Hiking for Beginners : The First Steps

I had no great plans to start hiking. It wasn’t some big decision I made to get in shape or spend more time outdoors. My physio said to me – you need to move more and hiking is a great option with your hip issues. I begun, you might say, based on a prescription from my doctor. Regardless of how it started, it is now my whole personality so what else was there to do but share some of the things I have learnt over the last 18 months about hiking in the great outdoors.

Your First Hike

If you are like I was and not particularly fit or active prior to starting, the first hike will be the hardest. This is a list, my list, of a few things that might make it a little easier.

1. Pick an easy hike. Doesn’t have to be a short walk necessarily but pick one with little to no elevation. (If you are in Pretoria, The Big Red Barn, The Hazeldean Valley Trail or Die Bosveld’s yellow 5km are great ones to start with.).
2. Make sure the trail you pick is clearly marked (or go with someone who has done the trail before). All of the walks in no 1 are very clearly marked. You don’t want to be trying to figure out where you need to go, those adventures come later.
3. Take water with you. You don’t need a whole back pack – something like this is great to start with. I learnt this lesson the hard way.
4. Stop when you need to – it’s ok. On my first walk with Eve I sat down on the dusty ground and told her I couldn’t go on. But then I caught my breathe, got up and carried on.
5. When you stop, take some pictures. Look around and notice the sun rising, the birds, the views – take it in.
6. Don’t spend money on clothes, shoes etc before your first walk. It took me a few months to really get into it – up until then I was still fighting for my life each walk.
7. Go alone. If you can’t find anyone to go with you and its safe, go on your own. It can be extremely liberating. Listen to an audio book or a podcast or just rawdog it and be alone with your thoughts.
8. Reward yourself afterwards – get a coffee, go for breakfast (Big Red Barn has a lovely restaurant).
9. Don’t give up after the first walk or the second one – they will both be tough, the next 5 might also be but I promise you, it gets easier and then it starts getting fun.

And most importantly, enjoy it – even if it is tough, maybe especially if it is tough.