Hiking planning from A to Z

HIKING PLANNING FROM A-Z

Hiking in nature is beautiful, fun and creates unforgettable experiences. To ensure that these unforgettable experiences remain positive memories, we have put together some tips to help you plan your tour and prepare for all eventualities.

FIND THE RIGHT TOUR!

Not everyone is a born hiker and not everyone is equally fit. And as there are different levels of difficulty for hiking tours, you should carefully consider the following two questions in advance: 1. where do I want to go? 2. How far do I want to go?

KNOW YOUR LIMIT!

Choose the route according to your own abilities and don't overestimate yourself.
USE MAPS AND OTHER SOURCES FOR PREPARATION

Once the destination and the start and end points are clear, familiarise yourself with the geographical features of the route with the help of maps, travel advisors and other information - the more you know, the better you will be able to deal with any problems later on.

"Preparation is everything! Always take a smartphone with you and let a friend know where you're going!"

Steffi, A daily travel mate | LOWA Ambassadors

BEHAVIOURAL GUIDELINES

Whether alone, in pairs or in a group, a hike in the great outdoors always harbours minor or major dangers that can be reduced to a minimum with the best possible preparation.

ONCE YOU HAVE SET OFF, MAKE SURE YOU STAY REACHABLE

Take a mobile phone or smartphone and a power bank with you and let at least one friend who is available as an emergency contact or a hut on the route know which area you are travelling through and which destination you are heading for.
STAYS TOGETHER

If you are travelling as a group, you should take advantage of this and stay within sight of the others. That way, everyone can keep an eye on each other.
DRINKS REGULARLY

The risk of dehydration is particularly high on hot days. So start with plenty of water and quench your thirst.
MAKE PAUSES

As well as drinking regularly, it is just as important to take regular breaks and eat something.

"Never leave the path! If you stay on the path, you cannot lose sight of it."

A VERY SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Put on your hiking boots and just start walking! If you are planning a hiking tour on your own for the first time, you should follow a few simple tips. For a relaxed hiking experience, the following generally applies: find out about the route in advance, if in doubt, choose an easier tour first and make sure you have the right equipment with you.

PREPARE YOURSELVES

Take an emergency kit and a hiking map with you.
DOES NOT GO OFFSIDE

It is best to stay on the official paths and use premium hiking trails.
LISTEN TO YOU

Listen to your body, find your pace and take breaks. If in doubt, listen to your gut feeling and get help if you need it.

"Basically, you can avoid unnecessary dangers by not going off the beaten track, using premium hiking trails and, as mentioned at the beginning, checking the weather forecast before the tour."

Alix von Melle | LOWA PRO Team

INTERPRETING THE WEATHER: HOW TO CORRECTLY ASSESS THE WEATHER SITUATION

The weather can change quickly, especially in the mountains. In rain, storms, wind, fog and cold, the paths become dangerous. You should be careful and seek shelter in a hut in bad weather. The wildlife and nature will tell you whether there is bad weather in sight. Find out about the different types of clouds before your tour. If cumulus clouds build up and the fog intensifies, the weather will be bad. The same applies to thickening cirrus clouds and falling stratus clouds.

WIND

The wind turns and picks up significantly.
NEBEL

If the early morning fog continues to rise and does not dissipate, you should be careful.
CLOUDS

In the lower layers of the air, there are cumulus or stratus clouds (cumulus, stratocumulus, stratus). In the middle layers, on the other hand, there are clouds consisting of water droplets (altocumulus and nimbostratus rain clouds) and in the highest layers there are plume clouds consisting of ice particles (cirrus).
FLOOR

More earthworms appear on the forest floor.
OTHER SIGNS

The air pressure drops, swallows fly lower and very good visibility are also signs of bad weather.