I have been hiking on easy to moderate trails for about twenty years now. I started hiking in the Atlanta area by myself until my mother and brother made me promise to stop going out alone. I’ve hiked in Malibu, California, Washington, D.C., and Upstate New York.
If you plan to stick to easy trails, well any trails, find a friend to go along with you. There are also organizations like the Sierra Club that do hiking outings. They even organize nature trips for youth. I get email updates from Keeping it Wild, a multicultural environmental non-profit for outings and an alternative to the larger mainstream organizations. You get to hike in a group and meet new people! I’ve gone on several hikes including Sweetwater Creek and Cascade Park in the Atlanta Metro area.
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- Walking Stick, Hiker Vibrastop, Vibration Absorber, REI
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- Sunscreen, bug repellent, first aid kit, and TOILET PAPER (don’t laugh!)
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- Eeek.
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- Kinda creepy with no body in the clothes. Water resistant jacket from REI.
To hike on easy trails all you will need are:
- Sturdy comfortable sneakers or hiking shoes/boots
- A knapsack
- Water
- Nutritious snacks
- Sunscreen
- Bug Repellent
- Cell Phone
Also consider bringing (optional):
- A Camera – for the memories
- Binoculars – closeups on birds, animals and plants
- Hiking pole – more for moderate to difficult hikes
- Rain resistant jacket or poncho – a sudden storm can catch you unawares
- A little first aid kit – if someone suffers a minor injury
- A whistle – if you get lost
- Toilet paper – sometimes you find empty rolls in park bathrooms!
For cold days consider: a cap, gloves, and wool socks. I’m looking to purchasing some of this items in material that wicks perspiration.
I like REI when shopping for some items. The staff is kind to someone like me who often walks in with newbie duh questions!
Please do stretch before and after hiking to avoid and diminish injuries to the muscles.
ENJOY YOUR FIRST/NEXT HIKE!
African Americans and the Environment 