--- title: "What should you know before you set off on your first long-distance trek?" description: "Planning to set off on the Pacific Crest Trail, Stezka Českem or the Tour Du Mont Blanc? Read our tips on how to get through and how to enjoy any thru-hike." canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/before-your-first-long-distance-trek" last_updated: "2023-03-24" --- # What should you know before you set off on your first long-distance trek? Authors: Martin Benc Date: 2023-03-24 Planning to set off on the Pacific Crest Trail, Stezka Českem or the Tour Du Mont Blanc? Read our tips on how to get through and how to enjoy any thru-hike. Long-distance treks are luring more and more adventurers. Even the Czech Republic has seen a real boom thanks to [Stezka Českem](/blog/stezka-ceskem-martin-ubl) (the Czech Trail), and if you look at the number of Czechs setting off on the [Pacific Crest Trail](/blog/pacific-crest-trail-lucie-pechackova-anezka-srajbrova) or the pilgrimage to Santiago, we're talking about hundreds at the very least. The romance of forested landscapes and dramatic sunsets over mountain peaks can turn into hell in an instant, when you'll wish you could go back to typing up spreadsheets from the comfort of a heated office chair. Let's look at a few tips that will help you on your way to becoming a true thru-hiker. ## **Motivation** Every activity in our lives is driven by some motivation and impulse, whether it's going to work or digging in the garden. We do things for certain reasons and with a specific goal in mind, and long-distance treks should be no different. Your motivation might be beautiful scenery, improving your physical condition, or time to think through personal problems. Everyone's motivation is different, but **you should always know why you set off and what you expect from it**. It'll end up giving you something different in the end, but when you hit a tough, critical situation, you'll know whether it's worth it to you. [Plenty of thru-hikes](/blog/list-of-european-long-distance-trails) stretch beyond 1,000 kilometers, meaning you'll spend several months on the trail. **Day-to-day motivation is ultimately what matters most**. If you fixate from the very start on a goal that's still half a year away, that's a road to hell. **Set yourself smaller goals** to hit along the way, whether that's an hourly goal, like reaching a saddle where you'll reward yourself with a snack and it'll be downhill until evening, or a daily one – the day after tomorrow you'll reach a town where you'll grab a burger and a beer and catch up on your favorite Netflix show. In the end you'll realize the journey is the destination. ## **Planning** Moving through the mountains comes with certain risks. You should always have a basic overview of what awaits you on a given route – especially the elevation profile, terrain, weather conditions, and the time needed to complete it. **Be realistic and always leave yourself a time buffer**. You can base your concrete planning steps on that. **Be flexible and ready to improvise**, because your plans will definitely change in at least some respect along the way. You'll find that one of the huts you picked to refuel at is closed (even though Google says otherwise), or that a simple-looking kilometer on the map actually takes two hours to cover on foot. ## **Don't carry unnecessary items** Bad weather can catch you practically anywhere. A waterproof jacket, a shelter (if you sleep outdoors), a sufficiently warm [sleeping bag](/c/sleep/sleeping-bags) and plenty more are classics you should always have in your backpack. That said, if you plan your route well, you'll find you don't need to lug an ice axe and rope across Madeira, or a Hawaiian shirt on a polar expedition. It's a good idea **to focus not just on the weight of individual items, but also on their quantity and practicality** – for example, you'll manage just fine with two merino T-shirts and don't need to carry five classic cotton ones. A [lightweight backpack](/c/backpacks) gives you **freedom of movement and you won't struggle on every climb**. You'll also be able to cover more kilometers during the day, meaning less food you need to carry to the next town. It all goes hand in hand. - [Liteway Gramless Pack 35 L](/p/liteway-gramless-pack-x-pac-35-l.md) - [Liteway Elementum Pack 50 L (2024)](/p/liteway-elementum-pack-50-l-2024.md) - [Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction 40 (2025)](/p/hyperlite-mountain-gear-junction-40.md) - [Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40](/p/hyperlite-mountain-gear-unbound-40.md) - [Montane Trailblazer 44 (2024)](/p/montane-trailblazer-44-2024.md) - [Montane Trailblazer 32 (2024)](/p/montane-trailblazer-32.md) - [Hyperlite Mountain Gear Aero 28](/p/hyperlite-mountain-gear-aero-28.md) - [Hyperlite Mountain Gear Contour 35](/p/hyperlite-mountain-gear-contour-35.md) - [Liteway Biggie Pack X-Pac 45 L](/p/liteway-biggie-pack-x-pac-45-l.md) - [Granite Gear Crown3 40 ECO Women's](/p/granite-gear-crown3-40-eco-womens.md) - [Montane Trailblazer 8 (2024)](/p/montane-trailblazer-8-2024.md) ## **Try out your gear** There's nothing worse than wondering, in bad weather, whether your jacket will hold up to a full day of rain or your sleeping bag to below-freezing temperatures. Quality gear is expensive, but it makes life easier. **Quality doesn't necessarily mean the product will suit you**. You might find, for example, that instead of a tarp you'd rather have the comfort of a fully enclosed tent, or that a backpack just doesn't sit right on your back. **What works for one person won't work for another, and everyone has to find their own way**. [Gear lists from experienced hikers](/blog/how-to-build-an-ultralight-gear-list) should be taken only as inspiration, not as instructions for what you absolutely must own too. ## **Recovery and mental wellbeing** [Food and drink](/c/cooking/food) are a little miracle on the trail. They can genuinely help with sore feet and lift your mood. Anyone who hasn't experienced the sheer euphoria of eating pizza and drinking a Coke doesn't know what we're talking about. **An empty stomach has a negative effect on your mental state**, increasing fatigue, and your body doesn't get the nutrients and energy it needs. That leads to general irritability, where you want to kill someone. Quality food and hydration also help break down lactate and speed up recovery. You also shouldn't forget about **quality sleep**, which also helps your body cope with sustained strain and prevents injuries. Last but not least, pay enough **attention to your feet**. [Leave your hiking boots at home](/blog/hiking-boots-or-trail-running-shoes) and go for lightweight, breathable trail running shoes instead, combined with [waterproof socks](/c/clothing/waterproof-socks) if it's raining. If you're prone to blisters, remember to **air out your feet** regularly at every break, or apply a nourishing balm. A massage with a small ball or walking barefoot around the tent will help loosen up your muscles, and a few minutes of stretching doesn't hurt either. - [Topo Athletic Men's Terraventure 4 Wide](/p/topo-athletic-terraventure-4-wide-mens.md) - [Darn Tough Men's CDT Micro Crew Lightweight](/p/darn-tough-cdt-micro-crew-lightweight-mens.md) - [Darn Tough Women's Critter Club Micro Crew Lightweight](/p/darn-tough-critter-club-micro-crew-lightweight-womens.md) - [Injinji Run Lightweight Mini-Crew](/p/injinji-run-lightweight-mini-crew.md) - [DexShell Ultra Thin Crew](/p/dexshell-ultra-thin-crew.md) - [DexShell Running Lite Sock 2.0](/p/dexshell-running-lite-sock-2-0.md) - [Topo Athletic Women's Pursuit 2](/p/topo-athletic-pursuit-2-womens.md) - [Topo Athletic Men's Pursuit 2](/p/topo-athletic-pursuit-2-mens.md) - [DexShell Terrain Walking 2.0](/p/dexshell-terrain-walking-2-0.md) - [Tidy Gear Gaiters](/p/tidy-gear-gaiters.md) - [Topo Athletic Women's MTN Racer 4](/p/topo-athletic-mtn-racer-4-womens.md) ## **Hike your own hike** Trekking isn't a race. It's nice to say right from the start that you covered 100 kilometers in two days, but if you've got another 4,000 ahead of you, you should approach it with a level head. **Going out too hot will usually catch up with you** and fatigue will be the least of your problems. Sore knees, strained Achilles tendons, or blisters down to the bone can all result from senseless mileage. If you can, give yourself the first few days to warm up and don't rush anywhere. **Don't measure yourself against others – it's your trek** and you're the one who should enjoy it fully. Learn not to be guided by other people's opinions. Do you want to camp by a nice lake at noon after only walking 10 kilometers? Or would you rather stretch the day a bit so you're in town for breakfast in the morning? It's entirely up to you – hiking is meant to be fun, not an obligation. ## **Budget** So how much did it cost you? That's probably the first thing anyone hears after any big trip. Money, whether you like hearing it or not, matters even out in the mountains. **You should have a sufficient budget for your trip, including a reserve**. We won't tell you exactly how much, since it depends on the destination, length of stay, and level of comfort. But do expect that **unexpected expenses will always come up**, whether that's damaged gear or an unplanned hotel stay because of bad weather. If we've learned anything on our travels, it's not to stress over expenses. All in moderation and within your financial means, of course, but we'd rather have the full, proper trek experience and skip a few nights out back home afterward than the other way around. We could give you plenty more tips and pieces of advice, and each category alone would fill its own article – we've covered all kinds of topics in the past and you'll find them on our blog. You'll find plenty more inspiration on **our podcast**. Don't forget that **the most important thing is to overcome your fear and go** – adventure is waiting just over the first hill! ## **Related articles from our blog** - [Lightweight hiking – does it make sense for you? What are the benefits?](/blog/lightweight-hiking-benefits) - [How to lighten your backpack? 7 tips for cutting gear weight effectively](/blog/how-to-lighten-your-backpack-7-tips) - [Long trails in the rain – how to stay dry and warm?](/blog/long-trails-in-the-rain) - [Not all materials are the same – a technical glossary for the outdoor enthusiast](/blog/technical-glossary-of-outdoor-materials) - [Vanish without a trace: leave no trace](/blog/leave-no-trace) - How to choose a [sleeping bag](/blog/6-tips-how-to-choose-a-sleeping-bag-for-treks-and-multi-day-crossings), [backpack](/blog/how-to-choose-an-ultralight-backpack), [sleeping pad](/blog/how-to-choose-a-sleeping-pad-for-treks) and [tent](/blog/ultralight-tents-everything-you-need-to-know) - [NEMO Tensor All-Season](/p/nemo-tensor-all-season.md) - [Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pods](/p/hyperlite-mountain-gear-pods.md) - [TOAKS Titanium 750 ml Pot](/p/toaks-pot-750-ml.md) - [Sea To Summit Frontier UL Collapsible Bowl](/p/sea-to-summit-frontier-ul-collapsible-bowl.md) - [HydroBlu Versa Flow Water Filter](/p/hydroblu-versa-flow-water-filter.md) - [Montane Protium Lite Hoodie](/p/montane-mens-protium-lite-hoodie.md) - [Darn Tough Men's Run 1/4 Ultra-Lightweight](/p/darn-tough-run-1-4-ultra-lightweight-mens.md) - [Darn Tough Women's Treeline Micro Crew Midweight](/p/darn-tough-treeline-micro-crew-midweight-womens.md) - [FlipFuel® Fuel Transfer Device](/p/flipfuel-fuel-transfer-device.md) - [MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes (6 pcs)](/p/msr-groundhog-tent-stakes-6pcs.md) - [Highlander Utility Cord 3 mm x 15 m](/p/highlander-utility-cord-3-mm-15-m.md) This post is also available as [HTML](/blog/before-your-first-long-distance-trek). ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.