Take a hike

I'm obsessed with hiking.  Or at least the idea of hiking.

It just seems like a perfect activity.  You get to be outside, in nature, somewhere beautiful and quiet and serene.  You get fresh air and some quality time with your hiking partner(s).  You get to take in the sights and the sounds and the smells and unplug from the world for a while.  Plus, it's great exercise that doesn't even really feel all the much like exercise.

A nice hike overlooking the Hudson.  Hi, Yonkers!

Yes, I love the idea of hiking.  But, even though I live in a place where there are plenty of hiking options within an hour or two, and I have traveled to numerous places with even more hiking options at my fingertips, I've probably only really gone hiking a handful of times.  And those were times that I was going with someone else who was doing all of the organizing and planning.  All I had to do was pack some essentials in a backpack and show up.

When my hiking enthusiast friends moved away, and I got tired of paying to go with our local parks program, I resolved to take up hiking as something that I did.  An activity that I proactively took part in.  Not something that I waited for someone to invite me to do.

But first, I needed to figure out just what it meant to plan a hike.

Given that I had already been on several hikes with people that knew what they were doing, and who were nice enough to answer my incessant questions, I knew enough to be able to read and follow trail blazes, and I knew what to bring in my pack.  I also knew about trail etiquette and the leave no trace principles.

(If you're someone that's totally new to hiking, I would recommend getting a few hikes under your belt with a knowledgeable hiker before you spearhead a hike of your own.  Or at least do a lot of  internet research first and go on a fairly well populated and easy trail your first time out.)

But I still had to come up with a hiking game plan for my first solo hike.  (And by first solo trip, I mean without a trusty hiking bud to plan everything for me.  I actually took my sister on this hike.)

Want to plan a hike of your own but not sure where to start?  Here's how I went about it:

Determine the fitness level of the group.  Hiking is a great activity that can have all sorts of physical and mental health benefits.  But it can be a strenuous activity, depending on the type of trail that you choose.  It's always a good idea to keep the fitness level of yourself and whomever you'll be hiking with in mind as you're choosing a location.  You can find hikes that are easy and hikes that are difficult and everything in between.  The difficulty of a hike depends on length, elevation gain, trail attributes, and more.  By doing some research, you can determine what seems like a good fit for you.   It's also best to go with the least common denominator in the group and tailor a hike to their abilities.  So if you're a triathlete in great physical condition and the most exercise your hiking buddy has gotten in the last year is walking from the couch to the kitchen to grab another beer, make sure that you choose a hike that your buddy can easily finish.  If you're unsure if a hike is a good fit for you, it's best to err on the side of caution.  You can always choose a slightly more difficult hike next time.

Decide what you want from a hike.  Do you want to climb to the top of something?  Do you want views?  Do you want waterfalls or lakes or wildflowers or historic features?  Figure out a few things that you'd like to see or experience on your hike to help you find a perfect location.  And be realistic - if you live in a relatively flat area and aren't willing to drive a long distance, a hike with a large elevation gain is probably not feasible.  If you live in a landlocked area of the country, a hike with great views of the ocean probably isn't in the cards.

Do some research to find the right trail. The internet is awesome for this.  Just do some quick Googling, using keywords of the different trail attributes and difficulty level that you're looking for, and you'll most likely come up with a number of options.  For example, in my area, there are several websites that list different hiking trails, including how to get there, very specific descriptions and directions for the trails, and user reviews of the trails.  If you're looking at hiking in a state, national, or even sometimes a local park, their websites can also be useful sources of information.  Look around and see what you come up with.
 
Consider the weather.  Obviously, if it's supposed to thunderstorm, that's probably not the best time to go on a nice long hike.  But also consider other weather conditions.  Has it been raining a lot lately and the trail that you're looking into contains a lot of steep sections that could be muddy or possibly washed out?  Might want to go with plan B.  Is it supposed to be 90+ degrees out and you're planning a full-day loop with no shade?  It may be better to head out on a forest hike to a nice swimming hole.  It's always best to consider all possible weather and trail conditions before heading out (and many trail guide websites will have tips that should be helpful in this regard, such as letting you know if there are a lot of rock scrambles that become treacherous if they're wet or icy).

Plan for it to take longer than you think it will.  Say you pick a hike that's five miles long.  Doesn't seem that hard, right?  You can run five miles in under an hour and walk five miles in maybe an hour and a half, so you figure that it can't take much longer than that to hike five miles, right?  Depending on the trail, it will most likely take you longer to hike a certain distance than it will to walk that same distance on a road or in a park.  Hikes generally have terrain changes and elevation gains that will take you some time to traverse.  You'll want to stop to enjoy the sites and the sounds.  Water breaks and snack breaks take time.  It's generally a good idea to plan for your hike to take longer than you think it will and plan accordingly.  And if you finish early, great, go celebrate!

Always be safe.  Make sure that you're paying attention to your surroundings, looking out for anything that could harm you - be it an animal that might not be too happy you're in its territory or a mean old rock sticking out of the trail looking to trip an unsuspecting hiker.  Be sure to bring ample supplies, including water, food, and layers of clothes.  Yes, bring layers, even if it's 100 degrees out.  You never know when the weather's going to change or you're going to need to cover your arms to get through an overgrown section of the trail without looking like you just had a date with Edward Scissorhands.  Make sure that someone knows where you're going and when you expect to be back.  Have maps and directions for the trail printed out - don't rely on cell phones to get service. Bring at least a basic first aid kit.  And be sure to use your head - common sense can go a long way in keeping you safe.

Most importantly, have fun.  Enjoy getting away from the hustle and bustle of your life and reconnecting with nature, even if it's just for a few hours.  It will give you a chance to recharge, and a great "what I did this weekend" story come Monday morning.  Everyone is always impressed with a good hike.

I've got my layers, and my pack, and the trail directions in my hand.  I'm ready!