As a common quote “a thousand miles of journey starts with a single step”, if you are beginner hiker, please do not worry about the journey & just take it easy! Most of beginners won’t have habit of walking so they will afraid to start it but if you once start it, it will become your habit. We will walk here to there in our daily life and you need to increase your walking duration slowly day after day, not in a single day.
When you think of hiking, you probably fantasize a bunch of trails with heavy backpacks hiking through epic mountains for weeks upon weeks at a time. Or maybe, a pair of hobbits setting out on a worldwide adventure to destroy a ring of awe-inspiring power.
If you’re out of shape or just beginning your journey to a better lifestyle, thoughts about serious hiking can certainly keep you indoors and away from the trails. However, although hiking can certainly be epic, it doesn’t need to be – it can also be a fun jaunt around your Local Park or neighborhood for a few hours on your appropriate schedule.
As long as you’re exploring your surroundings while building strength and endurance in your legs and lungs, I CAN DO IT! If you are overweight and not ready to start running yet, then hiking is a great way to get your legs, feet, and body used to strenuous activity – because you get to pick your speed and difficulty, you can always find a way the right amount of challenge for you.
Here’s what you need to do before your hiking:
1) Building hiking habit
Choose stairs if your building has elevator. Hiking in mountain trail of Nepal is ups and down walking so you start to choose stairs over elevator you can get some stamina. Then you can start walling out then than the town. You need start slow, and pick places around your town that will allow you to stop when necessary and get back to your car or home quickly. No need to be a hero; it’s always better to come back excited and say “wow that was easier than I expected!” than to realize you’re six hours from home and out of steam.
2) Determine your starting level
Iif you are a complete newbie and horribly out of shape, sending yourself out on an eight hour hike through the unmapped wilderness is incredibly unintelligent. As here in Nepal you can find several also agency that operate private trip for beginner, (Himalayan Mentor one of them) .
3) Decide how long you have to hike.
As this is a beginner’s guide to hiking, we’re not looking to hike the adventurous trail . We want to suggest you easy walking trail with beautiful views and where you do not need to worried about the overnight accommodation as there are plenty of local lodge (not luxury but comfortable one). Some of day hikes in Nepal combine with culture tour too so you can start from the easy one. Then you can do trek to moderate trail on your next visit.
4) Decide if you’ll be hiking solo or with a friend/group
In the beginner it will be better if you hike with your close friend or family members so you can rest when you required. If you tell us “I love hiking solo” , we also operate private trekking trip for every individual hiker so they can enjoy entire trip.
5) Pick your hiking location
Normally hiking around Kathmandu valley will be good idea for beginners. So your hiking duration will be around 4 – 5 hours or you can do less than it. We will drop you at hiking starting point and pick you up from ending point. For the beginner Dhampus, Ghorepani Ghandruk area also good choice but we won’t suggest you Annapurna base camp or Everest base camp.
6) Let somebody else know
Before you going for a hike it would be better if you let it know to your friends or family. If you already booked with government registered hiking agency, inform them about the agency and if anything happen they will call to agency and get connected with you.
What should you need to bring with you?
First you need to think that for how many days you are going for hike. Bring the area map; so you will know where you are. A bottle of water and some water purify tabs (you will find spring water easily) and some dry foods/snacks will be good idea to carry. Sun screen cream and sunglasses will protect you from sun heat. Light rain cover, flashlight and knife also need to bring. If you are taking medicine, don’t' forget to take with you. Foldable hiking pole also needed if the journey is ups and down.
What you need to wear?
You don’t need to be worried about the clothing as some hike can be done with the normal cloths as you are wearing everyday too. The clothing will be depends on which season/months you are taking a hike. Normally comfortable walking trouser/shorts,/t-short, running shoes, long socks (Avoid cotton as wearing cotton on the trail is asking for blisters), hat to protect your skin from sun are needed in every trail. You can choose a rain jacket for Outerwear as it keeps bugs off your arms and torso while in lodge. An insulation layer (jacket or vest) wards off chills early or late in the day.
Hiking Backpack
The number in pack names refers to the pack’s volume in liters. A common size for weekend trips (1–3 nights) is 35–50 liters. Multiday trips (3–5 nights) require packs of 50–80 liters. For longer trips, choose 70 and higher. Your backpack should have rain cover and if you want longer day hiking we will provide the porter who will carry your 10 to 12 KG luggage and around 24 KG from 2 hikers. So you can walk comfortably with your light hiking rucksack and a water bottle.