| Hiking is one of those
rare activities that allow one to achieve solitude while
interacting with the family (two contradicting terms).
Oh… the scenery isn’t too bad either. To aid in this
endeavor, we have assembled the following suggestions:
Good
quality hiking boots are a must. Have them properly
fitted at an outfitting store. You want have firm ankle
support as well as slip resistant soles. They are meant
to feel a bit tighter than you would expect normal shoes
to fit. Break in your boots before hitting the trail.
The easiest way is just to wear them around town on the
asphalt for a day.
For
extended hikes or backpacking you should wear a nylon
inner sock and a thick wool outer sock. The purpose is
to absorb moisture from the skin, cushion your feet and
repel any water that may enter the shoe while crossing a
stream (though the better the shoe, the less this is a
problem). By using these socks you greatly reduce the
chance of blisters and your feet will not feel as
fatigued.
I
prefer to carry a trekking pole (walking stick) with me.
You transfer part of the weight of walking to your arms
and your legs don’t have to continually battle to keep
you stable. These two points make for less tired legs.
The swaying of the arms while walking will also
establish a cadence for you that keeps you moving
forward… and it doesn’t hurt that you can you can
use it as a club or staff should the need arise (See
Hiking Safety article)
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