Mountains
Hike na!

Going for a Hike?

Mountain climbing or hiking is a very rewarding activity with the right mindset! See yourself on a nice weather walking through a gentle breeze and sweet chirps of the birds, while your mind escapes the chaos of reality. It may sound nice and inviting BUT going for your first hike will always be a challenge!
Preparation is the key for an enjoyable hike, or the spontaneous energy of your hike buddies venturing the trails. With younger people or beginner hikers, most of the time, excitement gets the best out of them and miss some of the important stuffs like lighter, knife, jacket, oil and so on; things that we know important but are being missed out because the group is focused on the first priority items like tent, stove, clothes, food and gambling cards.

Prepare for the Hike!

  • Know the Mountain
    You should know or at least have an idea of the difficulty of your climb. We can easily have a rough estimate by checking if its in a MINOR or a MAJOR category and its' elevation (mASL - Meters Above Sea Level). But if you really want to have an idea of how difficult it will be, you may want to know the following; Trail Class, Trail Length, Average Trekking Hours and Trail Stations (rest points).
  • Know the Weather
    Always check the weather of the location of the mountain you are targeting to climb. It's not fun trekking a muddy trail! Avoid hiking in a storm, its dangerous and the trail will be in an extreme condition; worst is you may encounter land slides.
    But I encourage those who are experienced hikers to climb with a friendly rain, it'll let you experience a different vibe; a state of serenity, a profound feeling that will invite your mind to explore the trail in a new perspective.
  • Know what to Bring
    Knowing the mountain and the weather will tell you everything you need to bring. Your group needs to plan the distribution of items like cooking tools, camp chairs, camp tables and foods. The goal is to make the load of each member as light as possible for the hike.

Hiking Essentials

When heading out for a hike, it's important to be prepared. Here's a list of hiking essentials:
1. Water and Hydration:
  • Water bottles or hydration system
2. Food:
  • Snacks like trail mix, energy bars, or dried fruit
  • A packed lunch if it's a full day hike
  • Canned goods if it's an overnight hike
  • Foods that are easy to cook and eat
    (e.g., bread, hard boiled egg, etc.)
3. Clothing
  • Extra shirts, socks and hat/cap
  • Jacket and gloves for the cold weather,
    especially for an overnight hike
  • A lightweight rain jacket
4. First Aid Kit
  • Basic kit with band-aids, antiseptic, and pain relievers
  • Bandages and gauzes for treating wounds and injuries
  • Any personal medications
5. Fire
  • Matches or lighter (stored in a waterproof container)
  • Firestarter materials (if planning to camp)(e.g., gas, paper)
6. Light
  • Headlamp or flashlight (with extra batteries)
7. Multipurpose Tools:
  • A small knife or multi-tool (for any unexpected tasks)
8. Sun Protection:
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat/Cap
9. Tents:
  • Lightweight sleeping bag
  • Tents
  • Ground Mat
10. Insect Repellent:
  • To keep bugs at bay, especially in certain areas or seasons