Life is best outdoors

Your best hiking tips

Create magical memories on summer hikes. Read other hikers' tips and lessons learned from their mistakes, so you can avoid them. 

Please note, some tips have been translated.

1. Top tip: Change socks often, especially during longer hikes. It keeps the feet dry and significantly reduces the risk of chafing. Make sure you have at least one extra pair of dry socks in your packing. Worst mistake: Not taking off my boots when crossing a stream. I waded over with my boots on, they got wet and uncomfortable to walk in for the rest of the hike. It doesn't matter if it's wet and messy, just take off your boots and wade and you won't have any problems later!

2. My best hiking tip, especially for day hikes, is to cook a meal that's simple but feels luxurious on your gas stove. I have tried many recipes to find and recreate recipes that anyone can make on their gas stove and that still taste like home made! My favorite recipes so far have been lángos, hazelnut crepes with banana and pizza, the latter of which can be made in an infinite number of ways!

3. My number one tip for hiking with children is to let them carry a small digital camera to document their experiences during the hike. With a couple of photo assignments, the motivation usually lasts a little longer, e.g. “take a picture of a flower”, “take a picture of an animal track”, “take a picture of something that doesn't belong in nature (and put it in the garbage bag afterwards!)”. The pictures also make great memories to look at together afterwards.

4. My second best tip for all hikes is to pack as little and light as possible. It's more fun to go exploring with light strides than to slowly drag along your stuff. My best tip is to always bring a little treat to pull out when things get tough – a tasty beverage or extra dessert is worth the extra grams. Chocolate pudding with powdered milk is a dessert that is quick and easy to make, just whisk with water and let it cool in a mountain stream. It tastes absolutely magical when enjoyed while looking out over wide horizons with weary legs.

5. Practice pushing yourself! When the going gets tough, the weather gets rough or something doesn't go as planned, don't let it get you down! Lift up your chin, smile (even if you don't feel like it) and start breaking down your goal into smaller accomplishments. The small dopamine boosts will make your feet less sore, your shoulders less tired and you'll feel good even when things get rough.

6. The best advice is to have light but good clothing and equipment, especially for long distances. Good shoes are so important and make the difference between a good or great trip! The next best tip is to stay hydrated and get the necessary nutrition. Salt is important. The worst mistake is not preparing for the journey and not bringing equipment to start a fire if it gets cold.

7. On a hike, your body is your best source of warmth. Wet socks, gloves or other equipment will dry easily when you wear them or have them against your skin under your clothes. It takes a bit of courage to put wet leather gloves on your body but it works. Just make sure they are not colored as it can stain your clothes or your skin which once happened to me.

8. I love hiking with my kids. But hiking with children (8 and 11) requires planning ahead. So my best tip is to make it an adventure. I print out a map so they can follow the route and pack a few sweets in the waist pockets of the bag so they can have a small treat for every kilometer they walk. We call it the kilometer treat. They love it!

9. Do not go too fast, especially on uphill slopes and with heavy packs. You'll get to that mountain top with smaller steps without needing a break every ten minutes.

10. Turn off the music, audiobooks and podcasts – enjoy the silence and listen to nature and let your thoughts wander freely instead. Bring a paperback book and/or craft for entertainment.