Safety Tips to Keep in Mind When Hiking

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Hiking for weight loss is an excellent adventure to begin, but before you do, make sure you are being safe. You need to ensure that you are focused on your personal safety above all else, or one hiking trip can turn into disaster. Here are some of the more important safety tips to keep in mind when hiking.

Safety Tips to Keep in Mind When Hiking

Consider Hiking With Others

The general recommendation for being safe while on a hike is to never hike alone. Of course, if you go to a national park where there are park rangers and other hikers around just about all the time, this might not be necessary. However, more secluded trails might not have someone for hours or even days in some cases, so it isn’t safe to go alone. If you accidentally trip and sprain your ankle, it is going to be hard to walk back on your own. You might have a dead cell phone battery and no way to call for help. This is when it is good to have a friend with you.

Don’t Push Yourself Too Hard

Hiking is often confused with regular walking as a form of fitness, so people try to go on a 3-mile hike to start with, and barely make it back. It is important that you remember there is more physical exertion that goes into hikes, especially when it is rated at a higher difficulty level. Don’t push yourself too hard, but let your body gradually transition into the more difficult and longer hikes. Start slow, let your body adjust to the movements and this type of workout, then start slowly moving up to the more advanced ones.

Bring Emergency Supplies

You should never go on any hike, no matter how short or simple it is, without emergency supplies. Have a pack with you that can hold water, non-perishable snacks like nuts and granola bars, and a first aid kit. This can be a small version that just fits in a fanny pack, or even in your pants pocket. Make sure you have some basic supplies in case there is an injury or bug bite while you are on a hike, especially on the longer ones. If you are hiking with a dog, bring supplies for them as well.

Consider the Weather and Climate

Finally, make sure you check the weather conditions before you head out on your hike. You might need to wear layers if it is a cold day, where you are warm when you start, but can remove the layers one at a time as your body starts warming up.

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