From Awe to Ahhhh: The stages of getting comfortable on trail
Hiking has a reputation for having a high return on investment. It's rejuvenating. It's fantastic for our mental health. It's great exercise and all you need is a pair of shoes. You've likely seen ads and Instagram posts of people reinforcing this message; hiking into glorious landscapes, looking cool and spontaneous.
So cool. Photo by Anna Roth
But that doesn't tell the whole story. Hiking can take a lot of prep and research, as anyone who's returned to a ticket on their car windshield or accidentally hiked into the nighttime can attest.
There's a lot to learn, and it can take a lot of practice before hiking is as relaxing and fun as it's advertised. But once you do reach that comfort level, you'll have a wide-ranging set of skills that you can apply to just about any situation you might get into outside.
WTA can help you out, too. We've got the resources and tools to help you face (and overcome) fears, be prepared and knowledgeable on trail, and even keep your friends and family safe.
One last thing — these stages aren't a one-way route leading to an ideal point. We've long said that a walk in your local park is just as much of a hike as a training run up your local peak. If you're comfortable with where you are as a hiker, that's great! But if you want to move along to the next stage, we've got tips for you.
Stage 1 - Awe
When someone else does all the planning
My good friend Tess was the person who took me hiking the most when I was getting started. She is a fantastic hike planner and leader; she always has snacks, extra layers and an extensive knowledge of wherever we're going. Photo by Anna Roth.
This is one of the best types of hikes: The one where someone you trust planned it so all you have to do is show up with your stuff. Sometimes you might even be able to borrow gear from your friend, or they might bring great snacks, especially if they're really trying to get you to like hiking. All you've got to do is step up and enjoy the view from the trail.
Tips:
- Be a good carpool buddy! Offer to pay for gas and let the driver know well before you really have to pee. Keep a look out for exits or important turns as you're getting to the trailhead.
- Help your driver park like a pro when you get to the trailhead.
Level Up: Download our free app — WTA Trailblazer — to find alternate trailheads if you arrive at the trailhead and there's nowhere to park!
Stage 2 - Ah...OK
when you realize how much you need to know
My first solo hike after moving back to Washington was Rattlesnake. I had been invited by an acquaintance who bowed out at the last minute, so when I went I ended up hiking much further than I intended because I didn't realize I'd reached the ledges. It was worth it, though. Photo by Anna Roth
You're hiking with your friend regularly and you're getting into it. One day, your friend asks you to find a hike, so you start looking around and realize just how much information there is on each of WTA's hike entries. It feels really overwhelming to read through. (We promise, it's all relevant, but we get that it seems like a lot at first).
You do eventually select a hike, and your friend asks whether there's a pass required to park, how big the parking lot is and what the road there is like. So it's back to the Hiking Guide entry where you review the driving directions and trip reports for some clues about the parking area. You find the information, but all that research gives you a new understanding of how much planning your friend has been doing!
Tip: It may be tempting to just hit the trailhead location and go, rather than read through what seems like too much information, but having a sense of where you're going and what to expect on the road in can really help the day go smoother.
Level Up: Use our Hiking Guide filters to find hikes that perfectly fit your requirements for the day, and read trip reports to find out what to expect on trail and on the way there.
Stage 3: AHhhrgh
when something(s) go(es) wrong
Though this trip wasn't taken alone, it was one where we had to pivot. We were hoping to camp on this ridge, but all three water sources we'd found on our map were dried up. After hiking 30 minutes past the last one, we decided to call it and head back to our car before nightfall. Photo by Anna Roth.
One day, your friend isn't free, but you're jonesing to get outside. So you resort to a hike you've done before. But when you try to get to the trailhead, your navigation app leads you slightly astray. You check Trailblazer and see that WTA's driving directions offer a slightly different route to the trailhead. You follow those directions and ah-hah! There you are.
Setting out, you realize that there are more intersections than you remember and realize you don't quite know which trail to take. You ask a passing hiker and they show you a mapping app that is tracking their hike, showing them where they need to go. You make a mental note to download it when you get home.
Another hike that didn't quite go how we planned. After driving out to central Washington in the spring, my friend and I ended up taking our backpacking gear for a long walk as we looked for somewhere to camp. After hiking essentially the entire loop, we were just 0.75 miles from the car in the early afternoon. We decided to head home instead of camp, but had to drive through a heck of a snowstorm on the way back. Photo by Anna Roth.
Shoot! You had a pass in the window! What happened? Well, there are a lot of parking passes for trailheads in Washington, and its likely you just had the wrong one. While there isn't one pass to rule them all, you can usually get away with having just two: an America the Beautiful Pass (gets you into national parks and national forests) and a Discover Pass (lets you park at trailheads on state land).
Tip: Maintaining a beginner's mindset can help mitigate frustration if something like this happens to you. Think about how much you got right on this outing despite the parking ticket.
One of my most challenging days on trail was in the Umatilla National Forest, where I had my first tick encounter. But I did enjoy the hike as a whole, and I learned a lot that day. Photo by Anna Roth.
Level Up: There are tons of resources to help you develop your bank of hiking skills. Check out our Trail Smarts resources to find advice on just about anything, from how to lace your hiking boots to avoid blisters to how to hike in bear country. You can also check your WTA account for hike recommendations! When you sign up for an account with us and save hikes you want to do later, our hike recommender will customize suggestions for you based on what you've saved and where you write trip reports!
Stage 4: Ah-hah!
when you're kind of a pro
You're at cruising speed. You know when to be online to snag backcountry wilderness permits, you have your favorite spots and you're comfortable exploring new places, and you know you could not only take someone else hiking, but teach them some of the skills you now have!
Smiling with friends on hikes that I either planned or co-planned with them. Photos by Anna Roth.
Being in the Ah-hah stage means not only getting recharged and happy being outside, it also means having enough confidence and comfort in nature that a couple of hiccups in the plan won't detract from your experience. You're confident about what you might do if you were to encounter a bear. You know what time to leave to secure a parking spot and you know where else you can go if the lot's full. You know about Trailblazer's trailhead forecast links, you even pack extra treats for your friends when you hike together.
Tip: You also might ping pong between this stage and the previous stage as you learn things you didn't know you needed to know, and visit places with different pass or permit requirements. But WTA's there for you regardless. We'll give you as much info as we can to help you along the way.
This is a view from one of the first hikes I ever did with a group of friends. It's still one of my favorite types of views to get from a hike. Photo by Anna Roth.
Level Up: People reach this stage in different ways. Maybe your parents taught you how to feel comfortable outside. Or you've already had a kind friend show you the ropes. But not everyone has mentors or parents to guide them. Everyone you see on trail is at a different stage of their relationship with the outdoors, and not everyone's trying to be a pro. Be supportive on trail by offering gentle advice if you see someone who might need it, but don't expect anything in return.