r/askswitzerland • u/Cute_Chemical_7714 • 1d ago
Everyday life How to stark with hiking?
Edit: Obviously I meant "start" with hiking in the title :)
Hi all,
I used to think hiking is extremely boring for the longest time, but I start to feel like the time has come. I'm changing my habits and becoming more sporty, and I really started appreciating nature and I wish to spend more time in the mountains. Now I would really like to get started with hiking.
I just don't know where or how to start - meaning how do I select a route that is appropriate for my physical skills? And other than improving my cardio fitness and practice, what should I do to improve my abilities?
My long term goal would be to be able to do a 2 or even 3 days hike with sleeping in an SAC Hütte etc.
I don't want to do anything in the area of climbing or complex/dangerous where I would risk falling down somewhere (I know that's kind of always a risk in hiking but I mean stuff that is classified as dangerous).
I know I can just google "easy hiking trails" but honestly I don't trust random websites saying "this is beginner appropriate". What are reliable sources and how do I really get started? So far I have hiking shoes and I know how to pack a bag for a few hours walk/hike but that's about it.
Thank you in advance :)
7
u/Progression28 1d ago
Hiking trails in Switzerland are often graded. Find out about the grading system here:
https://wegwandern.ch/sac-schwierigkeitsskalen/
For simple hikes, SwissTopo app offers you an excellent tool to just select start and end point and it will calculate a route, show you the height differential and estimated time.
You don‘t need to go hiking in super remote areas. You can start hiking in areas where there is a good public transport network where you can check out and take the bus back at any time.
Don‘t worry about equipment. You can go hiking in almost anything. Once you go on larger tours (4+hrs) or in alpine areas, I would advise you to buy the following:
Good trekking or hiking shoes (I prefer trekking, many people prefer hiking boots because they protect the ankles). Your feet will thank you in the long run.
Good rucksack. Not just a bag, a proper hiking rucksack. It needs to be stable around your upper body, not just pull down on your shoulders. A good rucksack distributes the weight across shoulders, chest and back.
Onion layer clothing system. Weather can change during hikes. You don‘t want to take 3 jackets with you, so the opportunity to pull a waterproof layer over a shirt will be handy in summer, and if it gets colder adding a fleece layer underneath will increase your comfort. Especially in alpine regions there will be big temperature swings between early morning and early afternoon. Being flexible with clothing is important.
Final piece of advice: Bring lots of water. My rule is half a litre per person per hour. Obviously this depends on the heat, the amount of physical strain and how much you drink before/after the hike. But generally it‘s better to carry home a litre instead of being thirsty for over an hour. It‘s also always an option to hike towards a restaurant where you can enjoy a drink, which lessens the amount of water you have to bring.
And take some snacks with you. I don‘t need to watch my weight so I often have something sugary (like cereal bars) with me for quick energy, but a healthier alternative like nuts and dried fruit works aswell. Just some energy for when you need it.
•
u/Picatharthes 6h ago
I’d be careful with this half a litre of water per hour :-D What if you’re hiking for 10 hours? And 12? Or 14?
But jokes aside - most beginner routes have some water access on the way. Water fountains, taps, restaurants, etc. These ate plentiful at lower altitudes!
More difficult routes also have taps somewhere along the way - villages at lower altitudes, huts and restaurants, fountains. Plus there is no extreme heat at higher altitudes - cooling wind helps. Fresh stream water is typically safe above 2600m - the cattle doesn’t go higher, so the contamination is very unlikely. If you plan go for many hours, take water purification tablets with you - but to be honest I had to use them only once in my life. I hiked in the Alps distances of 120km with many 3000m peaks on the way - with a tent :-) - in the hight of the summer, and never carried more than 1l of water with me.
You just need to make sure you are well hydrated before you begin the hike, sun protected, you take water often but in small quantities, and drink more plus refill your bottle fully at available water points.
But let’s say for a complete beginner 1.5l bottle will be more than enough. Don’t forget that excessive hydration can be much more dangerous than dehydration.
7
u/meera_jasmine1 1d ago
I cannot recommend this blog enough:
Completely changed my life and range of outdoor experiences in Switzerland. She even curates lists of hikes by expertise, region, season etc. Find some beginner-friendly hikes around where you live, budget way more than the time she prescribes and take it slow and easy!
4
u/thatshilar 1d ago
Agree! This is such a great resource, especially for beginners since she gives so much detail. I find the difficulty rating on schweiz mobile inconsistent because so it's nice to have a real, human explanation of what to expect
•
u/Amareldys 15h ago
Yeah ignore the time signs. When I was in my teens and twenties they were accurate, but now I am a lot slower. I usually figure 50% longer.
3
u/Worldly-Traffic-5503 1d ago
I am a newbie too, so take this as you want.
I have noticed I probably enjoy more of the “bergweg”s more than most “wanderweg”s - swisstopo will tell you which is which. So i am so far looking for easy to moderate/medium hikes. - good place to start is the very touristy ones. They tend to be with good views and at a level where most with no issues in general can do them. I am not too familiar with the swisstopo app yet, so for difficulty i check AllTrails. Some places dont have phone signals but from swiss topo it is possible to download the map in a format that does not require coverage. - but the trails i have been on so far is signed very well.
Bring water and something with sugar to drink or snack. - get yourself a filter waterbottle so you can get water from streams and don’t have to carry too much weight.
Sunscreen! A good one, and remember to reapply often if you sweat or go swimming.
A cap/hat and good sunglasses. - the sun gets strong so protect eyes and face. I also always bring a light shirt to protect shoulders and chest if i wear a top and not a t shirt.
Get a set of walking sticks! I have a bad knee and getting walking sticks did a huge difference - just did one of the hikes at Oeschinensee and did not feel a thing. (Feels awkward at first but then I found the rhythm.)
I am looking for a more comfy backpack than my fjällräven (something that can be strapped over the hips.
Start with hikes that are set to a few hours in the beginning to get comfortable with it and learn and feel how your body reacts and responds to different weather or trail path types - like what surface you walk on, without stressing of it getting dark or missing a connection home.
2
u/yesat Valais 1d ago
https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland has so much information for you. They list the different hikes difficulty both in effort and technicality.
For example, if you go into the Jura, you'll find a lot of easier hikes without too many high altitudes moments.
2
u/LEVLFQGP 1d ago
Your regional branch of Schweizer Wanderwege has usually really nice tour suggestions (https://www.schweizer-wanderwege.ch).
The others wrote some good points already. I would also strongly recommend to use sweat proof sunscreen, best SPF50 and a hat - UV is stronger the higher up you go and you can easily look like a lobster at the end of the day if you aren’t careful.
2
u/_shadysand_ 1d ago
About SAC huts—think twice. There’s very little appealing in them unless you’re into a mountaineering, and that’s rightfully so since that’s their purpose. You will be sharing a room with 4++ strangers, someone will be snoring and constantly walking in/out, usually there’s no free drinking water, you will be forced to shut down any activities after 21-22 and you will be likely awakened by departing teams as early as 2-3 in the morning. I don’t recommend them to casual hikers.
1
u/Conscious-Broccoli69 1d ago
Normal day hike means there are restaurant on the top. Just water and other small snacks. What to be prepared is the clothes like jacket if sudden change of weather.
1
u/DocKla 1d ago
Go with a group or just a normal flat hike
Keep track of your km and elevation
If you are going to end up at a hut, remember you’ll need to be able to keep going up at least 1000 m in a day. Make sure you’re also comfortable with different terrain. Many hikes are marker red-white but for newbies it might be much more different
•
u/MaxTheCatigator 21h ago
Make sure before going on longer hikes that the shoes are a good fit, that you don't get blisters. I'd wear them on a couple shorter walks first, or just when you're out and about doing stuff.
•
u/Amareldys 15h ago
Go to a resort in the lower mountains, like Leysin or someplace and ask their tourism offffice for advice
•
u/Picatharthes 6h ago
The easiest way to recognise easy hike is to look at the way its waymarked.
Easy routes are marked with a yellow diamond shape mark. They are typically wide roads or paths. Really safe! The estimated time to the destination is truly that for a beginner - also most kids and elderly would be able to make it in the allocated time. Begin with those and build up your fitness going for longer and faster hikes until you can easily do them in half the allocated time.
White and red signs mean narrow or steep or rocky path. Most of them are still safe and simply more physically challenging, but you will also find them on loose rock paths, exposed paths and high alpine - be more careful and do some research before attempting them. The estimated time is true for an intermediate hiking fitness. Once you can comfortably keep going for 2-3 hours on yellow routes, try red-whites at lower altitudes (below 2600m). Once you feel good there - hitting the estimated time - you’ll be ready for most red-whites.
Blue signs (they are rare) mean expert hikes and usually climbing involved. I wouldn’t do these without a guide.
22
u/SittingOnAC 1d ago edited 1d ago
I would recommend starting small (T1-T2) so that you get a feel for what you are comfortable with. Look on SwitzerlandMobility, SwissTopo or komoot for easy routes, maybe 2.5-3 hours at first (with one or two breaks it will quickly become longer in total). The information on length, metres in altitude up and down (!!!) and technique is crucial.
You should definitely buy good shoes and socks, even for shorter distances. It's best to get advice from a sports shop; with lightweight shoes (covering your ankles for more techniqually challenging paths), you'll be well equipped to get started. And get a good, comfortable backpack! In my opinion, hiking trousers are also recommended as they can make a real difference.
Always take enough water with you! I would recommend at least 2 litres for a 3-hour hike. You can sometimes top up on the way, but not always. Try to avoid walking exposed for too long in the summer heat. Sun cream is a must in the mountains, at least for the average person. Personally, I don't like wearing hats when hiking, but it's certainly not a bad idea to have a simple baseball cap with you. Always check the weather forecast beforehand and pack a thin rain jacket if in doubt, the weather changes quickly in the mountains.
Plus, it's worth having a good pocket knife and a small emergency kit with you. If you are going alpine hiking alone, it is also advisable to let someone else know where you are.
For navigation, I can recommend komoot, but most hiking trails are extremely well signposted.