Hiking

This is a beautiful time of the year to go hiking. I recently joined a group of local hikers. I'm fairly new to hiking, so I chose my group by my physical abilities... I chose a beginners group.

If you do a google search for meetups hiking, you can find a group in your area. Be sure you don't join an advanced group, if you are a beginner. There is a big difference in the hikes and what the group expects from you.

My hubby and I signed up for a class so we could learn how to hike safely. The instructor gave us a list of essential equipment and hiking gear. It was well worth the money spent.

One of the biggest things I learned from the instructor is about my clothing choices. I always thought 100% cotton was the best thing to wear. It's not. I was surprised to learn I should not be wearing 100% cotton or wool when I'm heading out on a hike. It's all about the wicking of moisture away from the skin. Cotton doesn't do that.

As I said, I highly recommend you take a class, before you start out on any hikes. Even a day hike can go wrong. At least you'll be prepared for your off road experience if you take a class and follow the basic instructions for a safe hike.