Sunday, February 1, 2009

Solid Advice for Hikers and Hunters

By Ethan O. Tanner

As colorful leaves paint the autumn landscape, hikers and hunters across the nation will go to mountains, woods and fields, but numerous, unfortunately, are badly trained for the beating their feet will take. Hunters and hikers will often navigate the most difficult terrain. Hikers, hunters and others who love the outdoors oftentimes don't comprehend how laborious it can be to withstand repetitive, vigorous walking on unsteady land.

Walking up and down steep hillsides and tramping through wet, slippery fields and wooded areas puts stress on the muscles and tendons in the feet and ankles, especially if you haven't conditioned properly before hitting the trail. The best gear for walking up and down in the woods is a quality pair of well constructed hiking boots. This investment in good boots will prevent sprained ankles or strained Achilles tendons.

It is wise for hikers and hunters to make the investment in top-grade hiking boots. Strong, well insulated and moisture-proof boots with steel or graphite shanks provide terrific ankle and foot support that facilitates lessening stress and muscle tiredness to keep down injury risk.

In damp and nippy weather, putting on appropriate socks can help avoid blisters, fungal infections and frostbite. A good synthetic sock for the first layer keeps the feet dry and cuts down blister-causing friction. For the second layer, wool socks provide warmth, take in moisture away from the skin, and help make the hiking boot comfier. Wool allows moisture to evaporate more promptly than cotton, so fewer blisters arise.

How should you act if your feet or ankles start to suffer on a hike or hunt? Pain typically happens because of overuse, being out of shape, or even from simply walking. If you're not habituated to walking on inclined or broken ground, your legs and feet will get fatigued and cause muscles and tendons to hurt. To avert a critical injury, such as a serious sprain to the ankle or an Achilles tendon rupture, take a breather for for a while if you begin to hurt.

Moderation is also a good method to follow when first starting out in the woods. Compare hiking to skiing in that beginners should take on less difficult trails until they become better conditioned and more confident. Using common sense in starting easy will make your hunt more comfortable and enjoyable. - 16887

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