Basic Hiking Safety

Hiking offers enjoyable outdoor exercise that is often a meditative, relaxing experience. However, hikers should take caution while out on a trek as dangers are abundant, including lack of preparation, animal encounters and unforeseen natural disasters. Following basic hiking safety guidelines will help prepare hikers for possible trek hazards and outdoor emergencies.

Hiking Preparation
Hiking preparation and execution requires several basic safety standards. Always hike with another person, sign in (and out) at each registry stand, and communicate with friends and family the trek route and hiking plan before heading off on your hike. Once on the trek, do not deviate from the planned route. Carry a cell phone, area maps, compass, flashlight and headlamp with extra batteries, first aid kit, matches, knife, emergency strobe light, food and plenty of water in additional to traditional hiking gear. If hiking during summer season, ensure that you carry that extra bottle of water and Glucose. Some hikers and their dogs wear a bell as well. Always follow all food safety guidelines required for safe hiking and camping. Additionally, invest in a pair of high-quality hiking boots that provide adequate foot and ankle support and ensure that hiking ability appropriately matches the chosen hiking challenge. Know how to build a fire (should it be needed) and follow all local fire regulations. Respect the trek for the duration of the hike. Always bring out what you packed in.

Animals, Vegetation and Terrain
Learn about the natural wildlife and vegetation in the predetermined hiking area. Each park, state and region has an abundance of wildlife. Understand that some plants may be poisonous, flowing streams may not provide safe drinking water and dangerous animal encounters are a possibility. Research about bears, snakes (such as rattlesnakes), insects (like yellow jackets) and vegetation in the area (think poison ivy). Additionally, many hiking treks have dangerous trek terrain--perhaps an icy cliff or swollen river--that may need crossing. A little education before the hike will help reduce risk while on the trek. Be watchful of trek edge bluffs and loose boulders. Learn how to treat a snakebite, back away from a bear, avoid trek hazards and treat drinking water. Consider carrying a local field guide for animal and plant identification.

Weather Conditions
Knowledge of basic cloud formations can help keep hikers aware of impeding weather conditions.
Hiking in specific weather conditions requires a high-level of caution and preparation. Learn about the weather, seasonal risks and temperature conditions before a hike and pack accordingly, such as bringing warm synthetic layers, a rain poncho or wide-brimmed sun hat. Learn about conditions, such as hypothermia, heat stroke and dehydration and follow precautionary measures. Understand that weather can fluctuate while out on the trek. Be prepared to turn around should the skies darken or rain pour. Knowledge of the trek and regional experience will benefit in determining appropriate weather conditions. For example, hiking in Kondapalli would require heat and sun protection in addition to fast food awareness. Execution of appropriate weather safety standards will help keep everyone safe for the duration of the hike.

H&C Gear: Best Camera Lens to Take on a Hike

A photographer's dilemma, you're planning a 10km round trip hike. The destination is an alpine meadow at 10,000 ft. or it's a wildflower season in the Rockies. Along the way, you might also see big horn sheep. Pack weight and room is always at a premium, so you only have room for one lens for your digital SLR. Considering weight, function and quality, which lens can handle all these requirements and help you bring back those poster images?

Alpine Meadow Landscape

Wide angle lens are a perfect selection for the landscape image. Wide angle refers to a lens with a focal length of 35mm or less. Canon, Nikon, Tamron, and Sigma all make excellent wide angle lens. Another type of wide-angle lens is the fisheye lens. The difference between a true wide-angle lens and a fisheye lens refers to the amount of curvature in the final picture.

Close-ups of Wildflowers

The wide-angle lens can work great for sweeping landscapes with wildflowers, but what lens is best to capture the vibrant blues of lupine, red of Indian paintbrush and yellows of coreopsis? A macro lens allows you to closely focus on the flower. The term, "macro" refers to the subject in the picture (in this case, a lupine) which is re-produced in the image as close to life-size as possible.

Wildlife in general

Wildlife photography is probably the most equipment-intensive type of nature photography. A lens with a focal length of at least 200mm is needed to get those up-close and personal views of wild animals. Lens manufacturers also make lens that can vary in focal length. These are called telephoto lens. A long lens allows you to get close-up images of an animal without getting too close. This is particularly important with animals with "teeth and an attitude."

Final Verdict:

A Macro Telephoto Lens

Remember, the goal was one lens for a digital SLR, which would capture sweeping landscapes, close-up wildflowers and great shots of wild animals. You could carry all three lens mentioned, but hiking a summit with 9kgs. of photography equipment will wear on you. Fortunately, lens makers have the perfect lens for the task-a macro telephoto lens with focal lengths ranging from 28mm-200mm all in the same lens. The 28-200mm will allow beautiful close-up images of wildflowers, and at 28mm is wide enough to capture the landscape shot. On the 200mm end of the spectrum, this lens will get you close to wildlife.

Recommends

Tamron: Model No.: A18 (AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO) mounts on Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony. This lens costs you around 24k to 25k.

Model No.: A20 (AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO) mounts on Canon and Nikon(NII) only. This lens costs you around 20k to 22k.

Nikon: 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-SVR DX Lens costs you around 34k

Canon: EF-S 18-200mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS costs you around 35k

10 Best Energy Foods

Carbohydrates are the primary human energy fuels, generating the glucose that makes work and play possible. With a bit of protein to sustain your endurance and some vitamins and minerals to battle inflammation, minimally processed carbs, which raise your blood sugar slowly and moderately, are the star players in a diet for active people. Sugary foods (candy, cookies, soda, fruit drinks), elevate your energy level briefly but then drop you to new lows as your body attempts to balance its sugar-fired insulin level. High-fat foods slow down digestion and thereby delay access to energy.

Lentil Soup (Toor or Blackgram or Masoor Dal)
To a healthy carbohydrate load, lentils add heaps of fiber and don't cause gas. Kidney beans, black beans and chick peas are also good legume choices and are a great source of cardiovascular-friendly folic acid.

Oranges
Natural sugars, carbohydrates, vitamin C and fiber combine to make oranges both quick and sustaining in their benefit to your energy level and cardiovascular system. Apples are another heart-healthy and cholesterol-lowering fruit, and figs are extremely rich in vitamins.

Blueberries or Regi pallu
Like other fruits and vegetables, blueberries release sugar into your blood slowly and have high fiber content, lowering your cholesterol level and the risk of digestive problems. That same little blueberry contains cancer-preventing antioxidants as well as properties that slow cognitive decline associated with age.

Nuts and Seeds
The energy-boosting carbohydrate and protein loads in nuts and seeds are complemented by hefty amounts of vitamins, amino acids, monounsaturated fats and fiber. The large quantities of fat in nuts and seeds suggest they should be eaten in moderation.

Fish
The omega-3 fatty acids in fish increase your energy level by accelerating the flow of blood that distributes oxygen throughout your body. Cook your fish in olive oil to add an anti-inflammatory benefit.

Sweet Potatoes (Chilakadadumpa)
Sweet potatoes are the fountain-of-youth entry among energy-giving foods, as the vitamin A-fixing properties of the antioxidant beta-carotene are thought to slow the aging process. Sweet potatoes are high in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Rice Bran (Nuka or Towdu)
Rice bran is packed with carbohydrates, fiber and antioxidants. It also contains minerals that assist in energy during exercise. Use it in equal parts with flour for baking; add it to casseroles or shake a bit of it on cereal.

Low-fat Yogurt (Perugu)
Yogurt's glycogen-replenishing capability and vitamin B-12 provide energy; help prevent fatigue and aid in muscle recovery after exercise.

Rolled Oats (or) Flattened Rice (Atukulu)
Another great glucose stabilizer, rolled oats also aid in digestion, and they contain energy-making vitamin B and immune-strengthening zinc.
Flattened rice (also called beaten rice) is a dehusked rice which is flattened into flat light dry flakes. These flakes of rice swell when added to liquid, whether hot or cold, as they absorb water, milk or any other liquids. The thicknesses of these flakes vary between almost translucently thin (the more expensive varieties) to nearly four times thicker than a normal rice grain.

Whole-wheat (Pasta or Chapathi)
The health perks provided by whole wheat reach far beyond energy production; its high fiber and antioxidant levels reduce the chance of heart disease and diabetes. Compared with other pastas, the whole wheat variety is lower in calories and higher in fiber.