One of our memebers (thanks Steve!) had a great idea for an article... How to prepare and what gear to take for a day hike. So, I thought I'd give my 2 cents in this article. Please post your suggestions and observations in the forum here.
I'd like to break this down into a few categories of day hikes because I think you can, and should, treat them differently.
The categories that come to mind are:
- Easy distance and terain.
- Moderate distance or terain.
- Chalenging distance or terain.
By easy distance and terain I mean that you know that in the expected weather conditions over the next 24 hours you know you could survive with only the clothes on your back and you know you could make it back to the trail head with a broken ankle. It also means that you have already been on the trail and know the way. Finally, if you are not 100% confident about your hiking abilities, at the eleveation where you will be hiking, then you should prepare for it as if it were at least moderately difficult. After all, nothing is likely to make it more difficult than being under-prepared.
By moderate distance and terain I mean that you know that in the expected weather conditions you have good reason to be confident that you can make it back to the trail head well before dark, baring serious injury. This implies that you have either taken the trail before, talked to someone who has, or reviewed maps and/or descriptions of the trail ahead of time.
By chalenging distance or terain I mean that given the expected weather conditions there is a real, even if small, probability that you will not make it back before dark.
For each of these categories of day hikes, there are some common "base" elements of preparation and gear.
Common Preparation:
- Get a map & review the trail.
- Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Make sure an let them know when you get back.
- Check the weather forecast.
- Wear clothes suitable for the conditions you expect including sun, rain, temperature, thorns, poison oak, etc.
- Eat and drink water before you go.
- Sunscreen / bug repelent if approriate.
Common Gear (10 essentials) that you should have with you on the hike.
- Map (know how to read it with a compass)
- Compass (GPS receiver is not a substitute)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Extra food and water
- Extra clothes (Hat, rain poncho, jacket, etc, as appropriate for conditions)
- flashlight
- First aid kit
- Emergency Whistle
- Matches / fire starter
- Knife
Also, make sure you wear appropriate shoes, socks and clothes for the trail and weather conditions.
For the easy day hikes, your map might be as simple as a trail guide book. Your flashlight might be just an LED key chain light, etc.
Some aditional items I've found handy for many hikes:
- Bandana (sweat, bugs, etc)
- Insect repelent
- Camera
- Gatoraid or similar mix for water.
For moderate and more challenging day hikes I'd recommend adding these preparation steps:
- Leave a note in your vehicle indicating your route, departure time, and exptected return time, or if possible, leave that information with a ranger in the area.
- Get an early start if weather permits.
And, some extra things to pack along for the moderate and challenging hikes:
- Include in your first aid kit a means to deal with a twisted or broken ankle.
- If you are going to be in a cell phone coverage area, bring one along.
- Toilet articles including Trowel, TP, baggies, and disinfectant. Rember to pack out what you can.
- Plenty of water (approx 1 gallon for a full day).
Finally, for challenging hikes, you should be prepared to spend the night. You may not sleep, you may not be comfortable, but you should be prepared to survive outdoors, without shelter, for at least 48 hours. To the items carried with you I would suggest adding:
- Extra Day's food (power bars or the like).
- Means to purify water (filter, steri-pen, chemical, etc).
- Extra warmth layer, including head cover (fleece, down, etc).
- Wind / rain protection (complete rain suit is a good option) even if it's not supposed to rain.
Well, that's what comes to mind at the moment. I'll look forward to seeing your comments, questions, and recommendations in the forum.
Happy trails,
joe
