Know Before You Go
Once you’ve set out to go out and hit a trail, if you hadn’t already found one, the next question should be, where are you going?”. Health and safety are our number one priorities so here’s a few questions you can use to guide you as you prepare for your hike. Ever have more questions, feel free to reach out in the chat, email, or over in the socials!
Where are you going?
Its always best to know the trail you're headed to before you head out. This way you can tailor your outfit and what you may need to bring with you for the day on the trails. Check out things like the trail's length and difficulty, if there's one trail or intersecting trails, and which you would like to follow. Google is a always a starter to finding dope trails. Apps like AllTrails is what Princess has been using and has had no complaints. Checking the most recent reviews gives a more realistic idea of the trails current conditions and what you may expect. Do a little research, find a trail, and lets hike!
​
We're always exploring and adding to our list of hikes. Here's a Down2Earth trail list of some of the dope places we've already explored in Georgia.
What are the weather conditions there?
When planning time outdoors, remember where you are and where you're going may have different weather patterns, even if they seem relatively close in distance. Keep an eye out for the weather in the city/county your headed to. It's not a bad idea to take into account the recent weather conditions as well (reading recent trail reviews are great for this). Widdle example, recent rain in the area could mean a beautiful dry trail day or possibly a beautiful muddy trail day so maybe you bring an extra pair of clothes and something to protect the inside of your car for the ride back. Try not to stress it, its nature! Check the trail before you go so you'll have a heads up and take no mess when you do get out on the trails!
Are you going solo or with a compadre?
Let somebody know! Share your location, know where you're going ahead of time and share those details with your loved ones. Let them know when you're heading out and when you plan to return. If you can, bring a friend or go with a group. Let your people know who you'll be going with. Once you arrive to the trail, for an extra layer of caution, you can always place a piece of paper visible in your car with your head out date and time and expected date and time of return written on it. Information like this is great to find should an unforeseen incident take place and you hadn't arrived back to your car by your expected time. You can leave this information on your voicemail as well.
Exploring solo is amazing. You learn so much about yourself along the way. We love being able to share space with others and get out with a friend or group too. What ever floats your boat and finds your lost remote, do it! Just know before you go!
When are you going?
Similar to checking the weather conditions, trail length and difficulty, you may also want to decide the best time to go! Are you an early morning person or not so much? Will there be traffic while you're driving to your destination? What about parking at the trail head? Is it usually packed at the time you plan to arrive? Should you bring a change of clothes as the weather changes during the day? Driving from Atlanta to North GA during certain times of the year can have drastic changes all in one day. I remember setting out to hike Mount Yonah one cool dry Atlanta morning. Arriving to a snow filled mountain and returning home to what felt like spring in Atlanta with everyone rocking short sleeves and flip flops. Just something to be mindful of before you head out!
What do you need to bring for a pleasurable hike?
We've done our safety checks, we have our gear and we know where we are going. Now, what do you plan to do once you get there? Are you planning to take in the scenery, spend time reading, journaling, or finishing a puzzle? If we have the space, we love bringing along a hammock, snacks (or a meal - no judgement), water, a speaker/headphones, a tripod for dope pics, and of course a good book to kick back with! Sunscreen, bug spray, a pair of shades, extra pair of socks/flip flops, first-aid kit, hair-tie, a blanket, a phone bank to charge your phone. What's going in your trail bag?
