Outdoors Skill Building:
Hikers Need-To-Know Basics

By Diane Spicer

Why bother with outdoors skill building as a hiker?

Maybe you're like me: obsessed with being not only a better hiker, but a more capable outdoors person.

Outdoors skill building is a great hobby, and if I had more time to devote to it, it would be number one on my list of ways to be a better hiker.

But let's be reasonable.

We all have time constraints, right?

• Work
  
• Family
  
• School
• Hobbies
• Chores
  

Outdoors skill building:
some examples of resources

But if you're motivated, there are ways to devote attention to skill building activities which can be fit into any schedule.

I'm speaking specifically about free on line resources.

By making a wish list of outdoors skills you want to develop, you can prioritize your time and whet your appetite for a wider knowledge base.

Then you can delve in deeper, or not, depending on your preferences.

For example, maybe you've never done any hiking outside of fair summer weather. But when you see pictures of snowshoers, you are intrigued.

If you'd like to learn how to get equipped and ready for floating on the snow, start with these Hiking For Her resources:

• How to choose winter boots
• What to look for in a good pair of snowshoes
• Snowshoeing as a sport
• Safety as a snowshoer
• Stay safe in winter conditions

Another example

How would you keep yourself safe and out of trouble if you got delayed on your return trip to the trail head?

• I know hikers whose greatest fear is being alone, at night, in the woods. Truth be told, I used to be one of them! But I got better!
• Cultivating some survival skills can set your mind at ease, too.
• Being bear aware is a necessary skill in some parts of the world as well.
• Navigation becomes important when you're not sure of your route.
• And you have put together a survival kit, haven't you? If not, start here.

Outdoor safety skills for hikers

Why not spend some time thinking through what to do before you need to make a decision about your safety during wild weather or unexpected trail developments?

These links take to all of my resources and tips for safe hiking:

• Lightning safety
• Falling tree hazards
  
• Safe stream crossings
• High altitude safety
• Hot weather safety tips
• Cold weather safety tips
• Mountain goat encounters

Even more resources to build outdoor skills
as a hiker

Beyond offering my own resources, I'd love to be able to help you develop your trail skills, and in fact it would make a fine excuse to meet each other and spend some time on the trail, wouldn't it?

But let's do the virtual version.

Here's a suggested list of resources for you to dip into as you begin exploring ways to expand your outdoor skills knowledge base.

I'll add to this list as I find more great sources of knowledge for you.

In no particular order: ways to explore building some outdoors skills to make you a stronger, smarter hiker:

Survival videos U.S. Army Field Manual

Hiking For Her's Outdoor Skills For Hikers

Lots more coming soon :)

Now it's up to you for
outdoors skill building

That should be plenty of options to get you thinking about how to build a stronger set of skills as a hiker.

I'll be adding more outdoors skills resources as I navigate cyberspace in search of good sources of knowledge for you. It's the whole reason for this website!

• I call it the "seek and share" imperative.

By the way, I welcome your suggestions.

Send them here.

It's just one way of being a good (virtual) trail buddy!

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Outdoors Skill Building