Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Whether you’re an amateur or have been hitting the trail for years, these ten interesting hiking facts will have something for you to be inspired and surprised by. However, before we go on, here’s an interesting quote that best describes the activity.

“Happiness and hiking often go hand in hand or foot in boot.”

What’s more? With this one, you won’t have to wait for someone your age to accompany you. Take your friend, spouse, kid or even your pet (after consulting a veterinarian) as the activity suits anyone and everyone.

1. Hiking? What’s That?

Did you know that in the UK, terms like rambling and walking are used instead of hiking? In some countries, it’s also referred to as bushwhacking, especially if it involves dense forests. In fact, in many countries, the activity isn’t even recognized by the word “hiking.” For instance, in certain Asian countries, it’s called trekking, and in others, the terms “trekking” and “hiking” are used interchangeably.

2. Not In The Mood For Cardio? Switch to Hiking

Did you know that hiking could get you the same results as a good cardio workout? For example, if a person weighs 150-160 pounds, they can easily burn about 400 calories just by pursuing the activity for an hour. If the terrain is uneven, you’re in greater luck as it makes your muscles work much harder, resulting in more calorie burning.

3. Hiking has a History Too

The first-ever hike dates back to 125 AD when Hadrian, a Roman Emperor, undertook the activity and embarked on a journey towards Sicily’s Mount Etna. Moreover, one of the earliest hikers the world has ever seen were discovered in the year 1336.

Poet Petrarch hiked to the summit of Mont Ventoux in France with his servants and brother in the same year. It’s interesting to note that during the stated period of time when he was pursuing hiking recreationally, most other people were busy dealing with wars and plagues.

4. Soon to Become the King of Outdoor Activities?

The recent gain in the numbers of people choosing to go for day hikes has further increased the chances for the activity to see a striking growth by the year 2060, at least according to the American Hiking Society.

5. The Longest Trail In the World

The Great trail, which was previously known as the “Trans Canada Trail”, is the longest one in the world. It stretches to over 14,900 miles and is probably one of the most difficult journeys to embark on as there are hardly any people who have been able to complete it.
6. 24 Different varieties of Trails

Did you know that there are about 24 different types of hiking trails across the world? Here are the names of all of them:

⮚ Access trail
⮚ Backcountry trail
⮚ Bridlepath(UK)
⮚ Feeder trail
⮚ Extended trail
⮚ Directional use trail
⮚ Day trail
⮚ Connecting trail
⮚ Fire road
⮚ Hiker-biker trail
⮚ Goat path
⮚ Lollipop trail
⮚ Interpretive trail
⮚ Loop trail
⮚ Long-distance trail
⮚ Multi-use trail
⮚ Single-track trail
⮚ Side trail
⮚ Recreation trail
⮚ Point-to-point trail
⮚ Out-and-back trail
⮚ Thru-hiking trail
⮚ Social trail
⮚ Single-use trail
⮚ Hiking trail

7. The Oldest Trail In America

Established in 1819, the Crawford Path in New Hampshire is the oldest maintained and used hiking trail in America. The trail meets the Appalachian Trail right before continuing to the Mount Washington summit.

8. Interestingly Enough, It Won’t Break Your Bank.

Have you ever hesitated to go for an outdoor adventure due to a lack of funds? Well, fortunately enough, that isn’t the case with hiking. Unlike other sports like heli-skiing and rock climbing, for example, you don’t need a lot of gear or gadgets for hiking.

All you need is a nice pair of shoes, a bottle of water and maybe a bar of chocolate, and you’ll be good to go. However, if you do wish to spend money on gadgets that you may deem necessary, go ahead by all means.

9. Struggling to Sleep? Go Hiking

Did you know that hiking is linked with increased melatonin levels in your body? According to a 2017 study from Current Biology, the natural light you receive during a day hike or a simple camping trip can increase levels of melatonin in your body in order to help shift your internal clock.

Moreover, there are also other factors at play, such as staying away from electronic gadgets and allowing your body to get all that natural workout, which eventually helps you sleep better at night.

10. Hiking Can Boost Your Happiness

We’re often told how moving your body and exercising can help increase overall happiness by reducing stress levels. In the same way, hiking can also work to help you achieve the same goals. Enjoying nature and being outdoors more often does more wonders for our mental health than we would like to believe. Moreover, regular hiking is also known to improve our physical health by strengthening the lungs, muscles and heart.

Interestingly enough, hiking is one of the very few activities where we end up using all the muscles of our body. It’s almost like a full-body workout that may also leave you feeling sore for days to come but just know that feeling this way isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It eventually works out in your favor by keeping your heart and body strong and healthy.

The Bottom Line

In the end, there isn’t a single way to describe what hiking truly feels like. Some people take their time to settle into a routine, while others just can’t get enough of it. After all, who wants to give up on an opportunity that not only gives their body a much-needed workout, but also does wonders to improve their mental health, and provide them with an experience of a lifetime?

On an ending note, here’s how one can truly define the activity.

“Hiking is a lot like life: All the journey requires is for you to place one foot in front of the other, again and again. Again, if you allow yourself the opportunity to be present throughout the journey of the hike, you will witness beauty in every step you take and not just at the summit.”

by Bobby J Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.