Hiking 101

1. Hiking in short

Walking, but somewhere other than a sidewalk. It’s the outdoor activity that demands the least gear and the least learning — which also makes it the easiest to take too lightly.

Almost everything that goes wrong on a hike comes from three things: picking a trail that’s too demanding, starting too late, or dressing for the weather in the parking lot instead of the weather at the top. The rest of this guide is mostly about that.

2. Reading a trail listing

A listing almost always gives the same four numbers. Knowing which ones actually matter prevents most bad surprises.

3. The gear, piece by piece

For a first outing of a few hours on a marked trail, you need far less than you’ll be sold. Here’s the real order of importance.

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4. Why distance tells you nothing

Two routes of the same length, two completely different outings. The profiles below are illustrations, not real trails — but the gap they show is the one you actually feel.

5. Where to hike in Quebec

Plein Air Québec lists 1035 trails and hiking spots. For a first outing, aim for a marked loop of a few kilometres rather than a summit.

See every trail on the map →

6. Your first five outings

1. 1

   Pick a marked trail and a short loop. Starting small leaves you energy to enjoy the walk instead of enduring it — and you’ll then know what to aim for.

2. 2

   Start early. It’s the dullest and most useful advice: a two-hour margin before dark single-handedly solves most situations that go sideways.

3. 3

   Tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Cell coverage is missing on many trails, and nobody can look for you where they don’t know you are.

4. 4

   Download the map offline before leaving. A map that needs a signal to display isn’t a map.

5. 5

   Be willing to turn back. It’s the only skill that really matters, and the hardest to use — the summit will still be there next time.

One last thing: the weather at the trailhead isn’t the weather at the top. It’s almost always colder and windier up there, and that’s exactly where you stop to eat — standing still and sweaty. The layer you left behind is always the one you want right there.