Nothing beats a great hike with friends. Hiking trails and crossing mountains requires as much preparation as it does motivation. Here are some tips for a successful hike without any missteps.
There's no need to head to the Maldives to recharge your batteries and recharge your batteries. In France alone, we have 11 national parks, each one as beautiful as the next. Hiking remains one of the French's favorite activities, and for good reason: it's a moment of escape for both body and mind. It's also a moment of sharing, whether as a couple or with friends.Before venturing onto winding trails, it's essential to be well prepared. Here's a list of the basics for a successful hike.
Preparing for your hike: questions to ask yourself.
Before any hike, you must assess the level of the group and avoid setting off without preparation.
What is the group's experience and physical condition? Is there someone capable of managing the hike and providing emergency care, such as bandages? Keep in mind that the more the merrier, but the larger the group, the more likely it is to encounter incidents and the more difficult it will be to make decisions. Plan for a leader to avoid tension.
A few days before your departure, don't hesitate to organize a small aperitif among your participants. This will give you the opportunity to organize your equipment and make joint purchases. It's also a time to see if anyone needs to acquire any skills before departure (practices, techniques, etc.).
Choose a route.
It goes without saying that you don't go hiking, whether for a day or a week, without planning your route. Forget your phone and iPhone map; it's better to bring a paper map with you, without worrying about battery or network issues.
Next, the internet is full of useful information to help you plan your adventure. Consider seeking feedback from other hikers who have already completed your route. You can also visit the websites of regional and national parks, associations, and federations to refine your search.
Please note: the route's difficulty is always adapted to individual fitness and experience. Don't overestimate yourself or your hiking partners. There are magnificent landscapes for routes of all difficulty levels.
Organize your hike and plan the stages.
Along a trip, there are often places the group absolutely wants to visit. It's important to think carefully about the route. Obviously, if the route isn't a loop but goes from point A to point B, you'll need to plan a means of transportation upon arrival.
One of your priorities should be the bivouac or refuge where you'll spend the night. Will you be camping or sleeping in a refuge? If you choose a refuge, reservations are often required for staffed refuges. Most refuges only accept cash.
Before setting off, avoid neglecting timing. Without stressing out, it's better to leave early than to finish the hike at night. Especially if you're inexperienced, plan ahead.
We don't leave empty-handed.
There's a happy medium between packing your wardrobe and pantry and heading out on a budget. It's essential not to neglect food and water resources.
For water, between hydration while hiking and meal preparation, plan ahead. It's advisable to plan ahead for refueling points. In any case, it's possible that the water source will be dry or that village stores will be closed, so always bring more water than you need. If you have something to filter or purify non-potable water, that's still ideal.
Regarding food, we can only advise you to bring some OKR bars. They will be practical in many ways: rich in nutrients and proteins for an energy boost or for breakfast, easy to transport and responsible for your waste.
It's always a good idea to also pack a hot meal for the evening. Some people prepare meals in advance before dehydrating or freeze-drying them. Don't skimp on portions; our bodies consume more food when hiking.
Finally, think ahead about how to transport your waste. Nature isn't a trash can, so we don't leave anything behind.
On behalf of the entire OKR team, we wish you great adventures this summer!
