Hiking and camping are one of the most popular activities outdoor. It enables you to explore and discover the beauty of nature as well as learn how to survive out of your city comfort zone. There are also health benefits when you are backpacking outdoor such as losing weight, decrease in hypertension, and improving mental health. If you are planning on backpacking , make sure you are fully prepared with all the right equipments and attitude. Below are some guide that would help you on your backpacking adventure.

Equipment

The equipment required depends on the length of your hike. Generally, what hikers usually carry are water, food, and a map in their backpack. If the hike will take multiple days, you would need a tent or a sleeping bed to rest for the night. It is also recommended to use hiking boots to protect your feet from the rough terrain.

Some outdoor organization have a list of equipment for hiking in which they call it the Ten Essentials. The list includes a compass, sunglasses, sunscreen, clothes, flashlight, first aid kit, knife, and fire starter. Having a heavy baggage could only cause some injury as it increases the chance of fatigue.

Impact to the Environment

Naturally, we hike because we want to see the beautiful and natural elements of nature. However, hikers are also a potential threat to the nature as we may accidentally destroy the fragile environment. That’s why some parks have declared some protected areas where it is prohibited to hike to protect the environment.

There are also some regulations that can help minimize the impact to the environment such as forbidding wood fires, restricting camping to established camp site, disposing of trash, and imposing a number of hikers per mile. Many hikers practice the philosophy of Leave No Trace as an act of respecting and protecting the environment.

Hazards of Outdoor Activities

Outdoor activities may also produce threats to personal safety. Accidents and ailments happen during the hike. In the United States, diarrhea is the common illness afflicting long-distance hikers. Some plants that causes rashes are also bothersome to the hikers such as poison ivy, poison oak, and stinging nettles. Dangerous hiking circumstances includes being lost, getting in a hazardous terrain, animal attacks, or internal injuries. Attacks by human can also be listed.