Top tips for beginner hikers

This summer, many of us are planning to enjoy the great outdoors on a hike. If you’re a beginner, there are a few points to consider before you get started. Mountain Rescue’s Nick Owen MBE shares his top tips for making the most of a hike this season.

Be Adventure Smart

Mountain Rescue has a campaign called Adventure Smart, to help you enjoy the outdoors safely. It suggests you ask yourself three questions before you embark on an outdoor adventure:

• Do I have the right gear?
• Do I know what the weather will be like?
• Am I confident I have the knowledge and skills for the day ahead?

Pack the essentials

Avoid packing items you won’t need and having a heavy backpack. There are some essentials I would recommend though:

• A waterproof jacket and trousers
• At least one extra warm layer
• A hat and gloves
• A survival shelter
• An LED headtorch – it leaves your hands free, and the light goes where you’re looking
• Water – for during your hike and extra in case you need it
• Food – both for during your hike and extra in case of emergency
• A battery pack for your phone

Go for a good grip

Go for footwear with a decent sole and grip. Waterproof walking boots are sturdy and will stop your feet getting cold and wet. Trainers don’t offer ankle support but they’re light and easy to walk in. Trail running shoes are another option and are designed for hilly terrain. There are a few options, so it’s about choosing what you’re comfortable with and what works for the hike you’re going on.

Try out your gear

If you’re planning to buy new footwear, try shoes out at home to check they’re comfortable. Then you can take them back to the shop and change them if needed or wear them in before a hike. Try all your gear, not just your shoes, before you take it out on a hike, to familiarise yourself with your equipment.

Be aware of the weather

Get a mountain weather forecast before your hike. The Met Office has a forecast for the UK. Depending on where you are, there can be bad weather in the mountains all year round, even in summer. Be aware of temperature changes with elevation too. You lose about 3 degrees for every 1000 feet, so if you climb to the top of a 3,000-foot mountain it’s potentially 8-10 degrees cooler than valley level. The wind chill factor should be considered too.

Assess skill levels

Mountain Rescue often helps people who’ve gone on a hike that’s beyond their capabilities. A little bit of preparation and planning makes all the difference. When you’re starting out, go for lower hills where the navigation is less complex. You’ll still have a lovely day out and won’t be put off future hikes! Build up to harder hikes. If you’re hiking in a group, always consider the skill levels of the slowest member. Walk as a group and let them dictate the pace. It can also be worth going with an experienced hiker who can guide you.

Learn to navigate

Always have some form of navigation to hand, such as a map and a compass. I use both a paper map and mapping software. Map and compass reading aren’t intuitive, so I’d suggest getting some tuition. Then practice before your hike, so you know how to navigate before you need to. Get a paper map out at home and see what features you might spot to help you keep track of where you are on your hike, e.g., a waterfall or an old quarry. They’re useful reference points for navigation and it’s interesting to see something on a map and how it relates to the same thing on the ground. It’s also good to be aware of your location so you can report it to rescue services if needed.

Make an early start

Start your hike early in the day, because you might have to be early even to get parked in the car park! The kind of places you go to when you’re starting out will probably be popular places, so getting there early to get a parking spot can be useful. Set off early so you finish your walk before it’s too dark as well. Darkness requires a whole other level of detail when it comes to navigation.

Know how to get help

Know how to get help if you need it, which will be specific to the country you’re where you are. In the UK call 999 and ask for Mountain Rescue or the police. Have important information to hand, such as your location and how many people are with you, so local rescue services can make an appropriate response. Once you’ve reported an incident stay where you are, so they know where to find you. In the UK you can pre-register your phone with the emergencySMS service. You might be able to get a text through to emergency services if you don’t have a strong enough signal to make a call.

Change your plan if needed

Remember there’s always the option to turn back if you’re behind target, it’s getting too dark or you’re not feeling great. The mountains will still be there to explore another day.

And of course, the main thing is that you enjoy your hike. Hopefully you’ll come back from your hike having enjoyed it and wanting to do it again!

Share your adventures as you go

With Exaactly you can share your hike in real time. Set up an Exaactly account, digital locker, and Exaactly address to share with friends and family. Then upload pictures, location updates and notes during your hike. It’s an easy way to keep loved ones up to date on your adventures.