One of the best activities to do when you go on a camping trip is hiking. Hiking is a great way to connect with nature, it doesn't matter if you're alone or if you go with friends and family, hiking is always a fun option. The list of places where you can go for a hike is endless, mountains, forests, national parks, you pick. But, before you actually get to the hiking part, it's necessary to pack the things you're going to need for the trip. Believe it or not, your equipment might save your life if the situation turns out differently than you expected. With that in mind, let's take a look at the essential equipment you'll need:
Weather can really sabotage your trip if you're not prepared. Depending on how the weather is going to be, you'll have to pack different layers of clothes. During spring, for example, it could rain any day, the ground could be muddy and the environment humid, you have to take this into consideration when packing your clothes. Choose the right pair of shoes for this adventure, hiking shoes are extremely necessary as they will protect your feet from getting an injury better than any other footwear would.
One thing you must remember is that you need to stay warm at all times. While going on a hike at night might not be ideal, some people enjoy it, but, hypothermia can easily make you regret you went hiking in the first place. So, search the weather forecast, check multiple sources, so you have a better picture to pack what you need.
You need food and water to keep you alive while hiking. You need to calculate the number of supplies you'll bring based on the number of days you'll go on your hiking adventure. Always have fresh water to drink with you, even while hiking, you must stay hydrated all the time. Also, it's a good idea to pack some snacks to eat whenever you want to make a stop. It's crucial to keep in mind how many people will go with you. Pack more than enough, it's better to save some supplies for later than need them and not have them.
People sometimes don't realize how much damage the sun can do to the skin. But it does, in fact, do a lot of damage. Especially if you leave your skin unprotected on a regular basis. You should apply sunscreen every day, even if you don't leave the house, UV rays can penetrate through windows and still affect your skin. Meaning that if you go hiking, you need to cover yourself with sunscreen to prevent sunstroke and further damage.
Back in the day, people used maps and compasses. Right now we can count on technology to give us a hand. It is as easy as turning on your GPS and any navigation app to know the road, as long as you have signal, that's something useful to remember. You can choose the navigation tool that you prefer. What you should not do is go on a hike without a way of knowing where you are. Getting lost during a hike, especially if it's a remote place, can get you in a lot of trouble.
Accidents can happen, even if you try your best to prevent them. That's why you have to bring a first-aid kit with you, you could slip, fall, scratch, or even worse, injure yourself during a hike. Of course, this could happen to any of the people that are going with you. Help might not arrive quickly, so you want to be prepared to tackle the situation while professionals arrive. This is a lifesaver.