The 10 Essentials of Hiking

[Grasshopper]

The American Hiking Society-AHS lists "The 10 Essentials of Hiking":

The 10 Essentials of Hiking
Fact Sheet

1. Map and Compass. A map not only tells you where you are and how far you have
to go, it can help you find campsites, water, and an emergency exit route in case of an
accident. A compass can help you find your way through unfamiliar terrain-
especially in bad weather where you can't see the landmarks. Either one without the
other is significantly less useful.

2. Whistle. Purchase a whistle with exceptional loudness. To be used to aid in rescue.

3. Water and a way to purify it. Without enough water, your body's muscles and
organs simply can't perform as well: you'll be susceptible to hypothermia and
altitude sickness, not to mention raging thirst.

4. Extra Food. Any number of things could keep you out longer than expected: a
lengthy detour, getting lost, enjoying time by a stream, an injury, or difficult terrain.
A few ounces of extra food will help keep up energy and morale.

5. Rain Gear and extra clothing. Because the weatherman is not always right.
Especially above treeline, bring along extra layers. Two rules: Avoid cotton (it keeps
moisture close to your skin) and always carry a hat.

6. Firestarter and matches. The warmth of a fire and a hot drink can help prevent an
encounter with hypothermia. And fires are a great way to signal for help if you get
lost.

7. First aid kit. Prepackaged first aid kits for hikers are available at outfitters. Double
your effectiveness with knowledge: take a basic first aid class with the American Red
Cross or a Wilderness First Aid class, offered by many hiking organizations.

8. Knife or multi-purpose tool. These enable you to cut strips of cloth into bandages,
remove splinters, fix broken eyeglasses, and perform a whole host of repairs on
malfunctioning gear-not to mention cut cheese and open cans.

9. Flashlight and extra batteries. For finding your way in the dark and signaling for
help.

10. Sun screen and sun glasses. Especially above treeline when there is a skin-
scorching combination of sun and snow, you'll need sunglasses to prevent
snowblindness, and sunscreen to prevent sunburn.

[WilliamnWendi]

And the first mention of parachute cord on this thread! Amazing.....

I keep about 30' wrapped in a cobra weave around my hiking stick, probably should have some in my pack too.

[Grasshopper]

by hikeaz » Feb 27 2012 5:12 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNbLNP6h5zQ

Thanks Kurt for posting. It's definitely one well done video and worth the 36 minutes to view a few times. Important essential items like: the 50-60 gallon clear trash bags, a saw blade, parachute 550 cord, signal mirror, Vaseline soaked cotton balls in aluminum foil, and a quality steel/spark rod fire starter I had not really consider the importance of until now. Yesterday I did pull my ten year old storm-proof matches and picked one at random that did surprisingly light-up. One thing I will never forget from my previously mentioned unexpected day hiking overnight, was the unmeasurable importance of having a warming/comforting fire throughout that long and sleepless 40 degree night.

[kingsnake]

A hot cup of soup / coffee makes a big difference too, even if only as a morale booster ...

Btw, why clear bags, and not white, or green, or whatever?

[Grasshopper]

Btw, why clear bags, and not white, or green, or whatever?

A good reason to watch the video again.. he explains and shows why..

[kingsnake]

Short attention span. ;)

[hikeaz]

by hikeaz » Feb 27 2012 5:12 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNbLNP6h5zQ

Thanks Kurt for posting. It's definitely one well done video and worth the 36 minutes to view a few times. Important essential items like: the 50-60 gallon clear trash bags, a saw blade, parachute 550 cord, signal mirror, Vaseline soaked cotton balls in aluminum foil, and a quality steel/spark rod fire starter I had not really consider the importance of until now. Yesterday I did pull my ten year old storm-proof matches and picked one at random that did surprisingly light-up. One thing I will never forget from my previously mentioned unexpected day hiking overnight, was the unmeasurable importance of having a warming/comforting fire throughout that long and sleepless 40 degree night.

Glad to post it! ... I LOVE that video and its valuable information. Sadly, the author passed away a few years ago, but good information never goes out-of-style.
I have always envied the fire-starting skills of folks from the PNW - hell.. around here we are so spoiled that we nearly have to pour water on wood to prevent it from spontaneously combusting.


A couple of short quotes that I find apropos...

Information's pretty thin stuff unless mixed with experience.
Clarence Day
There is only one thing more painful than learning from experience, and that is not learning from experience.
~Laurence J. Peter

[outdoor_lover]

@kingsnake
It's ok, you have a head injury....

[chumley]

I personally can't go anywhere, not even to the post office to pick up my mail, without some sort of lip balm.

I just found the best lip balm! Not sure why they have to add the mint flavor, I think it would be great with just the hop oils!
http://www.sierranevadagiftshop.com/sie ... -balm.html
PS. I am not affiliated with snbc, nor am I endorsing, nor trying to sell their stuff.

[azbackpackr]

I am not a big fan of mint-flavored lip balm, although I will use it if it's all I have. (I tend to get lipbalm as a stocking stuffer at Christmas.) One thing I have noticed is that some of the health foodie type of lip balms, if stored a long time, such as in your gear box, tend to go rancid. Nasty.

I use Blistex, in the dark green tube. It's mentholated. I have been thinking about trying to get away from the menthol addiction, though, and trying out a different type.

[autumnstars]

I had always tried to carry a brightly-colored bag, so it could double for signaling, but a good point with the clear.

[writelots]

I have been thinking about trying to get away from the menthol addiction, though, and trying out a different type.

Sirena and I both swear by a Calendula lip balm made by the Super Salve folks in NM. You can find it all over AZ, in organic food stores and hiking shops. Doesn't go rancid, smells great and lasts a long time. Best part - no menthol!

[writelots]

I had always tried to carry a brightly-colored bag, so it could double for signaling, but a good point with the clear.

I used to carry a rat sack, until the ravens rendered it obsolete.

Now I'm wondering if kevlar comes in bright pink? ;)

[PLC92084]

I used to carry a rat sack, until the ravens rendered it obsolete.

Morbid curiosity compels me to ask... Just how, exactly, did they do it!?

[azbackpackr]

The only thing I am wondering is what would impel anyone to carry a sack of rats? I mean, I know Wendy is a bit, shall we say, eclectic, but why bring rats to the Grand Canyon when there are already plenty of perfectly good rats available there? What's the matter with the Canyon rats? You're some kind of snob, have to bring your very own special rats?

[Trishness]

I personally can't go anywhere, not even to the post office to pick up my mail, without some sort of lip balm.

I just found the best lip balm! Not sure why they have to add the mint flavor, I think it would be great with just the hop oils!
http://www.sierranevadagiftshop.com/sie ... -balm.html
PS. I am not affiliated with snbc, nor am I endorsing, nor trying to sell their stuff.

This is the BEST STUFF EVER in lip balms. It's a product called "Lizard Lips" SPF 22 and not petroleum based but beeswax based with coconut oil, aloe, grapeseed oil and other natural ingredients. I love it. They used to sell it at Sportsman's but I haven't been able to find it lately and am down to my last tube.

http://www.lizardlips.net/DrugFacts.aspx

Trish

[azbackpackr]

Lizard Lips? That sounds about right for Liz... ;)

[writelots]

Morbid curiosity compels me to ask... Just how, exactly, did they do it!?

If you check out the pics on my Escalante Trip report, you'll see. They're not only clever, they're strong!

[writelots]

The only thing I am wondering is what would impel anyone to carry a sack of rats? I mean, I know Wendy is a bit, shall we say, eclectic, but why bring rats to the Grand Canyon when there are already plenty of perfectly good rats available there? What's the matter with the Canyon rats? You're some kind of snob, have to bring your very own special rats?

Yeah, well, whatever you've got to do to make the hike ;)