi tool and is very versatile. If you are planning on going into dense undergrowth maybe you should also have a machete with you. For serious backpackers, hikers and campers even a heavy axe could be added to the equipment list.

Matches or fire starter should be taken with you as second nature. In case of an emergency a fire could make all the difference to your survival. Not only can the fire be used to cook with it can also keep you warm and keep away any unwanted wild animals. The psychological effect of a fire is to increase the will to survive in any given emergency.

As well as having these ten essentials it is also advisable to supplement them with a water treatment device of some sort. You can have a water filter or chemicals to ensure that you will have clean treated water when you need it. A repair kit of some sort is not a bad supplement either. It can be used to repair equipment and should have duct tape as well as a simple sewing kit. Insect repellent should be in your first aid kit, but if it is not then you need to add some because it is highly likely that some insect will take a chew on you sometime during your hike. And finally additional signalling devices such as a whistle, a mobile phone, a flare or even an unbreakable signal mirror must be found a place amongst your equipment. When hiking you may never even have to use any of these items. But they are all small and quite easy to pack and carry with you. It is far better to be safe than sorry, so before every trip you take, make a list and pack as many of the essentials that you can.