Transcript

00:00:16 Donatella DeFazio

Hi everyone and welcome to another episode of Naturally Speaking, I'm your host Donatella, and today we will be venturing into the world of hiking.

00:00:26 Donatella DeFazio

Now, I've never been a hiker myself. It always seemed like a daunting task, but after pushing out of my comfort zone and going on a short-day trip, I learned it's really fun and I want to encourage everyone to go hiking. This episode will prepare you for your first hike and help you choose the right clothing and equipment for your first adventure.

00:00:45 Donatella DeFazio

It's important to remember that most expensive hiking gear has cheap or free alternatives. To start off, clothing is the most important because the clothing you wear is very weather dependent. I'm going to focus on what to wear in the spring and summer as it's starting to get warm outside, finally.

00:01:04 Donatella DeFazio

We don't think about it much, but clothing is what protects us from the elements. So choosing the right clothes for your trip is very important. Starting at the top. Wear a hat, please. When the sun is out, it can be a killer. Having shade on your face will allow you to stay cooler during your hike and prevent a sunburn.

00:01:25 Donatella DeFazio

On the topic of sunburns, always wear sunscreen even when it's cloudy, because the sun's UV rays penetrate right through those clouds. There is no specific hat you need to wear. It's all personal preference. Some prefer hats with the little flap in the back to protect your neck from the sun. While some prefer a typical baseball hat or a larger sun hat with a chin strap. Any of these work. Sunglasses are also recommended when sunny, so you don't strain your eyes.

00:01:59 Donatella DeFazio

Moving down to shirts and pants. You want your shirt to be breathable and lightweight. Choose shirts made from moisture wicking fabrics such as polyester, nylon and wool.

00:02:10 Donatella DeFazio

Stay away from cotton as it will soak up sweat and water and does not dry quickly.

00:02:16 Donatella DeFazio

Short versus long sleeves is personal preference, but I will say a long sleeve shirt will always protect you from the sun on longer hikes, and you will stay cool due to the shade and the breathable material of the shirt. You will not be overly hot.

00:02:32 Donatella DeFazio

As I mentioned, long sleeve shirts will protect you from the sun, but you may also feel cooler despite having more fabric since the long sleeve shirt keeps the sun off your skin. Another important piece of clothing is a raincoat. Now a good raincoat can be expensive. As an alternative you could just get a rain poncho if you get caught in the rain, just know you'll likely get wet either way, but a rain poncho or coat can help along with the quick drying materials I mentioned before.

00:02:59 Donatella DeFazio

For pants, the call between short versus long pants is dependent on where you're hiking.

00:03:04 Donatella DeFazio

If hiking is short, clear trail with minimal brush, it's OK to wear shorts. But if you're hiking a trail where you are brushing up against rock or brush, long pants are the way to go. Insects like ticks move by sitting at the ends of plants and jumping onto people and animals have rushed by them. Pants can act as an important barrier between you and these critters.

00:03:28 Donatella DeFazio

Again for the shorts or long pants, you want a polyester or nylon pant, and as an added bonus, U PF protection to protect against the sun is always a good feature. Polyester and nylon are also lightweight and often combined with movable materials such as spandex to create material that will not restrict your mobility. You will have full range of motion in these pants.

00:03:53 Donatella DeFazio

If you're like me and sometimes can't decide on shorts or long pants, you could get zip off pants that convert from long pants into short pants. These are especially good if your trail includes rivers or streams that you have to go through. To stay dry, just zip off the bottom into shorts, walk through the stream, and then zip the pants back on after.

00:04:16 Donatella DeFazio

Now, if you don't have this fancy pant short combo, just try to wear pants that you can roll above your knees to avoid them getting wet.

00:04:24 Donatella DeFazio

Now last but definitely not least, the shoes.

00:04:28 Donatella DeFazio

For first time hikers, if you were going on a path with flat footing, you don't need to buy specific hiking shoes. Hiking and comfortable sneakers will do the job.

00:04:38 Donatella DeFazio

But if you plan to go on a longer hike that has uneven terrain, hiking shoes will allow you to hike more comfortably.

00:04:47 Donatella DeFazio

If you can make sure your hiking shoes are waterproof, that definitely helps. But, having a shoe that will dry out quickly can also work. Before hiking with them, make sure to walk around a lot to break them in and to test their comfort.

00:05:03 Donatella DeFazio

You should consider the tread of your shoe if it is worn out, you may want to hike a flatter trail and avoid steep rocky or wet sections.

00:05:14 Donatella DeFazio

For my first time hiking, I was on a well maintained trail so I just went in my sneakers and I was very comfortable the entire time.

00:05:23 Donatella DeFazio

Going hand in hand with shoes, your socks are very important. Merino wool socks are the way to go as this material is breathable and will keep your feet dry. It's a huge misconception that wool socks are only for winter. They are also great for summer use.

00:05:41 Donatella DeFazio

Marino roll socks come from a specific breed of sheep, and these products can be found with a variety of suppliers online, and this wool is made from a finer strand of wool, so it doesn't have that scratchy feeling you may associate with your grandma's hand knit wool sweater.

00:05:58 Donatella DeFazio

Now that you have the basic outfit down, it's time to talk about what you should pack.

00:06:03 Donatella DeFazio

The most important thing while hiking is to stay hydrated. Hydration backpacks with built in straws are an easy way to carry your water and stay hydrated. As a general rule, you should drink one liter of water per 5 miles height. For reference, a now gene water bottle is 1 liter.

00:06:24 Donatella DeFazio

If you have to fill up water along the hike, do not use water from rivers or streams unless you have a filter built into the water bottle.

00:06:33 Donatella DeFazio

If you don't have a filter, you can also buy iodine tablets that dissolve in your water and kill any bacteria. These can be found in most drug stores and are definitely cheap and safe to consume. Just follow the directions on the package when using them.

00:06:48 Donatella DeFazio

Nutrition goes hand in hand with hydration. Make sure to pack healthy snacks such as trail mix or protein bars to refuel. You want food that is high in protein and carbs. Trail mix with nuts is a great source of protein, and sandwiches are a great source for carbs.

00:07:05 Donatella DeFazio

In addition to necessary food and water, no matter how short the hike, make sure to have a small first aid kit in case of injury. Band aids, antiseptic wipes and a painkiller like Tylenol are all good inclusions.

00:07:20 Donatella DeFazio

Along with this, it's best to hiking groups or with at least one other person to ensure safety. If you're worried about bears or other wildlife, just keep the conversation going and let them know you're coming.

00:07:33 Donatella DeFazio

North Country wildlife is more scared of us than we are of them. Always remember that. You can also carry bear spray in case an animal gets within a close range.

00:07:45 Donatella DeFazio

The last important thing to carry for a hike in the hot weather is a cooling towel or bandana. You can soak in water and tie around your neck to cool you down.

00:07:56 Donatella DeFazio

Another accessory you'll often see are trekking poles. These poles are used to take pressure off your legs on longer hikes and in steep sections of the trail. You can also find a large tree branch and use it as a walking stick during your hike. They have the same effect.

00:08:15 Donatella DeFazio

Now you have all the hiking essentials. If you are looking to go on a more intense overnight hike, you will need a few more supplies like tents, sleeping pads and sleeping bags.

00:08:27 Donatella DeFazio

For beginners, I recommend starting on trails that are regularly maintained and then working up to the uneven terrain.

00:08:35 Donatella DeFazio

Now where do you get all this gear I've mentioned? Gear can often be expensive, but it's worth it as it will last a while and will ensure your safety. Grass River Outfitters is a great local option, and it's located just on Main Street in Canton.

00:08:53 Donatella DeFazio

Before Grass River Outfitters, there was no close place to get quality gear. On this episode today, we are featuring Brooke Rouse, the owner of Grass River Outfitters, to give us some insight into her business and experience.

00:09:08 Donatella DeFazio

Grass River Outfitters is an outdoor clothing and equipment store. They opened as a consignment shop in 2018 and then transformed in 2020 to all new gear and apparel, including bike services and ski tuning.

00:09:25 Donatella DeFazio

So Brooke, first of all, I would like to thank you for joining us today and let's get into it.

00:09:30 Donatella DeFazio

OK. So are you originally from this area and if not, what brought you to Canton?

00:09:36 Brooke Rouse

I'm not originally from Canton, I say I grew up in Upstate New York and then I came to Canton and realized what way upstate was in the North Country. But I came to Canton as a student at Saint Lawrence and left for a year to travel and came back and so I've been in Canton for about 21 years, all together.

00:09:59 Donatella DeFazio

Great. And who inspired you to get outside? And why do you love it?

00:10:04 Brooke Rouse

I grew up with a family that was not like extreme sport people, but always really enjoyed the outdoors. So as a family we did a lot of skiing and kind of recreational hiking and camping and I spent my summers at my grandparents house on a lake in New Hampshire, so our days were filled with swimming and sailing and boating. And so I just campfires and I went to summer camp in New Hampshire as well. So I think that really kind of was my foundation of enjoying the outdoors with my family.

00:10:46 Donatella DeFazio

Awesome. And what's the most important piece of gear you recommend for beginners?

00:10:51 Brooke Rouse

I would say the most important piece of gear is a headlamp, although I think you can, you can get outside pretty easily with sneakers and a pack and snacks and a water bottle. There have been many occasions where I was not planning to be hiking in the dark and it became dark for whatever reason. Just poor timing and getting to the trail or not realizing that the days were shorter that time of year. So it's never a comfortable position to be out in the dark without a light.

00:11:27 Donatella DeFazio

Yeah, definitely not. And So what advice would you have for somebody who wants to explore the North Country outdoors but is like hesitant or scared to just get outside?

00:11:38 Brooke Rouse

I think I would say try to find people who like it and know more about it and don't be intimidated by that, but kind of embrace that. I know several of my friends from being a student at Saint Laurence who are my best friends to this day are people who were very outdoorsy, and went on to, you know, they've been Rangers and they got their certifications and all of that, and I've always just felt very comfortable being with people who are actually outdoorsy, because I'm not.  And so I think like taking advantage of the opportunities to link in with groups and people at Saint Lawrence who have that interest and expertise and don't be afraid to ask for the opportunity to go and learn and be comfortable outdoors with them.

00:12:27 Brooke Rouse

But then I  think also just starting small, starting simple, starting close by, you know, Saint Lawrence and Canton have a number of trails right there just to like get more comfortable being outside and yeah.

00:12:46 Brooke Rouse

I think I was the director of tourism for Saint Lawrence County also, and we created the Great Eight Challenge during the pandemic to try to help people. We always kind of promoted accessible outdoors in Saint Lawrence County, not the high peaks. It's really kind of family friendly and low key outdoor and so with the Great 8 challenge is that's a nice way to get a feel for what you're going to experience and kind of see different places and different outdoor experiences so.

00:13:22 Donatella DeFazio

Yeah. No, that that is great. And so my last question for you is kind of a bigger question. So talk to me about why you switched from consignment to new gear and in your opinion, like how long does gear typically last and why is it worth people investing in when they go on these bigger hikes?

00:13:41 Brooke Rouse

Yes, when I opened the business in at the end of 2018 I didn't have a lot of capital to start it, so that was really the main reason for starting consignment. We just opened the doors and filled the store with people's goods. I've also always loved thrifting and consignment stuff. So wanted to make outdoor gear accessible and that was the way I could do it to start the business.

00:14:13 Brooke Rouse

And then during the pandemic, when we were all kind of freaking out about people, you know, touching other peoples things and I didn't have the capacity to clean everything or to, it just made me nervous to know what to do during that situation. So we kind of waited a little while and then we decided to pivot.

00:14:33 Brooke Rouse

And I reached out to Patagonia 1st and just kind of went from there learning about running a real retail store and the importance of quality gear and quality companies and really also notice that you know we have a lot of thrift stores in Canton in the North Country and we have a lot of low cost options, but we really have to travel over an hour to get quality gear. And so I wanted to create a place where people wouldn't have to travel because if you have to travel or buy online, then you might just not go outside. You might not get the gear to do what you want to do.

00:15:15 Brooke Rouse

So, so that was the switch. And I think in terms of quality gear, it's really a matter of I think being safe and being comfortable.

00:15:30 Brooke Rouse

Because if you're not comfortable, you're not going to want to do it. If it if it hurts, or if it causes you pain or chafing or whatever, you're not going to want to do it. So I think of like the first big item I bought was a nice osprey pack, and I remember for just having it properly fit me and being able to load it up for a multi-day hike and just feeling like this is comfortable, this is no problem. I can carry my gear for a few days and this and that. The concept of that with just a backpack was foreign and sounded helpful to me before that. Yeah.

00:16:14 Brooke Rouse

So I do think that, you know, the point is to have fun and the points to be safe and protect your body, protect the environment and so. So I do think that kind of as time goes by reinvesting, you know, I would start just asking for birthday and Christmas gifts. I would instead of a bunch of junk I would just ask for a piece of gear. And just kind of continue to add to your collection because the idea is that if it's good quality and you take care of it, then you'll have it. You know, I still have my pack from that pack I'm talking about for, you know, 10-15 years.

00:16:49 Brooke Rouse

So that's the idea and with the shop we make sure to always carry stuff that will help you take care of your gear. So we have all the pack wash, we've got patches, we've got, you know, zipper goo so you can take care of your zippers and. And so our hope is that you buy something that you need and have it and you can take care of it.

00:17:14 Donatella DeFazio

Yeah. Perfect.

00:17:17 Donatella DeFazio

Along with Grass River Outfitters, if second-hand gear is what you're looking for, there is a consignment program at the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Cascade Welcome Center in Lake Placid, NY.

00:17:30 Donatella DeFazio

While it's a bit of a drive to get there, it's another option for gear at a lower cost.

00:17:36 Donatella DeFazio

To wrap this up, hiking doesn't have to be a daunting task or spending days out in tents. Hiking is a freeing activity that helps clear your mind and get you connected with nature.

00:17:47 Donatella DeFazio

It's fun and enjoyable for everyone and with the right clothing, supplies and gear, you can be prepared for any hike, even in the heat of spring and summer.

00:17:57 Donatella DeFazio

Being prepared ensures an enjoyable hike where you can just enjoy the nature rather than worry about the blisters forming on your feet.

00:18:05 Donatella DeFazio

Don't know where to hike? Stay updated on our Instagram as nature up North Post regularly about new look.

00:18:13 Donatella DeFazio

Don't know where to hike, stay updated on our Instagram as Nature N posts regularly about local trails highlighting their location and highlighting their location, length and difficulty.

00:18:27 Donatella DeFazio

Thank you for joining us today on Naturally Speaking. Now that you know the basics for hiking, we can't wait to see you out there.

00:18:35 Donatella DeFazio

I encourage you to share your hiking pictures with us on our Encounters page on the nature of North website, and you could be featured on our social media platforms. We love to see how the community is connecting with nature and encourage all ages to get out and enjoy the warming weather.

00:18:54 Donatella DeFazio

If you want to get your feet wet with hiking, canoeing, or something else, keep an eye on our events page for opportunities to get outdoor with us.

00:19:03 Donatella DeFazio

For more information or advice on what to bring on your hiking trip, you can visit the Department of Environmental Conservations. The DEC's website under Hike Smart New York.

00:19:16 Donatella DeFazio

Thank you for listening. And don't forget to get up and get outdoors with Nature Up North.