Walking in nature is a great way to get some fresh air and enjoy beautiful sights, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be solely about getting from one point to the other. There are so many things that you can do during a hiking trip if you prepare carefully and bring the right things with you. Being in nature gives you many options and if you’re willing to open your mind and try new things, you’ll find tons of ways to make your trip interesting. Here are a few tips for making your next hiking trip with friends more fun.
Bring a Camera with You
If you don’t own a DSLR camera yet, now would be a great time to get one. That would give you a chance to take pictures of scenery and animals. You can also start shooting videos and publish them if you wish. You could take this opportunity to build a YouTube channel or blog related to hiking or outdoor activities in general.
Go Berry Picking
If you go hiking during fall, it’s almost certain that you’ll come across batches of berries. Berries could make for a great afternoon snack and can break the monotony of your hike. You should learn about different kinds of berries before you go, however, since some berries can be dangerous and look very similar to their edible cousins. If you want to make sure, you can bring an identification guide or a friend who’s an expert on plants.
Do Some Foraging
Berries are not the only things that you can pick up and eat during a hike either. You can find everything from nuts, to mushrooms, to edible herbs as well. Again, it’s very important to know what you’re picking before you eat it.
Learning how to forage safely is relatively simple. You can start by using your common sense and being as cautious as possible then look for foraging or plant walks in your area. Make sure to pick walks that will allow you to look for different species in the area you’ll be hiking.
Survival Skills
Another thing you could do is take survival classes before you leave. These classes will teach you how to forage but also other crucial skills like knife skills, how to build a shelter, how to start a fire in any condition, and how to signal properly.
Stay Connected
Some people are against bringing devices with them when hiking, but there is nothing wrong with enjoying games or other types of content while you’re on a hike. You could play games, take a break to listen to podcasts, or even watch shows and movies during the day or at night at your camp.
If you’re a big online gamer but you usually play on PC, we suggest that you look for mobile versions of your favorite games so you can play them when you have free time. Or you could play mobile-friendly games like SIM baseball. If you’re looking for a great place to play SIM baseball online, look for a simulator that you could try.
Go Fishing
Fishing is one of the best activities you can partake in when hiking. Fishing equipment is extremely light, and you could dine on whatever you catch. You could cook the fish over an open fire or with a portable grill. And, if you’ve never tried fishing because you assumed it would be boring, you’d be surprised at how fun it can be, especially with friends.
Rent an ATV
Most major hiking trails will have places where you can rent ATVs. Riding a bit on your ATV during a hike will make for a nice break and allow you to feed the adrenaline junkie inside of you. Not everyone needs to have their own ATVs either. You can get a few side-by-sides and have designated drivers or switch drivers whenever you like.
Go Rock Climbing
Rock climbing and hiking go hand in hand, but if you want to go into technical terrain, make sure that everyone knows the risks and has at least a foundation in how to use ropes and the right skill set to use them. If the people in your group aren’t ready yet, you could go for a scramble instead.
These are all things that you could try on your next hiking trip to make things more interesting. Consider all of them and pick the ones that would work better and don’t be afraid to brainstorm ideas with the other members of your party.
