Top 5 Disadvantages Of Hiking

Hiking has become en vogue thanks to books and films like John Krakauer’s Into the Wild and Cheryl Strayed’s Wild. Thus, when anyone asks about the real disadvantages of hiking, they’re given new-age non-answers such as, “You’ll never be content indoors again,” or “You’ll never need the gym again.” But as brilliant as hiking is, it’s not all dandelions and songbirds.

The disadvantages of hiking are hazardous insects such as ticks, the need to prepare beforehand properly, and it’s unsafe to do as a solo activity. Lack of safety training and research also leaves some hikers unprepared to deal with real wildlife. Lastly, if done wrong, it can harm the environment.

Let us be clear: we love hiking. We know people who met the person they married while hiking. But those who claim there is no downside to hiking are like a couple who’ve been married for twenty-five years and claim they’ve never disagreed - liars. Denial of hiking’s downsides is how people get hurt. Better to face the truth, so the negatives are minimized.

5 Cons To Hiking

Disney and other Hollywood film companies have spent some serious time working as nature’s PR team. They’ve framed it into a place with cuddly animals that want to curl up in your lap while you “find yourself.” But the animals are not cuddly, and while it is true that some people find themselves, others require rescue teams.

Part of what makes hiking such a unique and exhilarating experience is that nature has a dark side. You don’t need to be scared; just be aware of it. Thus, we’ve got five cons to hiking to help keep your eyes wide open as you tackle your next adventure.

Ticks, Disease, And Epi-Pens

It’s become a cliche: people running through meadows of silken grasses and wildflowers. What those scenes leave out are the ticks, mosquitos, and hornets. Oh, and the stinging nettles, poison oak, and poison ivy.

Most of these cons require:

• Effective bug sprays
• First aid kit with added oral and topical antihistamine
• If you have a specific allergy, such as bee stings, carry your epi-pen and make sure your hiking partners know where it is and how to use it if you can’t.

However, ticks are their own little awful.

Ticks And Lyme Disease

Ticks are especially gross. They don’t take a sip of you like a mosquito and scram. Nope, they latch on, burrow their heads, and get fat off your blood while potentially giving you lyme disease and other unsavory conditions.

More annoying is that ticks are unaffected by a lot of all-natural repellents. The ones that do work might deactivate your sunscreen. Thus, do your research regarding tick repellents and learn the pros and cons. Also, consider altering your clothing when hiking in areas known for ticks.

• Find a repellent that works
• Wear protective clothing in light colors
• If wearing pants, tuck them into socks
• Check yourself and hiking partners for ticks after a hike
• Don’t panic if you find a tick
• Learn how to remove a tick safely

Requires Preparation

While there is something lovely about being spontaneous, it often isn’t an ideal impulse for hiking. A successful and positive experience with hiking begins with being prepared. A GPS on your phone is fabulous until you find yourself with no signal or drop your phone in water.

Also, many major problems in hiking are a result of minor oversights. People get hypothermia after setting off on a “nice day,” and the weather changes. People set off on a hike an hour or two later than advised and get heatstroke or run into lightning. People set off in brand new gear and get blisters.

Tips For Hiking Preparation

• Research route beforehand and learn of potential pitfalls, like afternoon lightning storms.
• Have a compass other than your phone
• Have a waterproof map other than your phone
• Make sure the phone is charged and backup charger
• An up-to-date first aid kit
• Tell somebody not in the hiking party where you’re going and estimate return time
• Make sure you have any necessary permits
• Pack plenty of water
• Make sure all shoes, backpacks, and clothing are broken in and tested
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Any chronic medications and epi-pens
• Spare contacts or glasses if you wear them

Not A Solo Activity

It takes years of training and survival courses before you should ever consider hiking alone, and even then, it isn’t ideal. Yes, Cheryl Strayed pulled it off, but Christopher McCandless, a.k.a. “Alexander Supertramp” died.

Things go wrong, from a sprained ankle to a burst appendix. You might think you’re as tough as Aron Lee Ralston and could saw off your arm to save yourself – but what if you’re not? Many hiking disasters could have been avoided if people had prepared and not gone out alone.

So yes, it is deeply disappointing that hiking alone is dangerous. Having alone time in nature is lovely when all goes perfectly. But things can and do go wrong. A hiking buddy can make the difference between an event turning into an entertaining cocktail story or being a traumatic or deadly tragedy.

There Is Real Wildlife Out There

We’re routinely surprised at how many people are surprised that there is real wildlife out in nature. Nor do wild animals want to be petted, even if you think you’ve developed a personal connection. The worst is people who feed wild animals, as they often have to be put down or starve when the handouts stop.

Learn about the wildlife in your area and how to deal with them in a way that keeps you and the animals safe. If there are bears in your area, wear a bell, so you don’t sneak up on it. Neither you nor the bear will like that. You also need to know how to hang a bear bag and what not to keep in your tent when hiking overnight.

_{A not so friendly bear; image by Yathin S Krishnappa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons}

Learn which animals you stay “stone still” when encountering, which ones you slowly make yourself bigger by raising your arms, which you yell loudly, and which you run (for most, this is a no). Nature is amazing, but it also has teeth. But you don’t have to be scared if you know how to hike with it and not be a nuisance to those that call the wild home.

Can Have A Negative Impact On The Environment

Sadly, going out into nature can wreck the very thing we love. People that stray off paths and litter are hurting the environment. When you wander off hiking trails, you disturb protected areas where there might be dens or engendered plant life. It can also cause erosion, pollute delicate waterways, and push wildlife out of their home.

To learn more, please read the USGS’s article on minimizing the negative impact on the environment while enjoying the outdoors. Taking better care now will help us enjoy the wilds for years to come.

Summary

Hiking is a fantastic exercise that allows you to enjoy the outdoors. But be safe and know the risks, so it is a positive experience for both you and the wildlife.