Archive for June, 2010

Don’t Just Dream Adventure

Adventure | Posted by admin
Jun 14 2010
adventure

Adventure should be your key word when you visit Africa. This is the continent where life never disappoints and you can’t afford to miss a chance in life enjoy the warm weather. Forget Miami, the beaches here are more fun. So many lodges, hotels, camping sites, game parks, mountains, lakes everything you can imagine. The people are as hospitable as ever, willing to guide and caution, you will never walk alone. When you board a plane to Africa, free your spirit, you are coming home. Adventuring in Africa shouldn’t be a complicated affair. Everything you need is well catered for. Maps to act as guides are sold in bookshops, found at the hotel receptions, guides can be hired, four wheel drive Range Rovers for jungle expeditions and even tents to uplift your jungle feel. There are charter planes to deliver you to your destination and airstrips everywhere you might want to land. You also don’t want to miss the hot air balloon rides in the jungle as you experience Africa beautiful landscapes. Adventure now and you will have so much collection in your memorabilia. There is any sport you can think of. If you love kayaking, wind surfing, canoeing, fishing, diving, beach volleyball. The rivers aren’t as wild as the Amazon but the touch is the same as you will swim with hippos and African crocodiles i.e. the Nile crocodile will offer you a rare spectacle you haven’t experienced as you watch it devour its prey. There are a lot of books to read about history and scramble of Africa. Don’t just let your spirit dream; let it adventure.

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Hiking In A Foreign Country

Hiking | Posted by admin
Jun 09 2010
hiking

The following are our top 10 tips when planning to hike abroad:-

1. Never travel alone, whether you are out hiking for the day or leaving your hotel for five minutes. Travellers are primary targets for muggers and other criminals, but travelling in numbers will always offer a significant level of extra protection against becoming a victim of such crime.

2. Ensure that family, friends and a local contact, if at all possible, are all informed as to the full plans for your journey. Get in touch to update them on your progress at regular intervals wherever possible. This way, if you are midway through a hike with no means of communication, people who may otherwise contact the authorities out of concern will be suitably informed.

3. Always carry an inexpensive mobile phone with spare batteries, keeping it concealed wherever possible when in public places. Keep a separate list of important phone numbers, including that of the British embassy, in case your phone develops a fault and you are forced to use another means of contact.

4. Leave inessential valuables such as MP3 players and jewellery in your hotel’s safe or another secure and trusted location. Whilst hiking, carry only a certified copy of your passport, available from the embassy.

5. Your wallet should contain nothing more than sufficient cash for your immediate needs and no more than one credit card. Other belongings such as personal details, photos and so on should be removed prior to your trip and left in a safe place; at home if at all possible.

6. Carry a good quality GPS system, topographic maps of all areas you intend to visit and a high quality, accurate compass. Refer to them all at regular intervals, marking your position closely and keeping a record of your progress. You should regularly check your current position against your intended route and make sure that you are sticking to it as closely as possible.

7. Make sure you are fully aware as to any climate differences and that you are physically capable of hiking in conditions which may be different to those of your usual hikes. Take extra care when hiking in high altitude, keeping to a slower pace than usual in order to allow your body to adjust gradually.

8. Avoid hiking near country borders. You run the risk of accidentally straying over the border and in doing so could easily run into serious trouble with border guards, security officials or other authorities on the other side.

9. Don’t rely on the advice of locals for security information. Always seek professional security advice regarding your destination from the British embassy and perhaps consider taking a skilled and trusted guide to accompany you; someone who has considerable experience of the area in which you plan to hike will always prove a valuable companion.

10. Pay attention to government travel warnings. If travel advisories feel it necessary to release these warnings, it is with good reason that they do so. This advice should not be dismissed as being over cautious and should make travellers seriously consider rescheduling or cancelling a trip.

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Which Hiking Socks Are Right For Me?

Hiking | Posted by admin
Jun 06 2010
hiking

Those who spend their time walking and hiking in the great outdoors know that choosing the right pair of socks is just as important as choosing the right pair of walking boots. If you head off for a hike in your old nylon socks then you’ll soon be in for a nasty surprise. Not only will you have to deal with blisters, but your soggy sweaty smelly feet will be in a real state after just a short while. In this article we will be looking at some of the best walking socks around. Read on to find out more about the top walking sock brands and how to choose the perfect pair for you…

 

Why you need walking socks…

Most folks who are new to walking or hiking don’t realise how big a role the right socks play. If you head out wearing the wrong kind of socks, or socks that haven’t been specifically designed for walking or hiking you’ll soon find that your feet are in a lot of trouble.

Hiking and walking socks are specifically designed for comfort. You’re going to be doing a lot of walking, so you need to be comfortable. Specialist walking socks will not only help to reduce the risk of blistering, but they also often come with reinforced areas that add extra comfort.

As well as keeping your feet comfy, your walking socks will also need to keep your fee warm and dry. If you’re heading out in extreme temperatures, then it’s only a matter of time before your feet start to get cold. Wearing thick walking socks will help to keep your feet better insulated for longer, allowing them to stay toasty and warm all day long.

The problem with regular socks is that they often make your feet sweat. The more sweaty your feet, the more uncomfortable they’ll be. And, the more likely that they’ll smell. But, you won’t have to worry about this with your walking socks. Most pairs are made from wool or specialist materials that will help to regulate the temperature of your feet. The materials will help to wick the sweat away from your feet, reduce the risk of bacterial build up and odour.

 

Choosing your walking socks…

At Simply Hike we have a wide range of walking and hiking socks from the best named brands. In our collection you’ll find specialist socks from Bridgedale, SmartWool and Thorlo. When you’re choosing the perfect pair of walking socks, make sure you look out for the following key features -

- Lightweight

- Designed for walking and hiking

- Breathable

- Suitable for extended expeditions

- Wool mix and natural fibres

- Padding

- Ventilation panels

 

The Bridgedale, SmartWool and Thorlo walking and hiking socks come in a wide range of varieties of styles, designs and sizes for both men and women. At Simply Hike we carry many pairs from all three brands, which will make choosing perfect pair of socks for your next walking holiday a real piece of cake.

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