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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye.

Introduction to hiking

Ordinary walking speed on level ground is between 2-4 miles per hour. At that pace a person will burn about 50-150 calories per hours. Compare that with the amount of calories burned simply by sitting, which is at the lower end of that scale. Also, for every hour of hiking you'll lose about a liter of fluid (more in hot conditions) that will need to be replenished.

Hiking with care

The environment where we all hike is fragile and more people need to realize it. That beautiful trail will only remain so if you leave no evidence you were on it. More and more people hike on trails and leave trash and other evidence of their being there. This both ruins the hike for others and impacts the vary ecology that makes the hike worth taking.

Things to think about when Hiking

You should be sure to do everything you can beforehand, to avoid losing your way once you get started. It may sound relatively simple, but even experienced hikers can get lost due to a poor plan. Before hiking, make sure you've included a map with your gear. Remember, landmarks will change often, so make sure its an updated map. You should have at least 2 compasses with you. It is better to have more than one compass for comparison; many hikers doubt the readings of their compass, and that doubt leads them into trouble.

Safety Hiking observation

As you walk, look around and take notice of your surroundings. Look carefully at mountain tops, ridges, streams, and other landmarks. Such natural reference points play an important, even life-saving, role. As before, be sure to employ your map and compass.

What to pack for your Hiking trip

The place you are going to and the time of the year you are going, are the major determining factors when you decide what kind of hiking and camping gear is right for you. With this information clear, it will be much easier for you to decide about the most important things included in this gear- the sleeping bags and the attire. It is quite obvious that the clothes that you wear in warm weather will be no match for the chill and the cold winds of winter.

CONCLUSION

For the sake of convenience and also to protect the environment, it is always better to carry a washable mess kit. You need to make sure that you are carrying all the essential safety gear like flashlights, first-aid kits and definitely a radio so that you can be well informed in advance about the weather conditions on your hiking trip.