Tips I wish I would have known when I started hiking [Guest post by Christian Alexandersen, Hemlocks to Hellbenders Podcast]

Guest article written by Christian Alexandersen, Hemlocks to Hellbenders Podcast

Like many Pennsylvanians, I discovered my love for the outdoors during the pandemic. I didn’t grow up in an outdoorsy household. In fact, I come from a long line of air conditioner lovers and couch dwellers. So, when I found myself exploring Pennsylvania’s woods in my mid-30s, I learned a lot of lessons fast. 

But that doesn’t have to be the case for you. You don’t have to wander blindly into the woods like I did. You have the opportunity to take your time, do research, talk to more experienced hikers, go on group hikes and so much more. 

We are incredibly fortunate to have so many parks and forests to explore in Pennsylvania. Thousands of miles of trails, beautiful waterfalls, incredible vistas and overlooks and old growth forests are within your reach. But it’s important that you do it safely. 
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So, below, I’ve created a short list of tips I wish I knew when I first started hiking. These tips will help you navigate trails, be prepared for emergencies, have the supplies you’ll need and feel confident hiking in Penn’s Woods. 

Research where you’ll be hiking 

• If you’re planning on spending time in the woods, it’s important for you to have a plan. I always suggest doing plenty of research before you ever step foot on a trail.
• Check out the trail difficulty and distance, determine its election challenges, learn about what trails may intersect with your hike and always take a map with you. 
• Also, be sure to check out what the weather conditions are like so you can be prepared for anything that may pop up. If there’s a trail sign-in, make sure to sign in in case of an emergency. And, always tell someone where and when you will be hiking. Do these things every single time you go hiking so that it becomes a routine you can follow. After a few hikes, you’ll have a good habit you can follow for a long as you hike.

Pack the essentials 

• No matter if you’re going for an hour or a month, always make sure to pack the 10 essentials when hiking. 
• The essentials include; appropriate footwear, map and compass/GPS, water, food, rain gear and fast dry layers, safety items, first aid kit, knife or multitool, sun protection and shelter.
• But, don’t just pack these things. Make sure you become familiar with these essential items and know how to use them.
• I can’t tell you how many times a first aid kit or map or extra water has come in handy on the trail. But it’s been a lot. 

Understanding blazes 

• If you haven’t been hiking, you may not know what the paint marks are on the trees. They are called blazes and they help you navigate the trail you’re on. 
• Pennsylvania parks and forests are typically good about marking their trails with blazes - never leaving too much distance between blazes. But other places - like the Adirondacks for example - don’t overly mark their trails. That can be uncomfortable for many new hikers that are looking for an easily navigable trail.
• One of the first things you should do is look up what the blaze color is for your trail. Then, it’s important to understand what different blazes mean. Blazes not only mark a trail, but they give indications to hikers about turns, obstacles and more. 
• Take some time and do research about blazes and how they can keep you safe on a trail

Hike your hike 

• One of the most important things I learned early in hiking is the concept of “hike you hike.” Don’t worry about how far or fast other people may hike. Just concern yourself about your hike. Set whatever pace you’d like. Take breaks or don’t. Stop for photos. Stay a little longer at a beautiful vista. Whatever you want to do - as long as i’t not impacting other people’s hike - is fine.
• Don’t let anyone make you feel unwelcome by not going at their speed or meeting their expectations. Hike your hike.

Christian Alexandersen is the host of the Hemlocks to Hellbenders Podcast. The biweekly podcast is about Pennsylvania’s state parks, forests and great outdoors. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook.
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Christian fell in love with the outdoors when he ran a mile in all (then) 121 Pennsylvania state parks in 2021. He has now run a mile in all 124 state parks and enjoys spending his time hiking, camping and exploring Pennsylvania.