Hiking 101

For those of you who haven't had a chance to hike in Acadia National Park yet, here's a primer to help you to get started. Perhaps watching all of those well-toned and super-human Olympic competitors has inspired you to get more active.
Let's go . . .

First, choose your hike wisely. Consider what else you have planned for the day and more importantly, know your limits. Yesterday was a gloriously sunshiny day here --- we had our usual exercise class at the gym in the morning, followed by a half-hour "Strengthen Your Core" class (better known as 'How Badly Can the Trainer Hurt Us?"). We had also been invited to a friend's home for dinner, so we had to plan enough time after our hike to get back home, shower, and dress for dinner. Knowing we wanted to hike in the afternoon, we hurried home from the gym, grabbed lunch, and took care of a couple of things we needed to do before heading out.

While eating lunch, I perused the "A Walk in the Park" hiking guide. It's one of many such guides but the one we use the most (it's out of print now, but might be available through used book distributors). I happen to be the kind of hiker who likes to know what we're in for. I carefully read and re-read Tom St. Germain's nearly-poetic descriptions of several hikes, and gauging how much time we had for our hike yesterday, I suggested to Al that we hike Penobscot Mountain. He agreed enthusiastically! It has what many consider to be the best views in the park.

Bring lots of water. Even when it's somewhat cool and cloudy, it's essential to bring several Nalgene bottles filled with fresh water. It's amazing how much you sweat while you hike. You certainly don't want to take a chance with even approaching dehydration --- NOT good! While hiking, don't wait until you're thirsty. It's better to plan for rest stops and water breaks all along your way.

Sturdy footwear is essential. I know firsthand what can happen when you hike in Tevas (i.e., broken ankle in '98, ranger rescue, surgery, blah, blah, blah). It's all too easy to roll an ankle or skid on fine sand while crossing a boulder with a precipitous pitch. Nonetheless, it's unbelievable what we've seen adults and children hiking in -- everything from flip-flops, bare feet, and my personal favorite, high heels.

Bring a map and know how to read it. We tend to bring both the hiking guide (which has maps for each hike) as well as a fabulous topographic map that Al always carries with him. Many people who hike in Acadia think that since it's such a small park (relatively speaking) that they don't really need to hike with a map. We met a family yesterday who really had no idea where they were; they knew enough to ask for help, but come on, people! Be smart!

Hike with a partner and/or let someone know where you're hiking. Of course, my favorite hiking partner is Al! He's a great encourager especially when I get a bit edgy (pun intended) on a trail.

Enjoy every accomplishment. It can be quite a rush to make it successfully through a challenging hike. I've learned to think about a hike as many "mini-hikes" strung together. Sometimes I count to myself while hiking. How high can I count before I stop for my next break? Or I set small goals by looking at what's ahead. Can I make it to that next cairn before stopping for more water? Of course, we always bring our cameras along to capture breath-taking views. Al's great about offering to take a picture of me doing something I wasn't sure I could. Like this . . .


Pay attention to those trail markers. Colored marks lead you along each trail in Acadia. Many national parks use different colors for different trails that overlap or that begin from the same spot; all of Acadia's trail marks are blue. See? There are also rock cairns on many trails; they are carefully placed piles of rocks that mark the trail and were put there either by those who constructed the trails or by those in the Park Service who maintain them.

Here is one of the cairns found along the trail to the top of Penobscot. These are particularly Zen. (And please don't create new cairns when you hike; moving rocks can cause trail erosion, and misplaced cairns can distract and confuse hikers.) Is this beautiful?





Enjoy the view! No matter how many times we hike the same trails in Acadia, every outing brings thrilling views. There is something magical where the mountains meet the ocean . . .



Allow plenty of energy and time for your descent. Don't wait until you're exhausted to make your return trip down the mountain. It's too easy to stumble when you're tired and careful footing going back down the hill is essential. My knees can become pretty wobbly if I've pushed too hard on the ascent. Consider using two walking sticks (ski-poles work great!) for your descent; they can really take the stress off of your knees.

And finally, pay attention or you'll miss something really wonderful! Hiking affords us the opportunity to slow down and notice the little things -- angelically draped spiderwebs, miniature stands of wildflowers, and unassuming creatures who are eager to move aside to let us pass. We spotted this pretty little cluster of Pinesap on our descent from Penobscot.


And this little guy slithered by near the end of the trail to wish us a good day! Can you see him? He's easy to miss!

Hope you've enjoyed Hiking 101. Find a trail near you, and invite someone to accompany you. Better yet, come visit Acadia National Park. Hope to see you on the trails!