Is hiking for all ages ?

Hiking is a great way to get your whole body working, from your mind to your muscles !
This sport's natural resources are accessible to everyone!

If done correctly, hiking is a sporting activity that maintains the body without wearing it out. The advantage is that it can be adapted to all levels and ages, and offers a wide range of benefits, both physically and mentally.
Whether it's for the pleasure of contact with nature or to keep fit, as a family or on your own, hiking has many benefits.

Is hiking suitable for young and old alike?

What are the benefits of hiking for senior citizens?

• Hiking is a physical activity that can be very beneficial for senior citizens. The benefits of hiking are many and varied. Firstly, it has a mental effect, thanks to the socialising involved. In fact, it helps to combat isolation and boredom. Hiking clubs are ideal for meeting new people !
  Walking in a natural environment helps to relieve stress and tension, freeing your mind from external preoccupations. Simple living and contact with nature bring you back to basics. Contemplating, observing and breathing the fresh air lead to psychological relaxation. This activity boosts self-esteem and restores confidence. In general, when you go hiking, you have a goal to reach, whether it's a refuge, a lake or a summit, and when you reach it, you are filled with a feeling of immense satisfaction.
  At a certain age, some people need this kind of goal to feel alive and well ;)

• Hiking allows you to connect with nature. It allows seniors to enjoy the beauty of the environment around them, to appreciate the scenery and to discover new places around or further away from home where they can recharge their batteries.

• There are also physical benefits. For walking to have an effect on the body, you need to do it for at least 45 minutes a day. It limits cardiovascular disease by improving blood pressure, and stimulates the cardio-respiratory system, which has the effect of improving the treatment of asthma, for example. Intensive walking in nature has been shown to boost the immune systems of the elderly. What's more, hiking helps to fortify the body by strengthening the joints, thereby reducing the risk of fractures.
  When combined with a diet, hiking helps to combat obesity and overweight. Finally, another positive aspect is that it improves the quality of your sleep, but not only that... it also boosts your morale - yes, mountains keep everything in good shape ;)

What can hiking do for young people ?

• Hiking is a highly beneficial physical activity for young people. It helps them develop their endurance, regular activity and muscular coordination. It also stimulates their metabolism and strengthens their immune system. Young people are still growing, and regular physical activity will strengthen their muscles and bones!
• As for senior citizens, hiking in the open air will have a positive impact on their mental health. It offers an opportunity to disconnect from screens and the stresses of everyday life, which can help reduce anxiety and improve their mood - we know young people... ;)
• It introduces them to the beauty and diversity of nature. They can explore different types of ecosystem, observe local flora and fauna, and become aware of the importance of preserving the environment. This can help to raise awareness of the need to protect the planet !
  If you can't manage to take your child hiking, you can make the most of the educational and fun aspects of walking. They can learn about mountain safety, map reading, orienteering, first aid and outdoor survival.
• They can also develop social skills by working as part of a team, learning to make decisions as a group and managing the challenges encountered along the way with a common goal in mind. You could even take a friend with you, as this will surely motivate them ;)
• Hiking encourages independence in young people. They have to learn to make decisions on their own, plan their route and solve problems encountered along the way. These experiences boost their self-confidence and their ability to deal with new situations, even in everyday life!

Tip: go hiking as a family!

• Hiking is an excellent way to keep active as a family. It's an activity that uses different muscles in the body and improves physical fitness.
• Hiking as a family encourages quality time together and strengthens family ties. It's an activity that lets you spend time together, discussing everything and anything, sharing recent experiences and creating shared memories. It encourages communication and strengthens family cohesion, which is often put to the test on a daily basis in most families...
• It offers opportunities for learning and discovery for the whole family. As mentioned above, the whole family can learn about geography, weather, botany, local history and much more by observing the natural environment. What's more, it can stimulate children's curiosity and spirit of adventure!
• Hiking helps to relax the mind and reduce stress. If you plan your hike in advance and have assessed all the potential risks you may encounter during the day, you don't have to create stress for yourself - these moments should just be fun :)
  It's important to note that hiking with the family requires advance planning. For example, taking into account the level of difficulty of the trails and the needs of each member of the family. You also need to take safety precautions, provide water to keep hydrated on a regular basis and respect the natural environment by leaving no trace behind you...

Some ideas for family hikes and treks for beginners :

Cross the Beaufortain in 5 days:

The Beaufortain, with its mountain pastures and lakes, is a pleasant massif to cross with young children. If your children are 6 or 7 years old, it's the ideal place, with short hikes, plenty of refuges, colourful landscapes and wild animals!
-> Discover the Beaufortain traverse.

Discover Haute Maurienne in the heart of the Vanoise Park :

I'm sure your children are sporty and keen on adventure, so let's set off to cross passes at an altitude of over 3000 metres. The Vanoise National Park is high in altitude, and the refuges are often at 2,500 metres, so the difference in altitude is in the region of 700 to 800 m per day, and the ibex and patous will also be there!
-> Opt for this trek

Dare to experience the high mountains of the Mont Rose Massif with this trek to acclimatise to the altitude :

You can discover the Mont Rose massif with your family. We've put together some of the most beautiful trails on the Tour du Mont Rose, with a bit of mountaineering at the end for the enjoyment of young and old alike. The accommodation and refuges are Italian, so they're top notch!

To ensure the trip runs smoothly, we're aiming to climb gradually in altitude, and with the guidance of a mountain guide, we'll be heading for peaks of up to 4,000 metres!
-> Do you fancy an adventure?

A trek between France and Italy?

We'll leave France via the mountain pastures and passes to discover the superb Italian valley of Valgrisenche!
A magnificent trek, with stages designed not to be too long, ideal for families. We won't come across many people on these magnificent paths that were once used by smugglers and shepherds.
-> Discover this trek between 2 borders

After a trek, you'll notice the beneficial effects of the mountain air on your family and yourself. The important thing is not to go on long hikes, but to disconnect from everyday stress !

In short, who can go hiking and at what age?

As you will have realised, hiking has many health benefits and is an activity that is accessible to everyone, whatever their age. In France, most people as young as 8 can go hiking!
Each person is unique, so it's important to take into account their level of fitness, their skills, their limits and their sporting experience when choosing a hike. The important thing is not to push your limits to the point of hurting yourself, but to ensure that the walk cultivates your inner and outer well-being.
Then everything will go smoothly !

A few important items of equipment not to be overlooked before you set off on your hike !

• Good hiking boots: if you don't have the right shoes, you're in danger of twisting an ankle. To avoid the risk of injury, it's vital to have comfortable shoes that support your ankle!
• Hiking poles, which can provide extra support and stability and can be useful for relieving pressure on joints, particularly knees, when descending steep slopes, which can be beneficial for hikers of all ages...
• A good backpack, taking only what you need - don't carry too much, as your back may not appreciate it...
• Sun cream if you don't want to age prematurely ;)

There's no age limit to hiking, and doing it regularly improves your quality of life, so what are you waiting for, grab your boots and get out there ;)