Hey everyone! I recently got back from a quick trip to Vancouver and now I can confidently say that I understand why it’s such a popular city. Everything from its landscape to its diverse communities makes Vancouver such a great vacation spot. One highlight from my trip and almost all of my trips in Canada for that matter are the hiking trails that are easily accessible. Hiking is one of my favorite activities to do on vacation. Even though I feel like I’m dying most of the time, I’m always rewarded with gorgeous views and improved health. I highly recommend you check out a few trails this summer, especially those of you who live in Calgary. I wanted to write a post with a few tips and tricks to make your hiking experience exceptional. Most of these tips are ones that I have had to learn the hard way so I hope they are helpful (especially for beginners)!
NOTE: I am by no means a professional hiker so don’t only depend on me before you start your first hike!
1. Less is more
When packing for your hiking trip, make sure you pack light. I know this may sound self-explanatory but you would be surprised how many people over pack (I was one of these people). In order to limit the number of items you’re bringing, you need to do some research. Find out the weather, temperature, and difficulty of the hike. For example, don’t bring an entire bottle of sunblock if you know you will be hiking in an area with lots of tree coverage for a short period. Instead, put it on beforehand or bring a small, travel size bottle with you. This concept also applies to snacks! Only bring necessary food with you (and yes, I know it’s tempting). Trust me, when you’re hiking up that steep hill, that extra weight is going to feel like rocks in your bag.
2. Water!
I cannot emphasize how important it is for you to bring water with you on your hikes! This is especially true before you go on your first hike. You won’t know how thirsty you’re going to get and if you will need it for any emergencies. After you have become a little familiar with hiking, then you can reduce the amount of water you take with you. But no matter what, always ensure you’re hydrated to avoid heat stroke, especially in extremely hot areas.
3. Be loud!
As a first time hiker, I knew nothing about animals that could be found roaming the trails, so as a result, I didn’t bring any bear spray with me. If I’m being totally honest, I’ve gone on over five hikes since then and I still don’t have bear spray with me. If you have some, that’s great, but it’s only useful when you actually come into an encounter with a bear or wildlife. In order to prevent any scary encounters in the first place, make noise throughout your trip. This could be by by talking loudly to other hikers or playing some music. Either way, this noise will alert bears or other potentially dangerous wildlife that there is something unusual nearby and they will hopefully stay away.
4. Wear proper footwear!
When I say this, I don’t mean that you need to have professional hiking shoes (especially if you’re doing an easy hike). I personally hike in my sneakers. Just make sure your shoes are comfortable and have good grip so you avoid injury!
I hope some of these tips were helpful for you newbies and have fun hiking!
Here are a few of my favorite hikes/hiking areas in Alberta and BC!
- Sunshine Village Ski Resort in Banff (Alberta)
- Crypt Lake in Waterton
- Grouse Mountain in Vancouver
- Tunnel Bluffs in BC
- Lake Louise in Alberta
Have a great summer and stay safe! Be sure to snap some pictures on your hikes!
