“Misunderstanding the area they are entering and inappropriate equipment are the two main mistakes we see in beginners.”, emphasizes Philippe Poirier, departmental technical officer and mid-mountain guide of the French Trekking Federation. If hiking is the activity most practiced by the French, ahead of swimming and cycling, it remains a sport that requires a little training, but which above all requires proper equipment and preparation. To prevent your first attempt from turning into a real ordeal, here is a list of suggestions to follow… in response.
Get informed and prepare for your hike
“The first thing is to know yourself well, to be clear about your health and physical form.”, thinks Philippe Poirier. The goal is to have a good time and not get into trouble. Therefore, it does not make sense to start a 20 kilometer tour if you are not used to walking long distances or if you do not do endurance sports every day. Therefore, it is recommended to start with easy hikes, even if it means leveling up next time, especially when you go with kids, so that you don’t disgust them for life.
Being clear about your abilities, your desires and your centers of interest (forest, fields, mountains, etc.) allows you to start an appropriate route. To find all the information you need about the thousands of routes that exist in France, there are several options: make inquiries at tourist offices, immerse yourself in a topoguide and/or consult the website mongr.fr as well as the website of the French Hiking Federation. “These informative routes constitute the official offer of structured and sustainable, safe and marked routes.”recalls the guide, who warns against apps that offer schemes with virtual beacons. “These sites share hikes done by others, which can be very interesting, but I don’t recommend them for beginners because they don’t guarantee that the routes are approved for hiking.”he explains.
The preparatory phase includes considering the length of the planned route and estimating the effective walking time (knowing that the hiker walks an average of 4 km per hour) depending on the terrain and places of tourist interest. It’s also about the presence or absence of water points and food shops along the way, and the weather conditions that will condition your equipment.
Shoes, clothes, backpack… Of course.“equipment according to the hiking profile
Hiking is not a simple walk and therefore requires appropriate equipment according to the above criteria. If the classic sports shoes can walk for several hours on a flat road, hiking shoes are essential when you are tackling more rugged trails. Poles can be helpful or even necessary on steep terrain to relieve back and knees. When it comes to clothing, Philippe Poirier recommends respecting the three-layer rule: a layer against the skin (ideally a t-shirt in a technical material), a warmth layer (such as a sweater or fleece jacket) and a waterproof layer. easy to remove and quick to put back.
In his rucksack, which should be as light as possible, a first aid kit is essential and should include bandages (especially for blisters), compresses, disinfectant, tweezers, a pair of scissors, a survival blanket, sunscreen and possibly personal medications. We add our topoguide, ideally doubled with a paper map, a fully charged phone, a list of useful phone numbers (emergency number, to contact people in case of problems), sunglasses and a hat depending on the season, and of course water (at least 2 liters per day ) and a snack (dry, cereal bar).
On the D-day, check and suit up
The big day is here and the excitement is palpable. But before we hit the road, we double check that the weather is favorable and there is no storm on the horizon. “You have to know how to adapt”, summarizes Philippe Poiret, who realizes that it is unpleasant to cancel or postpone a hike the same morning, but that you must know how to show responsibility, especially when leading a group. If the weather is good and the departure is confirmed, do not forget to inform one or more people around you about your route and the approximate walking time in case of problems. “We’re checking our phone’s charging status, basically making sure all the lights are green”he adds.
Along the way, here again individual and collective responsibility is required. In addition to respecting the environment (and therefore providing a plastic bag for waste), we remain attentive to the physical condition of the people we walk with and do not hesitate to multiply the breaks, adjust the originally planned route or even give up if the risks are too great. are great to continue. “We can plan everything, there are always unforeseen events”concludes Philippe Poirier.
* Survey of sports practice in France, conducted by Odoxa for RTL and Groupama, January 2020.
Source: Le Figaro
