Outdoor vacations come in many shapes and sizes, varying from camping trips to dude ranches. Or, you may choose something like hiking which can help improve physical fitness and offer peace and quiet, all in a beautiful wilderness or forest. For short hikes, you can even avoid the hassle of reserving an appropriate accommodation or researching the best holiday rentals in the area.
Though hiking can save you some vacation headaches some ways, do not be fooled. Hiking is not just a stroll though the park. Maintaining a smooth rhythm, over a long distance and uneven terrain can be challenging. In addition, you will want to carry a backpack for hikes longer than a few hours. As you see, hiking entails more than a walk down a trail in your local park.
Preparing yourself for a hiking trip requires getting in shape, especially if you have been a couch potato the past few months. You will want to build some back and leg strength and do some cardio to build your endurance, such as jogging or speed walking. Once this is complete, you are ready to begin the next phase.
Part of the preparation for hiking should be getting used to carrying a loaded backpack....