Amphibious Hiking Adventures

Break out of everyday life and really experience the adventure in untouched nature. Immerse yourself with us in the world of outdoor fun and survival.

This section is all about rain hiking, wildlife watching, and nature at its best.

There are a few things that separate more experienced hikers and backpackers from less experienced ones. The top skill is hiking and swimming in the rain, something that a lot of hikers go to great lengths to avoid.

If you only hike on days when there is no chance of rain, you won’t do much hiking. Sooner or later, you are going to get soaked through on a hike, even before you go for a swim. Once you're perpared for this with the right equipment and clothing, you'll learn to enjoy getting wet immensely. There are many benefits with hiking in the rain. Studies have shown that spending time with nature helps reduce stress levels.

Empty Trails and Clean Air

Not many people like to go for a hike in bad weather, they rather stay home and miss out. You have the freedom of the trail, and burn more calories during outdoor activities when it’s raining. The air is less contaminated during the rain. The smell of rain, Petrichor, the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil, is proven to have a soothing effect on people. Humidity makes your skin healthy, clean, and fresh.

You Will Get Wet

Prepare to get soaking wet and muddy on an amphibious trek. That is its appeal and where the fun comes in. Smart wildlife watchers wear clothes in the water to keep warm, avoid sunburn, protect from cuts and bruises in wild terrain, but also to add fun and excitement.

Wetland trekking is unpredictable. The thrill is that you may not know when you have to go into the water. One moment you're dry, the next you're soaking wet. Just when your clothes have dried a bit, there is yet another beauty spot beyond the water, and so you go in for another swim.

The most beautiful places in nature are off the beaten track, beyond rivers lakes and muddy trails. You may cross flooded ditches, crawl through mud pits, and clean off while swimming in a lake. The best part of a wet trek is when you go into a lake or stand under a small waterfall. It is a refreshing chance to clear the mud and dirt out of your clothes.

As children, many of us used to be told: “Don’t you go out in the rain, because you could get wet, catch a cold, and miss school." But now you’re an adult and you’re hiking in the rain without any fear of becoming ill. Getting wet in the right clothes doesn't mean you’ll get hypothermia. You just need to become a little more vigilant in managing your thermo regulation.

Wild Weather

Wet and windy weather can be exhilarating when hiking along the coast. Sea spray hits you often, while you keep a safe distance from the waves. On some promenades are safe places where the waves dump lots of water over hikers. A hiker’s #1 priority should always be safety.

When hiking in wet and windy weather for an extended period of time, it’s not so much a question of staying 100% dry (which is nigh on impossible), as it is maintaining a reasonable level of comfort whilst out on trail.

When hiking for extended periods in driving rain, staying “dry” often becomes a relative term. In colder conditions, hypothermia can become a very real possibility. Proper clothing can keep you warm, even when your are soaking wet.

Once you have the gear and experience required to hike safely in wet conditions, the key is a positive attitude. When the conditions are challenging, stay positive by viewing such times as stepping stones to greater bliss, with learning opportunities provided by Mother Nature that will help you improve your back-country skill set.

The only thing you have control over is yourself, your attitude and your actions. The elements couldn't care less about your first hike, your time record or your worthy cause. In rain hiking, as with all adventure sports, adaptability can determine whether you have fun or not.

Gentle Nature

Hiking in calm rainy weather may afford you some of the best scenery Mother Nature has to offer. When it rains you can experience nature at its gentle side. The ground is softer, the air smells fresh and full of fragrances.

Enjoy listening to the rainfall, watch the drops run off your rain cape, and the feeling as the rain is peacefully soaking you. Hiking through constant rain can be quite fun even though you get all wet.

The most beautiful places in nature are off the beaten track, beyond rivers, lakes and muddy trails. You may cross flooded ditches, crawl through mud pits, and clean off while swimming in a lake.

Soaking Hiker Wash

Hiker Wash is a cool morning phenomenon. Early in the morning, or after the rain, look at the beautiful lush meadows, the captivating thin ribbon of trail flanked by thick vegetation. You'll find it also near waterfalls. Lovely, yes, but also know what awaits you: the Soaking Hiker Wash. This is a nice experience when the temperature is warm and a refreshing start to your hike.

Also called Runner Wash or Mountain Biker Wash, the Hiker Wash occurs when saturated wet vegetation comes in contact repeatedly with your carefully dried trousers, shoes and socks. Wet brush on narrow trails will quickly soak your clothing. If the brush is tall enough it soaks the rest of your outfit. Your whole outfit. For days.

To protect from nettles and insects wear thin pants, a long sleeve top, and maybe your hiking cape. Now that you're ready, head out and get wet. Enjoy seeing other hikers traipsing in front of you, getting soaked while taking the Hiker Wash for the team.

Swap the lead position occasionally, so everyone has a chance to get completely washed, clothes and all. You will dry soon as you keep going after a good hiker wash. Definitely a happy experience!

Swimming in Clothes: A Quirky Coastal Tradition

Fancy something something a bit different? Try open-water swimming in your clothes! It’s a fun way to enjoy the harbour’s waters, often organised as part of charity events or group dips. Just make sure to bring spare clothes.

This quirky activity has a surprising following among swimmers who love a bit of fun with their dip in the sea. It’s exactly what it sounds like: jumping into the water fully clothed, whether that’s jeans, t-shirt, hoodie, or even a fancy dress costume.

It’s a nod to old-school seaside traditions, where people would wade in wearing whatever they had on, and it’s become a playful way to enjoy the beach.

Some people organise “fully clothed swims” during summer events or charity fundraisers, often followed by a beach barbecue or pub visit.

The weight of wet clothes adds a fun challenge, and there’s something oddly liberating about splashing around without worrying about a swimsuit.

If you’re giving it a go, stick to shallow areas and avoid strong currents. Wet clothes can make swimming harder. Bring a towel and a change of clothes (unless you fancy a soggy walk home). It’s a great way to embrace a playful spirit and make some new friends.

Reader Comment: Rain Maker

by Patrick, from Oakland, California

I’ve thought of renting myself out as a rain maker. If I didn’t hike in the rain, I’d never get out. My favorite time to hike is when it’s raining. There are always less people out then. A great reason to hike in the rain is to avoid the crowds. Most weekend warriors don’t like to get soggy, so I go out in the rain when I want to get away from all the dang people cuz lets face it, they are everywhere.

A few years ago, I flew to Montana, which was in the throes of a six year drought that didn’t break until the moment I set foot off the airplane. My friend and I delayed our trip to the Bob Marshal Wilderness for days and finally gave up and went anyway. It rained the full five days we were on the trail and we got soaked every day.

A couple years ago, my friend and I planned a backpacking trip. When we hiked we got sixteen inches of rain overnight. We cleared out just in time to miss the flood that killed twenty people at Albert Pike.

A year later, we hiked together on the Buffalo River Trail with a forecast of 1/4″ of rain. If the thirty six hour deluge that ensued only netted a quarter inch of precipitation, they were using government math to measure it.

Montana again with my brother, more rain. Arkansas with my nephews with another quarter inch forecast that was more like a quarter foot between the time we got up and I fixed breakfast, not to mention the rest of the hike. We were soaked all the time. Great fun.