Transform Your First Hike into an Unforgettable Adventure with These 5 Tips
You’re ready for your first hike!
This can be a super exciting and fulfilling new hobby and this first hike can make or break your overall impression of hiking. I know many people who had a really bad first hike and then they never wanted to hike again.
Starting off on the right foot can make a huge difference.
So, take some advice from people who have come before you. Take the advice of those who are passionate about hiking, who love hiking and those who have good experience doing it.
Here are my 5 best tips for taking you from the planning stages to dominating your unforgettable adventure:
Decide on the aesthetic you want
Sarah enjoying a beautiful view of Jocelyn Hill in Victoria, BC
Photo Taken on iPhone 14 ProStart here. This is where the fun begins, the dream begins. Start by thinking about what your area offers in terms of hiking terrain and the view at the top. You might have forest terrain and mountain view, ocean view, lake view, rocky terrain, swamp or desert terrain. The trail might be covered or open.
Once you know what your area offers, start to think about what you would like to experience. If you love an ocean view you’ll research only hikes with ocean views. But dream about what you’d like to experience so you can direct your research toward that or you can ask others for recommendations.
2. Download a trail app & research local hikes
View from a hike in Tofino, BC
Photo Taken on iPhone 12Now, if you’d prefer not then by all means, you do not have to do this, but I highly recommend checking some out. I do not hike without an app now. First, they help you to see the options in your area. So, you can take your ideal aesthetic and compare some of the hike options near you. You can look at ratings and reviews from people who have done the hike. I do recommend reading through what others have said as they are often a more honest overview than you’ll see on Google.
Depending on the app people can also upload photos they have taken on the hike and you can see what you’re in for. This can be helpful so you know what the terrain is like and you’ll know if the view at the top is worth it… Let’s be honest, the last thing you want is to do a super hard hike with a lukewarm view at the top. NOT WORTH IT!
Second, you can get maps of the different trails. Some mountains have multiple options so you can select the one that works for you. Pay special attention to the rating the app gives the trail, the km/miles of the trail and the estimated time the trail takes. That way you are better able to plan. Then you can use the map provided by the app to make it to the top.
My favourite app is AllTrails. You can download it for IOS and Google! A great one for navigation is Gaia GPS. Another good free one is Hiking Project. But explore and find one you love!
3. Download the map of your hike for offline use
Sarah posing at the top of Mount Manuel Quimper in Sooke, BC
Photo Taken on iPhone 12 by hiking buddy RavenSpeaking of the map feature… If your app allows it, download the map of your trail for offline use. AllTrails definitely has this feature (although it may be a paid feature, I can’t remember). You cannot count on there being service, or good enough service, the entire way up. The last thing you want is to get stranded on a trail, especially one that isn’t marked well, and not know where to go. Make sure you download the map of your hike in the car so you don’t forget.
My hiking buddy and I have forgotten to download the map before and then we just had to guess our way to the top. Some trails are not always intuitive so it’s tricky to make the right decisions. Some trails also have multiple routes ranging in difficulty and if you’re not careful and not following a map you might end up taking a much harder trail than you had prepared… Yes, that has happened to me before!
4. Invite your friends
Sarah and Raven posing during a coastline hike in Sooke, BC
Photo taken on iPhone XRLots of people do like to hike solo. It can allow you to just tune out the world, be present in nature and enjoy the beauty in the silence. However, especially if you’re new to hiking, inviting friends can be a great idea. Your hike will be full of laughter, chatting and great memories. My favourite hikes have been the ones with my hiking buddy where we spent the entire hike in stitches.
Also, if you’re like me and a bit of an anxious person, hiking with friends can also provide you with some peace of mind. Anytime you’re out in nature you run the risk of coming across wildlife such as bears, cougars or other animals in your local area. You are walking into their home and they may not like it. When you hike solo you’re often quiet (as you have no one to talk to) and you might bump into each other. When you hike with others you’re generally louder so the wildlife avoid you. This is not 100% but a more likely situation.
5. Grab your favourite snacks & pack your bag
Sarah finishing Mount Cokely in style
Photo taken by hiking buddy Raven on iPhone XRMy favourite part… The snacks! The snacks are a non-negotiable on a hike, ask anyone.
I recommend getting an appropriate hiking bag and not a regular backpack. Regular backpacks can hurt your back as they are not supportive of this type of activity. If you don’t want to buy one right away you can always borrow one to try it out and if you end up enjoying hiking then a hiking backpack is one of the first things I recommend buying along with shoes (either hiking boots or trail runners).
For shoes, I use the Solomon Speedcross 5 trail runners (they now have a 6 out) and for a backpack, I use an Osprey (which is a very popular backpack).
Something else that might be good to have on each hike is a small first aid kit. I have one that is hiking-specific (you do not necessarily have to have a hiking one) and it’s small and doesn’t weigh very much. I love the Adventure Medical Kits as they know exactly what you need for an outdoor adventure, they’re affordable and they come in a great little travel case.
Depending on how long your hike is you’ll want to bring both snacks and food. For longer hikes, I like to bring something that we can make with the JetBoil such as miso soup or an instant noodles. I prefer snacks that are calorie-dense and loaded with nutrients like nuts and seeds, trail mix and if it’s not too heavy fruits and veggies. All things that are easy to eat while you walk and you can bring the leftovers with you. I try to not bring too much fresh produce s it can get heavy. I’ll bring a ziplock bag with me for garbage and compost which I will dispose of when I get home. Then I’ll clean the ziplock and stick it back in my bag.
I also typically bring a rain jacket on longer hikes just in case, even on sunny days. The weather can change quickly from the bottom to the top and I do not like being wet. If it’s raining I’ll also bring rain pants but I don’t bring those if it’s not raining. My rain jacket and puffer jacket are both Marmot but there are a lot of great brands out there for clothing!
For more information on recommended items check out this YouTube video I made on this topic!
Hiking is a great activity to get into and different areas offer different scenery, levels and overall enjoyment. Keep things simple, social and enjoyable and you’ll develop a lifelong love!
