Hiking trip

2023 Author: Katelyn Chandter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:08

Looking for a suitable hiking trip? How to prepare and take with you only what you really need.

So another year has passed. It was, as always, difficult, but you survived it. Ten days of holidays in January, like a respite before a new run into work.

On the other hand, this is the time to reflect on the future. For example, how to spend a vacation after the next working segment. Tour operators will offer you a lot of options, from beach holidays to cultural trips around Europe and the world, just have time to pay.

What if, radically change the picture? Pick up and go hiking. Gather friends and get away from the bustle of the city for a week, merge with nature and conquer an unexplored route.

This kind of rest leads to a complete reboot. It will help you reset to zero and start living with new desire and enthusiasm. But to prepare for such a journey, you need to learn something new. Go for it!

Where do we go, where do we go

You got the urge to go hiking, but you never did.

First, come up with an area, a place where you would like to go. Maybe you've heard something about this place, read or watched on TV. Invented? Now, open a map of this area, in the era of the Internet, this is not a problem, choose the most interesting places where you would like to go. Also, look for a description of these places, perhaps the tourists have already trodden a route to them, in this case there will be photos.

Russia is great, and in its vastness, you will surely find a huge number of places for a hike, but for a start, native land is also suitable. Firstly, it will be cheaper, and secondly, as experienced tourists say: "At home - and walls help."

Looked, invented, fantasized. Set a goal for yourself. Do not just put it down, but write it down on paper, if possible, attach a photo and keep it in a conspicuous place.

"Setting goals is the first step to making your dreams come true." Tony Robbins

When and with whom

Now come up with a timeline. Choose for your vacation.

The optimal time is spring, summer. For example, from the thirtieth May to the tenth June.

Then tell your friends and acquaintances about your plans, offer to join, gather a group of like-minded people. Indicate the terms of the campaign. Let the people who come with you think about when to take a vacation.

The group is assembled. What's next?

Try to find an experienced tourist among your friends or acquaintances. Maybe someone was involved in this sport. Invite him to the team. If he agrees, then this will greatly simplify the preparation for the campaign. Even if he does not go with you, he will still help with advice.

If there is no such acquaintance, then you will have to hire an instructor who, for a reasonable fee, will help with organizing the trip and, perhaps, even make a company.

Round table

You are lucky to find a tourist among your friends, and he agreed to go with you. Gather a team for a mug of tea and discuss the route. Tell us about your ideas, listen to others, accept the final plan. After that, together with the instructor, sort out all the way through the "bones". And start preparing for the hike.

Which way

And the paths or routes are different. When you lay the main vector of movement, along with it, you need to lay a spare and emergency.

Among sports tourists, hiking trips are divided by duration and categories of difficulty. When they pass the routes at a given time, overcoming various obstacles along the way, they are awarded points. The difficulty category of subsequent routes and the personal, sports category depend on them.

Even in the simplest hikes, professional tourists cover about one hundred and thirty kilometers in six days, which is about twenty a day.

How are we going?

But you are not an athlete and you do not need grades. The main goal of your trip is small hiking trails that bring pleasure, the opportunity to contemplate beautiful places, where, if you wish, you can set up a camp and stay for a day or two. Sit around a campfire in the evening, chat with friends, sing songs with a guitar, cook porridge from an ax, feel the unity with nature.

Based on these desires, and you need to plan a route. A well-thought-out trip is a guarantee of quality rest and achievement of your goals.

How many days?

For a multi-day hike, it is necessary to draw up a route on which interesting natural sights will meet. Transitions from one place to another should be logical. It is necessary to choose the right places for days and nights. If the transition from one point of interest to another is too long, plan an extra night. If you want to stay in one place longer, you can think of one-day light hikes. So you can see more places that lie to the side of the route, and in the evening return to the base camp.

Alternate trail

When you follow the main path and everything is smooth, your soul is calm. But this is not always the case. Sometimes there are insurmountable obstacles that cannot be seen on the map. For example: when developing a plan, you saw a small rivulet, which is easy to wade, but it rained, and it became a full-flowing river that cannot be crossed. There is only one thing to do, to look for workarounds. For such a case, just an alternate route is needed. It is being worked out together with the main one with probable ways of uncomplicated bypassing possible obstacles.

Or emergency exit

In addition, along the entire route, it is necessary to think over the exit points to settlements in case of an emergency. Someone got sick, got injured or decided to end the hike for other reasons, should be able to get help. They should be simple, as short as possible, without difficulties in terms of orientation. Also, in these settlements, it should be possible to replenish the stock of food.

learn more

In short, you need to carefully study the area of the proposed campaign. Collect as much information as possible about him and the places you will go to. Find out the weather forecast for the trip. Choose routes that can facilitate the route. It can be roads, trails, country roads, park forest.

It is also a good idea to study flora, fauna, medicinal plants. The more knowledge you collect, the better.

What do we take with us on a hike?

It all depends on the season and the hiking area. We are considering spring - summer.

In order to properly gather, it is necessary to make lists of items that we will take with us, and the weight of each. There are only four lists:

1. List of personal belongings for each participant (advisory).

2. List of things in common use.

3. List of products.

4. List of medicines.

This will help to properly distribute the load on each member of the group, depending on his physical capabilities.

Load each backpack by two-thirds of the volume, the rest is a place for food.

Learn how the equipment works before you start your journey. Put up a tent, pull up an awning, light a fire - this can be done on a weekend hike, before the trip begins.

Take with you only the most necessary things, do not forget that you will not have to carry everything for yourself. Be sure to take documents and photocopies to them, money. Pack everything in airtight bags to keep dry.

Four important things

For hiking with overnight stays, you need to choose the right one. It:

• backpack;
• tent;
• foam;
• sleeping bag.

The choice of a backpack is a whole science. If you choose it wrong, then the trip will turn into torment.

You are planning a long route, so the shoulder bag should be voluminous and lightweight. Weight should not exceed 2.5kg, when loaded, not more than 15kg. The volume for men is a maximum of 90 liters, for women - 75 liters. With small transitions, 50 liters is enough.

The backpack has an oblong shape and a harness. With the right choice and fit, it weighs more on the lower back. At the time of purchase, ask the seller to load the backpack and adjust for yourself. The main thing is the convenience when walking. Additional pockets, partitions, reinforced bottom, improve functionality, but also add weight. It's nice if the duffel bag is equipped with a rain cover, this will help protect the contents from getting wet when it rains.

Tent - choose according to the season, with aluminum arches. It should be quickly put, and take up a minimum of space when folded, and the weight, of course, the less the better. As a rule, it consists of two parts: bottom - lightweight, breathable; top - serves as an awning against rain.

The main indicator of a tent is water resistance. Top - not less than 3000 mm, bottom or bottom - not less than 5000 mm.

Foam, cushion, travel mat, in a word, a substitute for a mattress on a hike. Two main indicators:

• Thickness - not less than 8mm.
• Volume folded.

The accordion foam has proven itself well. Everything else is for an amateur.

There are two types of bedrooms:

• Like a blanket.
• Cocoon.

The second takes up less space when folded.

IMPORTANT! Choose the right sleeping bag for the season. For example, the average daily temperature is plus ten degrees Celsius, then take a sleeping bag with an indicator of zero. Further, add 15 cm to your height - this will be the length of your bag.

The filler is better than synthetic, it is lighter, easier to dry and warms even wet. A downy sleeping bag is heavy, and if it grabs moisture, then drying is problematic.

Loading the backpack

How do I arrange things in my backpack? So that you can easily get what you need, when you need it. It will look something like this. We place things from bottom to top:

• sleeping bag;
• tent;
• clothes;
• hygiene products, kitchen utensils;
• spare shoes;
• first aid kit, snack;
• raincoat.

On such backpacks, there are side straps with which you can attach: from one side - a tourist mat, from the other - rubber boots. Put a flask of water in a side pocket or attach to a belt.

Hiking clothing and equipment

Experienced tourists say: "There is no bad weather - there are bad clothes."

You, too, perfectly understand that clothes and shoes should be chosen according to the season. In the spring, in the summer - light, ventilated, closed. Pants can be tucked into socks.

Warm clothes for night and rain. In the off-season - an additional layer and protection from the wind.

An approximate list of things necessary for a hike looks like this:

1. T-shirt for parking, preferably cotton to replace the thermo-jacket.

2. Synthetic thermal underwear, basic and spare set. It must be understood that it only removes moisture, and does not heat.

3. Underwear, socks 3-5 pairs.

4. Woolen socks. Sleeping in them is more comfortable.

5. Fleece or something similar, preferably with a hood.

6. Pants for walking are not insulated, and some more are not ventilated.

7. Jacket from the rain, not insulated. A great option is a membrane, but it's not cheap.

8. Windbreaker, suitable for gatherings around the fire. Protect clothing from flying sparks or light, drizzling rain.

9. On the head: a cap, a hat, a panama hat, a bandana, whichever is more pleasant.

10. Clean clothes for going out to people.

11. Trekking sneakers with ankle fixation. It is better to carry them before the campaign. This will help avoid bloody blisters.

12. Rubber slippers with a closed toe, for crossing small rivers and moving around the camp.

13. Headlamp with spare batteries.

14. Hermetic bags of different sizes, for valuables.

15. Travel seat for the fifth point, will allow you to sit on anything.

16. Scotch tape is a universal remedy for minor repairs.

17. Sewing kit.

18. Personal set of dishes (plate, mug, spoon).

19. Knife.

You need to think about what means of orientation and communication you will take with you.

In addition to your phone and navigator, you will need a paper map and a compass. Learn to use them. The equipment fails, and the compass will not fail. Be sure to grab a push-button phone with a full battery charge. It'll come in handy for emergency calls if everything else goes down.

A solar power bank will solve the issue of a planted gadget, but still not a panacea.

Each member of the group must have a whistle with them. If someone lags behind, this will help not to scream and save the vocal cords, the sound of a whistle can be heard far away.

During breaks and long stops, try to cook hot food. On any hike, you need to take campfire equipment and kitchen utensils, such as:

• a pot or saucepan;
• scoop;
• opener knife;
• cutting board;
• campfire tripod;
• hatchet;
• means for ignition (matches, lighters, flint);
• gas burner with cylinders;
• a large tent under which you can cook and eat.

Let's eat

What can be said about the products. Take on the road that which is lighter in weight, has a longer shelf life and is varied.

Eat the things that spoil faster at the very beginning. Otherwise, there is no limit to imagination.

Do not carry a lot of plastic and glass with you, take care of nature. The usual travel package of products:

• canned meat, fish, porridge;
• crackers, bread;
• lump sugar;
• welding;
• cereals, pasta;
• potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic.

Everyone can add something of their own to the general diet for a snack on the way: chocolate, nuts, dried fruits, an energy bar.

And what about medicine?

Before the hike, it is advisable for everyone to master the skills of first aid and get acquainted with the medicines that will be in the general first-aid kit. Moreover, everyone should have an individual first aid kit.

What can come in handy on a hike:

1. Ointment for sprains and bruises.

2. Disinfectants: hydrogen peroxide, iodine, rubbing alcohol, green stuff.

3. Dressings, plasters.

4. Elastic bandage.

5. Hemostatic tourniquet.

6. Painkillers: analgin, tempalgin, nise, etc.

7. Drops from the common cold.

8. Antipyretic.

9. Antidiarrheal drugs.

10. Means for gastric lavage.

11. Ammonium alcohol.

12. Corvalol, glycine.

13. Remedies for allergies.

Where without her. Physical training

Hiking is movement along a strictly defined route, with a backpack on your back. Sometimes you have to move over rough terrain, overcome windbreaks and various obstacles. Whatever one may say, the physical preparation of each participant of the hike will affect the speed of the group's movement.

To improve physical fitness, you need to consider a training system that can increase the endurance and physical condition of team members.

For yourself, immediately take it as a rule, every morning starts with exercise. Cyclic sports increase endurance: running, skiing, cycling, swimming, rowing.

Nowadays, on almost any smartphone, you can install a sports application, and use it to follow the dynamics of your success.

Set a goal for yourself - to walk at least ten thousand steps every day, and follow it without looking at the weather. Brisk walking develops endurance and increases the ability to walk long distances.

Exercises on the horizontal bar, parallel bars, wall bars will add strength. In a word: "There is no limit to perfection."

Be sure to do weekend hikes where you can learn and practice the skills you need on the hike. Set up a camp, make a fire, cook food on a fire, work with a compass and a map in conditions close to real, you will work out in practice.

And when the time comes to go hiking, you and your like-minded people will boldly move towards the unknown, already familiar, but in something new. You will go to what causes joy and delight, to the thirst for discovery and the feeling of unity with nature. To those impressions that will stay with you forever!