If you are in a decent shape, it will get easy for you to rest and get better just in a day or two. But, if you are not feeling well and stay sore till a really long time, it is best if you change your approach towards it. There are various experts such as the veteran Appalachian Trail (AT) hiker and Sales Manager at Tim Bird at the REI store in Knoxville, Tennessee, who give out advice on the road to recovery after a hard day at the trail.

Here are a few tips to prepare you to recover from a strenuous hike. Some of them are:

  • Plan reasonably and know your limits. If you know that you cannot hike much, take a step back.
  • Slow your pace at the beginning and warm up until you get to the end.
  • Eat, drink well, and include planning your meals carefully as you gear forward.
  • Get different types of gear that helps prevent fatigue.
  • Stretch, and do yoga poses or self-massage your muscles.

 

  • Consider Trekking Poles

If you are not an experienced hiker, you should consider trekking poles. Your ankles will thank you and you won’t fall off from rumbles or downhill and the poles will support your knees and ankles. For tips on how to decide a pair, you can read the https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/trekking-poles-hiking-staffs.html to learn more.

 

  • Make a Plan and Eat Well

You can just carry your weight easily if you plan it out well and just wing it when it comes to meals and snacks. You can check out the meal planning for backpacking or guidance on putting together a meal for yourself. It is also a smart way to try different meals and snacks on the hikes as well as overnight trips, rather than finding out on a different trek that includes you fuelling your body through different types of food that also takes care of your taste buds.

 

  • Warm Up and Cool Down

This is a technique that is brought from runners. You should begin your hike and go at an easy pace for the first few kilometres and allow your muscles to warm up. Once you are warmed up, you can increase your pace. When you are about to reach the destination, you can slow your pace again and allow yourself to rest for sometime so that you can prepare for your descent.

  • Stretch and Massage Yourself Right

If you know any yoga poses, you can make use of it and stretch a little. You can also do a light stretching right after your finish your hiking. Stretching during your routine check means that you do not have to rush through them. You can also check out the Stretch for Trail Running inspiration. You can pack some of the gear such as the rolling massager, water or the fuel bottle so that you get some massages right away when you need it. You can also ease your body to a relaxed post-hike state.

 

Conclusion

You should also avoid the temptation to just collapse on the ground when you reached the top and removed your backpack. You should rather choose to do some yoga, some body massage or some form of relaxation so that you stay energized all the time.