Written by Megan Thiessen, Self Development Coach
Megan Thiessen is a renaissance woman. She works in Wellness, Self Development & farming. Living on a sustainable herbal farm with her husband and son, Megan always chooses a more self-sustained lifestyle for her and her family.
A small guide on the basics of hiking. Learn how to find hiking equipment in a sustainable cost-effective way. And how to keep yourself safe on the trails. As well, as hiking trails for the beginner to intermediate.
Movement has been in my family since I was born. My dad was always doing some kind of seasonal sport. He now runs marathons at age 63 and started training when he turned 50. He played Hockey, Soccer, and Baseball; my mum isn't as “sporty,” but she has backpacked through Europe, played a bit of soccer, and even took sports performances in college. Being outside, hiking, or biking all came naturally to me. It brought me so much peace.
It wasn’t until I became a mom myself. that I started to feel the “fearlessness” part of me leave. Something I didn’t know till much later in life. When you become a mom women’s hormones change. Fear, rationality and awareness hormones spike up causing us to have more realistic thoughts about our actions.
I lost my hike. I was unable to do anything by myself. Everything was so overwhelming. I hiked but my dad came a lot. I loved that extra help and my dad is such a calm person. He let me take all the time. I needed a lot of help back in those start-again days. I lost my independence and with that my confidence.
I got my hike back in the winter of the pandemic years. I spent Christmas with my mum in Waterton AB. I was fresh out of my five-year relationship. And was in a big transition. I left my kid with my mum and took on my first solo hike. No better way to shake up your life. Then diving face first into your fear. I hiked 10km in – 25 by myself.
I’m forever thanking myself – For never tuning back on that hike. I thank myself for saying, “Just go do it.” If it wasn’t for that one hike. I don't believe I would be where I am today. That one hike brought me inner joy, the kind of joy you only get by doing exactly what you love.
Now I am not calling myself a hiking guide. I'm just a mama who goes outside. And after a few conversations about how I started and how I hike with my kid. I finally decided to take the leap and start my own travel/hike blog.
Stoked about this journey.
You will be able to access each part of this article once a month. I will be sharing with you my go-to gear. What I believe is the difference between the words. HIKE & WALK. A few of my favorite trails and why. How I got my eight-year-old to come along for the ride. Before you continue, the most important part about hiking.
Tell someone where you are going.
The beginning
Proper equipment & what to bring on a hike
Hiking gear can be expensive. But don’t let the “look” kill the bank account. I’ve been able to find my wide range of hiking necessities without killing my bank account. Here is my rundown of what I feel are the most important gear. And the practical extras.
Shoes
First and foremost. Remember that you are just starting. And a good running shoe, water bottle, and hat will be all you need. It’s that simple.
Often my hikes are just that. I’ll even “hike” in my old running shoes with a hole in the toe. So what do I mean? By a good shoe.
I buy all my shoes from – Runner Soul Lethbridge AB. They study my walk. I get the perfect custom fit every time. I pay a good penny. But a quality shoe will save you pain and agony. You want a
shoe with quality support to your ankles and the soul of your feet. A too-high of an arch with the wrong foot and vice versa will give you instant regret. I like to try on three shoes and then try on the top two shoes. I walk around a bit and really feel the shoe. Then I pick the best shoe for my foot. Bonus points if they have lots of colors. I like a bright shoe.
Quick 101 what is a hike?
To me. The definition of a hike. Is a fast pace walk. A Long uphill or straight walk. Done on rugged terrain. Dirt or rocks or a little of both. Pavement I find is more definition a “walk”.
Hike boots - will come up to the ankle over the ankle bone. You can find boots that come up the bottom/mid-calf. These style boots are great when you are hiking trails where there is a lot of bush or thistles They also help keep twigs out of your boot.
I will warn you. You will have to do a bit of trial and error with the shoe department. I hike in my Solomon intermediate/expert cross. It’s lightweight and has the perfect foot support. I have quite a flat foot. I find these to be superb shoes for me. They don't have laces. I don't have to worry about my shoelaces coming untied, or being too long. Just small annoyances you want to avoid. I got them fitted by Runners Soul in Lethbridge Alberta Canada. I paid around $250.00. I don't wear them all the time Im going on third season with them. Makes the cost worth the buy.
You want a shoe that has a good sole. My Solomons have a ribbed sole, which helps keep me balanced. Rocks go in between the ribs of the soul around my shoe to wrap around the rock. Keeping me stable. Instead of rolling off the rock with a flatter soul. Possibly injuring myself. Fitness & Mobility training will also help with weak ligaments giving you more confidence in higher-level hikes. The ribbed sole doubles as a bike shoe keeping my feet from slipping on the petals.
This might not be your hiking shoe. This is a great place to start – When learning what you should be looking for. I’m an avid hiker. And train my body on a consistent level. I love an easy level hike & find intermediate hikes a thrill and a drive to work towards more expert-level hikes. (I will share more on hiking levels later on) I know my limits, but I do love a good challenge.
These are all reasons why I purchase the necessities that I need. Please make sure that you are staying within your limits. When it comes to hiking.
Where to find hiking shoes
You can get lucky at a second-hand shop and even the Facebook marketplace will be a good place to look for shoes on a budget. As I said before. The shoe will give you pain right away if you don’t pay proper attention to what you buy.
I would suggest spending the money and have happy feet. That means going to a trusted shoe store. Aim for hiking/adventure shops such as Mountain Warehouse. They have good quality products on a lower-end budget. Find hiking shoes for under $120.00. The North Face. Is another well-known sports apparel shop. They are on the higher-end budget, most shoes start at $170.00 ranging to $300.00. Candian Tire has a shoe selection but I find their eye-pleasing prices don't make my feet happy. Find them from $60.00 to $100.00. I would like to add that I have only seen a small selection of hiking shoes in the store locations and find more on the website. I don't like buying shoes without trying them on.
Hiking season is coming! Are you planning on hiking?
If you enjoyed this read, check back next month for the next hike guide. In the meantime, check out my articles on Sustainable Kitchen. For more information on my sustainable lifestyle, follow our herbal farm account on Instagram: @tinfamilygrows. Find our herbal care products on our website. Thank you for being here.
Megan Thiessen is a renaissance woman. She works in Wellness, Self Development & farming. Living on a sustainable herbal farm with her husband and son, Megan always chooses a more self-sustained lifestyle for her and her family. She strives to educate and empower others to seek a more purpose-filled life. Email Tinyfamilygrows@gmail.com for more educational information.
Megan Thiessen, Self Development Coach
Megan Thiessen is a renaissance woman. She works in Wellness, Self Development & farming. Living on a sustainable herbal farm with her husband and son, Megan always chooses a more self-sustained lifestyle for her and her family. She strives to educate and empower others to seek a more purpose-filled life, guiding Yoga and health for adults. She also empowers the youth; by hosting dance classes & art classes at her local Arts Station and at Live local events working with the Chamber of Commerce and Wapiti Music Festival.
