Month: October 2012

So What’s Exciting With Alaska Hiking

Everything!

If you are anywhere near Alaska, you might probably have thought of what excitement you would be facing once you step its land. It’s like nowhere else, truly a unique spot for hikers. It simply has everything.

If you are a mountain hiker, there are good trails for you. If you love struggling through snow, well what you would expect, it’s Alaska!

Hailed as one of the best states for harboring great hiking spots, Alaska is sure to impress you with its land mass. It runs 2300 miles from east to west and 1400 miles from north to south. In between, you are sure to find a haven for you.

There are mountain trails for all sorts of hikers, from novices to veterans. And the state promises you some of the best sceneries America has starting from alpine passes up to more popular Alaskan tundra.

Alaska offers one of the most excellent showcases of wildlife. And despite of occasional rain showers, Alaska hiking would still astonish you with its mystically beautiful misty mountains.

Here are some of the most popular Alaska hiking spots for every level of hikers:

Anchorage Hiking and Chugach Mountains
Hikers who also love skiing and mountain biking will find Anchorage a great place to travel. It offers miles of mountain trail both multi-use trails and paved trails. Among the most popular sites in South-Central Alaska are the Chugach State Park and Chugach National Forest.

If you prefer forest bushwhacking, the best recommendable area near Anchorage is the Kenai Peninsula where trails from snow-clad mountains towards meadows and sub-alpine lakes are excellent.

Seward Hiking
Typically accessed by boat and with the only road-accessible area through Exit Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park offer great trails for hikers and the more adventurous souls of cross country skiers. There are noted major crevasses found on topographic maps that should be avoided. In case of troubles and many unforeseen incidences, the most easily accessible headquarter is found outside Seward, a four-hour drive from Anchorage. Seward also have popular destination for backpack hikers complete with untouched trails and outlets offering services for camping, hiking and fishing gears.

Denali National Park
If you are after wildlife sanctuaries, maybe Denali National Park is the right place for you. It is popular for cross-country travel, heli hiking, backcountry and flightseeing. Much like its first discoveries a few years back, Denali National Park offers unexplored terrains. There are also Denali Park Hiking Trips just outside the entrance of the park for sampling the backcountry

There are also quite a lot of bears in this part of the country and it is most advisable that you learn the hazards and safety techniques to keep you from being vulnerable to attacks.

Chena State Recreation Area
Choosing Fairbanks or areas anywhere near it would satisfy you with developed trails for extended backpacking and day hiking among geological oddities such as protruding granite towers. You are also offered with forest country for hikers, paddling areas for canoeists and solid granite treks for mountain climbers.

There are simply a lot that Alaska hiking has got to offer. The vast area has wide varieties of trails for any type of souls. Rangers are always at hand to help you with the travel and park headquarters are strategically placed to give optimum services to travelers.

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Mountain Hiking Self-Preparation Tips

There are several things that you need to know before you take on a mountain hiking journey you have been planning for sometime now. Here are some of them:

Everyone thinks that mountain hiking could be performed by practically everyone. The sad truth is that it was never meant for everyone to endeavor. Maybe some people can’t naturally survive away from the usual everyday comforts, some people have no ability to adjust to the ruggedness of the mountain trails and maybe some people are physically incapacitated to experience, learn and enjoy mountain hiking. But there are always a bunch of adventurous souls that would give everything, even if it means losing some of life’s greatest comforts. But of course it does not always come to that. But the thing is, some people are more adept to the outdoors while others are more suited for cozy living. So before you continue planning, it is best that you determine what type of soul you have, are you the adventurous soul or the laidback one?

Second, know everything about mountain hiking. You cannot go to the mountains unarmed. You need to know what are the essentials of mountain hiking, you need to know where are the best places to hike and you need to know what to bring with you on a mountain hiking trip among with other vital things you should be packing along with your fundamental knowledge. A little homework will do while an extensive research would give you far better results than what you have first expected.

Know the items you should be packing with you. Of course there are the usual stuffs like pre-packaged foods, safety kits, camping gears and mountaineering must-haves but you should take note of other essential things you should be packing along with your things. Some mountain hiking destinations require specific items and you should take note what these are. Sometimes, a simple mistake could endanger your life, it is best that you protect yourself during the very early stages of planning through carefully preparing the gears and equipments you need.

Know the terrain and check out the usual phenomenon occurring in the mountain hiking area. In Colorado for example, there are certain places where you are most prone to thunderstorms during summer. In Alaska, there are snow-clad mountain trails that you should be carefully watching for. In Canada, there are particular spots where you would be showered a lot. With the exemption of these things, you could be well assured of nice trips. However, forgetting to take note of them could lead to disastrous results. Thus, you need to get these particular things checked.

Get some good grips. If your hiking boots are new or you are new to mountain hiking, it is best to place yourself in the most strategic positions with the least possible prospect of accidents. In some mountain hiking areas, the ground surfaces are highly textured while others have peculiarly wet grounds. If you are not quite careful with the footing, you might find yourself slipping. Of course nobody wants such accidents so we advise that you firmly step on the ground below you. You could also be helped well if you have a decent pair of mountain hiking boots.

Prepare yourself for the hike. If you are physically fit then mountain hiking may not be so hard with you. However, even if you seem to be of optimum health, you still have to condition yourself for the tedious work of mountain hiking. Be prepared with both the hike up and down the trail and everything in between.

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Hiking Trip Do’s and Donts

The difficulty and enjoyment of hiking depends on where you plan to take your feet. But no matter where you go, there are things that never change: the safety measures you have to observe and the standard rules you have to monitor. Do’s and donts of a hiking trip are as follows:

Do not bring valuables.
There is no shopping mall out in the woods. And definitely, there is no need to flaunt any jewelry to the trees and plants out there. Never bring your wallet, jewelries, and other valuable items on a hiking trip because when they get lost, you might have to spend more time faced-down looking for your lost items than sightseeing and enjoying the trip.

Do not pack more than you should have.
Carrying your own weight on the hike is tiring enough so make sure that you do not carry too many things when you go hiking. Pack clothes enough to last for the whole trip. Bring only the things that you know you are going to use. All the excess items should be left at home or in your hotel room. The point is, you have to travel as light as you can.

Do plan your hiking trip.
Safety begins with a right plan. Schedule your hiking trip months before your anticipated date so that you have adequate time to prepare. Identify a hiking site that is right for your skill. If it is your first time, read informative articles about hiking and the things you need during the trip. Take time go over the safety precautions posted by your hiking site. If you plan to spend overnight in the woods, make sure that you have everything you need to survive the trip. Plan your itineraries carefully.

Do know the weather forecast.
Either you plan to go for a day hiking trip or you want to spend your nights outdoor, it is very, very important to watch the news and listen the weather forecast of the location of your hiking trip. This will give you a good head start on what to type of weather condition to expect and provide you with the right information as to what equipment to bring.

Do wear proper clothing
You must wear the right clothes depending on the season. During summer, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, closed-toe shoes with hard soles, and a hat are appropriate. No sandals, shorts or capri pants. During cold weather, wear jacket, sweaters, wool shirt, thermal-style underwear, and layered clothing will keep you protected from the chill.

Do anticipate the rain.
Weather changes unpredictably in the wild. Most of the time, you will never know if it is going to rain or not. So, be prepared! Bring waterproof clothes and windproof gear on your trip.

Do bring proper equipment.
Survival out on the woods is not easy so make sure that you come prepared. Utility tools should be the number one equipment on your list of “what to bring”. Also, do not forget flashlight and batteries even if you dont intend to spend the night outdoor. A portable gas stove is recommended if you plan to cook your food.

Do enjoy your hiking trip.
Bring a set of binoculars, a camera or a video camera to capture you moments during the hiking trip.

Finally… Be safe at all times!

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