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How to Hike Further for Longer

You’ve been hiking for a little while now. You’re enjoying the views, the feeling of the open air, but still, you feel like you aren’t getting far enough before you start wishing someone had build a pub exactly where you happen to be standing at that moment. However, there are actually quite a few helpful tips that that will allow beginner hikers to cover more distance before they’re gasping for a sit down.

Are These Boots Made for Walking?

Aside from referencing the most obvious possibly song title for this blog, that heading is an important question to ask. Regardless of how serious or casual a hiker you are, your walking boots need to be the best bit of equipment you lay your hands on, and have them professionally fitted if possibly.

If there’s a specific trip you’re planning make sure that you know in advance what the terrain and climate will be like, so that you can buy boots to fit those conditions. For instance, if you’re going into conditions where you are likely to face heavy rain it’s obviously a good idea to check how water resistant your boots are. On the other hand, in a hot, dry climate you’ll want boots that are more breathable, to get rid of the excess moisture you build up while walking and stopping your feet becoming clammy.

Some people have used trainers or running shoes for hiking, with some people saying they offer more ventilation and dexterity than a walking boot. However, despite their advantages, they don’t offer much in the way of ankle support for hikers carrying heavy rucksacks. This has led to the development of the Brasher Walking Boot- a walking boot designed to give you the best of both worlds, which is worth checking out if you’re a beginner.

Train Yourself Up

When you’re hiking you are often subjecting yourself to prolonged physical effort under harsh conditions. If you aren’t in the best physical shape, it’s not the sort of thing you want to jump right into at the deep end. In the days and weeks leading up to your hike, get yourself walking. Avoid all lifts, in favour of climbing the stairs, take some long walks around the neighbourhood, walk to the corner shop instead of driving to Tesco.

For your first hikes, take relatively short routes without too many steep ascents, then build up to more challenging walks.

It’s All in the Rhythm

When it comes to the actual hike, even the way that you walk can have an effect on how long your stamina lasts. Build up a recurrent rhythm or “cadence”. This varies depending on your height, build and general fitness, but a stride of just a bit less than three feet, taking 0.8 seconds each step, is considered a “good cadence” for many walkers. The hard part is to keep it consistent.

To work out what your own ideal cadence is begun walking up a gentle slope a couple of hundred feet in length. Walking this hill a couple of times every day, and while you’re on the ascent keep one thing in mind: Keeping the length of your stride and the time between strides consistent. Don’t go for unnecessarily large steps- your cadence should feel comfortable and natural, allowing you to keep your shoulders level and your back straight. The more you do this, the more it’ll form into a habit.

Once your cadence is firmly ingrained, you can start using other, more advanced tools. Trekking poles, for instance, allow you to make use of you arms muscles while you’re hiking. However, even when using tools like this, your cadence is still your best friend. If you use trekking poles and find it’s messing up your cadence, than the trekking pole isn’t helping.

5 Fresh and Exciting Camping Barbecue Ideas

You consider yourself a master of the grill and you understand that means changing things up from time to time. While there might be some traditional favorites that you always serve while camping, you don’t want things to get stale and predictable. It’s important to come up with menu ideas that will dazzle your friends and family and keep them guessing. When you’re able to come up with that perfect combination of authentic dishes with your own personal twist, that’s when you start to stand out from the rest. And it’s all worthwhile because barbecue is the best way to show off your skills under the summer sun. The right combination of skillfully prepared food in the great outdoors leads to great memories that last a long time. Here are some fresh and exciting ways you can make sure your next barbecue adventure is unique.

Tasty BBQ Pizza – everyone likes juicy steaks and chicken wings, but how about adding a bit of Italian flair to your next barbecue meal? It’s actually a lot less complicated than most barbecue dishes, and you’ll be left with a crispy crust that simply can’t be beat. This is also a great way to give your guests a chance to build their own pizza so they can come up with their ultimate combination of toppings. You’ll also like how easy it is to prepare which means you can make it as an appetizer or a main dish.

BBQ at Night Time – who says you always have to barbecue when it’s sunny anyways? There’s nothing better than a scrumptious meal surrounded by warm nighttime air that only summer can offer. All you need are a few patio lights and some delicious alcoholic beverages so you and your friends can relax. The only downside is you have to control your appetite until it actually gets dark. Of course you can also choose to cook food by campfire if your site allows as well.

Potluck Goodness – while it might seem like a lazy tactic at first, it’s also incredibly smart one. Ask your friends or camping neighbors to bring along one dish so that you can add variety to your overall menu plan. This gives you access to different cooking styles and it’s a great thing to share. Of course you’ll have a job as well which is to handle all of the meat and vegetables that come off your barbecue grill. When you don’t have to worry about side dishes, you can put all of your energy into making sure your barbecue food comes out perfectly.

Use Charcoal for a Change – it might have been a while since you’ve used a charcoal grill, but there’s nothing wrong with adding this blast from the past. Even if you don’t want to go with a full charcoal model, you can find a portable one that will offer you a chance to add authentic taste your food. No matter how fancy modern gas grills, it’s impossible to get the same type of flavor you can from traditional coals. Best of all, a smaller charcoal grill will increase your overall cooking area without costing you a lot of money.

Your Own BBQ Sauce – if you want to add a special element to your barbecue meal that will really stand out from the rest, then why not make your own sauce? A lot of people don’t go to the effort because they think it’s a lot more work than it’s worth. But a basic sauce is quite easy to prepare and overtime you’ll begin to perfect your personal barbecue sauce recipe. This is the perfect way to put a personal signature on all of your food, and pretty soon your friends will be asking you for your secret.