It’s that time of the year, the perfect time for hiking. Recently, I went hiking in the Van Norden Meadow, and learned quite a lot. There are so many beautiful aspects of nature that you are able to see on a hiking trip, but in order to enjoy them, you need to prepare well. Trust me. Read through, and you will be ready to hike in no time.
Whether it is morning, afternoon, or night, there will always be bugs, such as mosquitoes and ants. Bug spray is a must! I did not apply any repellent for the first two days of my hiking trip because I didn’t think it would be so severe. I thought it would be okay because I was wearing full coverings and didn’t believe the bugs would bite my hands or other revealing skin. But after the second day, I was left with two bites on each of my outer ears and 16 bites on my two hands. Once I sprayed myself with bug spray, the number of bites was significantly reduced. Not only is it important to spray visible skin areas, such as the neck and hands but also spraying your clothes and shoes is crucial. In addition, even after you spray yourself with insect repellent, put the spray can in your backpack because the repellent may wear off after a few hours. Make sure to note that insect repellent is not 100% effective, so once you receive a bite and it itches, apply itch cream.
Some accessories that I wore during my hiking trips at Van Norden Meadow, and would recommend to others, are hats, sunglasses, and masks. Both hats and sunglasses are a way to protect yourself from the sun’s UV radiation. In addition, if the place you are planning to hike has a lot of trees on the way, it is best to wear sunglasses or glasses to prevent any branches from poking your eyes. The mask was helpful too, especially when walking by others hiking on the trail.
Last but not least, a backpack with all the necessities, especially water, should be packed. Furthermore, a couple of snacks would be helpful to pack to ease your hunger after long walks.
Hiking is truly an amazing way to spend time with nature and appreciate the environment and animals around you. After hiking in the meadows, I was able to see the other beauty of Earth after being in the city for sixteen years of my life. The green grasses, colorful plants and flowers, tall trees, and refreshing air weren’t a dream after all.
