Exploring Nature: Hiking Tips 101

One of the advantages of living at Truman Park is the proximity of a nearby nature trail. It’s lovely to pop out and go for a walk on a summer evening. Simply being outdoors and enjoying nature is one of the pleasures of life. While taking a walk doesn’t take a lot of planning or preparation, heading out for a longer hike over varying terrain is a different matter. In today’s blog post, we have some hiking guidelines to share.

 Items to Bring on a Hike

• Proper footwear. Suit your footwear to the type of hike you are doing. Trail shoes are perfect for a short day hike that has easy terrain and doesn’t involve a heavy pack. For longer, more technical hikes, hiking boots offer more durability and support.
• Water. Bring enough water to stay hydrated, and if you are going to be away from “civilization” bring the means to purify water.
•  Map and compass.  The GPS on your phone is great, but not all areas have cell service, so take that into consideration and carry a paper map of where you will be hiking.
•  Safety items. Bring a small first aid kit, matches or lighter, and a whistle. Having a flashlight is a plus too in case you end up being out later than you planned, or get lost in the dark.
•  Snacks. Seriously, there’s a reason it’s called trail mix, hiking burns up calories and you may get very hungry otherwise.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat. Protect yourself from sunburn, it’s no fun to be miserable the day after your hike; prevention is the key.
•  Dress for the weather. This is a common sense item that all too often is ignored. Dress in layers so you can adjust as you hike, jackets can be tied around your waist until you want to wear one.

For additional resources, visit the website for the American Hiking Society.

Take lots of pictures and enjoy getting back to nature this summer and exploring all the natural beauty Largo, Maryland, and the surrounding area has to offer. What are your favorite hiking tips? Feel free to share in the comments.