A walking holiday does not need to be a major expedition of a week or so. Some of the best walking holidays can be only 2 or 3 days in length, a weekend getaway.
The walking holiday will need to be a short train ride or car drive of 3- 5 hours away from home.
Why go on a walking holiday just for a weekend?
· It provides great exercise and can help with your training for a major hiking trip later in the year
· Going away, even for a short distance adds excitement to your life and provides a change of pace by exploring a new area. After the weekend when you talk to your work colleagues they will be amazed at what an exciting life you lead. Most of them do not even do simple trips like this
· Hiking reduces work stress
· A weekend away can be very social
You can make the arrangements on your own. Many hiking clubs offer inexpensive weekend getaway trips which also are also very sociable.
Whatever way you choose find a location that interests you and book the accommodation. For a weekend a great B & B can be fun, camping can be an inexpensive option or for a real treat stay at a resort hotel and do some day hiking. You might even include some local attractions and country restaurants to a more fun experience.
Weekend getaways can have a theme as well. For example our local hiking club goes to Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario every spring just as the flowers start to bloom; to the Adirondacks in June for some steeper climbs; some cabins in the autumn to see the fall colours; and a resort lodge in the winter for some snow shoe hiking. There are plenty of guides to provide destination ideas such as New England Trips
The distances you hike and the terrain can be as challenging as you and your friends wish, after all your weekend getaway is a mini vacation.
Now is the time to start planning your next hiking weekend getaway
Outdoor Research Luna Gore-Tex(R) PacLite(R) Jacket – Waterproof (For Women)
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Outdoor Research Furio Gore-Tex(R) PacLite(R) Jacket – Waterproof (For Men)
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CLOSEOUTS . The Furio jacket from Outdoor research is a serious alpine performance shell, featuring Gore-Tex(R) PacLite(R) waterproof breathable construction reinforced by Gore-Tex(R) Pro Shell fabric for ultimate weather resistance and packability. Gore-Tex(R) two-layer, waterproof breathable protection stands up to furious alpine weather Gore-Tex(R) Pro Shell reinforcements for extreme durability Fully seam sealed Helmet-compatible hood Welded zips throughout Full-zip front Right zipper pull Pit zips Hand pockets Verticle zip chest pocket Interior zip mesh pocket Length: 32? Weight: 1 lb. 6 oz. Fabric: Nylon Care: Machine wash/dry CLOSEOUTS . China. Size: XS (34-35) S (36-37) M (38-40) L (41-43) XL (44-46) 2XL (47-49)
Brand: Outdoor Research
Originally posted 2009-11-05 12:55:59.
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The famous Wimbledon Tennis Championships are played near London in early summer each year. Tennis fans, beginners and experienced alike, watch this two week event with great fascination as the profession dazzle us with a great display of how tennis can be played.
In his book, More Balls Than Hands, Michael Gelb notes an observation from tennis coaches following Wimbledon, the play of their students has improved remarkably. By watching the professionals students observe and learn things they can add to their own performance. Michael notes that you too can take a conscious advantage of this Wimbledon effect in any area of endeavor by immersing yourself in images of excellence.
This too can apply to hiking and trekking as well, for example:
Hiking equipment – people who are hiking or trekking do not use their gear such walking poles or sticks correctly to obtain the benefits for which they were designed. By viewing a DVD on Hiking Poles – Techniques and Tips
Packing – many hikers do not pack the right contents or balance the load in their pack correctly, so watch a DVD or learn about this aspect.
Hiking techniques – by observing hikers along a trail can you pick up some their wisdom. Watch as their experiences as this group hikes for over 250 miles in 27 Days Hiking DVD
Your Routes – an inspiring DVD can guide you on to expect regarding the terrain and what to pack such as with Appalachian Impressions
I have no doubt that studying any professionals of any sport, including hiking or trekking can only help your performance because of the Wimbledon effect.
How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci
Price: $8.77
Michael Gelb’s How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci is an inspiring and inventive guide that teaches readers how to develop their full potential, using the principles of Da Vincian thought identified by the author. Beginning with a brief historical biography of Da Vinci and an overview of the astounding advances made in the arts and sciences during the Renaissance, Gelb illustrates the seven fundamental elements of Da Vinci’s thought process: Questionare: A questing, insatiably curious approach to life Dimostrazione: A commitment to test knowledge through experience Sensazione: The continual refinement of the senses, especially sight, as the means to clarify experience Sfumato: A willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox and uncertainty Arte/Scienza: The development of the balance between science and art, logic and imagination. Whole-brain thinking Corporalita: The cultivation of ambidexterity, fitness and poise Connessione: A recognition and appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena. Systems thinking. Loaded with practical exercises, quotes, sidebars, illustrations and material drawn directly from Da Vinci’s personal notebooks, How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci is both a tribute to his great achievements and a call to carry on his legacy in our everyday lives by utilizing our potential to the best of our ability. From the Hardcover edition.
Brand: Random House Audio Publishing Group
Originally posted 2009-10-23 09:37:59.
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When on a holiday proper walking or hiking nutrition is important to keep your body fueled during the long hours of vigorous physical activity.
Eat quite a few carbohydrate foods for several days before your walking holiday. This will help load your muscles with glycogen and provide fuel for your body’s needs. And replenish your carbohydrates as you go.
When the body does run out of carbohydrates then it will burn other elements including fat and then it will go to protein to use for energy output. When your body goes to fat usage for energy your level of performance will drop. When the body goes from fat to protein, it is beginning to take apart muscle mass and will cause performance to further drop significantly.
As you have often heard breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In European accommodation breakfast is usually included in the room rate and depending on your destination will either be a continental or light buffet. A continental breakfast includes coffee or tea and some sort of bread with jam which is usually not enough nutrition for your journey so you will need to take some snacks with you as well.
Many hotels offer a breakfast buffet of cold meats, boiled eggs, cearls, yogurts, bread with jam, fruit. This is a great way to start your day. If on a North America walking tour order similar items from the menu.
Also to be considerd as part of your hiking or walking holiday nutrition are snacks such as banana’s, Clif bars, nuts, trail mix are essential to give your body energy during your walk or hike.
For lunch it is best to go to a sandwich shop or grocery store to purchase items prior to departing for the day. In some destinations like Germany the deli counters of grocery stores will also make sandwiches to order for you. A good resource is Good Food for the Trail: All-Natural Recipes for Delicious Meals Outdoors
An important part of the overall walking holiday experience is to enjoy the local cuisine with wine or beer during dinner.
Hydrate your by drinking often during your hike or walk with water or a sports drink. Ensure the sports drink you choose should have less than 8 percent in total solids which includes both carbohydrates as well as electrolytes. If you go with something that has more, it is not easily absorbed into your body, delaying any benefit it may have. Dilute the sports drink by 50% if they contain over this amount.–
Research has shown that any athlete during an activity under the sun who were provided with water as a means of hydrating themselves only replace one and half to two thirds of fluid loss, while those who were given sports drinks have shown hydration nearly to hundred percent. We lose electrolytes when we sweat. Dizziness, muscle cramps, extreme exhaustion, and irregular heartbeat are the symptoms of electrolytes loss in the body. You basically lose endurance due to low level of electrolytes.
Wilderness Cuisine: How to Prepare and Enjoy Fine Food on the Trail and in Camp (Cookbooks and Restaurant Guides)
Price: $13.95
Pages: 240, Paperback, Wilderness Press
Originally posted 2009-09-28 09:29:59.
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Booking a guided walking holiday can be an exciting and fun way to plan your next hiking trip. Particularly in a foreign country where the culture is different than your own having someone else make arrangements can be benefical.
There are 7 benefits of booking guided walking holidays:
· Planning – the travel company making all the arrangements and has had the experience of walking the same trails throughout the season picking the best routes, see Classic Hikes of the World
· Guides – experienced guides to show you the way, explain local history and vegetation, advise on proper hiking techniques and assist you if you get in trouble
· Local transportation – your guided walking holidays the travel company arranges buses to get you to the start and finish of your hikes. On your own in some destinations this could involving local buses according to their schedule and connections.
· Accommodation – they have buying power and have blocks of rooms for the season at well located hotels they have checked out in advance. Some companies such as HF Holidays own their own country houses which gives them great control over the facilities such as a room for drying your boots. If travelling solo you can save money by sharing a room.
· Meals – fabulous meals featuring local cuisine are normally included and you have other hikers in the group to dine with
· Other Hikers – you will meet like minded people from all over the world with various skills
· Saving money – accommodation, local transportation and guides are all less expensive when arranged for a group
Some companies that offer guided walking holidays include GAP Adventures, HF Holidays, Ramblers, Explore, Exodus, the Wayfarers and Peregrine.
A guided walking holiday may be the way to go on your next hiking trip.
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With a variety of terrain and at a length of 21,500 kilometers, the Trans Canada Trail is the world’s longest recreational trail. This long distance hiking trail visits all ten Canadian provinces and all three territories.
This long distance hiking trail is made up of more than 500 local and regional hiking trails which will be joined to form one trail.
Today, the Trans Canada Trail is 70 percent complete. When the trail is finished you will be able to hike all the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. If you do not find that a big enough adventure there is also a section of the trail that heads up to the Arctic Ocean as well along sections of the Mackenzie River and Overland Trails.
The Trans Canada is a recreational trail so you may find people cycling, skiing, horseback riding, canoeing or snowmobiling along some sections. What you can do along almost the entire length of the trail though is hike.
Hiking the Trans Canada Trail
In Ontario the waterfront trail heads along the shores of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario passing historic Old Fort Henry in Kingston, Toronto and the orchards of the Niagara Peninsula.
Heading west into Alberta you hike along the Iron Horse Trail. In central British Colombia along the Kettle Valley Rail Trail with its many bridges rebuilt after a forest fire destroyed it a few years ago.
Although the Trans Canada Trail is not yet totally completed you might want to get started now hiking on this, the longest long distance trail in the world.
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