Words By: Sean James
Hiking
A series of articles to help you start or progress your hiking in the UAE.
The hiking season in the UAE has already started and in the months since October, many UAE residents have been enjoying the beauty of the UAE landscape. The New Year brings many resolutions and in January these promises are still fresh in the mind. Many of these resolutions are based around getting fitter and healthier. Losing weight and starting an exercise program doesn’t have to be a chore. You can enjoy yourself at the same time. So why not take up hiking. This series of articles will take you from the very beginnings of hiking to more advanced techniques.
Every month there will be key information that will enable you to enjoy the great outdoors in the UAE and to start hiking. In addition there will be a suggested hike to get you outdoors and active.
Why hiking?
Firstly, hiking is cheap and accessible. You don’t need to sign up for a membership from a club and the doors are open 24/7. Many UAE residents overlook the outdoor environment here and have no idea what a fantastic limitless resource there is available on their doorstep.
Hiking is great with friends. Everyone has their favorite hike and each time you go out you can do a different one. Discovery and taking people to places that they have not been is a pleasure in itself and will also improve your own confidence. For me, one of the pleasures of hiking is planning to explore an area that I haven’t been to before.
Hiking can take all day and if you are lucky you can see the sun rise and set. If you don’t have all day you can pop out for a stroll in the afternoon after the chores. Hiking is versatile. It’s easy to learn and has been part of our evolution both as a necessity and as a recreational activity. Sadly, daily walking as part of everyday life is declining and the effects on society in the last 10 years are all too obvious.
So why should we hike?
There are many reasons. Studies have shown that regular walking lowers blood pressure and reduces stress. It helps you cope with the demands of work and family life. Running has similar effects as walking or hiking. Hiking however has less of an impact on the body and we can hike for longer. According to Offthegridguru.com research, we become more relaxed and our ability to concentrate increases after we have been hiking.
Living in an urban environment like Dubai or Abu Dhabi is energy sapping. There are so many stimuli that compete for our attention constantly bombarding our senses. Hiking also competes for our attention but at the same time it allows scope for reflection. This is known as involuntary attention and provides positive outcomes. Something called soft fascination is invoked when we have contact with nature. It helps us to be more creative and supports the recovery of our mental health. Walking exposes us to many new and unique experiences and emotions. All of these boost our state of mind. After your first hike you will feel energised and ready to planning the next one.
So how do you start?
The easiest and most sociable way is to join a club. In the UAE, there are many social networks, many online that organise day trips and weekends. Taking advantage of the expertise of others is a great way to progress. Once you become proficient and confident, you can return the favour to others who are looking to start.
Taking a course with a company that has qualified, experienced and motivated instructors is also a good way to start. A good company will customise the hiking experience to suit you, ensuring that you are comfortable with what you are doing in addition to developing your skills.
Download the the GPX file for your GPS device here:
www.outdooruae.com/downloads/newyearshike2013.zip.
Hiking is for everyone
There is something in hiking for everyone. A short 30-minute walk around the mangroves to observe the flamingos or along the corniche to watch the fisherman can be just as rewarding as scrambling up steeper terrain in the Hajar mountains.
All of the hikes in this series do not require technical equipment and no knowledge of ropes or climbing. Only the basics.
So what equipment do you need to start?
Believe it or not, your first steps can be done with what you already have in your closet. Just get outdoors and walk. When you do you will find that there is a massive push towards sport and exercise in Dubai. Along the beach you will find dedicated walking tracks, explore the old town of Bur Dubai early in the morning and feel the city come to life or wander around the outer fringes of The Palm and look back at the million dollar view that is envied all over the world. There are so many places in the UAE that are possible to hike without having vast experience.The most important thing is to get yourself out of the door and explore.
However, everybody likes shopping, and the outdoor industry has some fantastic clothes and equipment with which to entice hikers.
Feet
Your feet are important. The rougher the terrain, the more robust boot or shoe you should consider buying. The UAE is warm for most of the year so many people opt for lightweight shoes, particularly on level, even ground. If you sign up for a course in the mountains or wadis, a rigorous instructor will insist that your footwear supports the ankle. This ensures that you do not turn it that will result in a sprain. Boots are essential in this case on rockier, uneven ground. The UAE has many good shops from which to choose. Unlike walking in Europe or America you will not need shoes that are waterproof. Definitely not recommended are loose fitting shoes, sandals or flipflops.
Clothes
Lightweight and loose fitting clothes are more comfortable and cool for hiking. Females may also feel more comfortable if they have something in their men’s backpacks to cover with if they are hiking through more traditional villages. Some hikers who have crossed over from sports such as running or triathlon may prefer the Lycra fit. Although most of the time the anxiety and unease will be on your part. What is important is that you dress in comfortable clothes that are not going to rub or chaff and allow adequate cooling. Applying Vaseline is a good idea on those areas where rubbing may occur.
I have taken Emirati groups hiking who wear traditional Arabic dress and this should not be a hindrance. All I asked is that they wear shoes appropriate for the terrain and sports clothes under the abaya.
You might not think it but it can be cold in the UAE. You need to consider the weather when planning a hike both in the summer and the winter. Some of the mountains in the UAE are over 1,500m. A hat, a pair of gloves and a warm jacket to put on are essential for long hikes in the winter. The “lapse rate” is a formula that is used to calculate the decrease in temperature as you hike higher. The temperature drops by about 0.5 to 1°C for every 100m in elevation. Imagine you start hiking at Ras al Khaimah in January. The temperature is 20°C at sea level. When you reach 1,000m, it is possible that the temperature could be close to 10°C. If it is windy and starts to rain, the temperature will drop even further and you may find yourself very cold. Check the weather forecast before you leave.
Backpack
The length of your hike and time of the year will determine the size of your backpack. If you are going overnight and carrying food, sleeping equipment and water you will need a larger backpack e.g. around 50L. If you are just out for the morning, a small pack that fits around your waist and can hold your camera, phone, some snacks and water will be sufficient. What is important is that your hands are free which will give you better balance and stability.
For the warmer months in the UAE and on hikes where you don’t expect to find water stops, you may be carrying a lot of water, up to 4L. 1L is 1kg so that is a lot of water. There are backpacks that also double as water bladders. These are great for drinking whilst walking. A rubber tube hangs over your shoulder and you can take sips frequently. They also have pockets for snacks, keys and cameras, etc. As you hike make sure you check how much is left in the bladder as it’s easy to keep drinking and not realise you are empty until you hear a sucking noise.
Emergency kit
The more remote your hike, the more extensive should be your emergency skills and equipment. If you are regularly hiking in isolated areas and with friends it may be well worth taking a first aid course. The group will feel more confident knowing they can cope with incidents that occur.
The UAE has an extensive communications network and you will be in phone coverage nearly all of the time. Sometimes in hidden wadis or valleys the signal may disappear but moving to a higher location may solve that. In the case of Stairway to Heaven, a classic hike near Wadi Ghalilah you start to receive welcome messages from Oman Telecom as you near the plateau.
Head torch
You may intentionally plan to finish or start in the dark. At sunrise and sunset you will see a lot more than during the heat of the day when the animals appear. A head torch or flashlight is indispensable. Again it’s best to get one that leaves your hands free, especially if you are travelling over rough terrain.
Food
A 70kg male hiking in the mountains will burn nearly 600 calories every hour. Your body can only store 2,000 calories in readily available energy. After that you will feel weak, dizzy, and lightheaded and your decision making ability will be impaired. Don’t starve yourself when you exercise. You need to fuel continuously so your tank does not run low. You will not enjoy yourself if you feel constantly weak. Gels and sports bars are great but if you don’t like the taste, don’t take them. If you don’t eat them at home, why would you eat them when you go hiking? I have one particular friend who everyone enjoys hiking with because his wife prepares excellent lunches that has become customary for us to share.
Make sure you match your energy requirements with the food that you take.
