Hudson Valley
Queer and Outdoors
Hiking Readiness
Ready to have fun!
Hiking can be super fun, and doesn't take a lot of preparation to be ready to really enjoy the day in the outdoors! That said, proper preparation can totally make or break your ability to have a good time outside.
In addition to having a great attitude with which to approach the outing, the main thing you can do to be prepared to enjoy hiking is having the right stuff to wear and bring:
-
Good footwear: Most of our hikes could be done in sneakers with good tread (like running shoes), but hiking shoes or boots can be much more comfy, and safer as they help support your ankles from twists. If it's wet (muddy, rainy, snowy), sneakers are miserable to wear after five minutes, while good boots can be comfy for days. If you buy boots for the hike, wear them around for a few days to break them in: you don't want the blisters involved in breaking in boots on a hike.
-
Clothing: It's better to be comfy and safe than to look sexy while hiking. As much as you can, choose to wear your non-cotton clothes. That includes no jeans, no cotton t-shirts, no cotton bras, no cotton socks, etc. These aren't super high-altitude, long, or technical hikes, so this rule isn't as essential as it would be on bigger hikes, but you'll still be a loooot more comfortable and safer in wool and synthetic materials. Layers are good so you can strip way down when you get hot and sweaty, and layer up when you're chilling at the top. A good outfit for spring/summer/fall would be wicking undies and bra (if needed), Smartwool socks, wicking leggings (if it's cold out), gym shorts, wicking t-shirt, thin fleece long-sleeved shirt, windbreaker/rain jacket. For winter, add to that a sweater or fluffy fleece or synthetic pile jacket, hat, gloves, and wind pants. Remember, it's always way colder at the summit than in the valley!
-
Water: You'll need to carry with you all the water you'll need for the hike. Plan on 2 liters per person, more if you have a larger body and/or are out of shape. Yes, it's heavy, but more water means more stamina and more enjoyment, so you'll be glad to have it along.
-
Food: You should plan to bring snacks to munch while we walk, and you may want to bring a lunch to enjoy at the top. Plan on something that isn't too heavy and won't get easily squished. Salty foods are good to replenish what you sweat. A good food bag for one person could include a handful of salted nuts, a granola bar, some carrot sticks, and a small cheese sandwich. PB&Js always end up gooey messes - but maybe you like gooey messes. :)
-
Toilet supplies: Since you'll probably need to use the Great Natural Toilet during the outing, and you can't always count on the perfect leaves being at hand, it's best to bring a bit of toilet paper in a ziplock bag, and hand sanitizer.
-
Optional: Depending on what you usually want during the course of the day, you might also want to bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, insect repellant, tissues, binoculars, trekking poles, charged phone/camera, etc.
-
Backpack: You'll want a bag to carry all these things! A small backpack with padded shoulder straps and ventilated back pad will be most comfortable.
-
Not lots of stuff: We encourage you to not bring a big heavy backpack loaded up with lots of other stuff. You'll likely have more fun with the extra energy and spring in your step than you will with that heavy book / spare tent / telescope / etc. These are short hikes, averaging 3 hrs round trip, so you won't have a lot of time to use much gear. The outing leaders will have a map, compass, first aid kit, flashlight, lighter, knife, emergency blanket, etc. It's up to you if you want to bring any of these for yourself for your added security.
-
Don't bring: Please don't bring any alcohol or cigarettes or weed or other mind-altering substances on outings - We want these outings to be comfortable for any community members, including families. Also, beer and weed and the like are dehydrating, and will make you more likely to trip and hurt yourself. By all means go there if you want on your own hikes, but keep it clean when you're with us. Please also don't bring radios and the like - let's enjoy the sounds of nature and conversation. Thanks!
Here for you: We want to make sure you have a good time. The outing leaders will take care of a lot of the hassle, by planning the hikes, following the trail markers to make sure we stay on track, keeping an eye on the weather, and generally making sure everyone's safe and well, so you can relax and just enjoy the walk and scenery and company!
What are the trails like? Some of our hikes are shorter and with less elevation gain, while others are longer and steeper. We will do our best to accurately describe what the trail will be like for that month, and to pick a variety of trails from month to month. If you have any questions at all about what an upcoming trail is like, please reach out!
If you have any hiking questions, contact us at hvqueeroutdoors@gmail.com!
We look forward to seeing you at the next outing!
-Air & the whole hiking crew
P. S. For more comprehensive day-hiking checklists, we recommend:
