Since I wrote an article about walking not being boring (Walking Don’t Have To Be Boring) I figured I would mention that there are different ways to walk. By that I mean you can do day hikes, overnight hikes, nature trails, trails in state/national//local parks, or paved walkways. We will take a look at each of them.
Overnight Hikes
I will start with this one. Why, because it’s the longest to talk about. You will not see any of these types of hikes on my website. Why? I am too old…lol. Seriously though, these hikes take a lot of planning and a degree of good health and stamina. It’s also not something I would be interested in doing. Although it’s a fantastic exercise, I think it is a little overkill for the walking exercise that I am trying to emphasize in this series. That being said, if it’s something you are considering doing I will give you an idea of what you are getting into and some brief tips.
Pre-Trip Planning
The first thing you will have to plan is where you are going. That makes sense, right? What trail are you going to hike? Where will you start? Where will you end? If you are going for multiple days, how far will you hike before you stop and set up camp? Something else to consider would be where are you going to park. Is there a trailhead you can park and leave your car at? Is that even safe? I don’t know about you but I am not that comfortable leaving my car at a trailhead for a day or two. Maybe because I watch too much Criminal Minds on TV…lol. Maybe you can get dropped off.
If you do park your car on a trailhead then if the trail you are doing is not a loop trail, how will you get back to your car? I only know a few people who do multiple-day hikes. What they do is get dropped off. Then they have that person meet them in a day or 2 at a designated place along the trail with supplies. At the designated end day of the hike, they are picked up at the meeting spot. This is probably better than leaving your car and catching an Uber back to it. Remember Criminal Minds?…lol
But Wait, There’s More
Now that you know what trail you are hiking, how you are getting there, and how you are getting home, it’s time to think about what to bring. You will need plenty of water and food, a good first aid kit, bug spray, wipes, a knife, bear spray, and some kind of tent to sleep in. You are also going to need a very good (and large) backpack to hold it all!!! Something else to consider is your cell phone. How will you charge it? They do make portable chargers that you can bring. A phone is great to have for two reasons. In an emergency you can call someone (hopefully you will have a signal), most phones have flashlight apps and compasses, and you can also keep tabs on the weather with weather apps. I am sure there is more you need and this article is not meant to be an all-inclusive about overnight hikes.
I think you should have a pretty good idea of some of what you need to plan for overnight hikes. Not my cup of tea.
Day Hikes
We really enjoy day hikes, and our definition of day hikes is any kind of hike we can start and finish on the same day and usually is not a paved trail. Day hikes could last from an hour to all day. Keep in mind the all-day ones consist of lots of sitting and resting along the way. There are different levels of difficulty and provide a great way to get/stay in shape get outdoors and see what nature has to offer. While you also have to do some planning and prep it’s nowhere near the amount you would need to do for an overnight trip.
You Still Need Some Supplies
You should still bring water, snacks, and a phone but most phones will last the day if you’re out that long. A nice walking stick is helpful if it’s not a paved trail. I also bring my camera gear. The best places to do these types of walks/hikes are state and local parks and preserves. We also put extra water in the car so if our “trail” bottles get low we can refill them. Some parks have multiple trails so we do a trail, come back to the car and rest, then go on another trail. That way if we get overheated we can sit in the car and turn on the a/c.
Paved Trails, Walking Tracks, and School Tracks
If the woods are not for you many communities are now constructing “walking parks” with paved circular tracks. These are good if you just want to get out and do a quick walk by yourself or even meet friends. They are open and public and usually have plenty of parking. Some even have exercise stations along the track. Along these same lines are school tracks. These were made for running so they make great walking tracks. The one thing to remember about these is you have to make sure the school is not using them when you go.
Neighborhood Walks
Last but not least are the neighborhood walks. As long as you don’t live along a busy highway you can always go out and walk around your neighborhood. Since 2016 we have lived in our RV in numerous campgrounds around the US so we have always walked around the campgrounds. This is a great way to get in a quick walk but over time we get bored so we love to find local parks and trails. Also, when you walk in your neighborhood or campground depending on what time you go, you can be distracted by seeing people you know. This usually leads to chatting and the next thing you know you’ve been out for 2 hours and haven’t done any walking…lol.
Final Thoughts
Everyone is at different levels of fitness and as we get older we can’t always handle the strenuous types of walks/hikes anymore. We recommend before you go out and hike or perform any physical activity you check with your doctor. We also recommend you do a little research on hiking of any kind. You can encounter a number of things on a trail including but not limited to bug bites, snake bites, twisted ankles, dehydration, cuts, and bruises. Please always plan ahead and bring some basic things with you, especially water. If you have allergies and have an epi-pen please take that with you always. Some kind of protein snack would be a good idea if you are going on a longer trip. Also, a can of bug spray would be a good idea.
Walking is one of the best types of exercise you can do. It can be done at any age. The most important thing to remember is not to overdo it, especially at the beginning. If you are going to walk on trails or secluded walkways, don’t walk alone. Bring a friend with you. Some bear/pepper spray wouldn’t hurt either.
If you have any other suggestions, comments, or thoughts feel free to leave a comment below. Now get out there and walk!!!
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