Are You New to Hiking?

If you have never hiked before or if you have been on a couple hikes, (even if you have done many hikes), there is a lot to learn!

When I first started hiking, I was intimidated. I was 18, I didn’t know anyone who wanted to hike or who knew anything about it, but I still got out there! I searched online for information about trails, what I needed to know and what I needed to carry. Below is a compact list of information I think is the most useful for beginners and wish I had found all in one place.

  1. Choose a hike that matches your current fitness level. If this is your first hike, or perhaps your 5th, you want to select a hike that is not too challenging so that you can have fun! I recommend using AllTrails, they are beginner friendly, easy to read and understand. This site has regular reviews on trail status and can help inform your decision. Look at what type of trail you will be on; is it an "out-and-back" or a "one-way" trail? Make sure to look at the distance and the elevation gain! I frequently hear comments about how steep a trail is - this is the elevation gain. If you are looking at an out and back trail, divide the number in half to know how far you will be walking there, then factor in your elevation gain. In relation to kilometres, the fewer kilometres and the higher the number of metres for elevation gain, the steeper the trail. 

  2. Tell someone where you are going. Always leave a trip plan with someone you trust. I truly cannot stress this enough. If you get lost or hurt while hiking, will there be someone who can send help for you? I send the trail link, what time I am starting, the rough hour I should be back, and the hour to contact Search and Rescue before I leave. It may sound silly, but doing this gives me and my loved ones peace of mind while I'm hiking.

  3. Pack your Ten Essentials! These are very important and can be lifesaving! I always recommend carrying these items, even on short trips.

    1. Navigation: map, compass, GPS

    2. Head lamp: with extra batteries

    3. Sun protection: sunscreen, glasses, UVA/UVB protective clothing

    4. First aid: bandaids, tensor, foot care, bug spray, etc.

    5. Knife

    6. Fire: waterproof matches or lighter, tinder

    7. Shelter: light weight emergency blanket

    8. Extra food: more than you think you will need

    9. Extra water: more than you think you will need, or bring a purifier

    10. Extra clothes: something that will help you survive overnight

  4. Bears. I have run in to many black bears over the years. Fortunately, they have all been relaxed and occupied with their food. I recommend carrying bear spray (and understanding how to use it). It is better to have and not use it than to need and not have it. Keep it easily accessible at all times and not tucked into your backpack. Check the information board before you start hiking. It will let you know if you should be more aware of a bear in the area. Bears tend to be most active at dawn and dusk, so plan to start your hike after dawn and finish before dusk. While hiking, make noise, chat with someone you are with, sing, or play quiet music. Very loud music can sometimes attract animals. Keep your eyes open for scat, bear poo, if it looks fresh a bear may be near. Keep your pets leashed as dogs can provoke a bear. If you encounter a bear: stay calm, back away slowly, do not look directly at it (to the bear this signals a challenge) and give it lots of space. Bears rarely see humans as prey, but if a bear is stalking you and you can enter a building or car, do. If a bear approaches you: Do NOT run! Speak in a calm but firm voice and let it know you are not prey. A bear may charge or attack if it feels threatened. If you cannot escape and it charges, deploy your bear spray. If you have deployed your bear spray and the bear still makes contact with you, roll onto your stomach, cover the back of your neck, and play dead. If it continues to attack, fight back with anything easily accessible (i.e., hiking poles, sticks, rocks, etc.).

  5. Follow the Leave No Trace Principals. I have done my best to break the down LNT Principals into small pieces of information because I remember how daunting they appeared the first time I saw them. These principals allow the outdoors to be fun and enjoyable for everyone. 

  6. Please do not feed wild animals. I've done this in the past when I did not know better, and everyone I know has done this at some point. I do not want to shame you if you have done this because it is okay to make mistakes. However, we need to learn from them. When we feed human food to wild birds, chipmunks and squirrels, they often take it back to their hiding spaces and store it for later. Unfortunately, our food does not keep the same way wild food does. Our food rots, and it will rot their entire stash, sometimes leaving them with nothing to eat come winter. Winters are harsh, and even harsher without food. For the sake of keeping these animals alive, please do not feed the wildlife.

  7. Pack it in, pack it out! This rule applies for keeping nature beautiful, for everyone, all the time! It includes, but is not limited to: wrappers of all kinds, bottles, bandaids, hair ties, items that broke while hiking, tampon applicators, and toilet paper! Yes, please pack out your applicators and toilet paper if you need to go in the bush! If you think that looks like a good pee tree, there is a good chance someone else thinks so too, and toilet paper does not break down as easily as you may think. I carry an empty bag to put my toilet paper in so that I Leave No Trace.