If you’re someone who’s always had a love of nature and enjoys being outside and hiking, you might start to feel like hiking as a senior citizen isn’t what it used to be when you were younger. But with the right planning and preparations, you can safely and comfortably continue to hike as long as your body allows it.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for safely hiking in your twilight years.
Do The Proper Preparations
As part of the preparations that you should take when going on a hike as a senior citizen, you should make sure that both your body and your gear is ready for the hike that you’re planning to take.
One of the first things you should do is check the weather where you plan to go hiking. If it looks like the weather won’t hold and there’s a chance of rain, snow, or high winds, it’s best not to go hiking on those days. You should also be sure to give someone at home the information about where you’ll be hiking and when they should expect you to be back home. This way, they can send for help if they don’t hear from you. And as for your gear, make sure you bring enough snacks and water to keep your energy up, as well as a first aid kit with other safety gear in case something unexpected happens.
Wear Hiking Shoes That Work For You
One of the most important pieces of gear that you’ll have while hiking are your shoes.
Ideally, you should try some different hiking shoes to find the ones that work best for you. But before you go on a longer hike, make sure you take the time to break the shoes in to avoid getting blisters or finding that they are actually uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.
As you seek to find the best hiking shoes for you, keep in mind that you want something with the right amount of arch support for your specific feet. You also want there to be enough padding, especially if you’ve started to lose some of the fat pads on your feet as you’ve gotten older.
Learn What You’re Actually Capable Of
Before you head out on any kind of hike as a senior citizen, you should first be sure that you can physically handle it. To do this, start by taking smaller walks and building up your endurance. If you live in a senior living community, consider starting a walking or hiking group so that you can encourage yourself and others to get your training in so that you can do any hike you want to in the future.
If you want to keep hiking as you get older, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do so safely.
