Alec is a landscape photographer and outdoors storyteller with a zeal for pushing boundaries in the wild. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, and visiting remote places, allowing him to photograph locations the rest of the world shies away from. In addition, Alec loves to write about his travels and craft articles that help educate and inspire others to find their joy in nature.
Tips to remember as we approach hiking season
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Howdy y'all! It's been a while. Life has been hectic with multiple trips across North America since our Costa Rica trip. But I'm happy to be home in Denver and enjoying our beautiful weather this spring. And after getting hurt last summer, I'm really focusing on getting into shape. Being in your mid-30's, I'm realizing I'm not as bulletproof as I thought I was. I was recently on the Hikes and Mics podcast, which will be released in two weeks. Excited to share that with you all! What's inside:
Remember these tips as you start hiking this yearAfter you read through, share the social post that inspired this newsletter. Bring plenty of water, or know where your next water source isGrowing up in Arizona, we heard so many stories of people visiting the desert and not bringing enough water on their hikes. Water is the MOST crucial thing on any trip. If you're in Arizona or the southwest, plan to bring more water than you anticipate having. It's better to have water left over than run out too soon. If you're in other areas (mountains/PNW/river basins) with more water access, make sure you know where your next water source is. This allows you to carry less water at a time, knowing you'll refill multiple times throughout your hike. My go-to water filter on the trail. Be respectful of wildlifeIf you encounter wildlife out on a hike, make sure to be respectful. General recommendations are to stay 300 feet (100 yards) away from bears and wolves, and 75 feet (25 yards) away from moose. Obviously, if you find yourself closer, be smart and move away or let the animal move on without feeling threatened. Keep an eye on the weatherThis is a little more location-dependent and applies to areas with afternoon thunderstorms or flash flood potential. But it's paramount to have a general idea of the weather forecast and keep your eye on the skies. Colorado has almost daily afternoon thunderstorms in the summer, and you want to make sure you're down off the ridgelines by 1pm or else you could be at risk from lightning. Tell a friend or family member where you're goingThis is the most important tip in here. ALWAYS tell a friend or family member where you are going hiking or backpacking. This includes: the trailhead and your route. But I also include when I should be home (or in cell service) and when to call 911 if I haven't checked in. Wear sun protectionThis helps short-term and long-term. In the short term, limiting your sun exposure helps you feel more energized and reduces your chances of getting burned, which can make life uncomfortable. In the long term, it can reduce your risk of skin cancer. I've been wearing sun hoodies (which then means I can use less sunscreen). Plus, have a nice, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to keep the sun off your face and neck. Using all three is the perfect trifecta. Sunhoodies I recommend:
Sunglasses: Hats:
Bring a satellite communications deviceHaving the ability to connect with a loved one, search and rescue, or just check the weather can be necessary in the backcountry. I don't go anywhere without my Garmin inReach device. I have the inReach2, but Garmin did recently release a new model. You can get the older version for over $100 cheaper. Download your map offline or bring a physical mapHaving digital maps on my phone that I can access whenever keeps me up to speed throughout the hike. There are a couple of ways to go about this. If you're an AllTrails paying member, you can download your maps offline. The same is for GAIA GPS. A free option is to download your Google Maps offline. This is a less informative option, but it still shows where you are on the map. Start small and build upWe're all a little out of shape right now after our winter slumbers. But now, it's time to get things going! My recommendation is to just start small and build up. There's no reason to go do a super hard hike at the beginning. Start walking around the neighborhood to get your miles up. Then do a 1,000-foot gain hike. Then 2,000. After a month or two, you'll feel much better and be ready to go! Have fun out there and Leave No TraceThe entire point of going hiking is to have fun and enjoy the beautiful nature. It's the most important reason to go outside. As you go recreate outside, make sure to follow Leave No Trace Principles and leave the area better than you found it! Follow on Instagram for more of my travels and hiking inspiration. Gear Corner - An Item I've been testing out, and gear on sale at REIBeen testing out the Fjallraven Keb Thermal Wind Jacket - A great combo of wind protection and warmth. Makes for a fantastic mid-layer on spring and alpine hikes. 40-45% off Marmot Bantamweight 15 Sleeping Bag - Men's - If you need a new sleeping bag that will keep you warm almost year-round (well, maybe not in the Arctic or on Everest), this is a great option without breaking the bank. 60% off Big Agnes Roxy Ann 3N1 15F Sleeping bag - a HUGE steal on this three-season sleeping bag from Big Agnes. Originally $400, this is $159. Sale ends April 13. I've owned my Big Agnes bag since 2018 and still love it. 25% off the REI Flexilite Camp Chair - I consider this the best camp chair on the market. It's a little over one pound, and I never hesitate to have a little luxury with me in the backcountry. 45% off - Big Agnes Fly Creek HV Carbon 2 Tent - Possibly the most ultra-light of ultra-light tents on the market. It's still $900 even with the discount. Buuuut if you've been on the fence, you'll save a ton of money. 40% off - Gregory Deva 60 Pack - Ladies, if you're looking for a new backpacking bag, this 60L is perfect for 2-4 day trips. You'll save almost $150 from the base price. But act fast. This is likely last year's model and will go fast. 25% off - Mountain Hardwear Ghost Shadow Insulated Hoody - Women's - Looking for a nice puffy jacket for the alpine, early mornings, or late nights on the trail? This is a great one to snag. Black and blue are available in all sizes. 27% off - Prana Stretch Zion Men's - My go-to hiking pants brand. Prana makes my favorite pants, and they go with me on every trip. A no-brainer. Do note that some sizes are not available. 18% off - Arc'teryx Proton Insulated Hoody Mens - Maybe not the best deal in teh world, but if you've been eyeing some Arc'teryx, might as well get it a little on the cheap. Photos from Artemis IISee more images here. All images courtesy of NASA.
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Hi! I'm Alec, an outdoor writer, photographer, and content creator.
Alec is a landscape photographer and outdoors storyteller with a zeal for pushing boundaries in the wild. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, and visiting remote places, allowing him to photograph locations the rest of the world shies away from. In addition, Alec loves to write about his travels and craft articles that help educate and inspire others to find their joy in nature.
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