One day, your friends invite you to go for a day hike. You are super excited to join them as you want to get out of your house to go for a day hike. While you can’t wait to accept their invitation, you may ask yourself: “What I need to prepare for a day hike”?
So, this is the purpose of this post on how to prepare for a day hike as a beginner. You’ll find it’s surprisingly easy to follow the following tips.
Thus, get ready to break your sweat and be healthy and enter the realm of our Mother Nature!
What is a DAY HIKE?
Day hike is a hike which can be completed within a single day.
Depend on the trail conditions, day hike can be just a chilling walk along the trail, or vigorous hiking (may include some rock climbing to certain extend).
Also, it could be short (like 1 hour) or long (more than 18 hours), depends on the length and difficulty of the hiking trails.
Before you join them for a day hike, I would suggest you to consider what you need to prepare, because there are some aspects you should be aware of in preparing for a day hike.
Here, I would like to share some of the preparations before you start a day hike.
1. Research on the trail that you would like to hike
This is the first step to prepare for a day hike. There are 2 main things that you would like to research before you go for a hike:
Trail condition
Before you start a hike, try to find information relevant to your hike (eg. length of trail, the elevation, condition of the trails – whether is rocky or smooth, steepness of the mountain, average time taken to complete the day hike, etc)
This gives you a general idea on your planned day hike to assess the hours that you should take to complete the hike.
Also, you would also be able to assess the difficulty of the day hike to determine whether you should go for that hike or you want to change your plan (whether to an easier hike or a more challenging hike).
The easiest way of research is Google search. There are so many hikers sharing the information on the internet which you could look for.
But, if you have friends or hiking buddies in a hiking committee or group, it is always good to ask them.
Application of hiking permit (if necessary)
Sometimes, permits are required for outdoor recreation activities (eg, day hike, camping, cycling, etc) to enter a reserved forest or national park.
So, you need to check the reserved forest website or the forestry authority to see whether hiking permit is required before you start your day hike.
You don’t want penalty imposed on you for hiking without permit, if caught by ranger, right? I hope not, haha!
Let say hiking permit is required, the further information is also relevant for the application of hiking permit
– How to apply?
– How much is the hiking permit fee?
– The hiking permit is for each hiker or hiking group?
– The expected time to get the approval of hiking permit. (to make sure you get the hiking permit before your day hike, or if not, you may need to revisit your plan)
You may assume your friends will do the research, but it is always better to check with them or you can do the research and plan the day hike with them together.
2. Check the weather
You don’t want to hike on a rainy day – Check the weather before your hike.
Or, you want to hike on a rainy day – Also check the weather before your hike!
Maybe you think it makes no sense to hike on a rainy day, but hiking on a rainy day is another experience! It really depends on what kind of weather that you want to have your day hike.
Of course, who don’t like to have a day hike on a sunny day? – Actually cloudy day is better, because people hate sunburn.
I tried hiking on rainy day although I didn’t plan to. So happened that the trails became so muddy and slippery, and I had to put extra effort to complete my day hike. It is definitely more challenging to hike on rainy days!
3. Inform someone on your hiking plan
They could be your family members, friends, colleagues or roommates.
Just let them know so that they are aware of your whereabouts.
In case unexpected things happen (eg, not return after your planned return), they can take necessary action.
4. Hire a trail guide (if necessary)
If you are unsure about the trail that you are going to hike or you feel not safe and uncomfortable on your day hike, you may consider hiring a trail guide.
Hiring a trail guide could be costly but this ensures you to hike safely and without worrying the chance of getting lost in the jungle.
5. Make sure your hiking gear, equipment and necessary items are available
Have you seen hikers went hiking without any hiking gears and equipment, meaning maybe they just wore a plain T-shirt, short pants, sandals, and without day pack?
You probably had seen this.
Although you could be hiking just like them, I wouldn’t recommend doing so.
Because,
Hiking without proper gears can compromise your hiking experience.
Imagine you hike on a sunny day and you sweat like a pig, and yet you are wearing cotton clothes!
You wouldn’t want your hiking buddies to smell your sweat, right? – A heaven for bacteria to breed.
Plus, cotton absorbs liquids very effectively, so if you are sweating, you clothes absorb your sweat, and you actually become “heavier” (and stinky!).
I tried hiking barefoot on a muddy and slippery trail before because I wanted to explore new experience in hiking. And guess what? I didn’t feel the existence of my legs after this because hiking barefoot makes it almost 10 times more tough and challenging! Just like this……
Well, this is just a “first-and-last” experience for me.
Without day pack means you hike without waters!
Unless you drink your hiking buddies’ water?
Wouldn’t need to explain much, cause you know how terrible you feel when you are thirsty but you couldn’t find any water to drink!
Think about planning on how much water you need to bring for hiking. Usually 1 to 2 litres is fine for a day hike but it depends on your consumption of water as well.
Actually, this is a broad topic. Maybe another post in this area will be created in future.😃😃
6. Arrange for transportation
Research, weather, informed someone, hiking gear and equipment. All checked.
Now, how to go, and what time should I go?
Should I take public transport?
Or, should I go by car?
If going by car is your option, whether you go on your own or you need a car pool?
For carpool, who should be the driver?
This sounds mundane. But, planning let you know the exact transportation in advance and able to determine what time you should leave your house.
After all, you need to be punctual to meet up with your other hiking buddies and start your day hike. It is not fun for hiking buddies to wait for you an hour or two because of this reason. You know how frustrated it is!
7. Warm-up before your day hike
Hiking is a form of exercise. So, it is always a good idea to do some stretching and warm up before your day hike.
5 to 15 minutes of warm-up session should be enough to prevent injury in your day hike.
8. Always be mindful when hiking
Why? Because,
You are entering the realm of Mother Nature!
Feel the fresh air, the trees around you……
Feel how you FEEL at that moment.
Put aside the stress in your daily life, you deserve to enjoy THIS moment!
To avoid being lost in day hike
– Always follow your group. If anything happens, you guys can take care of each other.
– Try to recognize the trail
– Do headcount
Prepare For a Day hike & Enjoy!
It may take a while to prepare for a day hike, but it helps you reduce the chance of unexpected things to happen and ensure you enjoy your day hike. After all, these things become handy and you will do them without even thinking.