North Carolina Year of the Trail

North Carolina, home to Maola Milk, is also known as The Great Trails State. This spring, Maola is happy to partner with NC Year of the Trail to show all the incredible hiking opportunities across the state of North Carolina.

As we enter warmer weather, it is the perfect time to explore all that hiking has to offer and its various benefits. Not only does it allow you to connect with nature but hiking also provides a low-impact cardio workout, improves balance and coordination, reduces stress and anxiety, and helps to improve mood and mental health. The best way to enjoy a hike is to be prepared and use your best judgment. Find out even more ways to stay safe here. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but here are a few things you can do to make sure that your hike is as safe and enjoyable as possible:

1. Plan ahead

Before you head out, know exactly where you’re going and how long it will take. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be to enjoy yourself. Plus, when something goes wrong on the trail, having a plan in place can mean the difference between life and death.

2. Tell someone where you’re going

Tell someone where you’re going and when they should expect you back in case something happens along the way (injury, weather, or other emergency). You can also let them know if you’re bringing anything with you that could be dangerous (like an umbrella).

3. Check the weather forecast

Bring appropriate gear (tarp/rain gear/warm clothes) if there’s a chance of rain or snow. And remember that even if it doesn’t rain at home during your hike, it may still be raining at higher altitudes!

After your hike, you may be tempted to grab the nearest bottle of water, but do not discount the countless benefits of milk, including rehydration! Milk can be a good source of hydration due to its high-water content, but it also contains nutrients like protein and electrolytes. With 8g of protein and 13 essential nutrients in every serving, simply drinking a bottle of Maola milk can help keep you going and ready for the next hike.