First long-distance trek: tips for beginners First long-distance trek: tips for beginners

One of the best ways of making long-distance hiking as easy as possible is to minimise the unac­customed strain of your first expedition by packing only what you need, so that your backpack is as light as you can make it. To keep track of everything, a packing list of all the items that should go into your backpack is very helpful. Ideally, you should also note the weight of the indi­vidual items of equipment on your list, so that you can quickly see where there is still room for reducing the load further. Of course, you don’t have to go ultr­alight and cut the handle off your toothbrush. But it really is worthwhile to keep an eye on what your hiking equipment weighs right from the beginning and practise a bit of minimalism.

Hiking boots are one of the pieces of equipment that can make or break a long-distance trek. Countless exped­itions have failed simply due to blisters or foot pain! And that hurts in more ways than one. On the one hand, it is important when choosing boots that they are a very good fit for your foot and, if they are leather shoes, that they have been suffi­ciently broken in before you set out on your big hike. But it is just as important to choose a type of boot that suits the trail you have planned. Crampon-fitted moun­tain­eering boots on well-main­tained trails in low mountain ranges quickly spoil the fun of hiking. On the other hand, light hiking boots are not neces­sarily the best choice for demanding alpine terrain.

Every long-distance trek begins with the first step. This applies not only to the hike itself, but also to the prepar­ations. Espe­cially if you don’t yet have a lot of equipment or hiking experience, the list of things to organise and consider can appear quite intim­idating at first. On top of that, you may be uncertain about whether you are up to the whole thing or not. Taking the first step to make the dream of a long-distance trek come true is often the hardest part. However, the first step can be something you can do right away and without much preparation. Once the ball has started rolling, the rest becomes a lot easier. Promise!

If you have “only” been on day hikes so far, and have no experience with walking for several days in a row, it is advisable to err on the side of easy when planning the distance of your hiking stages. In other words: aim at a few less meters of vertical gain and kilo­metres of hori­zontal distance than you are used to on your single-day hikes. Hiking for several days at a stretch is a particular challenge, not least because your backpack is also heavier than usual. For this reason, it is advisable not to begin with an extended wilderness trek, but rather to follow a well-sign­posted estab­lished hiking trail. Germany and its neigh­bouring European countries have countless such paths: trails certified by the European Ramblers Asso­ci­ations (http://www.era-ewv-ferp.com) are partic­ularly suitable, for example. You can be sure that these paths are hiker-friendly, the sign­posting is consistent and there are places to stop for refreshments and overnight accom­modation. In this way, you can approach long-distance hiking slowly but surely, and not run the risk of encoun­tering too many problems all at once.

A few longer day hikes in advance to prepare for your first long-distance hike are irre­placeable. They let you test your equipment and get a feeling for the length of the stages you can tackle. And, of course, they also allow you to train your fitness “as a side effect”. Specific training for your feet is also very useful: even though hill-walking is ulti­mately a workout for the entire body, your feet are partic­ularly exposed to strain. Just a few minutes of foot exercises each day, for example doing calf raises or balancing exercises on an unstable surface, can make a big difference over time. However, not only strong feet, but also a strong mind is crucial for a successful long-distance hike. To strengthen your mental fitness, you can delib­erately go on a day hike in bad weather, for example. That way you learn to deal with low points.

At some point between planning the route and researching into equipment, it can be easy to lose your nerves. In this case, it helps to take a deep breath, and remember that not everything has to work out abso­lutely perfectly at the first go. Of course, even in our latitudes, trekking should not be taken lightly, but many potential problems can still be resolved along the way. And, at the latest, the next time you go on a hike, you’ll know that much more. It is important to stay as calm as possible – both during prepar­ations as on the road. If in doubt, it helps to take a break and a few deep breaths. Afterwards, everything usually looks a whole lot better again.