OUTDOORS
A hiking primer for newbies poles help distribute your weight and Take a hike. It sounds like the easiest thing to do: Head out and put one make descending hills easier by taking pressure off your leg muscles and foot in front of the other. But if you’re not used to being outside in nature, or joints. Instead of looking for the most if walking is difficult for you or if you beautiful or rigorous trail, David require a wheelchair or walker, then suggested simply finding a pleasant the very idea of hiking can be intimitrail and exploring. This is relatively dating. Resist that reaction. When the easy with the proliferation of trailopportunity to go on a hike presents finder apps. itself, take it, advised D.C.-based FlorThere are few things that can ruin ence Williams, author of “The Nature a hike as completely as Fix: Why Nature Makes Us poor-fitting shoes or Happier, Healthier, and boots. Blisters can take More Creative.” weeks and sometimes “When we experience months to heal, and beauty and awe, science tender feet will restrict suggests that it helps us movement or even feel more connected to dissuade you from hiking the world around us and for the rest of the season, to each other,” Williams said Eric Henderson, said. a longtime outdoor Since the pandemeducator and guide ic began, people have based in Denver. flocked to the outdoors, “I would never advise where there’s plenty of buying boots online airflow and they can pracRachel Walker without trying them on tice social distancing and first,” he said. “The right get exercise. As a result, Find a well-fitting pack. footwear is essential for many state and national an enjoyable hike, and it’s worth the parks, as well as local trailheads, have time and expense to go to a specialty implemented reservation systems or supplied shuttles to minimize parking store to get expert advice.” People’s feet are not uniform. Even headaches. if you know your size, you may have Getting started with hiking is relabunions, arch issues or other complitively easy, said Amy David, a hiking cations, Henderson said. That means and backpacking guide for Sawtooth that fit is paramount, and you won’t Mountain Guides in Stanley, Idaho. Novice hikers may think they need ex- know whether shoes or boots are a pensive gear or ambitious destinations good fit without first trying them on. When shopping, don’t just lace when, in fact, the only requirement is a up and shuffle around the shop. Step desire to get outside. “There are certain types of gear you onto benches, hop around, and go up should have to make your experience and down stairs if you can. Hendersafe and enjoyable,” David said, “but it son said he prefers mid-height boots that provide more ankle support than doesn’t have to cost a fortune.” a hiking shoe but are less burly than a Hikers should have shoes or boots heavy hiking boot. that fit well to prevent blisters; thin There’s a popular refrain among wool socks; a water bottle; wool or hikers: Leave no trace. This is an ethos synthetic clothes that wick sweat that comes down to respect, Daand dry quickly; and, if the weather vid said. Literally, it means pack out forecast looks volatile, proper layers what you pack in, including trash, exto keep you warm and dry. Trekking
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Charlotte Ross
Sawtooth Mountain guide Amy David at Idaho’s Thompson Peak. tra food, orange peels or apple cores (or any other biodegradable refuse that should not be thrown into the bushes). If you hike with a dog, bag its poop and carry it out. And if you have to poop, David offered the following instructions: “Dig a hole, so bring a small trowel, which you can get at an outdoor store, and carry out used toilet paper, so bring a sealable plastic bag for that.” Leave no trace also means respecting others on the trail. Give people space when passing, and don’t blare music on portable speakers or through your phone.
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Equally important is to make sure you bring enough food to stay fueled and water to stay hydrated. David suggested bringing more food than you think you will need. The outdoors exist for everyone, and exploring nature by foot can be a wonderful way to spend some of your vacation. “Being outside in the daylight is good for resetting circadian rhythms if you’re traveling across time zones,” she said. “It’s also great for working off the inertia of sitting for long periods in a car or on an airplane.” — Rachel Walker, Washington Post
