Beginner's Guide to Hiking: 4 Tips for an Awesome Hike

One of the best ways to travel on a budget is by foot! Spring is just around the corner, and with more sunshine and less snow in the forecast getting outdoors is an easy and healthy way to lift your spirits and your mood!

Hiking is a prime pastime for Timothy Craig Fant, who is an avid outdoorsman and explorer at heart. Here are 4 tips he recommends that will help any beginner get well on their way to enjoying the great outdoors one step at a time:

2.) Only bring the essentials

Packing light is always the way to go. Overpacking will end up weighing you down and adding unnecessary bulk to your travels. Keep things light - water bottle, sunscreen, cellphone, map, and a whistle. It's always a great idea to bring a few safety essentials with you in case of emergency!

2.) Choose the right trail

If you're new to hiking, try sticking with a trail you're somewhat familiar with. If you're a complete newbie, choose a more open area instead of dense woods. Always begin in the morning and choose a marked trail when possible.

3.) Dress in layers

One thing to know about hiking is the temperature can change drastically through any trail from beginning to end. Depending on time of day, location, shade and difficulty of the trail, your temperature will rise and fall throughout the day. Dressing in lightweight layers allows you to stay comfortable and enjoy the experience!

4.) Travel with a hiking buddy

Not only is traveling with a friend fun, but it's also much safer. If you're unfamiliar with the area and are new to hiking in general, try going with a friend to put your mind at ease. Two minds are always better than one, and making memories with a friend is always a great idea!

Interested in more travel tips? Checkout Timothy Craig Fant's projects on Contently!

How to Document Travel with Instagram in 4 Easy Steps

For adventure seekers like Timothy Criag Fant, travel is not just a hobby, but a passion. So far his exploration has taken him across the globe to France, England and Northern Ireland, Germany,  Norway, Greece and Italy. His dream is to explore all of Europe, and he is steadfast on his way to reaching that world travel goal! 

One way to remember a fantastic trip is by preserving the details through photography. With the use of smart phones, travel and adventure photography has never been easier! Why not share your travels with others who share a similar passion to yours - exploring the beauty and culture of the world. 

Instagram is a visual media focused sharing platform originally intended to share photos instantly with the user community. Naturally, the platform has expanded its abilities towards businesses and entrepreneurs over the years with the use of hashtags, mentions and advertising based on niche community interests. 

Sharing your adventures with other travel seekers is a great way to serve greater purpose to your travels, allowing you to share images, video and text directed towards others who share your passions!

Here are 4 steps to getting your own travel Instagram up and running in no time! 

1.) Choose an original name that embodies your own zest for travel. 

Does your travel revolve around cities? Culture? Food? Fashion? Nature? Thrill seeking? Choose a name specific to what you're interested in - have fun with it!

2.) Post pictures that you enjoy.

Share images that stand out to you, and add a brief description of why that image is interesting. It's not only a great way to share your experience, but it's also a fun way to look back on your travels down the line. Think if it as a travel diary and be true to your own originality! 

3.) Add hashtags.

Hashtags are an easy way to help others find your content based on interest. For example, if your travels are based on camping and hiking, you might add #camping #hiking #getoutdoors #nature #cabinlife and things of that sort to the text section of your post. Others who search those specific interests, will be filtered to your content because you associated those interests with your post. 

4.) Follow similar accounts.

This is how you really start to build your own community online. Follow accounts that you want to connect with. These could be accounts who inspire you, people you think might be interested in your content, organizations/community pages who share content similar to yours that might repost your content to their own audience, or accounts you might even want to work with for profit and affiliation!