As temperatures cool in the fall and leaves start changing, people might want to enjoy the outdoors.
Hiking provides a great way for entire families to get exercise, experience nature, and observe wildlife. Everywhere in Mississippi, people can find places to take a hike in wonderful natural surroundings and diverse habitats. In Mississippi, 50 wildlife management areas, six huge national forests, and 25 state parks conserve thousands of public acres. In addition, numerous national wildlife refuges and other federal, state, and local public properties offer hiking opportunities.
“There are many great places to hike in Mississippi,” Geneva Dummer, a hiking enthusiast, said recently. “We have access to all kinds of trails in Mississippi. People can go big, or they can just walk for a short time on an easy trail. I take my kids almost every time I go.”
Hiking doesn’t need to cost much money, but people could spend as much as they want on gear. For starters, get a good pair of shoes that offer great support, especially for the ankles. Many people use walking sticks, or they can just pick up a branch off the ground. A good, lightweight backpack and some water containers should complete the equipment list for a day hike.
“I highly recommend someone get a good quality pair of comfortable hiking shoes,” Dummer said. “Always bring lots of water wherever you go. It’s easy to get dehydrated even on a pleasant day. Also, I would bring a compass. It’s easy to get disoriented, particularly in a wilderness area. People can download a compass app on a smart phone. I would also recommend bringing a whistle to signal people a long way off if you get lost.”
Before entering an area, particularly a vast wilderness like in a national forest, study electronic maps or satellite images of the terrain. Read about it on the internet. In most cases, hikers can follow well-marked trails wandering through public lands. However, some markers might deteriorate or disappear over time. Hikers can usually pick up maps of that specific area from trailheads. Even if hikers cannot get a signal on their smart phones, they can use the reflective screens as a flash signaling devices like a mirror if someone needs help.
“Not all trails are as well blazed as others,” Dummer said. “As long as a smart phone gets a signal, people can see trail maps and locations on it. They can also see exactly where they are.”
Some people might want to make a multiple-day wilderness trek while others just want a short stroll through a park. For multiple-day adventures, hikers will need to bring some type of shelter, bedding, matches, and enough food and cooking utensils. Any store that sells camping gear should offer various options for lightweight equipment designed for hiking.
Many public areas, such as wildlife management areas, national forests, and federal refuges allow hunting in the fall. During hunting season, hikers should wear orange and stick to the designated hiking trails to avoid conflicts and accidents.
