As a new hiker, getting out into the Great Outdoors can be intimidating – especially when it comes to tackling longer or more advanced hikes. My first challenging solo hike was on Mount Moosilauke’s Beaver Brook Trail in the White Mountains of New Hampshire a few years ago. While it’s embarrassing to admit, I was wildly unprepared and forced to face and handle my mistakes out on the trail.
Despite the potential danger of the situation, I learned a lot and dove deeper into researching hiking tips for beginners and more advanced hikers later on. All of my hikes since then have been much more enjoyable.
To help you avoid the same mistakes and head into the outdoors safely, here are 8 hiking tips for beginners that I wish I’d known beforehand:
1. Be Aware of Weather Conditions
By the time I finally worked up the courage to take on this hike solo, it was mid-October. The high was around 45 degrees for the day, but I decided to go for it anyways. Why not? As a New Hampshire native, I’m used to the cold and figured I’d generate heat while hiking. What I did not account for was how different the climate would be up in the mountains.
The White Mountains are known for having dangerous and unpredictable weather. Above treeline, I was greeted with almost whiteout conditions, what felt like negative temperatures, incredibly strong winds, and about half an inch of ice covering the ground. I had no gear with me to get to the top (I didn’t even know what microspikes were at the time!). At that point, I made the potentially life-saving decision to turn around and give it a shot on a nicer day.
2. Cotton is Not the Move
For some, this is obvious. To me, it was not. I’d gone on day hikes in the summer before in just shorts and a t-shirt and just figured that was what everyone wore. I later found out how important it is to wear wool or synthetic fabrics. Why are they so important, you ask? They help wick moisture, while cotton absorbs it and holds onto it. In hotter temps, this is a recipe for an uncomfortable and sticky hike. In colder temps, it creates perfect conditions for hypothermia. This is one of the most critical hiking tips for beginners.
3. Bring Proper Navigation
Before heading out on this adventure, I’d really only hiked on popular trails. Because of this, I mistakingly thought that all established hiking trails were a breeze to follow. While I’m lucky that this trail was pretty straightforward, my phone (my only source of navigation) got so cold near the summit that the battery drained and shut off immediately.
Nowadays, I make sure that I bring a map and compass as a backup – even on short hikes. For my primary navigation, I generally use either my phone or my Garmin InReach Mini 2.
4. Tell People Where You’re Going
I told at least two people that I planned to hike Mount Moosilauke, but I didn’t specify which trail, how long I expected it to take, or any other information that would allow search and rescue to find me had things gone south.
In addition to using a GPS to allow my partner to track me when I’m hiking alone, I also give him specific information about what time I should get back to my car, which trail I’m hiking, etc. I also leave an itinerary underneath my seat (be sure people walking by your car can’t see it).
5. Bring Extra Food and Water
Being fresh out of food and water in the wilderness is no fun. Besides being potentially dangerous, it can make for a stressful and uncomfortable trip. I actually ended up bringing more food than I needed on this trip, but I brought very little water and ended up having to ration it during the hike.
It might take some trial and error to figure out how much water you need while hiking. If you’re unfamiliar with water sources on a trail or aren’t sure how much to bring, bring more than you think you’ll need. Once you get more experience, you might be comfortable with mapping out places where you can fill and filter water throughout the hike in order to carry less.
6. Leave No Trace
I had some knowledge of Leave No Trace (LNT) as a student of herbal medicine/wildcrafting and a lover of the outdoors, but it’s still a good thing to know about! In fact, LNT principles are just as important as other hiking tips for beginners. Leave No Trace practices ensure that you’re able to enjoy the outdoors with minimal impact and without affecting the experiences of others. For more information, LNT.org offers training courses and other resources.
7. Do Your Research and Know Your Limits
Most of the mistakes I made could have been avoided had I just done a little research. I would have chosen an easier trail and I would have either stayed below the treeline or waited for a day with better weather. Besides general internet searches, there are numerous hiking groups on Facebook and Reddit where you can ask questions and start getting into the hiking community – which is one of the best parts of hiking!
8. Bring the Ten Essentials
Even if you’re just planning a short day hike, bringing along the 10 Essentials is…well, essential. Nobody expects things to go wrong on a hike, but ensuring that you’re prepared to spend a night in the woods in case things do could save your life.
The ten essentials are: navigation, a headlamp, sun protection, a first aid kit (don’t forget the bug spray!), a knife, a lighter or matches, shelter (an emergency bivvy will do for a day hike), extra food, extra water, and extra clothes. The exact items you take might vary depending on the length and difficulty of your hike.
What other hiking tips for beginners do you have? Let us know below!
