So, you’ve finally decided to try “hiking,” huh? Perhaps you’ve done it once or twice and realized you were about as coordinated as a newborn giraffe on a slip-and-slide. You’re probably right; you were likely awful. But don’t let that bruised ego (or your bruised shins) stop you just yet. We’ve all been there, standing at the trailhead looking like we’ve just been evicted from a sporting goods store. The truth is, the trail is a harsh mistress, and she doesn’t care about your aesthetic Instagram photos. Most of the suffering you endured was probably due to a series of avoidable mistakes by newbie hikers. In fact, some of us—myself…