Beginning Hiker

I used to live in Tucson and I would recommend the river walk. There is bathrooms, water, and mile markers...and as you get proficient you can add in Sabino Canyon which is also marked for mileage. Then when you are really comfortable, you can start adding some real trails in. I would recommend hiking boots and a GPS (or a smart phone) so you can keep track of your distance.

Hope this helps!

Proper hiking footwear, and generally 2 pairs of socks, one to wick the moisture away and the other for padding / warmth where needed.
If they are established hiking trails there's info available on how long they are etc. I miss my weekly hike I could decide up front the 3 K trail or the 7K and if I got on the 7K and just didn't feel it there was an alternate path that made it 5K.
You can do all that you need without setting foot in a gym
Get your arms involved don't just trundle along with your hands tucked in your pockets, never know when you might need to grab something or catch yourself in a trip / fall.
Scan your territory, don't get caught unaware by a change in the terrain or by walking into an animal you didn't note was there.
Water for sure and some sort of trail-safe snack... like chocolate chips don't cut it as they will melt on you, but nuts, granola, trail mix, bannock, jerky.... anything stable and nice and portable. Don't go on a 2 hour hike and not have anything with you for food, you never know when your hike might wind up longer than expected.

The most important things if you are hiking in an area you don't know are a map and a compass, even if you don't think you need one, you can never be too safe! Also lots of water! In terms of what to wear good boots are the main thing, and ideally waterproofs. Bring a phone and always tell someone where you are going and check in before you leave/ when you are back, especially if you are out alone.

I love hiking, it's a great workout and you get to see the great outdoors! It's also a great idea to bring a camera and have fun!

I love hiking! My advice, take your dog! I love hiking with my pack and it makes it even more fun. Also, make sure you wear good shoes. I love my keen and teva hiking sandals in the summer. I can go from playing in the creek to climbing a steep hill with little to no issues. Take water with you if you are going to be out too long, especially in AZ. Also, never leave without a phone, and always be aware of your surroundings. My dogs help with the security, but I still try to be aware of any cars in the parking lot when I arrive at a park or other people. Lets see....OH, take a camera! You will see beautiful things out there! I love taking pictures while on hikes. I have an olympus that is waterproof, shock proof, heat and cold proof. Covers all the bases here in Ohio. Finally, before you go on a long hike, let someone know where you are. I don't know how dense the areas are that you are hiking in, but safety first. There are a million things that can happen when you are in the thick of mother nature. It is good that you are hiking with someone. I'm usually alone with my dogs. I think you will love hiking and you can really burn some calories out there. :-) Have fun and be safe!

im in PHX and i just started too. I had made a goal to climb all the major peaks in the area before i turned 30 so i thought i'd start small. I went on a hike with some friends who do this all the time and they said "oh this one's easy, we call it pu**y peak!" yeah i almost died... so what i learned from that day was:

1) take your time and take as many rests as you need, cause you dont want to try to climb huffing and puffing and dizzy. especially around sheer rock faces.
2) small investments, such as a "camelback" and good shoes, are worth it.
3) If you aren't going to restrict your climbing to Oct-Mar then you should only hike sunrise early, lessens chances of sunstroke and reptile encounters
4) If you arent going to hike with a buddy or a dog, try to find out the high use times for your trails, once you become more experienced, hiking alone is okay but while in novice status you might want someone to know if you go missing/ get injured.

Thats all i learned from my first time out. I hope to get to get out there again soon myself!

Heyya neighbor! I'm in Albuquerque, I walk the pups along trails and hope to take them for a real hike at some point.
Follow trails as much as possible. I always have a big bottle of water with me, along with mace, a knife, tissues, and I really need to add in a first aid kit and a granola bar or snacks.

Make sure to dress in layers, even if it's 70-80 degrees out you always prepare for the worst case scenarios. If you're going balls out, make sure to at least tell someone where you're off to, cell service here turns to crap in the foothills, it may be the same where you are.

As for monitoring calories, it can be tricky without an HRM to give you an idea of how hard you're working. Once you get your feet beneath you on the hiking, try tossing in some trail running intervals. To measure distance, you can get maps online to see how far you travel or if you have a smart phone, they have apps for "map my run" and things like that. I'm not sure how a pedometer would do with hiking as I don't have one.

A lot of this sounds like what my mother would tell me as a kid and I would roll my eyes. A girlfriend and I went up into the mountains one spring and I was smart enough to listen to my mother. My friend was wearing a sundress and sandals. My friend got her truck buried in mud. As I was the only one dressed in any sort of manner to be hiking, digging, etc. guess who dug out the truck while the other one sat there looking pristine and pretty and was freezing because she didn't have proper clothes on? I'd rather be prepared and not need it than need it and not have it.

Best of luck to you and enjoy the awesomeness of hiking

O, and I clicked on this because I had just finished reading a passage from Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific West Trail.

http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Found-Pacific-Crest-Trail/dp/0307592731/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330032670&sr=1-1

Wow everyone here is so helpful!!!

I will see about bringing my dog, but I dont want her getting injured going after a snake or something

My honey is taking me out TONIGHT to get new shoes so I told him about REI, thanks for the suggestion!

I have a some friends in PHX and I think i know which "peak" you are talking about haha



I dont have a heart rate monitor, but I just list it for an approximate low-ball as "Hiking," would that be about accurate?

I just put it in on MFP, seems a touch high to me but again, my HRM is more trails with two dogs that have to stop every 5 seconds to smell this, pee on that, talk to this person/dog/cat/bird/bush. I think you'll be on the right track

I love hiking - and it's the main form of exercise I get. I think everyone's got it covered already, but my top tips are:

1. Drink plenty of water. Always carry more than you think you will need - I use a Platypus hydration pack that goes in my regular rucksack. It has a tube that you attach to the strap near your shoulder so you can have a slurp whenever you need it, without having to stop. Extra water may weigh more but - hey! - it's like weight lifting and will help you burn more calories!

2. Good healthy snacks such as bananas, wholewheat wraps with hummous and salad, nuts and seeds etc.

3. Be religious about timing your walks and log the route when you get back (Excel spreadsheet is fine). Next time you do it, see if you can beat your previous time.

4. We don't get much hot weather in England but when we do, sunscreen, a long-sleeved lightweight shirt, wide-brimmed hat and good sunglasses are a must (plus extra water!).

5. A good pair of hiking boots. I have Meindls for winter and Asolo for summer. It is the most I have ever spent on footwear but I've had the Meindls for seven years and they are still going strong (my last pair lasted for 15 years). If possible get them fitted at an outdoor shop as different makes suit different feet shapes. If you can't get to a shop then do your research first (e.g. generally Merrells are a wide fit, Asolo narrow etc). This review site is good: http://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/Gear-Reviews/left-hand-nav/Footwear/

Most importantly, have fun and be safe in the knowledge that the workout you are getting equals hitting the gym. Great cardiovascular workout and amazing bottom and leg toner!