Trip Guide: How to have a great hiking trip

Perhaps one of the most loved, well known traditions of American culture is the obligatory end of summer hiking trip. Some people may have fond memories of summers past when they strapped on their packs, grabbed a sapling from the ground for use as a walking stick, and got back to nature, and back to basics. Others may remember being dragged out the door and pushed up the equivalent of Mount Everest with some force (a cattle prod in extreme cases), as they ducked the would be punches of malicious tree branches and slapped themselves sillier than usual to avoid the unsightly welting of bug bites. However fond or not so fond your memories are, you may have children now whom you think should be exposed to the wonder of the great outdoors, or perhaps you'd like to improve the memories left over from that first hike. Whatever your reasons, there's no reason to fear Mother Nature with the right frame of mind and this guide to planning the perfect hiking trip.

The first thing to consider in planning your hike is where to go. The location should be appropriate to the skill level of the participating hikers. Novice hikers are often well suited to flat or slightly sloped, distinctly marked trails with few obstacles. The most important thing to be aware of with this group is the tendency to suffer excessive fatigue from braving extreme slopes too quickly. Until a new hiker has undergone mild conditioning, it is recommended that he or she maintain a constant level of difficulty, only gradually increasing.

Advanced hikers are defined as those who have had a considerable amount of experience in the form of many hikes and competence in wilderness safety and exploration. It is this group that is able to do some "real climbing", and possibly avoid the trails completely. The grade of the hiking location can be quite steep sometimes and require special equipment. This is not to say, however, that an advanced hiker should attempt to scale Mt. Kilomanjaro.

Also keep in mind that the location of your hike should be accessible in the event of an emergency. Rappelling across a rock formation may seem like great fun until a member of the group has sustained a broken bone and can't be reached by emergency crews. Accessible doesn't have to mean the neighborhood park, though. In fact, a relatively uncrowded location increases your chances of catching glimpses of the wildlife and more unobstructed view of the scenery for those with a camera. With the exception of state funded hiking trails, most well-known, well-traveled trails are noisy and littered with the refuse of previous hikers.

Another point to consider is whether or not you plan to camp. This detail alone may narrow your choices down considerably. Some trails may prohibit camping or have specific sites that are nowhere near the trail. For the ones that aren't so regulated, a campsite should be chosen carefully. It doesn't have to be marked, necessarily, but it should be in a place where a campfire can safely be lit, and off any kind of paths, so as not to obstruct others' passage.

A good question to ask yourself is how much time you've allotted for the trip. Of course a 30-mile hike can't be done in a day, so plan accordingly. Count on the hike out to take at least as long as the hike in. Also consider the amount of daylight your location has. The sun will set faster in a canyon than on top of a mountain. This could be potentially dangerous if you lose daylight without having found a safe campsite, so count on being able to get to your campsite before sundown and have a backup in mind in the event that it takes longer than expected to get to the goal camp.

Now that you know where you're going, some other important questions will arise, one of which being, "what do I pack?" Food, of course, should be your first item. Enough rations should be packed to last the duration of your hike with a little extra in case of emergencies. And even if you plan on hunting or fishing, there should still be enough food packed in case the wildlife is less than cooperative. Any foods in containers should be light, meaning not made of glass, and no cans. Plastic can be a hiker's best friend, as can powder drinks.

Clothing is a rather important item to consider packing, but it shouldn't be overdone. Remember that whatever you want to bring with you is going to be packed on your back, so packing light is a good idea. Suitcases are frowned upon. Bring enough to stay warm and dry, but remember to pack some lighter clothing for extreme temperatures. Be prepared for any weather. Rain has been known to rear its ugly head without so much as a cloud as warning.

Your hiking equipment may very well be what makes or breaks your trip. Forgetting certain items can make a night in the wilderness seem like a year, so always check to make sure that you have all the items you need. The first on your list should be a tent. Some rugged hikers may prefer to go without one, but as mentioned before, weather is unpredictable and one of Mother Nature's favorite pranks is to soak to the bone those hikers without shelter, even if no rain was predicted. Make sure the tent is light enough to carry and leak free.

The next item on the list is your sleeping bag. The most important thing to remember in choosing a sleeping bag is that it should be able to retain body heat in extremely low temperatures, so choose carefully. Also choose your cookware and camp dishes carefully. A skillet is more than enough for preparing meals, so your main concern is dishes.

A flat bowl, a cup, and eating utensils are more than adequate for your camp dining needs. Just remember to keep the dishes and skillet lightweight. A means for cooking your meals is also required, so remember to pack matches in a waterproof container, kindling, and a small starter log to avoid the hassles of wet or green wood. At all costs, avoid bringing a camp stove. They're heavy, they're awkward, and the number one no-no of self-sufficient camping.

Perhaps the most important piece of equipment is your pack. Let's face it- you're not going anywhere without one. There are two major types of hiking packs: those with internal frames, and those with external frames. There are pros and cons to each, so chose your pack according to your needs and location. Internal frame packs are nice because the frame is just as the name suggests: on the inside of the pack. That makes it a good investment in areas with a lot of overgrowth or low branches since it can't get hung up as easily. However, it's more difficult to remove items as this particular pack is often lacking in separated compartments. External frame packs, however, are very convenient in this respect, because they often have many storage compartments and easy accessibility. It can get caught on branches more easily, though, and even lightweight aluminum frames can make a pack heavy.

Your final piece of equipment should be well stocked and kept easily accessible. Don't even consider leaving your house without a first aid kit. A good kit will include things like band-aids, a sling, a snakebite kit, disinfectant wipes, sterile dressings, and a self-cooling cold compress.

That does it. You're packed, you have a plan, and you're ready to go. Now here are some tips to make your trip a little easier:

Know your limits. It's not an honorable thing to wind up lost and hungry with hypothermia, just because you wanted to look manlier, or because you cut important corners trying to make your pack lighter. Have everything you need with you and don't push yourself too hard.

Be prepared. Be prepared for all weather and emergencies, and be safe. Always keep your first aid kit handy, stay warm, stay dry, and carry a compass. Hundreds of people are injured or killed each year from taking a few wrong turns in the woods and finding themselves in very unfamiliar places.

Finally, have fun. As long as you've planned it all right, there should be nothing to stand in the way of your care free, relaxing hike. But in the end, that's up to you.