Archive
The first time I tried to choose a hiking trail on AllTrails, I spent forty minutes scrolling, second-guessing every option, and eventually closed the app without making a decision. There were hundreds of trails. Some said easy, some said moderate. Some had 200m of elevation gain, some had 600m. I didn’t know what any of […]
When I bought my first pair of hiking boots, I went to the outdoor shop, stared at two walls of footwear for twenty minutes, and then bought the ones that looked most serious. They gave me blisters for the first three hikes. The boots weren’t wrong. I just didn’t know what I was buying or […]
The first summer hike I did without thinking about the heat almost ended two hours in. I had all my usual gear, I’d done the trail before, and I thought I was ready. What I hadn’t accounted for was 28 degrees of direct sun on an exposed ridge, the speed at which I was draining […]
There’s a particular kind of frustration that comes from being two miles into a hike and realising you’ve forgotten something important. I’ve turned back for a forgotten water bottle. I’ve arrived at a trailhead without downloading the map. I’ve reached a summit in freezing wind without a warm layer because the morning looked sunny. A […]
My first hike almost put me off hiking for good. I chose a trail that was too long, started too late in the day, wore the wrong shoes, and ran out of water with two miles still to go. I made it back fine — but barely, and only because a kind couple on the […]
The first time someone told me I needed a “proper hiking setup” before my first trail, I pictured spending a small fortune on equipment I had no idea how to choose. Matching technical gear, specialist poles, a backpack with more pockets than I could count. It was overwhelming before I’d even laced up a boot. […]
The first time I hiked alone, I told three people where I was going, downloaded the trail map twice, and checked the weather forecast so many times my phone started suggesting it without me opening the app. I was nervous. Not because I thought something would happen, but because I’d spent years being told that […]
The first time I showed up to a trailhead in jeans and regular trainers, I didn’t make it two miles before I was uncomfortable, overheating, and regretting every clothing choice I’d made that morning. Nobody told me that fabric matters on the trail. Nobody told me that denim turns into a damp, chafing nightmare the […]
The first time I packed for a hike as a woman, I brought way too much of the wrong things and not nearly enough of the right ones. A full change of clothes, three different snacks that all came in heavy glass jars, a book for the summit, and no proper navigation beyond my phone […]
The first time I packed for a day hike, I brought a drawstring bag, half a bottle of water, and a bag of crisps. If you’re completely new to hiking, start with our beginner hiking tips for women — it covers everything from trail selection to trail etiquette before your first hike. If you’re not […]
