7 things you can do to prepare for your next hiking trip in Norway (or elsewhere)
Good preparation and a well packed backpack make for an enjoyable hike as here in Trollheimen, Norway
7 great ways to get ready for you next hiking trip to Norway
Going on a hiking trip always requires preparation and planning.
Even if due to current circumstances you don’t have a departure date or destination in mind yet. When heading into the mountains in Norway, the hiking season in Norway doesn’t really begin until June, so preparing now in spring is just right. Look at your gear, give it some TLC, refresh some skills or just dream up your bucket list and motivate yourself to stay fit. All this is a great way to get started. Below, I have put together a list that fellow hikers might find useful.
In lockdown you can plan and prepare for your next hiking adventure
It is important to stay engaged
As so many millions of us are stuck at home this springtime and early summer, it is important to keep engaged with our plans for trekking and travelling. The current severe restrictions will eventually pass, and we will once again have the opportunity to surround ourselves with the beauty of the outdoors.
When it comes to hiking and trekking in Norway (or anywhere else, for that matter) there are a great many things that can be done in preparation, to enhance your safety, comfort and enjoyment on the trail.
7 things you can do in preparation for your next trek or hike, wherever it may be:
For trekking in Norway the Norwegian Trekking Association has published a handy list of summer hiking gear - see https://english.dnt.no/summer-hiking-gear-list/. Why not compare it against your own gear and see if you have everything you need. Some people recommend keeping all your gear stored and ready to go in one place - advice that I have found to be very useful for my own trips.
This second tip relates to the first. Checking that you have the right equipment is also the perfect time to give your gear some TLC. Some of it might well benefit - particularly hiking boots. Maybe you’ve been putting off certain small repairs; this could be the perfect moment to get round to it. Some gear could be approaching the end of its lifetime and need replacing. Researching options before buying would also be a good use of spare time. And some gear might just need a good clean or wash. Whatever you do it will increase your comfort on the trail.
Educate yourself on how to keep healthy on the trail. There are currently many organisations offering free courses. Take an online first-aid course, check out how to keep your feet happy if you’re hiking for more than a day or two, and practise some of these things as ‘dry runs’, so to speak. For hiking in Norway, knowing how to remove ticks is very important. Ticks are becoming more widespread in the country’s woods and carry diseases, most notably Lyme disease.
Learn a new skill or refresh those you haven’t used for a while. There are many options here, starting with compass and map reading skills. Alternatively, take the time to understand the functionality of your navigation apps and gadgets in more depth; or learn how to get the best out of your camera or phone, to give your next landscape photos a boost.
Find inspiration for future adventures. Let yourself be inspired for places to go by browsing the Cicerone website https://www.cicerone.co.uk. Not only will you find more than 400 guidebooks to choose from, but the site also includes articles written by Cicerone authors to inspire, motivate and inform hikers before they set out.
‘Hike’ down memory lane: delve into your own memories, be it via photos or diaries; remember your past adventures, recollect their challenges and pleasures, and re-share these precious moments with the people you were with at the time. Reaching out to family and friends is particularly important at the moment - and sharing the memory of happy times together the more so!
Finally, keeping yourself safe and healthy is of course paramount. Your usual exercise routines might be impossible at the moment, so finding new ways of keeping fit and adjusting your mind in order to practise them at home could be particularly useful. A simple internet search will yield many ways to strengthen your legs and your core, increase aerobic fitness and stay flexible - all of which are important while hiking or trekking. In some places you might be able to go outdoors and exercise locally: check your local sport or outdoor associations for tips and advice on keeping active in the natural spaces and parks close to you, on foot or by bike.
Imagine, prepare, discover
Spend some time looking for inspiration. Preparing and planning now gives you something to look forward to as well as some control, and could give you a head start once the situation allows. All very good reasons to prepare for your next adventure!
Photo credit: En route in Naustådalen, Trollheimen
