Important tips to keep in mind on National Take a Hike Day

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If you're planning to get out hiking this weekend, even if taking a hike isn't something you normally do, we have some important information for you to keep in mind.

Transcript

00:00 I told you to go take a hike.

00:01 You didn't mean that in a negative sense.

00:03 Literally.

00:03 You meant it because it's National Take a Hike Day.

00:07 And we are joined by Heather Klein Olson, who

00:09 is the director of the American Hiking Society.

00:13 Thank you so much for joining us.

00:15 Love the festive background.

00:16 Love the vest getting us in the hiking spirit.

00:19 Yes, thank you for having me.

00:21 I'm joining you from the Midwest today.

00:22 Oh, wow.

00:23 That's great.

00:24 Better, cooler weather.

00:25 It is.

00:26 So Heather, what does National Take a Hike Day

00:29 even celebrate, and why is it on November 17?

00:33 Sure, National Take a Hike Day was

00:35 established with the hope of encouraging individuals,

00:37 and groups, and families, and friends

00:39 to get out into the outdoors and really

00:43 explore the natural surroundings around them.

00:45 And this was a day in the calendar

00:47 that was a great time of year in the fall

00:51 when it's still a little warm across the country when

00:53 the leaves are turning.

00:54 And there's just so much beautiful nature

00:58 to be seen around us.

01:01 All right, for those who haven't gone hiking on a trail,

01:04 what's the easiest way to get started?

01:08 Sure, the easiest way is just to have appropriate footwear

01:12 and then start walking around your block,

01:14 or down your street, or just around your neighborhood.

01:18 That's the easiest way to get started.

01:19 It doesn't have to be on a mountain,

01:21 or even on a wooded path or trail.

01:25 It can be just outside your front door.

01:28 I love that.

01:28 I've got a great pair of hiking boots.

01:30 This is the reason I should have been doing this interview.

01:33 All right, Heather, when I go hiking,

01:35 I like to just kind of escape from all things, technology.

01:39 And there's been times I haven't brought my phone,

01:41 and I bet that's one of those safety rules.

01:43 What do you have for some safety rules for beginners?

01:47 Sure, well, the first is to let somebody

01:50 that you care about know where you're going

01:51 and how long you plan to be out.

01:53 The second is to take a GPS tool.

01:57 Phones aren't always the best GPS tool.

01:59 They can lose battery, and you can't plug them in or charge

02:02 them easily.

02:03 So make sure you just have a natural, regular compass

02:07 or GPS guide.

02:10 Then water, of course.

02:11 Those are the top three.

02:12 Make sure you have a half liter of water

02:14 for every mile of hiking that you plan to do.

02:18 Those are some good tips about what you should be keeping,

02:21 keeping in your backpack.

02:22 I like to overpack, but then my pack gets too heavy.

02:25 So any kind of suggestions on not

02:27 having too much to be walking around with, especially

02:29 if you're doing a longer hike?

02:31 Sure.

02:32 If you're doing a longer hike, you

02:33 want to make sure you have food and sustenance.

02:35 Just a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or granola bar

02:38 or trail mix is a great light snack to take with you.

02:42 And make sure, of course, water.

02:44 You want to have also rain gear or bath drying layers, just

02:50 a jacket that you can put in your pack.

02:52 And some other safety items include a light or a first aid

02:57 kit that you can also pack.

02:58 Those are also small, and those are also

03:00 light to carry in your pack.

03:02 And I would assume, Heather, since Take a Hike Day

03:05 is in November, is that when most Americans hike?

03:08 Is it during the fall?

03:10 Or is it equal between the summer and spring?

03:13 It's all year long, really.

03:15 We host National Trail Day the first Saturday of June,

03:18 and that really kicks off the hiking season

03:21 for many across the country because the weather is warmer.

03:25 But it's really all year long.

03:26 There's also National Public Lands Day in September,

03:29 National Take a Hike Day today.

03:31 But it's really all year long.

03:32 No matter the climate, if you are prepared,

03:34 you can hike in any climate.

03:36 All right.

03:36 Heather Klein Olson, Executive Director of the American Hiking

03:40 Society, thank you again for joining us.

03:43 And I hope you enjoy the hike as well.

03:45 Yeah, happy hiking.

03:46 Thank you.

03:47 You too.

03:48 Thanks so much.

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