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Hiking is one of life’s great joys. Fresh air, nature, exercise and good friends. It’s difficult to imagine anything better - if you’re prepared. When you’re not prepared properly, it’s difficult to imagine anything worse. If you hike a few hundred yards around your neighborhood or a few hundred miles around the backcountry, use these tips to get the most enjoyment out of your hiking experience.

#1: Plan your trip. You can plan too little but it’s tough to plan too much.

#2: Get in Shape. Put yourself in the best possible position to enjoy your sport.

#3: Check the weather forecast. Any weather different than you expect can turn a good hike into a not-so-good hike.

#4: Dress for success. Layer your clothing and be very sure of your footwear.

#5: Have the essentials. Your planning will help with this. Take only what is essential and get the lightest gear you can afford - especially for longer hikes.

#6: Plan to be out longer than you think. If you think three hours, plan for six. Four days, plan for a week.

#7: Prepare for the worst. Know first-aid and CPR.

#8: Use of food and water. It’s okay to ration food, but don’t ration water. If you are thirsty, drink. Decision making skills drop drastically when you are dehydrated.

#9: Slow down. If you are hiking only for exercise, you’re missing the best part. Nature is all around, slow down and pay attention. You’ll be rewarded many times over.

#10: Take a friend along. Like most things in life, sharing your hiking passion with someone you care about is awesome.

There are literally thousands of great places to hike in North America and dozens of quality websites to learn more about the sport. Check out our on-line education center or connect with a local hiking club for hikes in your area - but in any case it is up to you and only you to get the most out of your hikes.

Use this information and you’ll get it right the first time. Get Outdoors!

Chuck Fitzgerald is the owner of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online specialty store with the “Best Gear Out There” and dedicated to helping outdoor enthusiasts to “Get It Right The First Time” with timely educational information. Please visit http://www.BackCountryToys.com to find great gear and to receive the Fact & Tips e-newsletter, “FreshAir”; (800) 316-9055.

[tags]hiking, camping, outdoor sports, backcountry, gear[/tags]

Price : $64.95

Features

• Pair of Traveler Fitness Nordic Walking Poles with Carrying Bag & Accessories
• Anti-Shock on/off mechanism, which reduce stress on knees and thighs, expedition-grade lightweight, rigid 7075 aluminum
• Easy-Lock twist system, 3-Section telescopic pole provides suitable flexibility, adjustable length from approx. 27.5" to 55.5"(700mm to 1400mm)
• Ergonomic cork grip offers a maximum non-slip, comfortable, natural and warm handhold
• which is excellent and easy to use. Just slip your hand through the strap, tighten the wristband and walk

Product Description

This luxury nordic poles package is designed for demanding and comfort-seeking pole walking enthusiasts. It includes two finest nordic poles, a carrying bag and replaceable accessories you need from time to time. The 3-sections telescopic poles designed to be used anywhere anytime. They offer the convenience of one size fits all and are ideal for traveling due to their portable nature. The pole grips are cork-coated which make them very comfortable. With the silky, adjustable straps with a perfect fit that help ensure effortless, natural and easy arm, you will walk longer than you actually planned.The anti-shock mechanism reduces up to 25% of body weight from knees (joints), feet and lower back, allows for a longer more enjoyable walking experience.Made of expedition-grade aluminum, this strong lightweight telescopic pole features an ergonomic grip and a quick adjust system for fast accurate sizing. The poles go from sidewalk to trail with ease. They have a carbide tip for trail use, covered with a rubber ferrule for use on pavement. You can easily pop off the rubber ferrule as you go from street to trail, and put it back on afterwards. For extra stability, for relief of strain on your hips, knees, and ankles, and for extra calorie burn, these poles are a good fitness tool. Package includes: Pair of Nordic Poles, one extra pair of round rubber tips, one pair of wider(paws) rubber tips and carrying bag.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-05-09
Recently I started walking 2-3 miles three times a week to supplement my gym exercise and aerobics. I had seen people walking with poles and I was impressed with their energy and graceful movement. After doing some research about the effectiveness of the poles, I decided to get a pair for both my husband and me. There is a wide variety of features and price tags. I wanted cork handles to help manage sweaty palms, hand straps to secure poles to my hands, easy adjustment, quality construction and durability,reasonable price. These poles had it all PLUS a bag to carry them in, extra "feet" to attach on varied terrain, and — most importantly — a GREAT PRICE. The poles are exactly as advertised and I have gotten used to using them. They are supposed to help burn at least 20% more calories during my walk. Burn, babies, burn!

The physical journey mirrors very accurately the spiritual journey of your own life. It was one of the toughest things you’ve ever done. Hike two miles to the bottom of the first waterfall, climb to the top of that one, only to find yourself at the bottom of another waterfall, only higher. After reaching the top of the second waterfall you begin to understand why people actually train for the hike. You then push yourself for three miles straight uphill through the switchbacks of the Yosemite forests. You finally reach the base of the domes. Here, you have a picture taken to document the point at which you hit-the-wall…the wall of exhaustion. The guy taking the picture says, You’ve done a great job getting this far, no one would blame you if you turned around. You consider it, but just then, the reddest hummingbird you’ve ever seen flies near and seems to whisper in your ear, You can do it. I’m telling you, you can do it!

Two more gut wrenching, leg quivering miles to the Cables. To this point you’ve worked very hard to overcome physical limitation. Now you have to face some serious fear. The Cables run up a sheer face of the mountain. You’re not great with heights. It’s a 45 to 50 degree angle. You can swear that at points it’s more like 75 degrees. You’re thinking I didn’t come this far to turn back now…you’d truly rather die on the side of this mountain than to turn around and cower home (Well, maybe not that extreme, but close). So you take the cables into your gloved hands and begin ascending. No one’s talking on the cables. It’s well understood that if you let go, or have a severe leg cramp, you’re dead. Someone ahead of you loses a shoe. You’re terrified by the way that shoe tumbles down the mountain. Several people decide to turn around and go back down at this point. Unfortunately, there is only one way up and one way down. So, climbers in both directions have to share the precious cables. You decide to continue and focus on the task of putting one foot in front of the other. You made it! You made it to the top of the world famous Half Dome.

At the top there is no ethnicity, no gender, no age or any other difference, only deep respect and heartfelt admiration for the other humans willing to go. Lots of tears at the top. Lots of quiet contemplation. And, the most beautiful sight you’ve ever seen in your life. You cry hard and stay for about an hour of awe inspiring views and powerful spiritual space.

Now you’re on top of Half Dome, completely exhausted, legs quivering and cramping severely. And, worst of all you just let the very last drop of your water hit your tongue. All of this would not have been so bad if you were already back at the car. However, you’ve got to climb back down 9 miles of absolute gruel.

Going down the cables is worst than going up because you’re forced to look down at your fear. 4 miles into the return trip, severe dehydration symptoms humble you enough to ask a fellow hiker for water. You now understand why water is the most precious thing ever in the history of all of life, and all of the lives before that. You say to the fellow hiker, I have $150 in my wallet right now. I’ll give it to you for one small swallow of your water. Of course they do not take the money and give you about 8 oz. of water. Enough to make it down to the river stream. You know you should not drink the unfiltered river water but figure stomach cramps and diarrhea would be preferable to passing out from dehydration and being eaten by some of the local bears. You dip your towel into the cool river and suck on the moisture the rest of the way back down. Incredible! Back at the car, you whisper to yourself, If I can do that, I can do anything.

Whether or not you’ve hiked Half Dome you can relate to this story. We’ve all had times in our lives in which we’ve had to hang in there and push through extreme fatigue and fear. Those were also times when we felt most alive and invigorated.

Maybe you’re in the midst to something very challenging right now. Maybe you’re battling through a health crisis, or the health crisis of a loved one. Maybe you’re fighting for a relationship that is important to you. Maybe you’re striving for success in your job, business or your classes at school. Whatever the case, you can do it, I know you can do it! Just believe in yourself and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Delano Garner writes for Shades and Reflections, a resource site for Physical and Spiritual Health. http://www.shadesandreflections.com

Contact Delano Garner at delano@shadesandreflections.com