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10 Essentials of Safe Hiking
It might seem like overkill to bring all 10 of these items on a hike, but safe and fun hiking is about planning for what you don't expect to happen. To make sure that every hike you take is enjoyable and safe, be certain to bring along these 10 essentials in your daypack or backpack.
10. Light Source - Bring a light source on every hike, even if your only taking a short walk after lunch. If there is one absolute truth in hiking "Stuff Happens!!" Sometimes it's exciting like that unexpected solar eclipse, but more often it's not so exciting like your glasses fell into a tree stump or you took a detour and the sun went down. The woods is much much scarier in the dark. A headlamp or an LED flashlight is a great choice
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9. Fire Starter - Bring some matches or a flint and some tinder(aka dryer lint). Wrapped in tinfoil and a plastic bag this is often the most important thing that you will need when things go wrong. Starting a fire when you are in trouble can go a long long way toward keeping you alive. A fire will give you light, protect you from hypothermia, signal for help, purify water and cook your dinner. Not too bad for the single lightest item in your daypack.
8.Space Blanket - A space blanket is a remarkable and featherlight addition to your daypack that can not only save you but can also make being lost or stranded considerably more comfortable. It can be used to keep you warm (No kiddin), or help waterproof a makeshift shelter or even make a solar still for water collection.
7. Signal Device - A whistle is the prefered candidate here, but other choices abound, an airhorn, a flare, heck you can bring a trombone along if you like. The point is that there may come a time when you need to let someone know where you are. After screaming help for the last 10 hours, your voice just isn't going to do the job.
6. Extra Food - You need a !!SNACK!!! Even a couple of them. Go for high energy and small size. Clif bars are my favorites, followed by dried apricots. Trail mix, power bars, dehydrated fruit, cereal even the odd candy bar gives you options for staying alive when you need it. I actually read about a guy who hike the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Coast Trail, all in a single year and he made all of that mileage fueled mostly by Snickers bars.
5. Water Purification - You need to bring a bottle of water for every hike. Dehydration can sneak up on you, especially on a beautiful day when you are more concerned about the view than your thirst. Even more important for your daypack, you need a way to purify water if you run out or get stranded. A small bottle of chlorine dioxide or iodine tablets or a small water filter will save you some day.
4. Knife - Okay Crocodile Dundee put away the Bowie knife. A small but good quality swiss army knife or multitool may not scare away the thugs in Manhattan but it will be your best friend in the woods at night when you are trying to fashion a hot dog stick to eat that big juicy grub instead of using him for bait.
3. First Aid - Coming in at #3 is the first aid kit. It doesn't have to be big or complicated. It should be waterproof and it should have some first aid items and some preventive aid items. A couple bandaids, a sting relief stick or swab, some moleskin (that's the preventive part), some aspirin or tylenol, an antiseptic wipe and some antibiotic ointment. After that it's up to you.
2. Navigation - The best way to get back is to know where you have been. A map is good, a GPS is really good but the TOP DOG of the navigation business is still a COMPASS. Maps get wet, GPS batteries die but unless you are in the Bermuda triangle or about to be abducted by an alien, you can trust your compass. You must trust your compass!! If you get turned around in the woods or if you a hiking in the dark, your body is going to lie to you and you are going to walk in circles. Beleive me I have done it.
1. Knowledge, Experience and Practice
Above all else the most important essential that you must bring with you is also the cheapest. Common Sense. Practical planning, including checking a map of the area you are hiking in, being aware of the weather forecast, talking to people who know the area and telling someone where you are going will keep you safe, having fun and ensure that your spouse will not be cashing in the life insurance policy anytime soon.
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