The Hiking Book

The Hiking BookBy Desiree

Hiking is a fun activity. When you hike you get a chance to see and explore nature.

You also get to see a lot of the wildlife in the area.

To hike is to take a long, challenging walk outside in the countryside. Usually, hiking is done on a trail.

Hiking can be done in one day, called a day hike. Hiking can also be done over multiple days, called multi-day hikes.

When you hike over multiple days you will also be camping. Camping is when you spend the night, or multiple nights, outside in a tent.

If you are going out hiking for a day you will need some hiking equipment.

Hiking equipment for a day hike includes water, food, a map, and rain-proof gear to keep you dry in case of rain.

You should also wear comfortable clothes, sneakers (or hiking boots for mountain walking), and sunblock lotion to prevent sunburns.

Other items that may be helpful to have during your hike include a compass, backpack, sunglasses, a flashlight, a first aid kit, insect repellent, and a hat.

Some important things to remember when hiking are:

Do not make loud noises, such as shouting, this could alarm animals.

Try not to touch the wild plants, they may be poisonous and give you a rash, such as poison ivy.

Stay away from snakes or other dangerous animals, you can look at them from a distance but you do not want to get close to them because they could hurt you.

Sometimes when you go hiking you will have a guide with you.

This is a person who will stay with you and help you during your hike.

A guide knows a lot about hiking and nature, so make sure you listen to your guide when you are hiking, and always stay close to your guide!

There are many great places that you can go hiking at in Missoula, here are a few examples:

Mt. Sentinel

Mt. Jumbo

Waterworks Hill

Remember, when you go hiking it is important that you enjoy your time out in nature, listen to your guide, and have lots of fun!