The days are becoming increasingly treacherous. Only the bravest still dare to venture out into the wild, wide open spaces. There was a time when hiking was an incredibly popular activity.
Hiking up a mountain is not the easiest thing to do. However, it depends on the hiking trail you choose. It is best to choose a trail that suits your fitness levels. The easier trails always have a reasonably flat topography. It is especially easy because the first day, on most easy hikes, eases you into the hike.
The second day, however, can arrive with a shock. With an easy climb the first day, the next stretch can become quite steep. It is also always recommended to hike in threes. The idea is that if someone gets hurt, one will stay with the injured person, and the other will go get help. Another reason is that there will always be someone to encourage and egg you on when the hike becomes too difficult.
With someone to egg you on, it is always easier. It is especially true if your companion has done the particular trail before. They always have some idea of what lies ahead. A winding path can be helpful, though. If the incline is steep, sometimes stopping at every turn is the easiest way up.
Fitness is necessary to go on a hike, regardless of the type of hike. As said before, your fitness level will determine how strenuous your hike will be. However, you can do a more difficult one, but it will be slow going.
Hikes can also be more interesting in groups with people with varying fitness levels. The group taking the front positions, with a higher fitness level, can always take the lead and follow their own pace. The middle group with a lower fitness level can follow at their own pace too. The same applies to the group taking up the end. This is much like the way in which wolves travel, but not in the same positions as described.1
The experienced hikers have knowledge of when to stop and take a break. Sitting and resting at a lovely stream is quite refreshing. However, there is always the need to push on, as you need to get to the next overnight hut before nightfall.
Depending on where you hike and the season of the year, you can be overcome by extreme heat or cold. It is therefore important to know what the weather is like in the area you wish to hike. It can be an incredible struggle up an incline in excruciating heat. When you are overcome, the good thing is to trust the front-liners, who are not only the fittest but are also quite knowledgeable. Helping the stragglers over the hill is what they do best.
Relieving the struggling stragglers of their rucksacks can truly save them from the upward strain and collapsing in the heat. It is a blessing to see them coming over the hill and simply lifting the sacks off the stragglers’ backs. On reaching the top and collapsing for a rest, the beautiful landscape from there is always worth every inch of the struggle. It is an experience that a drone cannot replicate.
After a long and arduous trek, there is nothing like a cool wind that brings incredible relief. It also allows the body to cool down and helps the weary body rest. The last stretch to the overnight hut is often also sheer bliss, as it is a much-needed easy walk. The area is often flat and allows for sightseeing. It is a time to see all sorts of little critters enjoying the weather, as it can be much cooler, especially if the hike is in a hot area.
Huts along the hiking trails are reasonably well organized. Some even have showers and places to prepare food. It is always a pleasant experience to arrive at a hut, take a shower, and prepare something to eat. Of course, the front guys are always there before the rest, have their shower, and do not let on how cold the mountain water is. Supposedly, it is fun to hear the screams emanating from the showers.
International Wolf Center. (n.d.). CAPTION ATTACHED TO PHOTO OF WOLVES TRAVELING THROUGH SNOW AS A PACK IS FALSE. https://wolf.org/headlines/caption-attached-to-photo-of-wolves-traveling-through-snow-as-a-pack-is-false/.