6 Hiker Tips for More Time on Trail

Winter hiking is beautiful but shorter days, cold temperatures, wet weather, and a case of the sniffles can make it harder to get on trail.  Add in family responsibilities and that pesky nine-to-five job and even the most devoted hikers may be feeling less than motivated. As much as we love hiking, everyone needs the occasional push towards self-care so below are six tips to help bring more trail time into your life.

1. Have a Go-To Trail

Exploring new places is fun but, when you’re short on time, it’s more efficient to if you have a familiar trail already picked out and know what to expect.  My “home base” hiking area is less than a mile from my house and has a series of loop trails of different lengths so I can choose a two, four, six, or eight mile hike depending on my workout plan and how much time I have.  I hike here any day that I have time to get on trail but don’t have a specific hike planned. Choose a trail that you enjoy hiking that is close to home or work and make it part of your weekly routine. Consider factors such as trailhead parking and seasonal restrictions.  The more convenient your go-to hike is, the more likely you are to hike it.

2. Keep Your Pack Packed and Ready to Go

If you are making a commitment to hike on a regular basis, don’t unpack your pack after every hike.  Keep it filled with the ten essentials plus any other items you may need and keep it in a convenient, visible location like by the front door.  If you are carrying extra weight to train for backpacking trips, have that weight calculated and added to your pack ahead of time too.

3. Wear Your Hiking Clothes

If you are already wearing your hiking clothes, you have one less thing to do before hitting the trail and you may also feel more mentally prepared for a hike.  Aiming to get on trail first thing in the morning? Sleep in your favorite hiking shirt. After work hikers may be restricted by office dress codes that don’t include hiking attire but it doesn’t take much to get in the hiking mindset.  Try a thin base layer beneath a sweater or wear your favorite hiking socks. Lately, I’ve been enjoying these merino wool socks from Wildly Goods. They perform well on trail but are also thin and soft enough to be comfortable all day with casual shoes.  I also appreciate that they don’t scream “athletic apparel” when I wear them to work.

4.  Hike with a Buddy

It’s a lot harder to cancel a planned hike when you have a friend waiting for you at the trailhead.  Find a hiking buddy, make a plan together, take turns suggesting new hikes, and hold each other accountable.  Having trouble finding a friend willing to commit to your hiking goals? Try scheduling monthly walks with a few different hiking partners.

5.  Set a Goal

Last year, my husband and I set a goal to hike 365 miles together.  Unfortunately, a couple of big life events ended up cutting into our trail time and we came up just short of our goal.  Even though we ultimately weren’t successful, having a number to aim for kept us motivated right up through December. Set a mileage goal or try for a certain number of hikes each week or month and create a spreadsheet or calendar to track your progress.  Check out the 52 Hike Challenge for inspiration.  

6.  Reward Yourself

Trail time may be its own reward but, if you’re struggling to stay focused, it certainly doesn’t hurt to reward yourself for reaching your hiking goals.  If you put in a lot of after work miles this week, go ahead and reward yourself with a special Friday dessert. Saving up for an expensive new piece of gear?  Tray stashing away a dollar for every mile you hike.

Do you have a strategy for getting more trail time in your life?  Share in the comments below and help motivate your fellow hikers!