When Hiking Trails Call

I have five sisters in Arizona and three who like to torture themselves with impossible fitness challenges. I've always been on the sidelines looking on like "Wow, that's crazy...". One Saturday evening, they called and bullied me into joining them on a Sunday morning hike. I'm like "I'm so out of shape, that's a horrible idea. What time?" My kid sister says "Be here at 4:45am". They made it clear that they didn't think I'd be able to finish.

Believe me when I say I didn't know just how out of shape I was! Some truths were revealed on that cool, crisp morning. Watching my fitness tracker tell me I'm hitting peak heart rate more times during this five mile trek than ever before was a wake-up call for me. But I also wished I had prepared better.

What you'll need (and want)

Preparing for a hiking trip is essential to ensure your safety and enjoyment while out in the wilderness. Here are some of my considerations before deciding to hit the trails in Arizona.

Weather: It may seem obvious which is why it's obviously number one in Arizona. It's so easy to get dehydrated in the desert because of the high temps and dry heat. I rarely sweat here. We joke that the body's perspiration evaporates before it has the chance to condense into sweat (which keeps you cool). The desert 90's feel like New York high 70's-low 80's. That's when I'm the most comfortable. No matter what climate you're hiking in, check the weather in advance and prepare for changes. You can't comfortably hike with an umbrella so you'll want a cap and hoodie.

Choose your Trail: The trail my sisters chose had two paths with a fork at the entrance. Five mile trail to the left, ten mile trail to the right. Knowing my fitness level, I chose the five mile trail to start.

Share you Location: There are many ways to share your location with someone (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Apple's "Share my location" feature, etc.) but you could just as easily tell a trusted friend or family member where you're hiking and when you plan to return. Check in once you're done or make sure they know to check in with you if they haven't heard from you by a predetermined time.

Gear and Equipment: We were hiking a mountain, on an incline; which proved to be incredibly challenging for me at times. I'd see people more than 2x my age breezing by with ease. Once I got over the fear of thinking my heart would explode, and the embarrassment of wheezing like an asthmatic having a panic attack, I was able to take note of fellow hikers on the trail and gear they were packing. I didn't want to be "that guy" on the trail but there were times (on challenging inclines) that I wished I had trekking poles. For a guided trail, you may deem some of these items unnecessary but they're still good to have. The ten staples will include:

• First Aid Kit
• Paper Map + Compass
• Sunscreen
• Hat & Sunglasses
• Multi-tool knife
• Matches + fire starters
• High energy food
• Water + Water purification tablets
• Flashlight, headlamp, + batteries
• Shelter (emergency blanket or bivy)
• Spare Oxygen (for higher elevation hikes)

Footwear: My hiking boots were higher than my socks, and they weren't laced right. Needless to say, the boots rubbed the skin above my ankles, for 5 miles. The rash didn't clear for a week! You want sturdy, thick soles, with decent ankle support, and tube socks!

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“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.” - William Barclay

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Each hike gets easier and easier!

There's an unmatched sense of accomplishment felt when you hit the mountain top. Seeing my car on the way back down was the encouragement I needed to finish the final leg (that, and proving my sisters wrong). So take to the trails! The experience is -in itself- a type of physical and mental therapy that I underestimated the need for.

Stay safe out there!

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