Hiking Tips

This is a compilation of hiking tips that have appeared on the home page of PA Hikes. I hope you find these usefull and beneficial when you go hiking. If you have any tips to share, please feel free to email them to webmaster@pahikes.com. Not only will we add your hiking tip to this page, but you'll also see it on our home page.

AVOID GETTING WET FROM YOUR TENT
This isn’t about keeping dry in your tent when it’s raining, this is about avoiding those mornings when you awake to find the inside of your tent covered with little droplets of water. If you’ve every experienced this phenoma, then you know that even the slightest brush against your tent wall will soon have you damp and wet.

To avoid condensation dripping on you in the mornings you need to vent your tent. The best way to do this is to get a chimney effect going by opening a vent down by your feet, so cool air comes in low, and opening a vent near your head, preferably towards the top of the tent. This way the heat escapes, and along with it, all that moisture.

To help with the chimney effect, it is also good idea to have your tent oriented with the vents toward any breeze or air flow going through your camping site.

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TENT
Want to get years of enjoyment from your tent? Here are a few things to keep in mind.

• Seal Your Seems - Make sure you seal all of your seems. Once you apply the seem sealer, let it dry for 24 hours, and then set up your tent under a water sprinkler. Even if the manufacturer says that you don’t need to seal the seems, test your tent just to make sure.
• Dry Your Tent - As soon as you get home, hang your tent or set it up inside until it is 100% dry. This prevents mildew which will cause your tent to stink and also remove the water-repellant coating.
• Don’t Stuff a Wet Tent - If you can avoid it, hang your wet tent and allow it to dry before stuffing it in it’s sack. If you can’t avoid stuffing it wet, make sure you remove it and dry it as soon as possible.
• Use a Ground Cloth - This will prevent wear and tear on the floor of the tent. Make sure the ground cloth is just slightly smaller than the tent foot print to avoid water channeling underneath the tent if it rains.

DUCT TAPE IS A HIKER’S BEST FRIEND
Duct tape, in my opinion, is the best invention ever made and a "must-take-accessory" when I go hiking. This durable, adhesive tape is strong enough to hold almost anything together and is "water-proof" enough to get you out of potentially wet situations, such as a leaky tent.

A tip given to me a while back is to wrap some duct around your water bottle. It’s easily accessible, you know exactly where it is, and it doesn’t take up space in your pack.

My favorite use for duct tape: blisters. Instead of using mole skin when you develop a blister, put a piece of duct tape on your foot, covering the blister. You can also put a piece of tape on the offending spot inside your boot as well. This quick fix will keep your blister from getting worse and will see you through to the end of your hike.

STARTING A FIRE ON THE TRAIL
Here are a couple tips on starting a fire when you are hiking.

• If it has recently rained or is raining, look for dead limbs and wood still attached to a tree. It will be much drier than dead wood laying on the ground.
  
• Look for a fallen birch tree or a dead birch tree where the bark is falling off. Birch bark is great for starting a fire even if it’s somewhat damp.
  
• Take along some cotton balls lubed up with petroleum jelly. Keep them in a ziplock baggy and use one to start your next fire.

SLEEPING BAGS AND COLDER WEATHER
With fall here and winter just around the corner, nothing can make an overnight backpacking trip less enjoyable than having the wrong sleeping bag.

Most sleeping bags sold today come with a temperature raiting. You should only take the rating as a suggestion and not an absolute value. Also, only compare temperature ratings within a manufacturer’s line: a 25 degree rating for one manufacturer may be a 35 degree rating for another.

Mummy style sleeping bags are the warmest style sleeping bags available because they have less air inside to heat. You can also pull the hood over your head to help warm the interior of the bag and retain your body heat.

And finally, don’t forget about your sleeping pad. The warmest sleeping bag will do you no good if you don’t have an insulating barrier between you and the cold ground. During the coldest months consider using two open celled sleeping pads stacked on top of each other.

GROUND CLOTH FOR YOUR TENT
Chances are when you purchased your new tent it didn’t come with a ground cloth. The material used for the flooring of most tents is a little heavier and more rugged than the fabric used for the tent walls. But you’ll get many more years of use from your tent if you use a ground cloth as well, protecting your tent from sticks and stones.

Not only does a ground cover help extend the life of your tent, it also helps keep you dry, especially during all day soakers or very heavy downpours. You will need to make sure that the edges of the cloth are folded under your tent to prevent rain from being funneled under it. Even better yet, cut the ground cloth a few inches smaller than the tent floor to elimnate the need to fold.

Your ground cloth will surely get damp as it will be between you and the ground. Just like your tent, you will need to make sure you dry your ground cloth thoroughly. If possible, dry it before you pack up and leave camp, and at the very least, make sure you dry it as soon as you get home.

PACKING LIGHTER IS THE WAY TO GO
A lighter pack can make the world of difference on a hike. With a light pack you can enjoy your surroundings more and hike longer than with a heavy pack. You should try to trim ounces where you can because ounces will soon add up to pounds. Using plastic spoons, bowls and cups instead of metal is a good place to start.

If you are just starting out, try not to pack more than 1/5 to 1/4 of your body weight. More than this will tire you quickly. As you hike more and build up your body strength, you can pack up to 1/3 of your body weight.

INSULATE YOUR BOOTS FOR WINTER HIKING
If you are planning on doing some hiking this winter, here’s a little tip to help keep your feet warmer.

To insulate your boots for winter hiking, trace your foot onto a piece of closed-cell foam. Cut out the trace and attach smaller pieces for arch support. Place these new insoles into your boots, and with time, they will mold to the shape of your foot, and provide additional insulation against the winter cold.

DEHYDRATION . . . IN WINTER
Did you know that you can dehydrate while hiking during the winter? Most people associate dehydration with hot summer days. Even though that is the most common time of the year that hikers dehydrate, dehydration can also occur during the winter months.

Even when you are hiking during the winter months, always remember to bring along an adequate supply of water. I always carry 2 liters of water with me; if I’m hiking 3 miles or 10 miles. If you are going to hike 10 miles or more, make sure you have a source of water at the end of your hike, or better yet, bring along a water filter so you can fill up along the way.

The best way to avoid dehydration on the trail during the winter is to make sure you’re hydrated before you start. Drink plenty of water on the morning of the hike. If you have an hour or two drive to the trailhead, bring along 20 ounces or more to drink on the way. And if you are doing an overnighter, make sure to drink at least a liter in the morning before you break camp and start your second day of hiking. You would be surprised at the amount of water your body gives off while you sleep.

TREAT YOUR SLEEPING BAG WELL THIS WINTER
Winter is here and if you are like me, hikes during this time of the year are typically limited to day hikes. However, even if you aren’t using it over the winter, don’t neglect your sleeping bag.

This is the perfect time of the year to launder your sleeping bag. Ideally you would do this at a laundromat where they have those large, industrial size washers, specifically the ones without an agitator. If you don’t want to make a trip to the laundromat, then wash your bag by hand in a large tub of water (ie: bathtub). Make sure you use a mild, powdered soap and stay away from liquid detergents. When done washing, tumble dry your sleeping bag in your dryer using a no heat setting.

One last thing: don’t store your sleeping bag in it’s stuff sack. You can hang it from a hanger (best choice) or store it in a large breathable bag. Storing it this way keeps the fibers loose and not compressed, extending the life of your bag, and giving you continued warmth in the upcoming backpacking season.

DRESSING FOR THE COLD
Hiking during the winter requires you to dress appropriately. You’ll be surprised at how fast you get overheated and begin to sweat while hiking during these colder months.

The key to dressing for hikes when it’s cold is to dress in layers. Also, wearing a shirt or turtleneck that zippers in the front is a good idea. You can zipper up for warmth and unzipper to cool down. When you do start to get hot, start by taking off your hat (yes, make sure you wear a hat as that is where most of your body heat escapes), then open your shirt or jacket a little, then try unbuttoning and rolling up your shirt sleeves. This will allow cool air to circulate up your arms and down your torso.

Finally remember to bundle back up when you stop hiking. Dressing and undressing as your body warms and cools is the best way to keep comfortable during winter hikes.

AN INTERESTING TIP FOR OUT-AND-BACK HIKES
The one thing that I enjoy most about hiking is the exploration aspect. That is why I prefer loop or circuit hikes. You start at point A, and return to point A, while experiencing new surroundings every step of the way. Point to point hikes are also enjoyable, but require at least two people and two cars.

My least favorite type of hike is out-and-back hikes. However, if you have a large enough group of hikers, there is a way to avoid an out-and-back hike. What you’ll need to do is split into two groups. Drop the first group at point A and then drive to point B, park the car, and begin your hike. At the mid point, when the two groups pass each other, hand off the keys. Now the first group hops in the car parked at point B and drives back to pick up the other group at point A. An option if you are hiking by your self: drop a bike off at point B and then ride it back to the trailhead after your hike.

EATING ON THE TRAIL
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you are eating on the trail. You should eat food that weighs the most first, such as fresh fruit, or a canned foods. This will lighten the pack early on instead of after hiking many miles with the additional weight. Also, try eating small quantities often. This will avoid stomach aches while hiking and also keep your energy level up through out the day. Before you begin a climb, stop and have a snack. This will give you an energy boost when you need it most.

SLEEPING OVERNIGHT ON THE TRAIL
Just a few tips to keep in mind when you are planning on doing an overnighter. These tips are more about your comfort and less about gear needed: that is an entirely different discussion.

• Take along camp clothes; something different to sleep in then what you hike in.
• Eat a small snack before you go to bed; it will keep you warmer at night.
• Keep a bottle of water handy; makes night time thirst easier to quench.
• Keep a flashlight nearby; for animals invading your camp and all that water you drank through out the night.

TIPS FOR FORDING STREAMS
The need to ford a stream is more typical in the spring then hiking during other times of the year. Certain precautions should be taken to minimize the risks while crossing a stream. If you find yourself on a stream bank, without any easy way to cross, keep these tips in mind before plunging in.

• Look for a wide section to cross. Water moves quickly in narrower areas of the stream.
• Take your time. Walk deliberately, making sure of your footing after each step.
• Don’t take off your boots. Traction from boots or camp shoes are much better than bare feet. However, take off your socks and put them back on once you’ve crossed.
• If you don’t have treking poles, pick up a stick or two. This will give you better balance while crossing.
• Loosen shoulder straps and hip belts on your pack before attempting the crossing. This will make it easier to slip out of your pack if you happen to fall in.

KEEP YOUR BEARINGS WHILE HIKING
Moss grows on the north side of a tree. Well, I’ve been in some dark, damp sections of the woods where moss was growing on all sides of the tree. When the moss can’t help you get your bearings, here are few other tips to keep in mind.

• Pine trees/evergreens are the fulliest on eastern slopes.
• Plants and brush are more open on northern slopes, smaller and denser on southern slopes.
• The tops of hemlocks point east.

Always take a map with you when you hike. Look at the map for terrain features and relate them to those around you such as ravines, cliffs, hollows, and hilltops.