Why hike?
Do you like hiking? I have never considered myself a hiker yet I’ve hiked trails in Arizona, Hawaii, California and Oregon. Now what I consider hiking may be different that what you consider hiking, I think hiking can be anything from a leisurely mile walk on a well paved path to those two grueling days of packing everything you need on your back and ruffing it in the forest. The hikes that I will be focusing on are something in between two to three mile hikes on a well worn path to a steep elevation change on dirt and rocks. I’m not the ruffing kind of girl.
Clears the Mind
We all have daily stress in one form or another. When you go hiking, it gets you away from your desk or out of your house. It allows you the opportunity to leave technology out. In most places hiking is quiet and peaceful. You can hear birds chirping or listen to the wind in the trees. Or you can hear the crash of the waves on the shore at the coast. Or in the case of our hike up Kole Kole pass in Hawaii the sound of artillery fire on a range near by. Not so quiet but the hike was worth it.
Reminds Us Why to Recycle
I love recycling, I’m an Oregonian its kind of our thing but sometimes I forget why. Being in nature reminds me why reduce, reuse and recycle are so important. We need to take of the earth and Mother Nature will take care of us in return.
Great Exercise
Science has shown that regular exercise where you increase your heart rate is healthy and will lead to a longer life. Hiking will also improves balance and strengthen the core. The body needs movement to feel at its best, hiking gets us moving which helps get rid of the knots and stress that forms in our body from sitting at a desk all day.
Vitamin D
We all need vitamin D. Some people call it the “happy” vitamin. Here in the Pacific Northwest we have higher cases of seasonal affective disorder, SAD, than the rest of the continental United States because we have so much cloud cover. Hiking will expose your skin to the sun promoting your body to create vitamin D. But remember to wear your sun screen. According to an article on skincancer.org sun screen is not perfect and you will get the vitamin D you need. (I reiterate: use sun screen it will not stop your body from producing vitamin D.)
Now, what do you need to go hiking?
Research!
Find out what the trail is going to be like. Are there bathrooms? Is it paved? Will there be an elevation change? Even find out if you can find out if there will be cell service in the area. I didn’t do my research when we went to Spencer Butte and look how that turned out.
Check the weather!
I try and carry one of those inexpensive ponchos with me just in case.
Wear appropriate shoes!
I highly suggest a good pair of hiking boots with ankle support but I also have some heavy duty sandals I wear too.
Bring water! Bring water! Bring water!
Even if its not going to be hot out you will need water. I prefer to use a backpack that has a water bladder insert. We fit the drinking hose with a water purifier.
A protein rich snack.
A candy bar will make you feel sluggish. I bring trail mix, fresh fruit and beef jerky. For the kids I also bring those fruit pouches in the baby aisle.
Hiking doesn’t have to be ruffing it for two day in the forest living off the land, it can be a quick walk through a grove of trees. The important thing is to get out and enjoy the beauty Mother Nature provides for us.
Where are you going to go hiking this weekend?
