There is no doubt hiking is an effective form of exercise. It helps build muscle and bone strength, lowers the risk of heart disease, and improves mental wellbeing. Hiking is also easily accessible and free, which is why you can mistakenly think all you need is the initiative to simply get up and go. This urge to be spontaneous, however, is often where people make mistakes, especially beginners. Believe me, I speak from experience.
Although I went hiking for the first time a few years ago, I have become a hiking convert this year and regularly extol its virtues to all and sundry. My new-found passion has not been without incident though. I have hobbled with blisters, trudged in drenched clothing, forgotten essentials, and freestyled routes because I was winging it.
