Take A Hike!
- Posted by Christine
- On June 13, 2016
- 0
What to Bring and How to Prep for a Hike
How prepared you are for a hike can either make or break your day. If you are fueled properly and have the right clothes and supplies, you can get outside and enjoy being in nature! I love being in the great outdoors, it calms my mind and energizes me. Exploring and adventuring, how could you not love it! Here are some basics that I think everyone should consider when planning a hike/trek.
1. H2O! How much water to bring is always a hot topic on our hikes! A few weekends ago we prepared for a 17mile hike and we had a 3.5-hour long drive to debate how much water we should lug around! (The picture top left is from our hike in the Adirondacks) We brought 5-6L/person for a 12-14-hour hike, which was up hill, on 15 degree day. This topic has become somewhat of an inside joke for us – but thankfully we made it back safe and sound and hydrated! You can see my other blog post about how much is too much water.
Here are some basic guidelines that may help:
- One to two hours before your workout, drink 15 to 20 ounces of water
- 15 minutes before you begin, drink between 8 and 10 ounces of water
- During your workout, drink another 8 ounces every 15 minutes.
*You may need to drink more if you’re sweating heavily, especially if you’re exercising outdoors in very hot weather.
2. The next element to consider is food. You want to bring nutritious, filling snacks to keep you fueled up! We like to include some of the following: nuts and dried fruits, peanut butter and apples, and hard boiled eggs. It is surprising how much energy you burn through will on a long hike and you need to make sure you don’t get hangry!
3. Whistle or bear bell is sometimes recommended depending on the area that you are hiking. Check out the website of the park or area that you are hiking and they will usually indicate if you should carry a noise maker
4. Keep the bugs away with some bug spray. Here’s a nice little recipe for a natural bug repellant:
Combine the following in a spray bottle
- 25 drops peppermint oil
- 25 drops purification oil
- 2 table spoons witch hazel
- 6oz of water
Happy hiking everyone! Let me know if there’s an essential on your hiking list!
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