Your body needs:
Sleep Try to go to bed early the evening before, in order to have a good rest and to fully enjoy the hike.
Water Bring at least 1,5 litres of water. Besides still water, unsweetened herb tea or diluted juices are recommended. On hot days, make a water break every 30 minutes.
Food Bring along a snack, it should be rich in carbohydrates and easily digestible. While hiking, you burn a lot of calories and you should be able to get new energy through the right food.
Breaks Know your limits! Find a pace that you can keep for several hours, make short breaks (no „stop and go“). Listen to your body!
Clothing Nothing is worse than not having brought enough clothes and having to freeze. Better to put on more layers than less. You also might want to bring an extra shirt to change.
Protection We are outdoors for many hours, protect yourself against sun, wind and rain.
Please note:
- Don’t pick any grapes or other fruits from the vineyards
- Take all your waste with you – leave only your footprints
- Don’t pick any wild flowers or plants – some of them are the only food source for certain types of butterflies
- Stay on the marked trails
Get more out of hiking:
Conscious breathing: while walking, focus on your breathing. Feel your body. What kinds of scents do you smell, what do you see? Like this, you will be fully present in your body. You can integrate this exercise later on in your day-to-day life.
Awareness: be aware of your feelings before and after the hike. What has changed? Just recognize it.
Sharpen your senses: what shades of green do you notice, how blue is the sky? Are you aware of the different patterns of leaves, blossoms, roots and barks? How does it feel to hold the sun-drenched stone in your hands? Can you smell the hay and the freshly cut grass? Do you feel the coolness of the forest on a hot summer evening? Do you hear the song of the blackbird? When was the last time that you walked barefoot? The moist forest soil feels differently than the dry tree trunk that you can balance on…
Times of stillness: try hiking in silence – you will see how fulfilling this is.
Digital detox: switch off your phone, go offline!
Cloud watching: lay down on the lawn and watch the clouds – this is a very relaxing exercise that I still remember from childhood.
Tree hugging: have you ever tried it? It is amazing, really!
Embrace all seasons: get yourself out there and experience every season – this will bring you closer to the natural rhythms of life. Like that, you may be able to feel spring in the midst of autumn.
