beginner’s guide to hiking & Trekking safely. Hi it’s me, the girl who thought “easy 3-mile loop” meant flip-flops were fine. spoiler: they weren’t. here’s everything i learned so you don’t become that person airlifted off a mountain because you chased a “cute trail” on tiktok.
The Time I Almost Became a Cautionary Tale
shenandoah, 2021. saw a “waterfall trail – easy” on alltrails. wore vans. brought one half-frozen water bottle and a positive attitude. two hours later i’m lost, crying, calling my mom from a rock with 3% battery. a very kind park ranger found me eating trail mix like a sad raccoon. never again.
Rule #1: Pick the Right Trail or Perish Beginner’s Guide to Hiking & Trekking Safely
- use alltrails or gaia gps (filter “easy” + read the recent reviews)
- ignore the pretty instagram photo if the comments say “straight up a cliff”
- start with 3-5 miles max. ego is not a snack.
Must-Have Gear (Yes You Actually Need This Stuff)
- real hiking shoes (blisters are the devil)
- water: 0.5 liter per hour minimum
- snacks that aren’t just gummy bears (bring a peanut butter packet or perish)
- paper map + offline download (cell service laughs at you)
- headlamp (even on day hikes, trust me)
- first-aid kit the size of a deck of cards
- emergency blanket that looks like tinfoil (it’s $5 and weighs nothing)
Tell Someone Where You’re Going
screenshot your route. text it to a friend with “if i’m not back by 6pm send help.” my mom now gets a daily “i’m alive” text every time i leave the house.
The 10 Essentials (Copy-Paste This List)
- navigation (map + app)
- sun protection (sunscreen + hat)
- insulation (extra layer)
- illumination (headlamp)
- first-aid
- fire (lighter)
- repair kit (duct tape wrapped around a pencil)
- food (extra day’s worth)
- water + way to purify
- emergency shelter (space blanket)
On-Trail Rules I Live By Now Beginner’s Guide to Hiking & Trekking Safely
- leave no trace (pack out your trash and your shame)
- turn around time = halfway point in time, not distance
- if you’re alone and scared, sing badly. scares bears and embarrassment at the same time
- take a photo of the trailhead sign (saved me once)
Red Flags That Mean Turn Around beginner’s guide to hiking safely
- weather app says thunder
- you’re more tired than proud
- the trail just… disappeared
- you haven’t seen a blaze in 20 minutes
My Current Beginner-Friendly Obsessions
- dolly sods, wv – looks like another planet, well-marked
- old rag, va – wait till you’re ready, it’s spicy
- any rails-to-trails path – flat, pretty, impossible to die
anyway if you’re new to this like i was, start small. wear real shoes. tell someone where you are. you’ll be fine (probably).
what was your first “oh crap i might die” hike? drop it below so i feel less alone while i google “bear spray near me” at 2 a.m.
now excuse me while i pack three extra jackets for a 70-degree day. send coffee and a helicopter on standby.
