How is it midway through the summer already?! It seems like the snow only just melted here in the Rockies. With the summer comes hiking season – and volcano hopping! So get your boots laced and hiking poles out. Here is my list of 6 ways to prepare yourself to hike a volcano:
5) Study Up, Buttercup!
Raise your hand if – before you meet someone for the first time – you try to find out some information about them. You might take a peek at their Facebook page, find out what they’re talking about on Twitter, or look up some of their interests. This gives you something to chat about, right? In this same way, you should try to get to know the volcano you’re going to be hiking before you meet.
You definitely need to plan your hike. Know where you’re going, how long the hike is, what conditions you’ll face, and what you should bring. Get to know the volcano’s attitude and spunk factor. Is it active? Can you expect earthquakes? Lava flows? Or is it pretty laid back? Make sure to learn about it’s features so that, as you’re hiking, you can spot them. How fun is it to see something really cool and actually know what you’re looking at?
Accessing information has never been easier. There are great books to read and documentaries to watch. The USGS Volcano Hazards program has a wealth of journals, articles, and information to dive into in their archives. And don’t be afraid to make friends with people who have studied and climb the volcano you’re interested in. They are some of the best people and greatest resources!
4) Phone a Friend
It’s a rare day when I’ll hike a volcano alone. If I’m staying in a location with reliable cell phone service or that is frequented by other hikers, I might venture out by myself. But any sort of back country hike? I take a hiking buddy.
A hiking buddy is valuable for several reasons. First off, it’s fun to share your adventures with! And when the miles get long, it’s fun to have someone to chat with. But I also pair up for safety reasons. You never know when an injury might strike. You could roll an ankle or fall through the ceiling of a collapsed lava tube. You mustexpect the unexpected on a volcano. A hiking buddy can assist if you are injured, and can go for help.
Even if I’ve got a date with my hiking buddy, I always phone a friend. Make sure you tell someone who is not hiking with you where you are going and when you plan to be back. Shoot them a text or a call when you’re done with the hike. If they don’t hear from you, then they know to send someone looking for you if the need arises.
3) Gear Up!
Once you’ve gotten familiar with the volcano, you should have a good idea of what you’ll need to bring with you. It’s super important to make sure you have goodgear, and gear that fits you correctly. I love finding stuff on the bargain rack – but it’s not worth saving a few bucks if the gear is going to hurt me more than help me. It’s no good to buy a pack that crushes your shoulders, or shoes that wear blisters in your feet. Make sure you buy the right stuff the first time.
One of my marathon coaches once told me, “Nothing new on race day.” He meant to break in your gear ahead of time. Stuff that hasn’t been broken in pretty much guarantees blisters and rashes. And you need to know before you’re 6 miles up a lava flow if your gear is working correctly. (PS – no new food on hiking day either. Make sure your pic-i-nic won’t upset your stomach, eh Boo Boo?)
Some things you may want to bring:
- Good shoes
- Backpack
- Hiking Poles
- Food and Water
- Camera
- Extra clothes and layers
- Sun protection
Want the scoop on these? My next post is going to be about hiking gear, so stay tuned!
2) Good Things Come to Those Who Sweat
Anyone who says you can just go hike a volcano is nuts. You have to be in some sort of shape to even think about making it to your destination and back in one piece. Volcanoes are steep, rocky, and uneven territory. And you may need to hustle if conditions change.
So what do you do to prepare? Start working out. (Know your limitations. If you have an injury or a health condition, of course, chat with your doctor before you start.) Focus on these four key areas:
- Strength training. All of the muscles in your body work together to keep you in balance and get you up the volcano. I love the variety of strength workouts that exercise your whole body: everything from weights to resistance training. Variety is the spice of life, right?
- Core work. Everything stems from your core. It impacts your balance and increases your strength, endurance, and energy. Making sure that your core is strong is incredibly important.
- Cardio. Get that heartbeat up! You can bike, run, walk, do the elliptical…whatever. But get out there and get that heart pumping. The more you do, the stronger your heart will be when it’s time to hike.
- Hiking practice. The treadmill doesn’t cut it. You need to be out there, experience the elevation, the altitude, and the uneven terrain.
Not sure where to start? Neither was I. I joined a local gym with an excellent personal training program. (Granted, I’m coming back from a knee injury, so I needed a little extra TLC.) But that might be something for you to check out for a few months until you get your routine down. But get up and get moving, and have fun!
1) Stayin’ Alive (Ah ha ha ha…)
Come on, you knowyou just sang that.
Staying safe is the single most important thing on this list. The safe decision is always the right one. If the volcano you’re planning to hike suddenly becomes active, keep your distance. If you’re approaching a lava flow, give it some space. Don’t romp into questionable territory or into an area you know isn’t safe. If conditions change (weather, lightning, rockfalls, earthquakes, eruptions, whatever) then consider turning back. If you do not make smart decisions, the cost could be your life. And seeing the show just isn’t worth losing you!
So there you have it. 6 ways to prepare yourself to hike a volcano. Do you have other ways you prepare? Or suggestions you have found helpful? Tell me in the comments below!
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