Hello, Adventurers! If you’re a first-time visitor to the Coastal Expeditions’ blog, welcome! You’ll find helpful tips, interesting facts, and nature deep dives here. Our previous articles about sea turtle conservation and summer birding have your name on them! If you’re a return reader, we’re glad to have you back! We hope you’re spending time outside, enjoying the splendor and warmth of summertime in South Carolina. Whether you’re frequenting the beach or heading up into the mountains, there’s no shortage of sunny days as we move into late August. We here at Coastal Expeditions are avid explorers and, therefore, understand the importance of properly preparing for time spent in nature. Today, we’ll give you the information you need to make the most of your hikes while staying safe and comfortable!

Make a Plan

The first essential item you’ll need to equip yourself with is a plan, of course! Hiking in the great outdoors can be accompanied by a wonderful sense of freedom. Along with this freedom, you’ll want to apply a good amount of forethought in order to be safe. When picking out your trail, be aware of your own physical limitations and aspects of the surrounding environment. Is there an abundance of wildlife in the area? Is this the growing time for plant species such as poison ivy or poison oak? Once you’ve picked a trail, estimate how long the hike will take, allotting adequate time for breaks to rest and eat. This estimate will allow you to properly gauge when to begin your hike. The last thing you want is to be somewhere unfamiliar when the sun has set. Additionally, check the weather forecast! Rain showers aren’t always the end to a fun hike, but thunderstorms most definitely are! Lastly, have contingency plans for the unexpected. What will you do if you find yourself in an area without service? Will someone know where you are? Investing in a personal locator beacon and keeping your phone on airplane mode until you’re ready to use it can help. Ensure you’ve thought about your response to surprise changes in your plan.

Appropriate Clothing

As tempted as you may be to throw on jeans and tennis shoes before your hike, try to tailor your wardrobe towards your intended activity. Since you’ll be active and potentially sweating, you’ll want to wear moisture-wicking clothing. Moisture-wicking fabrics pull the sweat from your skin and allow the moisture to evaporate more quickly, thus keeping you much drier and cooler. However, even in cooler climates, a moisture-wicking fabric such as wool is preferable to cotton (which retains moisture). Keep this in mind when choosing socks, as excess moisture inside of your shoes can lead to blistering. Speaking of shoes—leave the tennis shoes and flip flops at home! Dedicated hiking boots will be the safest, most comfortable option to hike in. Now that you’re dressed in the right clothing, you’re ready to pack!

Backpack

Your hiking backpack will hold the rest of your hiking essentials and gear. Therefore, it is imperative your backpack is large enough to fit extra clothing, water, food, first aid, and other items. The pack should be lightweight and, preferably, water-resistant. A two-strap backpack is going to evenly distribute the weight of your items across your back. Don’t use a beach bag or any bag which must be carried on one arm. After thirty minutes of switching back and forth between arms, you’ll wish you’d brought the backpack! If you’re hiking to a camping site, you’ll want a larger backpack with an internal frame which can fit your sleeping gear.

Water

Water comes before food on our list because of the nature of hiking. Since you’re exerting physical energy and sweating, you can become dehydrated quickly. Especially in the southern heat! During physical exertion, your body can lose between 16 and 68 fluid ounces (i.e., 2 to 8 cups) of water per hour. Replenishing this water loss is particularly important when hiking. Therefore, we recommend for every hour you plan to spend hiking you bring at least one liter of water. If you’re prone to muscle cramps, bringing electrolyte water can help keep you hydrated and full of necessary nutrients (like sodium and potassium).

We understand wanting to have fun when you reach the peak or settle down on the beach, but drinking alcohol during a hike can potentially leave you more dehydrated. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means increased urination. As well, alcohol can impair judgement and reflexes, leading to a heightened chance of injury. Therefore, you might be better off leaving the alcohol at home and sticking to water.

Food

This is definitely our favorite part of packing for a hike! You’ll need to replenish more than just your body’s water supply, as you’re also burning calories during your hike. How much food you pack depends on how long you’ll spend outside. A three or four hour hike might only require a decent lunch while an all-day trek will require breakfast, lunch, and dinner (along with adequate snacks). Easy-to-carry food (such as crackers, sandwiches, pouches) in airtight containers are your best option. Are there any foods to avoid while hiking? Not necessarily. What you’ll want to avoid is overpacking. Not only does overpacking leave you with a heavy backpack, it might also leave you with an overfull stomach. Hiking on a full stomach isn’t particularly comfortable. Stick to lightweight snacks and whole foods, like apples and bananas. If you’re not allergic, nuts and seeds are also a great option for their ability to provide increased satiety.

Navigation Tools

As we mentioned earlier, there’s a chance you’ll find yourself in an area without cell service, which means you won’t be able to use maps which are connected to the internet. As part of your preparation, you should download or print out any necessary maps. You might also be in a position where you are unable to use your cellphone due to a dead battery. In this event, you should have a compass stashing in your pack and be knowledgeable about how to use this compass. At the beginning of each hike, at the start of the trail, there should be a map with color indicators. Be sure to follow these tags during your hike and do not venture off of your chosen path.

First Aid

You might be imagining a full first aid kit because of this suggestion, but you don’t have to bring a medical-grade first aid kit on each and every one of your hikes. A basic first aid kit includes: sterile gauze dressings, rolled bandages, scissors, Band-Aids, tweezers, sticky tape, a thermometer, antiseptic cream, painkillers and alcohol wipes. Additional items may include eye dressings, non-alcohol cleansing wipes, antihistamine medication, and distilled water for the rinsing of wounds. Depending on your area and your particular concerns, you might also choose to bring insect repellent, anti-itch creams (such as calamine lotion), and disposable gloves. If you’re highly allergic, you should bring along your EpiPen or emergency medicine. If you’re asthmatic, you should bring along your inhaler. And, if you’re diabetic, you should bring along your diabetic kit and a supply of insulin. As well, you might include a multi-tool (such as a Swiss army knife).

Deterrents

Of course, we hope you don’t run into a feral animal or an unfriendly human on your leisurely hike. However, the best defense against unplanned instances such as these is preparation. Sprayable liquids such as pepper spray or bear spray can act as deterrents and are easy to carry. When parking at the start of a hiking trail, try to park underneath a light source or close to the trailhead, in the event you return to your car after the sun has set. Additionally, bringing along a dog or alongside a friend can act as a deterrent to would-be attackers.

We hope these tips keep you safe and comfortable on your next hike! Your safety matters, Adventurer! If you’d like to accompany Coastal Expeditions on a hike, check out our Awendaw Creek Paddle & Hike or our Bulls Island Paddle & Hike. Both guided tours allow you to enjoy the land and sea while learning about the unique history of each location!

Are you looking for nature tours, kayak rentals, paddleboard rentals, island tours, kid-friendly tours and chances to explore the Lowcountry? We can help you that and more! Check out our various offerings and find which one suits you and your adventurous spirit! Read up new experiences being offered by Coastal Expeditions on this blog. Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!