Jul 25 2008
Tip: Pacing Yourself While Hiking
An important, even vital thing to remember when hiking is pacing yourself. Too many times, hikers push themselves to the limits, only to find they struggle getting back and have negative repercussions. These repercussions may include sickness, feeling overly fatigued, and heat exhaustion. I remember one time out hiking, I did a total of 6000 feet of elevation gain, and 5000 of elevation loss. The total distance covered was about 16 miles, and I accomplished it in about 8 hours. For the fit hiker, this may not be a problem, but at that time in my hiking experience, I was totally unprepared to take on a hike of such proportions. I ended up with heat exhaustion and dehydration that put me out for a day and made me sick and dizzy for two more. Had I paced myself, I would have covered less ground but enjoyed the trip a lot more.
Remember, hiking is about relaxation and sightseeing, not overkill to the point of illness. For the average hiker, a 10-12 mile hike in a day will be more than enough to be proud of, especially in hot weather. Take the time to enjoy the scenery and stay fit and healthy, slowly working up to the larger hikes. Happy trails!
