hiking 101

If you are looking to hike in Washington, but not sure where to start, there are some great resources available to help you find hikes that fit your skill level.  See my other post regarding tools to help you find hikes and some great Washington hikes for different skill levels.  But first, you should make sure that you are prepared to head out there and have a safe and successful (and enjoyable!) hike.  Please review the tips below to make sure you are ready to head out!

•Hiking 101 tips•

  • Know your own abilities and limitations.  If you are not accustomed to significant elevation gain, start small and work your way up.  Take breaks as necessary and let the slowest hiker in your group lead the way in order to set the appropriate pace.  
  • Check the weather before you head out, and take into account differences in elevation.  Weather can change quickly, especially in the mountains.
  • Check recent trip reports to learn about trail conditions and any potential hazards.  These can be found for each hike on the WTA hike finder. 
  • Bring the ten essentials with you.  If you are not familiar with the ten essentials, it includes hiking necessities to keep you safe.  The WTA website has a summary.  Very importantly, make sure you bring enough water! 
  • Tell someone where you are hiking.  On many trails, you may find yourself without cell phone service.  You could even leave a note in your vehicle in case you were to run into trouble on the trail.
  • Do NOT leave valuables in your car.  Break-ins occur quite frequently.
  • Dress appropriately, including a good pair of sturdy hiking shoes.
  • Have a Plan B.  Trailhead parking can fill up quickly, especially at popular trails and on weekends and days with nice weather.  Pay attention to no-parking signs and find an alternate hike if parking is full.
  • Determine what permits or passes are needed and purchase them to bring with you.  This will help avoid a ticket for not having the appropriate pass.
  • Pay attention and be aware of your surroundings as you may encounter wildlife on the trails.  
  • Do NOT feed wildlife, even if they seem friendly and accustomed to human interaction.  
  • Check ahead of time to find out whether the trail is dog friendly.  For example, many National Park trails do not allow dogs. Be sure to keep your dogs on leashes.  
  • Always stick to the trail.  This helps ensure your own safety and navigation ability, and also helps protect delicate flowers, for example.
  • There are additional considerations if you are hiking in the winter.  You need to understand avalanche danger and check current conditions.  You also need to ensure that you have proper equipment such as microspikes or crampons.  There are courses available through vendors such as REI that teach winter safety and skills to help you stay safe.  
  • Understand trail etiquette such as keeping to the right as you pass and yielding the right of way to uphill hikers.  If you need to take a break, move off the trail as much as possible to create space for others to pass.  Also, keep noise to a minimum and avoid making unnecessary noise such as yelling or playing music on the trail.  
  • And last but not least, practice Leave No Trace principles to help ensure a sustainable future for our beautiful trails.  I know that it can be tempting to pick pretty wildflowers, or stray off the trail for pictures, but this hurts our trails.  Please act responsibly.

Once you understand these basics, you should be ready to find your hike and set out for an enjoyable and safe adventure in the Evergreen State!