Walking is a great way to exercise without going to the gym or setting time aside in your busy schedule. It is that recommended that all electronic devices come with a step tracker. There are shoes with Bluetooth that communicate with apps to count steps. Fitness app on iPhone automatically monitors your steps. This emphasis is to say walking is one of best exercises that can be done by anybody young or old. Hiking is a fun way to walk. It is interesting as you are in nature and probably doing some sightseeing. The benefit to walking outdoors has advantages other than visiting places.
Just being outside already helps your body with a good amount of oxygen as the air is constantly circulated unlike with in a small space like a house or in an airplane. Every Sunday I go on long bike ride. Just the other day after my bike ride of twenty-five miles my blood Oxygen level was ninety nine percent according to my Apple watch. Just imagine having blood that clean in your body all the time. Every inch of your body with clean blood. This is powerful! Hiking among trees you get an abundance of that as trees breathe out, you guessed it Oxygen! Just that benefit alone will keep you out of diseases and a lot of inconveniences of your body from little ailments to headaches.
In every vacation I have always incorporated Hiking as things to do. I have hiked in the Andes of South America and North America, Asia, The Alps and the Pyrenes of Europe, The Appalachian Trails and in most of the National Parks in America. Some of these hikes are dangerous like Angels Landing in Zion National Park in Utah. Why are all these places important, because I want you to remember them in your next vacation as places to hike. I often talk and write about places of interests in my blogs as Travel ideas. In my podcast I mention some of the interesting things I come across in these places.
You will be amazed to see the places in America, Canada and the rest of the world and what they have to offer. Not just hiking but also places that will inspire, excite and will take your breath away. Just in the USA alone there are places that will make you talk for the rest of your life and how your aspect of vacationing will change. America does it so well in the outdoors just like Canada. People from all over the world come here just for the outdoors. Whether its bike touring, hiking, hunting or road biking, we have it good. The best part is when you cross someone in a long hike they always talk and have a lot of stories of wildlife encounters and the types of birds they have seen and so on.
If you are into bird watching, you already know what I am talking about. My home state Florida is a great place for that. When on a bird watching hike binoculars and cameras that you carry can become problematic as you are carrying extra batteries and such. This is also true in long distance hikes and specially if that involves days in the outdoors while backpacking. The preparation for a hike is important as a little innocent hike can become a nightmare if not planned.
I have many stories myself too from my experiences. This has led me to prepare and have a check list before I set out for a hike. Expert hikers would also precaution you with things to do and not along with the stuff they carry and how they carry them. Everyone’s experience is different but one common denominator would be safety. As naive as the outdoors is, people do get in to some tricky, bad situations. You should take this seriously just like the experts.
Once I was going for an eight-mile-long hike close to home and it was 94 degrees Fahrenheit that day. I didn't plan on doing anything else other than the hike. So, I took a small bottle of water 24 ounces. This was a loop, and I didn't pay too much of an attention. Eight-mile hike is no big of a deal. I as I have done days of hiking. I got lost in the loop and was circling without an exit. Remember I didn't plan like I normally would. You have to plan a hike whether it is small or big. I had a small bag of trail mix and water. So far, my watch has clocked twelve miles and I knew I was in trouble. I had to devise a quick plan as the map showed my car was still far away. I had about ten ounces of water at this point. I was panicking to say the least. Sun is at its peak. This is what I did. I went under a tree, took a sip of water and lie flat on the ground for five minutes eyes closed to gain strength. Basically, trying nap to get strength. Get up walk and do the same again. Each time I did that the distance I was walking in between became shorter and shorter as I was so dehydrated. Eventually after twenty-two miles I reached the car and got in under air conditioning. Still no water. The nearest 7 Eleven was five miles away.
The introduction of the Waypoints feature on the Apple Watch Ultra really elevated its utility, especially for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers. It provides a seamless way to mark important locations and navigate back to them, making outdoor activities safer and more enjoyable. Whether you’re hiking, exploring new trails, or just trying to find your car in a massive parking lot, having Waypoints at your fingertips is incredibly handy.
What is Waypoint you may ask? A waypoint is a specific location or point of reference on a map that you can mark and navigate to. In the context of the Apple Watch Ultra, waypoints are used within the Compass app to help you remember and return to particular spots during your outdoor adventures. You can create waypoints by labeling them, assigning colors, and adding symbols. This feature is incredibly useful for activities like hiking, where it’s important to keep track of your path and find your way back to key locations.
It's like having digital breadcrumbs that guide you back to where you started or to important spots along your journey!
That’s the spirit! The Waypoints feature really did open up a new world of adventure, for me letting you explore without worry. Knowing you can find your way back to you car makes it so much easier to wander off the beaten path and enjoy the beauty of nature.
With iPhone 15 and later models, you can use satellite calling to get help even when you're out of cellular and Wi-Fi range. This feature is part of the Emergency SOS via satellite functionality, which allows you to text emergency services in critical situations.
To use it, you need to:
- Open the Messages app and start a new message.
- Enter "emergency" as the contact.
- Tap "Emergency SOS via satellite" and follow the on-screen instructions to connect to a satellite.
- Text your emergency details and wait for help to arrive.
It's a great safety feature for those times when you're off the grid.
Why is the previos story important? Never underestimate a hike if it is not in the city. In a sightseeing hike in the city, you have access to food and water. If needed taxi and Uber too. In the outdoors always plan and prepare. Once on a different hike it was getting dark, and I was lost with one other person and our phones didn’t have signal. The night was approaching, and we had no flashlights. You can get disoriented in a hike very quickly. Maps, phone can help you, but they cannot do the walking for you if you have strayed away. Also, a slip and fall can get you stranded.
In my planned hikes there are many things I carry with me in my backpack. The size of the backpack I take is based on the length of time and distance. I take into account the weather situation. I carry a raincoat. In Rome Italy, I was in the city walking and it rained, and I had a rain jacket which wasn't enough as it rained sideways, and I had to buy an umbrella. Luckily it was in the city. I also carry trail mix as this gives you a boost in energy. If it is a day hike, I get myself a Subway sandwich. A first aid kit specially with allergy medication for insect bites, band aid, and whatever else that comes with the kit. Hydration pack and a water bottle. I would freeze the hydration pack the night before. I would wear woolen socks as that wicks the sweat away. Ankle hiking boots. Ankle boots as you won't twist your ankle if you slip and fall.
While I was doing a dangerous hike in Peru, the trail was gravel, steep and narrow. Some steps I would take my ankle would twist. The footwear saved me from injuring myself. Phone is a good thing to carry for photos and direction. You could be without signal depending on where you are. It could also be a distraction as you may not watch your next step, which could be dangerous. Hiking poles are not always necessary. In mountainous areas it is a must. I normally would hang my GoPro on my backpack strap to be hands free. Solar battery charger that can hang outside you backpack with necessary cables. A flashlight just in case it gets dark. I would also take a light sweater. If the location had maps, it is a good idea to take one and have it in your backpack. I don’t carry anything in my pockets as when you walk long distances it could rub against you, and it is not comfortable. I would carry everything in the backpack. They say it is a good idea to tell someone where you are hiking.
A lot of people have the fear of wildlife. Specifically bears. Remember they have no intention of crossing your path. Hiking paths are trafficked so much, animals keep away. Very rarely would you have such encounters. In all my hiking I have never had the opportunity to see such wildlife except in Yellowstone national park one of them came to an area where there were some restaurants in the park, and I got close to about ten feet to take pictures. Overnight in the wild has different set of methods to store food as the smell of food would attract them to your camp. You can buy bear proof bags to store food. Even wild squirrels will come to tear your bag for nuts. This did happen to me in Appalachian trail close to Georgia border. They tore my bag to reach the nuts. Although overnight camping in the wild is different from hiking, the basics rules apply to all. Will get to backpacking on another day for now.
The best benefits to Hiking
- easy and a quick way to exercise to lose weight and burn calories
- it can be done with children and friends as a social event
- stay fit without going to the gym, you can do this in neighborhood parks
- meet new people who have similar interests like you
- increase your energy level and stay active
- sleep good and relief from insomnia
- decrease cardiovascular disease
- increase blood oxygen levels to avoid headaches and other body ailments
- increase bone density
- connect with nature
- get natural vitamin D
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