Hiking

יום שלישי, 13 בינואר 2015

Essential Hiking Gear to Have on Your Trips

Hiking and camping is increasingly becoming popular among individuals who enjoy nature and adventure to the core. Not only does hiking offer a chance to get up close and personal with nature and wildlife, but also tests your survival skills and the level of endurance you have out in the wild. However to enhance the pleasure and enjoyment of the adventure, it is essential that all necessary hiking gear is taken along.

Individuals, who opt to camp out during their trip owing to either love of enjoying raw nature or in order to save some cash spent in motels and hostels, require having proper hiking gear checklist before leaving. This allows them to optimally enjoy the trip without the hassle of finding out you forgot something and ending up in a situation that completely destroys the whole experience.

The list of camping and hiking gear highly depends upon the location and climate of the place you have chosen to hike. There are extended lists available online that explain what a hiker can possibly take along, depending on where he is off to. Here however, since I am focusing on the essential hiking gear to take along, I will be discussing the most basic requirements, as I have experienced myself the longer the list goes, the more tempted you get to carry almost everything on it.

So here is the most basic of my hiking gear list

Tents and Sleeping bags

The kind of tent to carry along depends on the weather and how light or tough trails is chosen for your hike. You can choose from a variety of sizes, shapes and prices as well. You can choose a simple bedroll or swag for light travelling in dry areas, or for wet terrains and jungles, a waterproof travel hammock hiking gear is good to keep you off ground. You can even find these with mosquito nets. Choose a heavy duty tent only if you are planning a long trip.

Also your sleeping bag should be selected according to climate; however a sleeping mat should be taken along for extra comfort and insulation against ground coldness. Generally the more money you pay for a sleeping bag, the more compact it gets to carry.

Hiking Pack

Choose a waterproof one to keep all your things, especially clothes dry. Make sure the pack is big enough to contain everything you want to take along, and never over pack. Make sure it is comfortable and as compact as possible.

Clothing

Choose the best quick dry, light trek pants you can afford, preferably of a breathable fabric in your camping and hiking gear. For rainy or windy terrains take a rain/wind jacket along with a microfiber towel that dries instantly and absorbs more moisture.

Hydration Packs

A wineskin or a water bottle can be easily carried along the hike; however of you wish to keep your hands free, investing in a hydration pack is a good idea. It is a simple tube connected to the water sac in your pack.

Trekking Poles

This is an essential item too, especially if you are going on a long or tough terrain hike. They help keep off the extra strain on the knees, however on light terrains; they can best be kept home.

Basic Kits

My hiking gear also include basic kits including the first aid kit along with headlamps, torches, matches, insect repellents, sunscreens, water purifiers, solar chargers, GPS system (A proper one, depending on your cell phone can let you down sometimes, as they have poor battery life) and knife. Again depending where you are hiking, take heat pack along if you will be camping at a cold place at night. Also for icy areas, an ice pick is recommended.

Other Items

Other things to take along are the ones you will need on long trips, such as cooking stoves, coffee mug and coffee. I recommend the insulated cup that comes with a portable filter.

This is my essential hiking gear checklist that has allowed me to enjoy every hiking trip I have ever been on. You can of course depending on the duration and terrain you are visiting, add on the essential items you may need on the way. Happy hiking!

For more info and gear review you can go to here: trekking gear

The Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands Hiking Trails

The Laurel highlands hiking trails along with the Ohiopyle region contain within them about 120,000 acres of the best hiking trails in the state parks of Pennsylvania. These hiking trails are considered to be an excellent choice for new hikers and offer a chance to experience some unique sights and paths along the various hike trails.

The 120,000 acres are covered by eight different state parks that offer differentiated amenities to visitors. The accommodation services provided include cabin, tents and RVs along with yurts that are constantly gaining popularity.

Yurts are circular shaped tents that are constructed of skins and felt and are covered over a collapsible framework and offer a beautiful Laurel highlands camping option.

The picturesque landscape that the Laurel highlands hiking trails offer include steep mountains, rolling hills, raging waters and what more even sandy beaches! (See I told you hiking has its benefits too!).

One of the famous Laurel highlands trail is the 70 mile hike starting from the Ohiopyle state park straight to the Laurel Ridge state park. The trail is open all year round and is visited annually by more than a million hikers.

Even though the trail is nothing as being one performed in solitude, however the 20,500 acres of nature’s rugged beauty force hikers to visit the trails again and again. The trail besides being rich in natural beauty is also very peaceful and can be opted by those who are in search of peace and tranquility, and wish to spend some time with self.

The Laurel Highlands also offer a couple of state forests and about six state parks that offer quite a bite of the wilderness most hikers crave in their journey. Some trails also offer opportunities of enjoying swimming, biking, hunting, fishing and even bird watching, which can be an additional feast for many.

The offerings of the area are immense and you will have to carry a Laurel highlands hiking trail map and decide beforehand where you will be hiking. The different trails and options offered are overwhelming and tend to confuse a person on what to cherish and what to miss in the area.

The Laurel Highlands trail also has the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) passing through it offering one of the best biking trails along with some of the most spectacular scenery along the way. You can bring your family along as there is something for everyone to enjoy. For further information on the best hiking trails Laurel highlands offer, keep reading on.

Forbes Forest

One of the easy hikes, being only 2 miles long, the hike trial can be extended another mile through creating a loop via Cole Run road. The trail is relaxing and offers breathtaking views along the way.

Another popular hiking trail in the Forbes forest is the Wolf rocks Loop trail that ranges between being an easy to moderate level hiking. The hike trail offers a scenic, view of the Wolf Rocks.

Ohiopyle Park

Another 3 mile easy hiking trail offers beautiful fall views of cucumber falls and the cascades. The trail is also intersected in between leading to another path and so you need to be really careful not to stray off your path.

Laurel Hill Park

Known as the Hemlock trail, the path offers a moderate level of hiking experience spread over 1.2 miles running over steep banks and getting rather narrow at points. The trail also offers 6 acres of

area that depicts natural surroundings.

Linn Run Park

This is another simple Laurel highlands hiking trails, spread over a 1 mile loop, featuring a waterfall flowing in between a mountain and surrounded by hemlock and rhodendron is the Adams falls trail. The trail is really rocky and requires hikers to pass large boulders in the way.

Keystone Park

A very easy trail spread over 2.5 mile, the Davis run trail moves ahead through wetlands to an upland forest, crossing through the scenic tunnel created by conifers in the way.

Pennsylvania offers several exciting hiking trails and as much as people enjoy hiking the Appalachian trail, equally refreshing is the experience of Laurel highlands.

יום רביעי, 7 בינואר 2015

The Attractions of Phoenix Hiking Trails

Phoenix hiking trails offers some of the world’s best trails ranging between moderate to difficult ones. Though I have personally experienced quite a few hiking trails in Phoenix, however in this post I will be discussing 4 of the best ones in my view. Three of these hiking trails in Phoenix can be deciphered as being of a moderate difficulty, while one is a difficult route, besides being a dream of any expert hiker.

Piestewa Peak

Phoenix offers some moderate trails, fit for hiking with families and Piestewa Peak also known as Squaw, is definitely one of the best in the category. The trail is 2 miles long with a mile’s steady climb over to the summit of Phoenix’s most prominent area peak, reaching a height of 1,100 ft.

Being a famous Phoenix hiking trail and family accessibility makes the route community friendly, and if you are in search of solitude, better visit the place some other time in a merrier mood. Of course if you have more time and are willing to extend your route to a 3.1 mile hike, you can always opt to come around the mountain through the much less travelled circumference trail which will offer not only solitude but a possible 360° view of the mountain.

Shaw Butte

This is another 4.5 mile Phoenix hikes trail of a moderate difficulty that people mostly tend to complete in 3 to 4 hours. The trail covers the Shaw butte along with the towers located near Arizona’s Heritage Highlands. The trail offers 3 exciting things to check out in the way including 2 radio towers and a completely burned down restaurant.

Although the name of the trail does not trigger any memory of it being known, however the trail is fantastically popular and is visited by several hikers annually. The back side of the mountain is an easy and flat way back. The trail is dog friendly and if you loathe the idea of leaving your canine friend back home, do bring him along.

Deem Hills West

This is one of the moderate levels, 3.3 mile Phoenix hiking trails, situated in the North Phoenix. The total duration of the hike is 3 to 4 hours and this is another dog friendly hike trail in Phoenix. Being a relatively new hiking park, (opened in 2010) not many hikers know about this trail, offering a more secluded experience throughout the trail.

Deem Hills is all about two mountains with a total circumference trail of 6 miles only. The trail to the summit is well cut through the deserts, however caution is recommended as some loose spots may exist as well.

The summit offers some beautiful views and is a good hike for new hikers, as the summit requires you trailing only 600ft upwards. Also if you further cut the ridgeline trail in the middle of on Basalt trail, another mile can be deducted from the overall Phoenix hiking trail and a quick 2.5m trail can be enjoyed.

Camelback Mountain

Among all others hiking trails Phoenix, this 2.2 mile difficult hike trail, reaches an altitude of 2,680 ft and takes about 3 hours to complete. Although the trail is referred as being family friendly however it would be better to leave the kids behind. Camelback mountains are dominant and distinctive and area treasure to be explored for hikers.

The summit of Camelback mountain can be reached via two different routes, both offering a bundle of various different challenges. The popular trail is through the Echo Canyon ascending to almost 1,400 ft on the3 west of the mountain. The trail offers varied terrains and can be a real leg breaker, besides offering a good hiking experience.

The second trail is the Cholla trail on the east flank of Camelback Mountain. Although the trail is well maintained however the situation becomes rather challenging once the ridgeline is reached. This 1.3 mile route is rather rocky and steep and even though the hike conditions are not as extreme as the other route, however this is not among the recommended Phoenix hiking trails for hikers.

The Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands Hiking Trails

The 120,000 acres are covered by eight different state parks that offer differentiated amenities to visitors. The accommodation services provided include cabin, tents and RVs along with yurts that are constantly gaining popularity. Yurts are circular shaped tents that are constructed of skins and felt and are covered over a collapsible framework and offer a beautiful Laurel highlands camping option.

The picturesque landscape that the Laurel highlands hiking trails offer include steep mountains, rolling hills, raging waters and what more even sandy beaches! (See I told you hiking has its benefits too!). One of the famous Laurel highlands trail is the 70 mile hike starting from the Ohiopyle state park straight to the Laurel Ridge state park. The trail is open all year round and is visited annually by more than a million hikers.