This document provides information about hiking in Cantabria, Spain. It discusses the different types of hiking paths based on length, from long-distance routes signposted in red and white to local routes under 10km in green and white. It also outlines necessary hiking equipment like boots, clothes, backpacks, sticks, and maps. Useful advice is given for tying boots properly and distributing weight in the backpack. The document concludes with basic rules of respecting the countryside by avoiding noise, litter, and trespassing on private property.

1. Departamento de Educación Física
IES Estelas de CantabriaAlberto García Huerta
HIKING:
Cantabria
Infinita
year 2009 - 2010

2. INTRODUCTION
HIKING:” To go for a
walk in the mountains or
in nature”.The main
objetive is to follow a
path or a trail.
You can enjoy listening
to the silence or the
sound of the water,
seeing the landscape…

3. THE PATH AND ITS SIGNPOSTING
A path must go
across the valley,
towns, hills,…
looking for the best
way and visiting
interesting places
about their culture,
history, landscape…
Flecha
Jalón

4. KIND OF PATHS
DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH:
Long-distance routes (LD)
They run for more than 40 Km.
They are sign-posted with red and white signs
Short-distance routes (SD)
They are from 10 to 40 km. Long.
They are sign-posted with yellow and white signs
Local routes
No more than 10 km.
They are sign-posted with green and white signs.
City routes
They are routes in the city.
They are sign-posted with red and yellow signs.

5. EQUIPMENT – SHOES
Boots are the most important part of the
required equipment.
We must walk on grounds, different from
our streets or roads, with stones,
branches, water or animals.
they should provide adequate protection
against possible sprains, knocks and
slippage.
The boots must protect your ankle.
The sole must have a good marked
drawing.
Their laces must be perfectly tied.
Don´t wear your boots for the first time
on a hike. You must first try them on
shorter walks.

6. EQUIPMENT – SHOES
USEFUL ADVICE:
• Tie the laces from the botton to the top.
• Check them in a few minutes when your feet have expanded.
• You can wear the laces looser when you go up but very well-tied when
you go down.

7. EQUIPMENT- CLOTHES
USEFUL ADVICE:
• Your clothes must be lightweight and permit air flow.
• If there is a lot of vegetation , especially thicket ,you must protect your arms and
legs.
• In the mountain the weather changes quickly so you must wear some clothes to
keep you warm.

8. EQUIPMENT- BACKPACK
• The backpack increases the effort
we need to walk.
• We feel its weight on our legs and
on our back to. its size must be
appropiate to your back.
• You must regulate to put the most
of the weight on your hips.

9. EQUIPMENT- BACKPACK
USEFUL ADVICES:
• Generally, try to put big and light things in the botton and the heviest in the top,
near your back. Then its centre of gravity will be between your shoulders
• Put the load in a symmetrical way (left and right) for not to overload one side of
your back.
• Don´t put any thing failed (water botle, shoes…) they can unbalance you
because of their movement or they can catch on somewhere, specially
branches.

10. EQUIPMENT- STICKS
They are not necessary but they can help
you to keep balanced
USEFUL ADVICES:
• You can make it yourself.
• Only one is sufficent.
• If you have a knee pain they can be
useful.

11. EQUIPMENT- MAP
CARDINAL DIRECTIONS:
North
South
East
West

12. • RIVERS
• BULDINGS
• ROADS
• PATHS
• SUMMIT
EQUIPMENT- MAP

13. BASIC RULES OF BEHAVIOUR IN THE
COUNTRYSIDE
• Avoid making any unnecessary noise
• A photograph is much better than taking the photographed object away with
you (flowers, insects, fossils, etc.)
• Avoid littering and take along rubbish bags instead
• Make sure that the inhabitants of the rural district you are visiting do not
regret your presence:
 Close gates after you
 Do not trespass on private property
 If you have a dog keep it away from the cattle