The Washington Post - USA (2022-06-12)

SUNDAY, JUNE 12 , 2022. THE WASHINGTON POST EZ EE F5

flung locations, learning the ba-

sics so they can better relate to

their captain.

Docked at the Gangplank Ma-

rina at the Wharf, the 65-foot

American Spirit schooner is a

fundraising resource and an op-

portunity for the public to par-

take in sails, private charters and

events.

Gateway to the water

Community sailing centers can

be both waypoints and final desti-

nations on anyone’s maritime

voyage. For example, some partic-

ipants might attain their small-

boat certification, then proceed

to cruising courses somewhere

else that allow them to travel and

charter their own boat. And at-

taining your small-boat certifica-

tion equips you with knowledge

to seek out boat rentals at other

facilities while you travel, en-

abling you to explore new water-

ways.

“You can jump in a kayak or

rent a boat, so now when you

travel, you might choose to go

somewhere that you can get onto

sleeping in a tent, the gear list

grows. But for a newcomer to the

trails heading out for a short or

half-day hike, there’s no need to

purchase a lot of fancy new

supplies.

David said some people are

also intimidated because they

think they must be in peak

physical shape and climb a

mountain for their hike “to

count.” Wrong. “A gentle stroll

can be a hike,” David said. “Hik-

ing is open to most everybody, no

matter their experience or fitness

level. So long as you enjoy mov-

ing your body at a pace that

works for you, you’re a hiker. And

you will continue to progress as

you gain more experience and

fitness.”

Instead of looking for the most

beautiful or rigorous trail, David

suggested simply finding a pleas-

ant trail and exploring. This is

relatively easy with the prolifera-

tion of trail-finder apps. David

recommended Avenza Maps,

OnX and Gaia GPS, adding that

the best app is the one you’re

comfortable using. Most apps

rank hikes by difficulty and pro-

vide salient information such as

round-trip mileage, elevation

gain and loss, and more. Printed

maps and guidebooks also work,

and most outdoor sporting stores

have local trail maps. Pop into

one on vacation, and you’re al-

most guaranteed to get friendly,

local insight that will help you

pick the best trail for your objec-

tive.

Happy feet

There are few things that can

ruin a hike as completely as

poor-fitting shoes or boots. Blis-

ters can take weeks and some-

times months to heal, and tender

feet will restrict movement or

even dissuade you from hiking

for the rest of the season, said

Eric Henderson, a longtime out-

door educator and guide based in

Denver.

“I would never advise buying

boots online without trying them

on first,” he said. “The right

footwear is essential for an enjoy-

able hike, and it’s worth the time

and expense to go to a specialty

store to get expert advice.”

People’s feet are not uniform.

Even if you know your size, you

may have bunions, arch issues or

other complications, Henderson

said. That means that fit is para-

mount, and you won’t know

whether shoes or boots are a

good fit without first trying them

on.

When shopping, don’t just lace

up and shuffle around the shop.

Step onto benches, hop around,

and go up and down stairs if you

can. Henderson said he prefers

mid-height boots that provide

more ankle support than a hiking

shoe but are less burly than a

heavy hiking boot.

If all of that sounds intimidat-

ing to a first-timer, go ahead and

hit the trail in your running

shoes, provided they fit well and

are broken in so that you don’t

get a blister, David said. But if

your interest in hiking piques,

BY RACHEL WALKER

Take a hike. It sounds like the
easiest thing to do: Head out and
put one foot in front of the other.
But if you’re not used to being
outside in nature, or if walking is
difficult for you or if you require a
wheelchair or walker, then the
very idea of hiking can be intimi-
dating. Resist that reaction.
When the opportunity to go on a
hike presents itself, take it, ad-
vised D.C.-based Florence Wil-
liams, author of “The Nature Fix:
Why Nature Makes Us Happier,
Healthier, and More Creative.”
“When we experience beauty
and awe, science suggests that it
helps us feel more connected to
the world around us and to each
other,” Williams said. “And really,
we have evolved to walk. Our
bodies and brains feel very com-
fortable doing it.”
You won’t be alone; since the
pandemic began, people have
flocked to the outdoors, where
there’s plenty of airflow and they
can practice social distancing
and get exercise. As a result,
many state and national parks, as
well as local trailheads, have
implemented reservation sys-
tems or supplied shuttles to mini-
mize parking headaches.
Given the number of people in
the outdoors, a summer hike
might seem daunting for begin-
ners. But getting started with
hiking is relatively easy, said Amy
David, a hiking and backpacking
guide for Sawtooth Mountain
Guides in Stanley, Idaho. Novice
hikers may think they need ex-
pensive gear or ambitious desti-
nations when, in fact, the only
requirement is a desire to get
outside. This can be easier in the
American West, where state and
federal public lands abound, but
it is also possible in most parts of
the country, she said.
“At its simplest, hiking is a way
to enjoy the outdoors, fresh air
and nature,” David said. “You can
go to an urban park, but I lean
toward backcountry.”

Hiking myths, dispelled

Non-hikers might be wary be-
cause of pervasive myths that can
act as obstacles to getting people
onto trails. For one, many people
assume they need expensive, fan-
cy gear to go on a hike.
“There are certain types of
gear you should have to make
your experience safe and enjoy-
able,” David said, “but it doesn’t
have to cost a fortune.”
Hikers should have shoes or
boots that fit well to prevent
blisters; thin wool socks; a water
bottle; wool or synthetic clothes
that wick sweat and dry quickly;
and, if the weather forecast looks
volatile, proper layers to keep you
warm and dry. Trekking poles
help distribute your weight and
make descending hills easier by
taking pressure off your leg mus-
cles and joints. Many trekking
poles are collapsible, like tent
poles, which makes them easy to
travel with. For longer day hikes
and overnight trips that include

invest in durable, well-made hik-

ing shoes or boots.

Leave no trace

There’s a popular refrain

among hikers: Leave no trace.

This is an ethos that comes down

to respect, David said. Literally, it

means pack out what you pack in,

including trash, extra food, or-

ange peels or apple cores (or any

other biodegradable refuse that

should not be thrown into the

bushes). If you hike with a dog,

bag its poop and carry it out. And

if you have to poop, David offered

the following instructions: “Dig a

hole, so bring a small trowel,

which you can get at an outdoor

store, and carry out used toilet

paper, so bring a sealable plastic

bag for that.”

Leave no trace also means

respecting others on the trail.

Give people space when passing,

and don’t blare music on port-

able speakers or through your

phone. “Go ahead and listen with

earphones, but it’s rude to sub-

ject others to your music or

podcasts,” she said.

Equally important is to make

sure you bring enough food to

stay fueled and water to stay

hydrated. David suggested bring-

ing more food than you think you

will need (and a comfortable

pack for carrying it) and a water

filtration system if you plan to

replenish your water from a river

or creek. “Freshwater does not

mean clean water,” she said.

“Even if it’s clear, it can have

giardia.”

Accessible trails

Hiking need not be relegated

to able-bodied people. TrailLink

by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

is an online resource

( traillink.com ) for finding wheel-

chair-accessible trails around the

country. The descriptive trail

guides have photos and reviews.

Some public land agencies are

also adding Braille to trail signs.

Accessibility also extends to

groups that have not been tradi-

tionally present or active in the

outdoors. In recent years, hiking

groups for LGBTQ individuals,

self-identified fat people, minori-

ties and women have proliferat-

ed. The group Diversify Outdoors

( diversifyoutdoors.com ) has a

page devoted to connecting peo-

ple around the country.

All of which is to say that the

outdoors exist for everyone, and

exploring nature by foot can be a

wonderful way to spend some of

your vacation. Not only can hik-

ing allow you to slow down and

stimulate your senses, but it can

also help you adapt to a new

place, Williams said.

“Being outside in the daylight

is good for resetting circadian

rhythms if you’re traveling across

time zones,” she said. “It’s also

great for working off the inertia

of sitting for long periods in a car

or on an airplane.”

Walker is a writer based in Boulder,

Colo. Find her on Twitter:

@racheljowalker.

Hiking 101: Take to the trails with these tips for beginners

PHOTOS BY RACHEL WALKER FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

When you bring your dog on a hike, keep it on a leash unless you’re certain you are in a n off-leash area. In the spirit of “leave no trace,”

a popular refrain among hikers, r emember to always pick up and pack out your dog’s waste.

A pack that fits your body well i s important for carrying layers, food, water and a first-aid kit. Those

hiking with children m ight take along a stuffed animal, too.

ates from two marinas and runs
youth and adult programs. At the
Diamond Teague Park piers, Kids
Set Sail summer day camps take
7-to-15-year-olds from safety
training on the dock to rigging
and hands-on instruction aboard
the center’s forgiving 18-foot din-
ghies.
The organization also provides
more than $20,000 each year in
scholarships and participates in
US Sailing’s donor-funded Siebel
Sailors Program, a no-cost oppor-
tunity that has taught about 1,500
children across the country to
begin and continue sailing.
“Our goal is to get as many kids
as possible on the water, learning
about safety and the importance
of our waterways and the human
impact on them,” Mead said.
Like other centers, DC Sail
dives deep, helping students
grow their skills and confidence.
Its vibrant high school racing
program has advanced young
sailors to national competitions.
Adult offerings include re-
fresher, learn-to-sail and racing
classes. Participants come to the
organization for a variety of rea-
sons: Some sailed during child-
hood summer camps and want to
take formal classes, and others
have bucket-list sailing goals.
Some Washingtonians take week-
end lessons, but they sail in the
Chesapeake Bay. Still others are
planning charters in farther-

SAILING FROM F4 the water,” Guimaraes said. “It
can inspire you to seek new desti-
nations after having the life-
changing experience of learning
to sail.”

More than sailing

Thanks to the growth in com-

munity sailing centers, it’s possi-

ble to try sailing at a reasonable

price — and join a community

that meets everyone where they

are, from landlubbers to old salts.

Children can learn science, tech-

nology, engineering and math

(STEM) concepts that are founda-

tional to sailing curriculums. And

everyone can cultivate the team-

work skills, leadership, confi-

dence and appreciation for mari-

time activities and the environ-

ment that can arise from sailing.

“They’re a wonderful way to

access the water with a support-

ive group of people, whether

you’re there for a day and want a

private lesson, want to rent a boat

or want your child to experience

an exciting summer camp,”

Guimaraes said.

Operating in San Diego for

51 years, Mission Bay Aquatic

Center (MBAC) is one of the

world’s largest instructional wa-

tersport facilities, with a fleet that

includes more than 50 sailboats,

15 windsurfers, 90 kayaks,

100 surfboards, 70 paddleboards

and more. In 2021, the center

served more than 30,000 mem-

bers of the public with a vari-

ety of lessons, programs and

rentals.

Its sailing programs allow par-

ticipants — most of whom have

never previously sailed — to prog-

ress from dry land to advanced

sailing. That said, most people

don’t pursue certification as an

end goal, opting instead to simply

enjoy the water.

“What we do here is about

much more than sailing,” said

Paul Lang, instructional and

maintenance manager for MBAC.

“Sailing is a tool to getting people

outdoors doing something active.

We’re the first step in providing

access to people who see sailboats

from shore and think, ‘How could

I ever do that?’ ”

Williams is a writer based in Oregon.

Her website is erinewilliams.com.

Community sailing centers are making a n exclusive activity more accessible

HUDSON RIVER COMMUNITY SAILING

Hudson River Community Sailing runs Soldiers Under Sail, a program for military veterans.

Some centers offer classes for people with disabilities, youth summer camps and social sails.

“Community sailing

is a big part of the

future of sailing.

It’s giving so many

more people the

opportunity to try

it out.”

Jen Guimaraes,

youth education manager

for US Sailing

S0115-6x1

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