Summer Hiking Tips
The following summer hiking tips are meant primarily for day
trips, but most of them apply to backpacking in the summer too.
Backpacking does involve hiking after all.
Prepare for the Sun
Sun block is a necessity for fair-skinned people like myself.
Put some on before you hit the trail, and unless it is a short
hike, carry more with you as well. Higher altitudes are especially
risky without sun block. In addition, it is usually a good idea
to bring sunglasses, and again, this is more important at altitude,
where the sun is more intense.
Prepare for Rain
Rain is a possibility in most climates on any given day. Though
I will often leave the rain gear behind on short day hikes when
the forecast calls for clear skies, I always bring it when backpacking.
Getting wet is one of the surest ways to have hypothermia, and
that is the leading cause of death in the wilderness.
Prepare Your Feet
If you haven't been hiking in a while, try some shorter hikes
before going the distance. This not only gets you in shape, but
it also allows you to make sure your footwear doesn't cause blisters
or other problems. Also, it is a good idea to bring moleskin
or other blister treatments on any but the shortest hikes.
Hike Early
Hiking early in the day is especially important if you are
going into the mountains. It is common for storms to form around
noon or later, so try to get high and get back down before that
happens.
Bring Plenty of Water
You'll almost always need more water for summer hiking, due
to the heat. Bring two water bottles (plastic pop bottles work
well), and if the hike is longer, take a few water purification
tablets too, so you can utilize natural water sources to refill
your bottles.
Take a First Aid Kit
A basic first aid kit is a good idea on any hike. On shorter
hikes it is enough to have one in the group, but you should each
carry your own on backpacking trips.
All the usual advice and recommendations apply to summer hiking
as well, but the ones here are specifically for those warm-weather
hikes.
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