Your first hike is easier to prepare as a sequence of small decisions. Use this page as a route through the beginner guides.
- Choose your company. A group is safer and calmer for a first outing.
- Find a suitable route. Check distance, elevation, terrain, weather, and exits.
- Rehearse. Add hills gradually and get used to your chosen shoes and pack.
- Choose your clothing. Then make a list of the remaining equipment.
- Make the final checks. Use a pre-hike checklist the day before, recheck the essentials in the morning, and brief the group at the trailhead.
- Walk calmly. Follow hiking etiquette, know when to turn back, and review your mistakes afterward.
A successful first hike is not the longest one. It is the one you finish safely, before dark, with enough energy left to understand what you want to try next.
