Anyone who wants to try their hand at hikes in the high mountains must first of all get hold of a good guidebook describing the most common routes in their own region. There are many on the market, all of them very well detailed.
It's good to start with the simplest routes so that you can measure and assess your own physical response, develop your sense of direction and learn to know nature in its wild aspect.
For the Sunday tourist the idea of "planning a hike" might seem a real exaggeration. However we spend most of our time in artificial environments free of danger, whereas in nature even a small stone can cause nasty falls and sprains. That's why we want to tell all beginners that planning a climb is, on the contrary, an act of prudence that takes nothing away from the emotion and the sense of adventure, whether for easier hikes or for more complex climbs.
A short vademecum for planning hikes
The first thing to do is route planning.
Map in hand, you need to decide the destination and the way you intend to follow.
You need to know your own abilities and your physical strength, without ever misjudging the distances. Reading maps can be deceptive and distances can seem completely distorted.
In this regard, refer to the notes on orientation and on the use of map and compass.
Secondly you need to prepare the list of things to take.
You'll find useful suggestions in the chapters on packing your rucksack, but a piece of advice that always holds is never to carry huge rucksacks full of useless things, so try to cut the weight down as much as possible by getting rid of heavy boxes and wrappings, and think first of all about hydration, that is, liquids, and about food; everything else is of secondary importance.
Finally, in the days just before the hike, you'll need to assess the weather conditions. Given that the weather is the most unpredictable element of all and, what's more, the one that most affects the success of a hike, it will be very useful to find out about the weather in the region you intend to explore.
Before leaving it's good to tell relatives or friends about the route you intend to follow, so that in case of danger rescue operations are made easier. For this reason we suggest never changing route at the last minute.
As for your physical abilities, you should know that in the days before a climb it's pointless to put yourself through exhausting physical training. What you haven't gained with steady training you won't make up in a few days. In that case it's better to tackle hikes with a rested body, a calm mind free from worries.
Last of all, a little strategy: it's excellent practice to reach the place of the climb very early in the morning, even in the darkest hours. This choice is not due to a maniacal and masochistic attitude. Setting off early means having the whole day of light available and, besides, knowing that the hike starts in the dark but will certainly end in daylight can only be reassuring.
To sum up, the most important points:
- Decide where to hike
- Find out from guidebooks, maps and road atlases
- Decide the duration according to your abilities, your strength, your physical condition
- Pack your rucksack, checking your checklist point by point
- Assess the weather conditions
- Rest for the two or three days before the hike
- Tell friends and relatives where you intend to go
- Reach the place very early in the morning