How to look good hiking? An impossible task of femininity and practicality

Burdened with the challenge of mixing a feminine outlook with the practicalities of a good hike? Me too, but this can be simple, you just need to note the basics.

Extra’s: pashmina & hat

FOOTWEAR

Walking trainers. The boots are chunky and hot, the sandals seep in water. Just go with the walking trainer.

TIP: You can wear pop-socks for gentle walks.

LAYER IT

You’re probably going to be on varying gradients and weather will turn; with this so can your levels of cloth.

Start with a light base:  t-shirt, or a simple strappy top.

Add a long sleeve top – the thickness can be fleecy just note that your temperature will rise as you walk, so a simple cotton sleeve can also work well.

TIP: Carry a light weight waterproof jacket with a hood for when 
the rain pours and you get chilly.

HUG THE BITS THAT COUNT AND KEEP THE REST LOOSE

This differs for everyone, but generally tight hiking gear just gets sweaty. I go for trousers that zip at varying levels to alternate between a long leg, quarter length or shorts for different temperatures on route. These hug the bum and that’s about as much hugging needed.

TIP: Alternatively those jogging trousers you don’t mind getting 
messy are a comfy and loose way to handle an easy trek.

Note: If you know it’s going to be a snowy mountain top leggings can be a warm under-layer.

 Recommendations 

Fashion Questions and The Vancouver Sun

Reaching your highest point at Pozo de las Nieves

Not to be mistaken for Puerto de las Nieves which sits on the West Coat, Pozo de las Nieves meaning ´well of the snow´ is placed in the rural centre of the island in Tejeda, my favourite region of the island.

You will need a good friend with a car, or a gorgeous chaperone, to whiz you up the ever swirly roads finally taking you to a dead end that grants you panoramic vistas that hold its reputation as the highest point on the island.

Reaching 1,949m this area was at first covered in white fluff, but once the clouds shift a stunning backdrop is presented. From this height you can see Roque Nublo and claims have been made that you can view various other Canarian islands; however I have only seen the defined silhouette of Tenerife and Mount Teide.

Ensure you take a watermelon and walk down into the pine forests to sit and eat away the views with scrumptious refreshments. This area is also a favourite for decent hikes or camping.

Riding the wave… sort of

‘Listen I tell you something disgusting. Part your legs like so. Yes. Now, you see toilets in ground, yes? Good. Imagine one below – here –you have to get all that stuff right in centre, all your ones and two’s, that way you have your centre balance. Yes?’

My first surfing lesson had just begun.

To be honest if it wasn’t for the athletic men and gorgeous sunshine I’m not sure what drew me to surfing – it’s just cool. The beady bracelets, the wetsuits, messy hair; it’s a sure recipe for deliciousness. So I signed up to a surf lesson along Playa de las Canteras only to discover it’s actually rather difficult. You need serious upper body strength and gusto, as Ollie my instructor reminded me…

‘Natalie when you lift yourself on board, imagine you-lift-yourself-on-man. Now – go!’

So I went for it and belly flopped myself onto every potential wave. At this stage we were taking fairly small whitewash and the current was tame in comparison to the sea´s attitude this June. Swallowing half the sea is also a small habit you will have no choice in enduring.

When you go into your first lesson try not to get so frustrated, as I did, with spending 2 hours barely getting the method right. Instead avoid over thinking every instruction and you´ll have a much better time either body-boarding into the sand or eventually kneeling, as I have more recently managed to do and feel a great sense of accomplishment. Sort of.

It’s all about the method

It turns out surfing is very methodical, who knew? The technique goes as such:

“Paddle, paddle, paddle, hands on deck, foot to side, push your pretty ass in air and… UP!” So you should be standing now, kneeling or falling (yet again) deep into the water.

Swallowing half the sea is also a small habit you will have no choice in enduring.

Reality Check

The boards are actually really heavy and wide, the current of the waves are strong, every wave is different and the method is slow when you´re a newby.

The whole process is a real challenge and if you´re a water baby its the perfect sport to try. It’s also completely exhausting and dressing post-surf  proved difficult - to say the least - apparently I have muscles in my armpits which decided to throb relentlessly, making basic tasks a mammoth.

Part your legs like so. Yes. Now, you see toilets in ground, yes?

Surfing will test your endurance mentally to keep throwing yourself into the water after you´ve been beaten up by the waves and of course a physical feat.  

 I’ll meet those waves again and stand on that board, somehow, remembering to aim for the hole in the ground and to pounce on that man.

Roque Nublo: Rock in the Clouds

…waiting for the sun to dissolve into the West and all that is left are shadows.

Some how over the last few years I´ve developed into what modern day call a ´hiker.´ I even have the chunky footwear, although not so far as the boots, which give serious hiking attitude. All the same, there are times more recently when I find myself in these situations – half way up a gradient, sweating –  and I pause, have a good look at what´s going on, at what I´m seeing, and there´s this new scope.

Roque Nublo translated as Rock in the Clouds (or Rock Clouded); is a shape the Spanish nickname ´rana´ meaning ´frog.´ It was another blue skied afternoon in May that we drove to the centre of Gran Canaria, Tejeda, to find the route up to the rocky frog.

What You´re Dealing With . . .

You´re only dealing with a 30 minute walk with a few jarred stones to climb and then you emerge on top, viewing several things.

First you witness texture: pine instead of palm trees. Then there’s colour: rough greenery instead of blonde sand. And then there’s depth: you will be standing 1,803 metres high searching for the rock, which will be hidden in wispy clouds.

Walking into the cloud and around the rock will lead you to several different angles of light and curves of this little island. Soon the clouds shift so you can get a decent snapshot of this volcanic, reminisce.

In May the tourists aren’t too bad, but visit in the evening when no one is around and the clouds sit among one another, waiting for the sun to dissolve into the West and all that is left are shadows.

Camping Out: Mega Amazing or Mega Stupid?

First impressions can have quiet a big impact on people. My second, third and fourth impression of camping weren’t all that good, either.

ASSOCIATIONS WITH TENT ACCOMMODATION:

• It takes a very long time to set up – unless you have a scout member with you
• The level of comfort is at an all time low
• Weather is guaranteed to be bad. It rains (heavily) every time

A new found love for camping has, however, presented itself. It may well be down to the decent weather that made my bitter attitude fluff up a bit – but the whole experience can really be rather exciting, marginally comfortable and give you a true sense of adventure. You just have to go with the right people and the right weather.

Albeit this transition happened in California when budgets were strict and to tell you the truth, I’m all the more glad for it. The campsites had fire-pits where you stocked up your firewood and doubled up to make a BBQ grill. There was a fantastic mission to create our meal with basic tools (an army knife) and the foil we cooked in was also used as our fine dining cutlery. Accompanying this challenge was managing the entire setup in the dark, eventually with a head torch – a camper’s true best friend.

Of course I was wearing every piece of clothing I had brought on the trip by about 7pm- but the food was sizzling, our little tent was poised and we had an Alaskan beer in hand – this really was alright. There was also no sign of rain.

HOW TO MAKE CAMPING A SUCCESS:

• Take some padded bedding: blow up beds with duvets are a treat
• Ensure you have a good supply of beer
• Basics are essential: foil, army knife, head torch, matches
• Go with decent company
• Park close enough to the loos for that emergency night dash
• Take full advantage of the surrounding wilderness

The following day you will be woken up as the sunrises, warming you up ready for the adventure ahead.

Taking the swoop

They say its worse than bunji, especially going backwards.

When you find yourself on the North Island of New Zealand, pay a visit to Rotorua where you’ll find one activity that must not be missed:  the swoop.

For those that don’t enjoy being held horizontally at 141 feet, this may not be for you. But then this is what New Zealand is all about: facing those fears; be it water based or sky high, the kiwi’s can be trusted to deliver an adrenaline maxed activity.

The basis of it is you’re strapped into a sort of sleeping bag hamper, which is craned horizontally towards the ground. What happens next is a slow and grueling experience as you wave goodbye to earth and get taken higher and higher towards the sky. Once you’ve reached 40 metres (141 feet) the team at ground level count you down with a simple:3-2-1. This is your cue to pull the attached cord, releasing you to the ground (which you miss dearly at this point), making everything in your tummy go up and down and around. The crane enables you to swing back and forth, with your arms in the air and wind rushing through your eyes at maximum speed.

For real adrenaline junkies (or morons) try doing the swoop backwards, unable to see exactly where you’re going.  This is a brilliant activity that can be experienced by 3 people at a time, so don’t worry about doing it solo. Best not to really.

Contact Agro-Ventures following the site: http://www.agroventures.co.nz

50 NZ per person. Deals available on site and the second time you do the swoop its discounted.