How do I Prepare for a Hiking Trip

              Hiking has been one of my favorite outdoor activities ever since I was little. Having grown up in rural Transylvania, we didn’t have the option to spend the days in malls or even roam around the city for hours. The closest city to my village has only 40 thousand inhabitants, so you quickly run out of places to go, eventually ending up in the mountains at the edge of the city anyway. My grandparents also lived in a village 30 minutes from mine, tucked away in the mountains, so basically every weekend spent with them was also a nature outing. A fact that I feel eternally grateful for now that I’ve experienced city life as well.

              Growing up like this, preparing for hikes was a given. We were just going out, so whatever we did to prepare was part of the routine. I haven’t become more conscious about it until about a year ago, when I set out to walk the Camino de Santiago. I really had to delve deep into the necessities and possibilities that go into planning a hike like that. I am going to talk more about that in an upcoming blog post, but for now I just want to talk about my regular day-hikes and weekend hikes.

              As for equipment, what I need depends a lot on the terrain and the season. A good pair of hiking boots that support my ankles are a must for me but I think everyone has their preference. My favorite at the moment is my brown leather Gelert Atlantis brown leather hiking boots that turned out to be both very comfortable and extremely durable as well. As for pants, I like the ones that convert into shorts with zips. I find them super practical and they make it easier to prepare for any unexpected change in the weather. A hat and sunscreen is a must, especially in high altitudes, where you burn much faster and get sunstroke quite easily if not careful.

              I also take a minimum of 1 liter of water with me, but depending on the season and the weather, sometimes I might need more. I definitely believe that it is better be safe than sorry in this matter. However, if it is a longer hike, involving considerable altitude change, I like to do a couple of practice runs with my backpack to make sure that I can manage with the weight.

              I consider myself quite fit and I train for hikes so as not to be in too much pain afterwards. I go for 40-60 minute walks every day, which is a very gentle but highly effective exercise as well as swim twice a week and do yoga a couple of times a week. It might seem like a lot, but more than going for quantity, I just try to find exercises that I really enjoy doing and not having to force myself to do it, but rather make it part of my downtime.

              On the day of the hike I like to get in as much of an early start as possible. If I am going with friends I think it’s important that we are all on the same page regarding this matter. You never know what can delay your arrival back so it’s best to get an early start and have the advantage of the crispy fresh morning air giving you a boost. Hiking is one of my favorite sports as it is gentle on the body, yet it gives you an all-round workout. Going through nature in a slow pace allows for really appreciating what is out there and gives time to connect with people or just be with your thoughts.

How do you choose your hiking routes and how often do you get out there? Leave your answers in the comments!