Taking a multi-day trip into the outdoors is a unique experience. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about your first one. It’s never too early to start planning your first overnight hike. Choose a route that has two short day walks that will allow you to get to your campsite in enough time to pitch your camp and dine before darkness falls rather than one that is overly ambitious on your first attempt. When venturing out for the first time, it’s best to have someone know where you’re going and to check the weather forecast.
What to Bring in Your Bag
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on extras because you can get by with what you have. You’ll need a tented shelter (as light as possible), a sleeping pad, and a pillow to keep you warm. Hiking shoes, socks, trekking trousers, a merino wool vest/t-shirt, and a light down jacket are all essentials for any hiking journey. Layers keep you warm after nightfall and in the chilly morning, but they can be removed as the day warms. Waterproofs are essential. If you don’t have any means of protection from the elements, being soaked is a depressing experience and could put you at risk for pneumonia.
Make sure you pack a double wall insulated water bottle, a flashlight, a basic first aid kit, and a shovel. As well as utensils, a burner, and a pan to heat water for supper or morning coffee, you’ll need all these items in your survival kit. Water, a map, food, and the first medical kit should all be kept in convenient compartments in your pack.
What to Pack for Meals
I want something that is light, small, and nutrient-dense. With fruits and seeds, instant oatmeal is the perfect way to start your day. Peanut butter and butter tortilla wrap for lunch, and brown spaghetti with chickpeas and pesto and tomatoes for dinner, are two options for the day. Be sure you pack a huge supply of tasty treats to munch on. With the addition of dried fruit and chocolate, you may construct your own trail mix.
Decide wisely where to camp
Camping in a wildlife-friendly environment is important if you’re not camping at a designated campground. Leave plenty of time to set up camp so that you aren’t stumbling around in the dark trying to figure out how to put your tent together.
Park Rangers are the Best Source of Information
A state or national park is usually your best chance when it comes to hiking. Ranger personnel is on hand to answer any questions you may have about how to keep safe in the area. Make a phone call to the park office or check on the official National Parks Department (NPS) website before heading out on your hike. Your best bet for getting up-to-date information on what to expect is to contact the park service. They’ll be able to tell you about everything from dangerous critters to recent changes in the landscape (such as fallen trees or rockslides). The park administration can advise you on how to keep yourself and the environment safe, as well as how to safeguard it from human interference.
Bring a Friend
Medical and head of wilderness medicine curriculum at the charitable National Outdoors Management School (NOLS), advises SELF to make it a group activity to avoid being stuck alone in a dangerous situation. In this way, at least one of your friends will be able to get help. It’s a good idea to go through a few things with your friends before embarking on a hiking trip, such as how tough a hike you can do, your general route, and a contingency plan. Let’s delve into the details of the latter two, shall we?
Share your schedule with someone who isn’t part of the group. Before you even go out on the path, come up with a general plan that everyone in your group can agree on. Include your starting time and location, destination, route, and expected finish time. Hiking times can be unpredictable while traversing unfamiliar terrain, so bear this in mind while planning your route. As a result, it is advised that you begin your preparations as early as possible, set realistic deadlines, and avoid being overly ambitious. At the very least, tell someone who isn’t going on the hike about your plan. This information can also be left at the park office. A search party will be able to use this information if you fail to show up as scheduled.
Be Prepared for The Weather
Checking the weather in advance of a hike isn’t enough anymore. Inquire with park rangers or visit the park’s website to learn about the most common weather conditions and how to be safe in them. Even with the most accurate weather forecast, large storms can suddenly appear. Thunderstorms and lightning storms are both regular and dangerous occurrences. As a precaution, the National Park Service recommends that anyone who is caught in one of these urges seek shelter immediately (unlikely, but still). Prevent climbing on or touching anything that is particularly high or open, including large rocks, fields, and even metal structures. In order for a hike to be dangerous, even a little change in weather might alter the terrain. Even a small drizzle that starts as you climb a mountain can make the descent quite hazardous.
Conclusion
Choose a route with two (short) day treks to reach your campground before dark. Remember to bring a shovel, a water filter, and a flashlight. Hiking is preferable in a state or national park. Park rangers know what to expect best. They can warn you about dangerous animals, current changes in the landscape, and how to be safe.Unfamiliar terrain can affect hiking schedules, so plan accordingly. Weather can modify the landscape, so be prepared.