Our bodies were designed for motion and need to move in order to stay fit and healthy. Walking is one of the best exercises there is for our body. It doesn't stress our joints as much as running does, but still gets our body working hard enough for it to benefit from the exercise. Hiking is walking. So it is good for us. It is also communing with nature. We can go for a walk just about anywhere. We can walk to school or to work, to the shopping center. We can even go for a walk in the park. They are all good for us, but none of these walks really constitutes hiking. When we go for a walk in the wilderness, in a part of the world that has not been transformed by man, then our walking becomes hiking. Hiking gives walking a different feel or flavor.
There are different categories of hiking. It depends on the distances and difficulties.
Many hikes are for only part of day. A very short hike could be less than a kilometer on a nature trail by a campground. On the other hand a hike can be a very long walk. Some people hike for days, weeks, or even months at a time. A few people have even hiked for several years at a time.
Another nice thing about hiking – it’s free. There may be some fees for transportation and parking a car, and a few places may charge a small fee for a trail permit. But there are still plenty of places where you can go for hike with no more cost. How to start hiking?
1. One of the best ways to get started is to start with short hikes first. That way if your muscles or your feet aren't used to hiking or if you find you are not properly dressed for the weather.
2. Learn about hiking by doing it at the time of year when the weather is the nicest. Choosing friendly weather will mean one less thing we have to worry about
3. Start out by hiking with others in a group. 4. Choosing the right footware is very important. One of the most common mistakes made by the hiking is the wrong choice of footware. Hiking by definition is walking which means being on feet. So we should choose footware that is designed to make our feet comfortable while walking. Some people prefer hiking boots, walking shoes or sandals. What we cannot wear are dress shoes that are designed with walking foot comfort. Another common mistake is to buy new footware and wear it for the first time on a hike. Give your feet a chance to get used to any new hiking footware by wearing it for short periods around your home.