I’m often put off by folks speaking of their 4-day hikes and the challenges they found in pitching the tent in just the right position. Even worse is the thought of ME having to carry that backpack, purify that water and trudge those 78-mile trails. The good news is this: hiking can be fun for everyone, including the city wimps like me who prefer their view of nature to be from an easy chair.
Start with short walks. These take less time, require less preparation, and don’t require the endurance of a marathon. Most folks can find a nearby park or university campus that can offer new vistas – and require shorter time commitments. This makes walking outdoors more accessible to families of all ages.
Once everyone is convinced that yes, being outdoors can be interesting without being torture, then think about taking walks that go a little bit further from home and take a little bit more time. If you have small children coming along, think about making their travel easier. A little red wagon along a path in the local zoo makes seeing the sights more of an adventure for the kids and a much lighter load for the adults. Again, evidence that walking outdoors can be fun will help plan for the next hiking adventure.
Eventually you and your friends or family will find that the idea of actually being gone for a meal or two, or even overnight, can present a realistic challenge and an entertaining time. At this point a good backpack will come in handy. Fill it with the food appropriate for your trip and plenty of fluids. Healthy snacks can actually be motivation in themselves.
Be sure to check out the option for “ultra-light” hiking. This type of outdoor adventure opens new avenues all around: new foods, new cooking gear, new sleeping materials, and of course, super fabulous backpacks. Just do a Google search for the title, and you’ll be amazed at what’s available.
Eventually you’ll realize that there can be a healthy balance between time required, amount of preparation and just how far you actually have to walk. Between 20 minutes and 20 days, there will be a viable hiking option just right for you.
This article was written by Get Lost in the Woods, a blog that provides you with the latest info on everything you can do in the outdoors. You can read their latest article, titled Camping Cooking Supplies, at their site.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
