CAN YOU WALK THE WALK?

Hiking. As a kid, I hated it. I hated being that out of breath from just walking, the way it burned by quads, and how my head hurt as I gasped for air. But as I grew up, I found fun in all of it. Pushing my limits became a game and being so sore I couldn't move my legs was so, so satisfying. As I started hiking more and more, I found little tricks that made it so much easier and so much more fun. Here are the tips and tricks of hiking like a pro (or at least feeling like one):

Invest in hiking shoes: especially if you frequently hike, buy a pair! It's worth it. Take it from me- I spent years hiking in a dusty pair of Converse. But as soon as I got a real pair of hiking shoes, everything was better. I slipped less, my feet ached less, and I generally felt more comfortable on tough hikes. You can get relatively inexpensive shoes at places like Big 5, as well!

Bring a camel pack: These make carrying water so much easier. With a camel pack, the water is centered on your back plus you have instant access to water the whole hike! Plus you can store your phone, wallet, or anything else in the bag.

Pack frozen yogurt: Even when you're not hiking, frozen yogurt is the best yogurt. Take some singe serving packs of yogurt and stick them in the freezer the night before you hike. This way when you wake up bright and early for your hike the next morning, you can throw the frozen yogurt in your bag. Then, when you reach that peak or waterfall or valley, you can take out your yogurt and enjoy a cool, perfectly defrosted treat.

Hike in the morning: You'll feel 100% better when you hike without the sun beating down on you the whole way. Hiking in the morning, before the sun is at its peak will solve this! It also gets you up and at it early in the day, and you'll feel ready for the rest of the days activities.

Check back later for more tips and tricks. Happy hiking!