Fit Milwaukee Goes Hiking

Everyone please welcome Jim and Cheryl Raffel to the Fit Milwaukee blogging family!

Because I was raised in a hiking family, I never viewed hiking as exercise. Hiking is just something I have always done. My parents planned week long annual family vacations around hiking destinations like Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. In both those places the views and wildlife are so amazing you seldom think about how tired and sore your body is from a day of hiking (sometimes as far as 8-10 miles).

Living in Southeastern Wisconsin we are blessed with a near perfect training ground for Mountain Hiking. The trails of the Kettle Moraine are a fantastic place to get your trail legs. There are also many County and Municipal parks with trails that will challenge even the most seasoned hiker. We enjoy hiking these trails year round and while anticipation of our next mountain hiking trip is always in the back of of minds we enjoy the trails for their own beauty and challenge.

Hiking is “off-road” walking and just as bicycle trail riding requires different equipment than road riding, hikers need the correct equipment. I suggest pair of trail runners for light and fair weather hiking. Trail runners offer more stability and a more aggressive tread pattern than running shoes or cross trainers. Waterproof breathable over the ankle hiking boots are also essential for Winter hiking in Wisconsin. When you Mountain hike you will be hopping streams and walking over uneven surfaces all day. You need to keep your feet dry and your ankles protected.

As you become more involved in hiking you will end up with lots of layers. Most of my hiking clothing is breathable, waterproof and moisture wicking. Start with a great pair of hiking socks, and a waterproof breathable shell. You will figure out the rest as you go. Hikers, like runners, are a friendly bunch. When you see someone on the trail with equipment you think is interesting, ask.

Starting soon Fit Milwaukee will be organizing hikes in the hills of the Kettle Moraine. If you plan to join us for the Winter hikes make a trip to your local sporting goods store (#ShopLocal) to pick up a pair of hiking boots. Once Spring rolls around all you will need to join us is a decent pair of walking shoes (again, I recommend trail runners) and some comfortable clothes. The plan is to organize a hike or two every month year round. You will be surprised how warm you stay Winter hiking with the right equipment. Feel free to contact me with questions about equipment.

Join us for our first hiking outing this Saturday afternoon, February 6th. You can find all the info on our Facebook page. Hope to see you there!