--> Skip to main content

The 9 Secrets About Skills For Hiking Only A Handful Of People Know

Image of a hiking group walking on rocky terrain

Are you fully equipped to embark on a long distance walk? Well aside from your luggage there are much to it. Being armed to the teeth with solid survival skills for hiking; is even more detrimental.

Thanks to this post that will propel your foot journey in high gear! Sadly, being uniformed in hiking gear, or belted with outdoor appliances is only a fraction of the entire essential requirements needed.

Defuse fears of the unknown by not going at it alone. Although reliance on your own powers and resources rather than those of others; are good characteristics, teamwork is even more compelling.

Quite frankly, outdoor experienced are known; for effortlessly transforming low self-esteem into rock solid conviction.

But of course you don't know everything there is to know off the grid. Everybody needs some support at one point in their lives.

Nothing worthwhile happens without friction, obstacles, or relentless effort. And sometimes you need a helping hand to reach the next level.

So fasten your hiking bootlace, tuck in your belly, stick your chest out and let's Go!

1. Parcipating In Hikes Builds Leadership Qualities:

You can't lead, unless you have a great sense of direction. Right? Fortunately skills is something you learn, just like directions. The best way to adopt leadership skills, is to logically start out as an obedient follower.

When it comes to hiking; wisdom begins with obedient silence like a student, observance, self discipline.

Then you will learn how to take well calculated steps in a pair of sterdy hiking footgear.

If you have problems with authority, or patiently persevering under pressured conditions. This adventure is not for You!

Why? Because your survival; depends on it. Your team leader may at times come across as authoritative, demanding; like some military general.

Which can be diminishing; if you expected 5 star treatment like hotel guest. Sulking or seeing yourself as a victim, will not get you very far in this activity. Therefore good emotional management qualities is vital, to avoid burst outs.

If you're an reactive personality; you're likely go through a ruff emotional phase, ever step of the way. You may even give up and go home.

Be a strong personality who thinks on your feet. Take charge like a marine and play your role as an independent fully unit of your the team.

Generally the challenges gets more complicated as you go further down the path. As your energy slowly fade, obstacles gets tougher to overcome and true characters seems to reveal itself. If you think you thrive under pressure! Here you will be tested.

2. Taking Measurements Improves Your Accuracy:

Taking well calculated action is a critical skill and compulsory for every successful hiker. If you thought maths was useless in primary school, in this effort you will learn the opposite.

Here you measure the weight of items to balance your carrying burdens, you estimate distances, follow detailed user instruction guides accurately, to avoid wasting time.

Your calculations start from your initial checklist and continues up till you reach your destination.

If you don't count the mass of your load, or even consider the heaviness of your boots. You journey might end before it even started; due to being in a state of extreme mental and physical tiredness.

Therefore You carefully plan with distances, carry weight and co-ordinates; in mind.To manage your resources, reduce risks, save energy and even decide when is the best time to rest. Because after all you're only human and not everybody has the same strengths and energy levels.

Without a good sense of measurement, you're likely to over or under estimate your capabilities. Which may ultimately lead to physical exhaustion or unexpected drawbacks. Such as packing insufficient food, water, or tools for your trip.

Weather estimations is another critical factor. Despite the season, some locations have unpredictable weather changes. Forgetting to pack a raincoat, can make you susceptible to illnesses such as colds and flu.

3. Backpacking Improves Organisation Skills:

There are certain essential items that you need on every trip. Most beginners makes the mistake of over packing or under packing for the hiking trip.

Experienced outdoor lovers understands the importance of necessary items, as a result they prepare a detailed checklist to ensure their luggage measures up to the trip's duration.

Without these valuable backpacking skills, you're likely to come up short or too heavy for the particular hiking adventure.

4. Mountain Climbing Builds Courage

These kind of adventures can be quite horrific in all respects. You must be physically fit, trained and experienced to deal with them.

Your stomach should be capable of dealing with shocking heights, crumbling rocks, or managing your fear of deep and dark depths; is a bonus.

Learning this tough skill can benefit you in many ways. It's definitely builds courage, will power, endurance and physical balance. I highly recommend you over prepare for this activity, rather than being a chancer.

Open nature is ever changing and unpredictable like life itself. You might find yourself in a situation; where these mountain climbing skills make the difference between life and death.

5. Hiking In Open Nature Equips You With Survival Skills

In my experience whether you have enough food, water and out door equipment. You must atleast know the basics of outdoor survival.

Learn practical survival techniques, or buy a book on the subject. Treat it as if your going to source your own food, water and survive on limited resources.

Equip yourself with traditional ways to start a fire, even if your trip is for one day, learn to build a tent from tree branches. Don't ever limit your survival abilities, it might come in handy when you need it most.

Do you think hikers intend to get lost, or fall into an old pit, or go off trail? No! It just happens! Be prepared to survive in the most difficult outdoor circumstances.

6. First Aid

Reviving a someone who's badly injured, or who got bit by a poisonous insect/animal is vital. In most cases it may even save your own life.

Keep in mind that you're going far away from civilization, where there are no doctors, hospitals or clinics.

You have to rely on your own skills and capabilities. Thus learning first aid skills is crucial to your well-being.

7. Swimming

As a skilled hiker you should be able to survive on land, air and water. Think of your mountain climbing abilities as thriving above land. Swimming is just as important, although you might not go somewhere near water.

The point is the ensure you skilled for whatever comes your way. The ultimate point of outdoor journeys is to develop your confidence and self reliability.

So in my opinion, what good is an outdoor lover, without the abilities to survive on all four of the world's elements?

8.Hunting and Fishing

You must know how to hunt for food on earth, or water. Don't get to comfortable on your lunch box that might soon run out. Nature is packed with many nutritional foods, only if you know how to catch them.

There are even insects, and plants that are highly nutritious. Aside from this, some plants have healing abilities, or can even be a repellent for dangerous snakes, or creatures.

Make it a point to learn about it and put yourself in high gear to effortlessly thrive outdoors.

9. Self Defence Skills

You're probably thinking that self defence, has only to do with protection against criminal attacks. Yes that too! Because you don't want to be a push over when it comes to malicious thugs.

Then again you get aggressive animals that simply don't like humans. As a skilled hiker you should know how to ward off a bear, mountain lion, baboon or other aggressive creatures.

Self defence is not necessarily about fighting against your attackers. But also knowing how to psychologically influence them and neutralizing aggressive behaviours.

So What Expertise In Needed For Hiking in Summary:

Hikers or anyone who spends time outside, must learn outdoor safety precautions, survival skills, and what to do in cases of emergencies.

Therefore edequate which hiking skills which is satisfactory in quality and quantity is crucial: To survive in the wilderness, whether it be for a day, a week, or even a lifetime is key to a successful long distance adventure.