Has anyone ever been hiking before?

Question

I'm going hiking this weekend with my fiance, it's not an overnight trip but one of those day hike things. I've never been before but when I first started dating him almost a year ago I told him I loved hiking and I used to go all the time, but I was only saying it to impress him, I didn't know he would ask me to go on a trip with him. The hike is like seven miles long and it's supposed to have a lot of nature stuff along the way. But my question is what does a person take with them on a hiking trip? And do bugs bite you ? because I hate that! Is it really enjoyable?

Answer 1

I've been hiking and backpacking since I was 28 and I'm 62 right now. I'll be Thru Hiking next year.

There are lists all over the internet on the "10 essentials" -- Check WhiteBlaze for a list or AYCE's site or Charles Lindsey's site..

You don't need heavy boots and you don't necessarily need two pair of socks. Most day-hiker shoes are glamorized "tennis" shoes and work very well with one good sock. The most important thing is to get the fit correctly. Just because someone "tells you" that you are a size 8.5 does not mean that's true. Put your foot on the Brannock Device and be sure to put your bunion is correctly set on that measure. There will be three measures, but mostly two are important: Length and Arch size. My length is a 7 but my bunion shows an 8. I have to try on many many shoes to get the RIGHT pair. Don't believe all that "you need to buy a half-size larger," either. If you go for that, your chances for Morton's Neuroma are greatly increased as is Plantar Faciitis. Keep trying on the CORRECT size (for your arch) until you find THE shoe that is sized for Your Foot. I can wear the Salomon Solaris 2, but not some of the other Salomon's. If you have a wide foot, you might try on the Solaris 2 as it's made with mesh for that 'stretch' you don't get in a leather boot and in some man-made materials.

Socks -- Both Danskin and Dr Scholls now have synthetic socks and you can get them at Wal-Mart. Wear the pair you're planning to hike in when you purchase your shoes. I also like REI's brand of wool socks.

Toenails -- be sure they're cut and filed to a smooth edge. No need to ruin a perfectly good pair of socks or have your nails go black and fall off because your toes were jamming the front of your shoe. Also, on downhills, curl your toes under when you walk.

Poles -- Wal-Mart has some inexpensive ones or you can go all the way and buy some at REI or Campmor. OR if you have a Mimosa Tree (it's really a weed), cut yourself a pole or two, strip the bark off and put a can tip on one end and drill a hole on the other for a lanyard. Length? Long enough for you to hold onto it comfortably when you're going downhill. You don't "need" two. A pole will save your knees.

First aid kit -- if you have allergies, be sure to take some meds for that remote chance you'll get bit. Take whatever meds you usually take during the day, if you do. Take a bandaid or two, an alcohol prep pad or two, a couple blister bandaids and maybe an ace bandage (you can buy an off-brand at the 'dollar' stores for -- a dollar or so). Take a few "vitamin I" (ibuprofen, if you can take it) or whatever you NSAID you take. A bit of Duck Tape - a foot or so -- (you can buy a small flat of this for about two bucks). And a NEEDLE (just in case you have to "pop" a blister). And a cotton ball (that can double as a 'fire starter'). ALSO, IF YOU CHAFE -- bring something to coat "those places" with. You don't have to pay for one of those "glide" sticks -- a deoderant stick will work and you can put it on at home as you're dressing to hike. Do not use petroleum jelly (which is sticky) and could lead the boyfriend to wonder about you. JOKE.

TOILETING ITEMS -- Please, if there's no "outhouse" where you go, prepare by making your own 'wipe sheets' in a plastic bag into which you've placed an additional two plastic bags. PACK THE USED T-P OUT by Triple Bagging it. You can put a wet-wipe or two in a zip-lock and it'll stay wet during your hike. Pack this out, too. PUT A TEA BAG in your 'dirty wipe' ziplock to hide any odor. Triple bag the dirty T-P. Doing this makes you very very 'cool' in the eyes of any real backpacker! You can pack all this in a paper bag so that none of it shows and then dump it in the trash in the first 'restroom' you get to (gas station or restaurant). You may need something to dig a cat-hole and the 'best' and lightest (for sure) is to use an MSR Blizzard Snow Stake. It's red, it's cool. It's lightweight. It shouts your status!

Water -- For a seven mile trip, in THIS HEAT, I'd bring at least half a gallon (aka 4 POUNDS) of water. You can get a hosier in a backpack that has a compartment for your day-hiking "essentials" -- I like either Platypus or MSR, personally. I take 48 ounces with me where ever I go. Some people carry the AquaMira bottle (filter inside) or the Katadyn filter bottle. I think Bota makes one, too. REI probably carries all of them.

Insect Repellant -- study was done by Backpacker Magazine or maybe it was in National Geographic Adventurer, I forget, but if you do not want deet, Sawyer's Eucalyptus & Lemon works for three hours a 'spray' application. Otherwise, use the Sawyer's with DEET. You do NOT need more than 30% DEET. And do NOT get a sunscreen with bug repellant because each needs reapplications at different times.

Sun screen -- and lip gloss. Your choice, I usually just put sun screen on my ears, face and neck. Sunburn is a sign of "wacho" or is that wacko? (The opposite of "macho.") for me personally. (But please don't tell my parents!)

EXTRA CLOTHING -- bring a fleece jacket (weather CAN change if you are hiking in the mountians) and a rain jacket or poncho. Do NOT buy GoreTex!!! Too hot and heavy. Just use a cheapo-throw-away Poncho -- a dollar or so -- until you buy your rain jacket. (And LLBean has Women's Sizes!!) You might pay another dollar for one of those noisy plasticized aluminum "emergency" blankets (weight 1 oz). It's actually 'silly' and you'll carry it for years before you actually need or use it, but it "shouts" that you know your Hikin' Stuff.

Headlamp -- I know, sounds silly, it's a DAY hike! Well, for about six dollars and change, Wal-Mart has this really cool little VERY LIGHT EverReady head lamp that runs on watch batteries. Really. It's cute as a button and one-third the cost of the least expensive "LED" headlamps. Just having it, again, shouts that You Know Your Hikin' Stuff.

Knife -- yeah, I know, it's a DAY hike -- To be "one of the hiker club" members, buy either the Victorianox Classic (available in nice colors at Target and most 'fine' stores) or the Wenger Evo 81 or Air Traveler. What you want is that tiny pair of scissors (for cutting the bandaid and the Duck Tape), the tweezers (they do work) and the toothpick. The knife isn't large, but it'll do to cut Gouda cheese or even spread Peanut Butter, even though you'll use your spoon for that when you're "overnighting."

Whistle -- The Fox 40 even comes on a 'biner' clip. You really don't "need" this, but some people still carry one. There's also one that clips on that's lighter.

Waterproof Matches -- Don't go buying any -- take a new Bic. You're not going to really USE this, but, you know, it's 'cool.' And we MUST be 'cool.' Right?

Let the boyfriend bring the Map and Compass -- AND if you want to like -- be even cooler than cool -- take a class in orienteering. And you know, you can get one of those very small and very inexpensive little N-E-S-W compasses that will attach to that 'biner' that the Fox 40 is on. Or maybe HE has a GPS and can show you how to use it, with the map.

The 11th Essential is, of course, COMMON SENSE. Don't do anything foolish. We ARE from the South and our Famous Last Words are usually "Hey, Y'all, Watch This!"

So, how's that for an explanation of the 10-Essentials? I think I counted more than ten, though.

Any questions, post and I'll try to answer, or email me directly at [e-mail]

Answer 2

Seven miles isn't long too difficult, but mainly depends on the kind of terrain and steepness of the trail. It shouldn't be too hard (unless your fiance is going to take you on a 7-mile climb) if you are in good physical shape.

What to bring: On these longer hikes, you might want to bring a few bottles of water. Bring some food -- nuts and raisins or energy bars and stuff like that. You may even want to bring something for lunch. You should also bring sun protection: sunscreen, sunglasses, and probably a hat, unless it's not even sunny.

I recommend bringing a small first aid kit, something with band-aids and aspirin. You never know what can happen out there.

When bugs bite, you can counter it with bug spray. Generally, bugs appear near water and lower elevations during the hotter months, and they disappear when you get higher in elevation where it's cooler and drier.

Have fun hiking!

Answer 3

No need to get worked up over a day hike. Just take a water bottle, more if there won't be water available along the way. Bring something to eat for lunch and to snack on along the way. A sandwich and something salty, like trail mix. You don't need to bring much else if you're not backpacking overnight.

Answer 4

Heavens, no. that sounds like an AWESOME way to get kidnapped, raped, killed, or at least totally freaked out by crazy people. I would never pick a hitch hiker up, either, unless there was an obvious reason. (Like if I saw a single woman with a very young child and they are walking away from a car that is obviously broken down, ok. But I don't even pick up women or kids unless I can see why they are hitch hiking. Trust no one!)

Answer 5

You better tell him the truth. It might save you from an accident.
1st, get solid footwear and wear two pair of socks. Get a light liner polypro sock and a heavier wool sock. Trust me cotton socks will cause blisters.
2nd lots of water, heat and lack of water are a killer.
A small daypack is good, bring along snacks, cell phone if you got it (turn it off its for emergencies, you don't want it to ruin your hike).
A good sturdy walking stick is also a good item to have.
Get some good bug spray, no perfume and makeup, your hiking and it attracts bugs.

Answer 6

He's your fiance and you never bothered to tell him the truth? Maybe you should before you get married.

Bugs might bite depending on where you go. But I think you should be focused more on your future with him than on a one day hiking trip. And if you tell the truth, he might tell you what to bring when you go hiking.