Hiking 101 Usefull Tips And Terminology
Have you ever thought about hiking and were confused about all the different terminology you have heard or seen? Well, then you are in the right place! Whether it is a new year resolution to become more physically active or a way to help you disconnect from the world for a short while, hiking can be a great benefit to your overall health.
So what is hiking exactly?
The technical definition is a long vigorous walk along a footpath or trail usually in the countryside. I prefer to think of hiking as a walk through any type of nature. This can be at a park, forest, or yes, the countryside.
Do I have to go deep into the woods to hike?
Not at all! Actually most cities have dedicated green spaces, these make great hiking trails. Sometimes a park will have a winding path, or a green strip that you can walk from end to end and back again. If you do want to go deep into the woods make sure to let someone know your general location beforehand. If something happens, help will already know your general location.
What kind of gear do I need?
Honestly not much. The amount of stuff you need to bring is mostly dependent on the length of time you plan on being out and location you plan to be. If you are going for a quick hike, 1-2 miles along a park trail, a water bottle is probably all that's needed. If you plan on going on a longer day hike at a state park or national forest you might want to bring a backpack with water, snacks, first aid kit, and bug spray (this is a must in Louisiana).
Do I need special hiking boots or other special clothing?
Maybe. If you are just trying out hiking you can use pretty much anything (within reason). Don't hike in sandals. If possible I recommend not hiking in jeans. I hike in a hot and humid environment, jeans during a hike become very heavy and make you feel restricted. Cotton is also another thing to try to avoid because once it starts to soak up your sweat it will hold on to it. The smell will quickly become uncomfortable. Think “work-out style” quick dry shirt and light weight pants, possibly even shorts if you expect the trail to be well maintained and not overgrown. Finally any closed toe shoe (without a heel) is usually acceptable. Keep an eye on the weather, if it has rained a lot you may want to opt for boots so you do not ruin a pair of shoes.
Useful Terms
Trailhead
This is simply the first marker of a trail. It tells you where to start. A trailhead can be a sign or just a post with the name of the trail. Fancy ones will have maps or arrows telling you which way to go.
Switchback
This is a portion of the trail that zigzags back and forth. This is most common on trails that have a lot of elevation (height) changes on them because this zig and zags help to prevent erosion of the environment and make the climb up a bit more bearable. (Please do not shorten your hike by walking through the switchbacks. Doing so damages the trail.)
Gradient
This is how much of an incline the trail will have, think of this as how steep a trail is. You may not want to walk up a 45 degree incline but a 5 degree incline would be much more manageable.
Out and Back Trail
This is a trail with a set start and end point. Most of the time the end of the trail will have a view or a rest area for you to enjoy at the end before turning around and going back to where you started.
Loop Trail
This is a trail that does not have a clear end point. Sometimes you can enter the trail from different points. You can continue to walk the trail without feeling like you have to stop at a certain point and go back because you are basically walking in a circle.
Moisture wicking
This is a term for clothing. It means that the cloth easily absorbs moisture which will quickly dry itself using the natural air around you. This is helpful to keep you dry and comfortable while hiking. A lot of athletic wear is already designed to do this.
Now you know a few of the basics. Hopefully this will help you feel a bit more confident when going out. The most important thing is to go out. Enjoy nature, do not worry too much about having the best gear or even the right gear, the more you go out the more you will get the hang of it, and the more you will learn. Hiking is great because it can be done alone or with friends!
BONUS
If you are looking for some great places in Louisiana to start hiking at, check out this article here!
If you want more tips about hiking in Louisiana before you hit those trails check out this article!
