LITMIR.BIZ

      A grassy track climbs into the hills to cross the slopes of Cairnacay (Day 4, Speyside Way)

      There are perhaps a few people who will fill a pack with the most inappropriate gear, tackle a national trail without any previous experience, and suffer no harm at all. Most who adopt this approach, however, will find themselves sore, and sorely inconvenienced, and may regret ever leaving home. Before embarking on something as ambitious as a national trail, spend a few weeks ensuring that you are physically and mentally fit for the trip, and overhaul the gear you plan to carry. Experienced long-distance walkers can skip the following sections, as they will already have evolved strategies and routines that are easily adapted to each and every trip they plan. Beginners will find that a little forethought will make all the difference as the days on the long trail unfold.

      General Fitness

      Walking long distances in all kinds of weather is always likely to present some difficulties, and those who have never done such a thing previously should be confident of their general health and wellbeing before setting out. The human body thrives on regular exercise, but it would be unwise for the unfit to suddenly shoulder a hefty pack and subject themselves to a long and arduous trek. Start gently and build up your fitness level to the point where a long-distance walk is good for your health, not an ordeal. Unless you can finish a simple day’s walk feeling refreshed and positively glowing with health, then you probably need to work at it with a bit more determination.

      The next logical step is to discover whether you could also walk all day on the following day and still feel fit and ready for more. Devote a weekend to this kind of exercise and see how you feel on Monday morning. If it is a bank holiday Monday, use the opportunity to take a third day’s walk and confirm beyond doubt whether or not you are fit.

      Next, you need to determine how well you cope while carrying more than your usual day-sack. If you intend camping along the length of a national trail, you will be carrying a heavy burden all day and every day, and you need to be sure that you are able to do it. Again, try it for two or three days, pitching the tent and making sure that all items of kit are useful and serviceable. If you feel comfortable with the day-in-day-out routine of walking, then you are probably in good shape to embark on any of the national trails.

      Once on the trail, look after your health, whether that means eating and drinking wisely, or avoiding stress, strain and injury by trying to do too much. The commonest cause of misery on any long-distance walk is simply blisters, and as blisters are avoidable, it makes sense to deal with any rubbing or ‘hot spots’ as soon as they are noticed, rather than leaving them till too late. A sensible daily breakdown of the trail should ensure that you don’t over-tax yourself, so that you can start relatively fresh each day, rather than suffering aches, pains and fatigue.

      You should find that your fitness increases over the duration of a trek, provided you don’t cause injury to yourself and compound each injury by continuing when you should be resting. Time for rest and recuperation is just as important as time spent covering the distance. Guard against dehydration by drinking sufficient water or soft drinks, and eat well to maintain health and energy levels. General hygiene is important, too, since sweaty bodies and clothes not only smell unpleasant, but could lead to distressing conditions such as chaffing or prickly heat – get into a routine to deal with washing and drying clothes. Also, take care to maintain equipment on the trail, especially if camping, as failure or loss of equipment could mean a swift end to the walk. For your own health and peace of mind, be sure that your equipment is tried and trusted before wearing or carrying it.

      Packing

      It either doesn’t fit in, or you can’t lift it – these are both sure signs that you’re packing too much. A pack that is too heavy on a long-distance walk is bound to cause misery, which isn’t what you want when you’re supposed to be having fun and revelling in the joys of the great outdoors. If you are overburdened, and only tackle the problem too late by posting the excess weight home, you will probably already be carrying injuries that need never have happened. A long-distance trek may be something that happens only once or twice a year, or it may even be the fulfilment of a lifetime dream, so don’t spoil it unnecessarily.

      Almost everyone who embarks on a long-distance walk for the first time makes the mistake of getting a big backpack. Kit expands to fill the available space and you’ll pack far more than you really need. Tents and sleeping bags now tip the scales at less than a kilo each and squash down very small. Modern wicking and waterproof fabrics mean that bulky clothing is a thing of the past. No one really needs more than one change of lightweight clothing for the evening. A good choice of kit will sacrifice little in comfort, but much in weight and bulk.

      Food also is the downfall of many – it is heavy and takes up space. Water is a kilo a litre. The lightweight backpacker is easily seduced into packing lots of lightweight meals, then walks past delightful little shops selling wholesome food almost every day on the trail. The obvious thing is to buy food when you need it, and pack only enough to get you to the next shop. On most national trails food can be bought on a daily basis, so there is no need to carry excess weight, and buying food along the way offers the

Скачать книгу