Throwback: Phase I of PATH400 Officially Opened 4 Years Ago
Four years ago today we officially opened the first phase of PATH400. Today we are more than half way finished with the entire project with plans to extend to Sandy Springs.
How to Prepare for a Night Hike
We talked in our previous article about why you should go on a night hike. But it is very important, unless you are an experienced night hiker, to take the time to prepare yourself before going on a night hike. Night hikes have a greater risk than most day hikes. Aside from the obvious darkness, you must deal with additional solitude, the potential for being lost, and averting injury. Additionally, being aware of local wildlife will now include nocturnal animals. However, there are many things that you can do to maximize your chances of a good hike.
First, always hike in a group. Night hiking alone can seem appealing, but it compounds all of the risks of the trek. Not only are you more vulnerable if hiking in an area with larger wildlife, but if you are injured there will be no one who can go for help. Because trails are typically more empty at night, it could be a long time before someone comes along. And nighttime conditions are often more severe than daytime conditions. If you are in an area that gets cold, you could be in bad shape by the time morning comes. Having a group will ensure that if someone is injured, they will get out safely.
Know your trail. When considering a night hike, I would ALWAYS advise to hike it beforehand during the day. This will hugely decrease your chances of having to deal with an unexpected problem at night. Knowing a trail well will mean that you have a good, but safe experience come night time. Hiking on a trail that you do not know could lead to injury, in the case of hazardous terrain, or becoming lost, if you do not have landmarks to navigate by. Injuries due to unsafe terrain can be avoided if you have scouted the trail in the daytime.
Bring proper supplies. Some people forget that a night hike is still exercise, and will neglect to pack critical supplies such as water or food. But there are additional supplies to bring when night hiking. I would always carry at least two flashlights (headlamps are ideal), and have a spare set of batteries. If you lose your light when in the middle of nowhere, you are in serious trouble. Second, make sure that you have appropriate clothing. Temperatures can drop rapidly at night, and being unprepared is asking for trouble. Look at the expected temperatures, and plan to have clothing appropriate for the weather.
Why you should Night Hike
One of the best ways to create a memorable experience is to go on a night hike. Night hiking can be a wonderful way to escape crowds, fit in exercise, and try something new. Being able to execute a successful night hike can be a very fun and healthy way to spend an evening. Additionally, timing your hike to coincide with other events such as a meteor shower or a clear sky can result in views that would not be visible during the day. Additionally, it is usually easier to find some solitude and get away from crowds when hiking at night.
Why night hike?
Night Hiking is when you intentionally go hike a trail, climb a peak, or otherwise explore nature after the sun has set. This will be a completely different experience than daytime hiking, and so should be approached differently. That being said, if you are willing to prepare and hike carefully, it can be incredibly rewarding. One of the best reasons for night hiking is that you are free to go whenever you wish. Many of us have work or other obligations during the day, but have the freedom to use our evenings as we please. Night hiking can be done after a busy day. However, because most trails are at peak use during the day, you will usually be able to avoid crowds. Even very popular trails are nearly empty at night time. One of the best things about hiking is that it can help you to get away from busy areas, and spend some time with a close friend, partner, or family member. Night hiking can allow you to find this closer to home, on a well-maintained trail.
What is the Difference?
Night hiking also offers a completely different environment and experience than daytime hiking. One of the best times to go night hiking is when there will be clear skies. If you can get away from a city, a night hike can provide an amazing star show. Bring a few friends, and maybe a blanket to lie on. There are websites that can help you find the light pollution levels in your area, and allow you to find nearby dark spots. Seeing a clear sky with little light pollution can be an incredible experience, particularly if you have only ever seen it from a city. A quiet beautiful star show can make a long hike worth it.
Why to join a fitness group
One of the best ways you can up your fitness and have fun is to join a fitness group or take a class. These are often offered at gyms, fitness centers, or will be community focused options in public spaces or parks. There are a wide variety of classes and groups that will allow you to find an environment that you enjoy, and also keeps you healthy. Some of the most common groups include yoga, biking, Pilates, or even walking and hiking. Finding a group that you fit well into is the key. Often it is more important to find a group of healthy and supportive people than it is to focus on what exactly the activity is.
Make Friends
Finding a group of likeminded or similar people can be a great experience. For example, there are fitness groups targeted at mothers, fathers, body builders, and athletes. Within these, different entities will foster environments that appeal to people from every walk of life. Whether you are looking for a high intensity, performance focused workout, or something that is more spiritual, there will be a group for you. This can be a great opportunity to not only find people who are similar, but to find things in common with people who you would never have expected to share something with. Getting to know others from diverse backgrounds and participating in something together has been linked to greater levels of happiness and increased empathy. So finding a workout group can not only help you be fit, but they can help you socially as well.
Get Support
One of the best things about a group is that it will encourage you to show up and be active. It is easier to show up and work hard when you know that your friends will all see that you are absent. This can create a healthy amount of pressure to keep up with the exercise. Additionally, when you are there, you will be pushed harder, as you will be trying to keep up with the others around you. Finally, if the class has an experienced instructor or leader, they will be able to ensure that you stay healthy. Ensuring that we use proper technique and stay within our abilities is a lot easier when there is an expert watching us. This will help us to build the healthy habits that will stay with us long term.
How to exercise alone
Many of us like to exercise with a partner or group of friends. While this can make some things easier, it isn’t always possible to find a good workout partner. If we are new to an area, are not particularly social, or simply lack friends with healthy habits, we may find ourselves in a situation where we cannot find a friend or group to work out with. Additionally, sometimes our schedules will not line up with others. Finally, some workout partners actually drag us down. They suggest skipping workouts, contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle, or don’t take the workout seriously. In these situations, we have to find ways to exercise effectively without that net. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of a workout by yourself.
Set Rules
Understanding your physical ability and what will challenge you is one of the keys. If someone else will not push you, you need to push yourself. It is easiest to do this if you can write down your workouts beforehand. Having a solid set of objectives and tasks to accomplish will help you to stay on target. Instead of trying to keep up with your partner, try to keep up with your expectations. Having clear goals for your workout will help you to stay in a healthy and challenging workout pattern.
Be Consistent
Often the biggest challenge in being active is consistency. There is a reason why gyms in January often see far more customers than In February. People start working out, but quickly lose steam and stop going. Finding a way to be consistent in your exercise is key in seeing a difference in your life. It is far more helpful to do a shorter workout consistently than doing intense workouts but only sporadically. The best way to increase your long-term health is to find a way to be consistent. Whether this takes a calendar, an alarm, or some other tool to help you remember, prioritize consistency.
Find a trainer
This one kind of sounds like it is cheating, but it is a good option that is available to most of us. Most gyms or fitness centers offer some type of personal trainer. If they don’t, they often offer classes or special sessions. If you look around, you can find someone who will help you to be in a good and challenging environment when you are working out.
Understanding Stroke and Decreasing Your Risk Through Exercise
One of the greatest benefits of consistent exercise is the effect that it has on the brain. Exercise can decrease your risk of stroke, promote healing after injury, and help your chances of survival. However, to get the most out of this, there are several things that you should do. Modern research has given us a much better understanding of some of the most common and debilitating health problems. Understanding your risk factors, and working to help yourself decrease their impact can help to increase your chances of living healthier and comfortably longer.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is what happens when your brain doesn’t get enough blood flow. While our brains are only a small percentage of our body weight, they use over 20% of our bodies energy. This energy is delivered to our brain by the blood. This high metabolism means that it needs a steady supply. However, several things can happen to stop blood flow. If an artery that supplies blood ruptures, the blood will flow out, and the areas of the brain supplied by that artery can die. This is usually fatal. Another type of stroke occurs if a clot forms, and blocks blood flow to an area of the brain. This can be treated by administering drugs which break up clots. However, they must be taken quickly after the symptoms occur.
Know your Risk factors
One of the largest single factors in predicting a stroke is your blood pressure. Having higher blood pressure can double or quadruple your risk for stroke. High blood pressure is often a result of multiple lifestyle and genetic factors. While you cannot do much about genetic factors, there are lifestyle choices that you can make to help decrease your risk of stroke. For example, limiting your daily sodium intake can have a noticeable effect on one’s blood pressure. If you have a family history of stroke, then you should know that you are at risk for one as well. Another common risk factor for stroke is obesity. If you are overweight, you increase your chances of having a stroke. This is easily helped by consistent exercise and healthy eating. While you may not be able to change this overnight, a consistent effort to work out, especially cardiovascular exercise, will help you to more your BMI to a healthier number. Losing weight can help you in other areas too, such as lowering your blood pressure.