How to Plan an Advanced Hike

by Expert Village

Summary: Learn tips on how to plan an advanced level hike, including what to pack and what activities to engage in in this free video series.

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Transcript for: How to Plan an Advanced Hike

"Hi! I'm Kate with Zoar Outdoor on behalf of expertvillage.com talking to you about hiking and backpacking. If you are looking for something more advanced while you are hiking, you can always bushwhack. This is when you go off the trail and you use your map and compass or your GPS to get yourself to a certain destination at the end of the day. There are a couple of things you need to consider when you are bushwhacking. Don't go too steep for the first time you have done it. This is in the woods; there are no paths, you are going to be walking through difficult terrain and brush so you want to at least know that the first day should be a little bit easier than you would normally. When you are walking with a group of people, you don't want to make yourselves in a line. You actually want to spread out so that you can see each other but you guys are all walking in different paths. You are not trying to make a path through the woods. You are actually just trying to go through the woods just like a deer or moose would. When you are bushwhacking and have packs on and you are looking ahead of you, make sure you are not trying to go through trees that are too narrow for you and your pack or anywhere that looks too difficult. You should scout your terrain as you walk and find the best path to get yourself around it, always looking at your GPS or compass. So when I bushwhack, I like to do it one day out of a multi day hike or for a couple of hours and get myself back to a path but it really bumps up your hiking experience to an advanced range. It's not easy, but it can be a really enjoyable experience. You will probably come across a lot more wildlife. When you set out to go bushwhacking, you are going to want to make sure that you are in an appropriate area. There are certain regulations for certain areas that won't allow you to bushwhack. So look those regulations up and know the area well. When you do bushwhack, you still want to walk quietly. Watch your steps, make sure you are walking quietly through the woods and have a good time."

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