Conditioning
Hiking is good for your body. It hardens your muscles and strengthens your heart and lungs. It is also good for your mind. It fills you with confidence, energy, and respect for the outdoors.
To enjoy hiking to the fullest, start out with short trips. As your legs become accustomed to hiking, you can increase the length of your journeys. You can also train for hiking by exercising regularly, jogging, and eating a healthy diet.

Trail Manner
Travel single file on most trails, leaving some space between you and the scout ahead of you. You can see where you are going, and you won't run into him if he suddenly stops. Be courteous to other hikers by stepping to the side of the trail so that they can pass.
Horses and mules can he spooked by hikers. If you meet people on horseback, stop where you are and ask the riders what you should do. They will usually ask you to step a few paces downhill from the trail and stand quietly while the animals pass. For more on safe hiking and on what to do if lost, see pages 38-41,

Overcoming hardships is an important challenge for hikers, but there might be times when you discover you are not prepared for the conditions you are facing. The weather might be worse than you expected, or the bugs especially bad. No mater how hard you try, you might simply be having a miserable time.

If that's the case, sometimes the best thing you can do is turn around and go home. The trail will always be there; you can come back and try again when you are really ready for it.