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Hiking Tour
One of the best ways of communing with Nature is through a hiking tour. What’s a hiking tour, you say? Well, it’s really little more than a plain, old trek or hike, only that it is much grander in scale and much more organized. When you are plain hiking, you can do it alone or with a close friend for a hiking buddy. However, when you join a hiking tour, you are usually part of a large group and accompanied by a guide.
Hiking tours follow the same basic rules in hiking. For instance, you need basically the same things you would normally need in a simple hike, such as the following:
Map of the area or trail
Compass
Matches – preferably wind-proof
Fire starter – place them in waterproof containers
Extra food or water – include a way to purify water found on the trail, lunch, energy bars, trail-mix, snacks, etc.
Extra clothing – such as rain jacket, emergency blanket
First aid kit
Sunglasses, pocket knife, nylon cord
Flashlight – with extra batteries
Other items you may also want to take on your hiking tour:
Camera and film
Binoculars
Toilet paper
Signal mirror
Garbage bags
Tent
Cellphone
Hiking stick
When you are on the trail in a hiking tour, the basic hiking rules and trail etiquette should be practiced to ensure that your hiking experience does not damage the natural environment or the experience of fellow hikers.
Below is a gist of these rules:
Before Hiking
The first thing you need to do is to determine your own physical, mental, and technical abilities. Not only that, you should also know your restrictions as well. Remember that just because you are joining a hiking tour with a large group and a guide does not mean that you ought to forget your limits. Knowing things like these about yourself is essential to your safety. Adjust your plans accordingly. That way you can prevent problems that might cause personal injuries or injuries to others.
Another rule before going on a hiking tour is to make sure you are well-informed about the trails you will take. This is so because some trails are really quite dangerous and require more experienced hikers. Checking hiking terrain conditions and hiking weather conditions is one way. Having a detailed and up to date map with you is also another. For last minute updates and firsthand information about the trail, check with local authorities.
Next, make sure that you are well-equipped for your intended hiking tour. Also, make sure that your gear is appropriate for terrain and weather conditions. Take enough food and drinks for your intended hikes and the items included in the list of essentials we have provided for you above.
And lastly, inform people of your itinerary and your expected time of return. This should not be too much of a problem when you are joining a hiking tour since hiking tour companies often keep records of the tours they are offering. However, it is still a good precautionary measure to take, if only to appease the worries of your friends and families who are not joining you in the tour.
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