Dos & Don’ts of Trekking

Trekking is one of the most fun and adventurous endeavors people can have outside of a crowded room. It's one of the good ways to get in touch with nature, and it allows you to experience Mother Earth in her purest form.

However, it  is an activity that should be done with a lot of precautions so that one can have an enjoyable journey. It requires physical activity and mental strain, which you need to enjoy the trek in good spirits.

Taking a trek means going into the wilderness. If you’ve never done this before, or even if you have but want to learn more about how to do it safely, there are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind.

Here are some of them.

Do drink a lot of clean water. To ensure that you stay healthy throughout the trip, it’s important to drink only clean water. If you must drink from natural sources while trekking, make sure they are clear and flowing. Never drink stagnant water or still water that has been sitting untouched for too long.

In addition to avoiding stagnant or dirty sources of water, don't drink directly from rivers, lakes, or ponds. Instead, use a water filter or boil the water before drinking it. Don't drink directly from streams—some of them contain bacteria that can make you sick. 

Staying hydrated throughout your trek is important as this activity causes you to sweat a lot. Therefore, you’ll need to replenish those lost electrolytes and fluids by keeping yourself hydrated throughout your journey.

Do stretch before and after the trek. As trekking is considered to be a strenuous physical activity, stretching and cooling down before and after your trek is important. This is vital to avoid any injuries during your trek and also prepare and build up momentum for your body to be in a good condition when you set out on your trail.

Do inform family and friends on where you’ll be going. To ensure your safety during your trek, informing your family members and friends is also an important thing to do before heading out. Since you will be exploring the wilderness and unexplored territories, in case of emergencies, the people close to you would know where to find you.

Trekking is a good way to destress and detach yourself from the chaos of the busy metro, but this does not mean you should start trekking without even telling anyone where you are going and what you’re getting yourself into.

Do expect the unexpected. Expect all unlikely situations to arise like basic human errors, natural turbulence, and some off-the-plan turns. No matter how much your organizer wants you to get your money’s worth and time invested, understand that not everything will work smoothly. In fact, embracing these unexpected happenings can also be beneficial to you in terms of mastering life skills.

Life in itself is pretty unexpected, so when you take a trail through the wilderness, unexpected things are bound to happen. We cannot control every event or happening, we just have to learn to adapt and live with it.

Do trek responsibly. There’s nothing wrong with letting the adrenaline rush kick in inside our system, but we must know our limits. It only takes a millisecond and one reckless decision to get ourselves in danger. But don’t let this scare you away from doing things you’ve never done before. Dare to be adventurous and challenge yourself to new levels of risk, but at the same time, asses the risks if they’re already life-threatening or life-altering.

Don’t walk quickly or run down the route on a trek trail. Enjoying the wonders of nature is one of the great things you can experience while doing a trek. So don’t rush and pace yourself. The body needs time to adjust to the altitude and your heart rate will rise faster if you’re walking too fast. You need to rest, drink water, eat, and sleep at regular intervals in order for your body to adapt properly.

Never rush yourself because doing so will only hinder you from enjoying the journey. Take a minute to take it all in and slowly move on to the next stop of your adventure.

Don’t overpack. Bringing too many things on your trek could be a burden to you and your back. No matter if it’s too much food, hiking clothes, or gear, try to evaluate the contents of your pack before starting.

This will lighten your load and will make packing easier. Start with preparing a checklist for evaluating every single item you want to carry. Remember you only have one pack to carry all of your essentials and that pack will be on your back the entire trip. So be reasonable and don’t overpack. Leaving behind some things at home could also teach you a thing or two about being resourceful.

Don’t spray unnecessary aromatics. As you think about trekking and going out into the wild, you would imagine there are some days that you would not be able to take a bath and might smell bad. As a result, some people spray unnecessary aromatics on their bodies to avoid any of these unpleasant smells.

But these aromatics can attract bugs and insects that dwell in these places. Mosquitoes and insects that make your skin crawl can get attracted to the scent you’re spraying on your body. Sure, you smell great, but the risk of getting bitten by these insects is far worse than giving off an unpleasant smell.

Don’t wander off from the group. It may seem cool and thrilling to take off in the wild on your own for a while. But it won’t be cool when you get lost in the middle of nowhere with no one to look out for you. Your trek leads know the trail well, but what comes off the trail are as foreign to the things out there as you are.



Don’t look forward to the end of the trek. Always remember that trekking is about the journey and not the destination. Don’t be anxious every now and then, wondering how much of the trail is left. The trail plan is put together in a way that everyone makes it to the end, but how long to get there is solely up to you and your group. 

So stay carefree, breathe, and take in everything you come across. This might be the only time in your life that you’d be able to reach that location. Although your destination can be pretty amazing too, the journey and path you’ll be taking offers much more wonders.

Trekking is an adventure sport, one that is loved by millions of people around the world. It’s a great way to get out of your comfort zone and experience nature. But it’s always important to be aware of the potential risks involved, as well as what you need to do to prepare properly for your journey.

To become fully aware and prepared for this new and exciting adventure, Garmin’s Epix smartwatch is here to accompany you on your journey. This wearable combines a high-definition AMOLED touchscreen with Garmin's top-grade outdoor specifications—setting the spirit of adventure to a new urban rhythm.

Designed to aid you on your adventures from the urban jungle to the great outdoors in style, the Epix smartwatch is up to US Military standard so that you are ready for any environment, from the cozy indoors to the great unknown of the outdoors.

Using multiple satellite positioning systems (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo) and now added multi-band GNSS greatly increases positioning speed and accuracy so you can keep your bearings in the most challenging environments. 

So head on out and conquer whatever trail you have in mind. Wear the Epix smartwatch and achieve your epic goals with your newly discovered passion for thrilling adventures!