No doubt hiking and breathing in that clean, fresh air can be one of the most wonderful experiences! However, what if I was to tell you that you can make your trips out into nature even more enjoyable by giving them a purpose other than just walking? Well, you can, and all you need to do is follow the advice.
Fishing
One of the ways that you can make a hike even more fun is by combining it with an activity like guided fishing. There are many benefits to fishing, including the opportunity to appreciate the location. So for you next fishing trip, make sure to prepare your mullet fishing nets, baits, etc.
Additionally, fishing can be a fantastic sport. While easy enough to pick up at the beginning, it requires some serious dedication, skill, and patience if you wish to excel. There are numerous types of fishing to explore, such as fly fishing in freshwater rivers and streams.
You don’t even have to keep a hold of your prizes either if you’d rather not. Also, many that choose to go fishing as part of their hike return the fish to the water—thus allowing the fish to live on to fight another day.
Wildlife photography
Another relaxing addition to hiking is capturing pictures of the local wildlife. The main advantage of this pursuit is taking pictures of flora and fauna will last a long time without harming the animal or ecosystems.
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However, for you to be successful at capturing images of animals in their natural habitat, you’ll need the right type of equipment. That means that, instead of using the phone on your camera, you will need photographic equipment built, especially for the job.
Happily, you can check out equipment guides online like this on the best browning trail camera for your needs. Then you will be able to choose just the right one.
Tracking
Often practiced in combination with the activities above, tracking can also be a fantastic stand-alone addition to a hike. The activity of tracking can be very informative and challenging, though, so you must do your homework before setting out. That means learning the difference between the different animal footprints you are likely to find.
Additionally, do not forget that it’s not just the evidence on the ground that will inform you of which way the animal has traversed. You will need to take in the entire picture, including marks on trees and shrubs, as well as broken branches and leaves that suggest the direction and speed in which they were moving.
Geocaching
For those who love to find things, but aren’t so excited about looking for particular animals when out hiking, geocaching can be the perfect solution. The reason for this is that geocaching is a bit like treasure hunting.
To start, you go online or use an app to find the coordinates of geocaching boxes in the area in which you are hiking. It’s then up to you to track them down and open them. A task that can be quite challenging, depending on if the person that hides them has done their duty!
Some geocaches will be inside of buried containers in the ground, hidden behind loose bricks in walls and even encapsulated in fake objects such as plastic but realistic-looking rocks or stones.
Once you have found the geocache, there is usually a log that you get to fill in before you return it to its hiding place. You can also mark off online that you have found it, and in some cases, there will be a small item you will need to take and then place in the next geocaching you find! Perfect for saving until your next hike and making that one even more fun too.
Foraging
Finally, when out hiking, what could make the experience more fun than looking for edible treats like berries, flowers, and mushrooms. Just imagine eating a feast made from items you have found and collected with your own hands!
Of course, for foraging to be successful, you must be careful as not everything is edible and some may even be poisonous! Using an app or taking your guide book along is a smart idea. It won’t hurt to err on the side of caution either. If you have any doubt that what you have found could be dangerous, it’s best not to eat it. Otherwise, you could end up with a far more interesting experience than you bargained for.
I have always wanted to try geocaching. Looked into it briefly a few years ago and promptly forgot about it. Was surprised that there are geocaches along some of the trails where we hike. Thanks for the reminder about it.