Hiking Etiquette Tips

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When you’re out in nature hiking the trails, you can get so immersed in the beauty of your surroundings, the wind in our hair and the ground beneath your feet, that it can be all too easy to forget your manners. However, trail etiquette is old and important – it keeps everyone safe and ensures that the trails are well-maintained for us all to enjoy.

If you need to brush up on your hiking etiquette, check out these useful tips for hikers:

Priority

The first thing you should bear in mind when hiking is that there is a ladder of hierarchy on the trails. Horses should always take priority, followed by hikers, with cyclists coming in third. Now that you know this, you can always be sure to make way for the relevant parties, ensure the trails are safe and pleasant and avoid any nasty confrontations.

Additionally, you should remember that, if you are being passed by horses, you will need to move off the trail a little on the downhill side, if it is possible to do so. This will prevent the animals from getting startled by taking you out of their immediate path and making you look smaller.

Uphill Traffic

When you’re hiking, you should always give way to uphill traffic. Going uphill is harder work than going downhill, and when you’ve built up some steam, and you’re going along at a pleasant pace, the last thing you want is to have to change course, lose momentum and start again. So, put yourself in the place of others and always yield to the uphill travelers.

Stay Right

Hikers should always try to stay on the right side of the trail, and if they wish to pass someone ahead of them, they should always do so on the left, after warning the person in front what they are about to do. Doing this helps to stop accidents and annoyances on the trail.

Leave No Trace

So, you’ve gone up the trail with a mountain of supplies including food, water, string and your best backpacking tent to see you through your trip.  You’ve built a fire, had a feast and enjoyed your time in the woods. Now it’s time to leave, what do you do? If you’re an inconsiderate person, you’ll leave your food wrappers on the ground along with the ashes of your extinguished fire and leave. Who wants to carry more than they have to on the trails right?

On the other hand, you’re a very considerate person, you will pick up and repack everything you brought with you, including wrappers, apple cores, and banana peels and take them home with you to be disposed of safely, so that the next hikers who come along won’t have to look at your trash.

Using Tech

There is nothing wrong with listening to your portable radio or playing your iPod when you’re out on the tail, but try not to do it in the vicinity of other people who might prefer to listen to the birds sing rather than Beyoncé. Be aware of your surroundings and ask others if they mind before you do anything that could spoil their trip.

If you bear all of the above in mind, you’ll have a great hiking trip and so will everyone else on the trails.

Amazing Reasons You Should Go For an Adventure in the Wilderness

A lot of people love the idea of holidaying in the great outdoors while others hate it. I have to be honest, the idea never really appealed to me. I was worried that I had become too used to my creature comforts, and that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy anytime in the wilderness. But, I was, of course, completely wrong. And I’m here to help you change your mind, and to convince you why you should go for an adventure in the wilderness.

I mean, of course, you’ll need to be sensible and prepared. Safety is paramount, and you will have to figure out tips for a safer camping trip. Being out in the wild is not something you should take lightly, but can be hugely enjoyable. These are some of my top reasons why you should go for an adventure in the wilderness.

Push Your Boundaries

Perhaps you’re the sort of person who always likes to play it safe. I can relate because I used to be like this when I was younger. But the brilliant thing about an adventure in the great outdoors is that it encourages you to push your boundaries. You’re going to need all the relevant gear for an outdoor adventure to help you do this. So make sure you visit Ridgemont and have a look at what they have on offer. You need to be tolerant and understanding of things you would never normally encounter. And this can be a great way of increasing your experiences and pushing your boundaries. By the end, you’re going to be glad you decided to do it.

Bond With Friends

I would always advise you to make sure you take people with you if you go on a camping trip. The wilderness can be treacherous and lonely. And it’s important to have people you trust around you. Another huge advantage is the fact that it will give you the perfect opportunity to bond with friends. You will share experiences and achievements that are unique. And this will help to strengthen the bonds of friendship you already have in place. It’s a brilliant way to become stronger friends with someone.

Do Things You’ve Never Done Before

There are many things in life that I feel are important. And one of the big ones is making sure you try new things. Experiencing something you’ve never experienced before is crucial. It can really help you to grow and evolve as a person. So you need to make sure you try to do this whenever you can. An outdoor adventure will give you the perfect opportunity to do things you’ve never done before in your life.

Take a Break From Routine

It’s vital to take a break from the routine and mundanity of everyday life. Holidays and breaks from formula matter. They help us to get our minds clear and they make life a little more interesting. Being out in the wilds and having to fend for yourself is a great way of taking a break from the norm. It’s something completely different that you may never have done. And it’s important to experience changes from normal life. It makes everything more interesting and enjoyable.

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So, these are my reasons for taking an adventure in the wilderness. It’s something that I suggest you try to do as soon as you can. It’s something everyone should experience at least once in their life. Try to do this as part of your next planned break.

Essential Tips For A Safer Camping Trip

A lot of people get put off camping for a variety of reasons. Some just don’t like slumming it, but a big factor is the issue of safety. It’s understandable - after all, it’s only a thin sheet of fabric between you and the outside world. And, there are a lot of dangers involved in the activity that you just don’t have to deal with in a hotel!

However, if you count yourself among these people, would you change your mind if you knew how to be safe while camping? In this guide, I’m going to give you some great tips on how to have a safer and more enjoyable camping trip. Read on to find out more.

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Know your escape routes

First of all, excellent planning is essential for any camping trip. You should research where you are going so that you are aware of how to access emergency services should you need them. Bee or wasp stings, slips and falls, and, of course, snakes can all cause issues. If they do, the quicker route you take to a hospital, the quicker the injured party will recover.

Arrange meeting points

If you are traveling in the wilderness in a group, there’s a good chance one of your party will get lost. A phone is obviously the best way to resolve this issue. But, so you aren’t relying on a signal, you should also arrange meeting points at the start of any journey. Rivers are a great marker, as it narrows down the choice of direction. Plot out several points on a map, and make sure everyone has a copy!

Remove temptation

Your food smells - and it smells great to any animals that might be around. Now, this isn’t all that scary if you live in a country where the biggest wild animal might be a badger, but if it’s a bear? That’s a different story. So, keep all your food sealed up in airtight containers or bags, and keep it out of sight.

Drink water

The human body is remarkably resilient, and it can go a surprisingly long time without food. It’s a different story for water, though, and you need to stay hydrated. You should bring plenty of water with you and keep it safe, and it’s also advisable to bring a portable water filter. That way, if you get lost somewhere, you will be able to purify any water from any source, and know it is safe to drink.

Torch and batteries

When you are camping away from the bright city lights, it is going to be dark. Very, very dark. So, make sure you bring a good torch with you - and plenty of batteries to keep it running. It’s no fun if you need to take a toilet trip in the middle of the night, so bring some light with you to ensure you don’t have an accident.

As you can see, there is a lot to think about when you are planning a camping trip. But, put these tips into practice and you should have a perfectly safe trip, and have a great time camping. Enjoy!