The Ten Hiking Essentials

Not to long ago I was reading a blog and came across a story about a hiker who found out the hard way the importance of the “Hikers Ten Essentials”.  She like most of us had started hiking a couple of years ago and as her time on the trail grew so did her self-confidence.  As her self-confidence grew she started trying to go lighter and lighter with her loads, eventually forgetting why some of those essentials are so important.  I myself have fallen prey to becoming lazy with my pack, I bought a new day pack but forgot to move most of my gear over from my 65 liter pack, but this story brought back the importance of such things into my view.  So as a refresher for everyone here are the “Hikers Ten Essentials”:

The purpose behind the list of “Ten Essentials” is to make sure that in an accident or emergency you are properly prepared and if need be can spend at least one night or more without support.

1. Navigation (map and compass): In this day and age almost everyone has some sort of navigation with their phones, but what if you are in an area that does not get any coverage ( I can’t count how many times that’s happened to me, that’s why it’s called a remote area). Not to mention what happens if your device runs out of juice. Then you go “old school” and break out the map and compass. Now I will admit my map reading skills are a little rusty, I was quite good at it when I was in the Army, but that was over 20 years ago and I can probably use a refresher course to get me back on track, I have many maps and a good compass but having the gear doesn’t help if you’re not confident in your skills in using them. Here are class’s for navigation.
2. Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen): I am white, I mean really white. German and Dutch blood lines do not lend themselves to a nice tan. I grew up in the tropics on Guam and thought I was a native until some reminded me I was white (who knew), I think the tan was just all my freckles coming together in one massive freckle. It’s not fun feeling the effects of a nasty sunburn the day after a hike because you forgot to apply sunblock in all the important areas. If the hiking trail is close I will usually apply my sunblock in the bathroom where I can get a good look at where I’m applying it and also give it time to absorb, but if the trail-head is faraway then I will usually wait until I get there and use my windows as mirrors for applying, and I’ve been guilty of this transgression before, don’t forget to reapply if you are on a long hike. Sunglass’s…need I really say more.
3. Insulation (extra clothing): You never know what nature might throw your way while hiking; ideally you have checked the weather forecast for whatever area you are hiking in, but mother nature has a way of surprising you when you least expect it, as depicted by the Mt Baldy story above. Keeping that in mind, having at least a light weight shell (wind breaker) can be a life saver, not to mention that anytime I hike in higher altitudes I’m sweating my butt off on the way up the trail, but once you’re at the top and have a little down time sometimes the breeze can really start giving you’re a chill and that’s where your glad you brought that nice light little shell. Plan your clothing accordingly; it can save your life. Here are some light weight shells
4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight): I prefer a headlamp, the headlamps are light weight and when you really need them you can keep your hands free. You may not think it’s really an important item, but if something happens and you’re stuck out somewhere without a good source of light, life is going to get hard for you really fast. I have been on several hikes where the start times began before the sun came up and the headlamp comes in really handy, not to mention if you miscalculate your time and are coming down the hike as the sun is going down the headlamp is a lifesaver. If you don’t have a headlamp grab a flashlight at least, and if all else fails and your phone still has juice you can usually use the flash as a flashlight, but remember if your lost somewhere and the choice is between a flashlight or some extra juice so someone can find you, leave the light alone. Headlamps
5. First-aid supplies: A good first aid kit is a must for big hikes, even for little ones it can come in quite handy. First and foremost as a hiker the two things you should have in your first aid kit are 1. Moleskin for blisters, and 2. Some sort of anti-inflammatory medication. If not you, then someone who may be hiking with you may have need the moleskin, especially if your breaking in some new boots, I’ve had to use it myself on one hike and I have had to use it for some of the hikers in my hiking group on several occasions.
6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles): Living in San Diego, and having lived through two major fires; the 2003 Cedar Wild Fire (the largest wild fire in California’s recorded history), and the 2007 Witch Creek Fire, part of a large mass evacuation of some 900,000 residents, I’m a little reluctant to put anything in here about starting a fire, but it is a basic essential when you are cold and alone and therefor an important essential to your kit. Fire-starters 
7. Repair kit and tools (duct tape/ knife/ multi-tool): What you keep in your kit for a tool and or repairs can help make unexpected situations manageable and less stressful. Duct tape or a small roll of athletic tape is a good addition, you never know when you may need to tape up a hole on a jacket, tent, shoes, etc… you may even need it to completely repair shoes. I have had to use athletic tape to hold together someone’s hiking boots while they disintegrated, by the end of the hike their boot looked like a mummy’s foot, but it held together and allowed that person to finish the hike, quite the life saver. I even keep a little roll of Para cord in my pack, I may never need it and I hope I never need to use it, but I’m glad it’s there just in case. You should always have some sort of tool with you, be that a knife or a multi-tool, maybe even both. While I have always carried a knife with me, hiking out in the desert where the jumping cholla cactus presides I have read just how handy a pair of pliers such as the ones you can find on a mutli-tool are when you brush against the cactus and have to remove the spikes from your leg. ( ouch !) Multi-Tools Paracord
8. Nutrition (extra food): As your hike becomes longer and more strenuous your nutrional needs will increase as well. For most day hikes throwing a bar, some fruit, and or some beef jerky into your pack will suffice, but I always tend to pack more food then I’m going to eat on the trail, partially for emergency reserves in case something happens and you need to survive on your own for a little time, but also because hiking with a group of people tends to be a very social experience and I enjoy sharing something tasty with my friends when we are all sitting around enjoying our lunch and trading stories.
9. Hydration (extra water): Here in San Diego I cannot stress the importance of H20. We live in a desert here, its dry and most of the year you’re not going to be able to find an alternate source of water. It’s better to finish a hike and have water left over then to finish your water and realize you still have several grueling miles to go in hot and dry conditions. Not carrying enough water is just a receipt for disaster. Even on short 2-3 hour hikes the biggest reason for emergency calls for hikers in San Diego are heat related injuries. If you are on a longer hike, such as an all-day or multi-day hike, then you may even need to carry something for filtering or purifying water that you may need to gather from a stream so that you don’t get sick.
10. Emergency shelter: For most hikes that go beyond a day hike this isn’t really in issue because more than likely you’re already packing along a tent as well. This become more important to the casual day hiker who may get stuck out in the middle of nowhere and need to hunker down for warmth during the night. An ultralight tarp, pancho, bivy sack or even a large garbage sack can come in handy, but the one item that’s a no brainer is the emergency space blanket that folds up ultra-light and ultra-small that space and weight are not even a consideration. I even saw this item come in handy on top of MT Baldy one hike when everyone was huddling behind some rocks set up as a wind break, it was misty and cold and this one women’s teeth where catering away, someone was nice enough to give here their space blanket and bring a sense of comfort and safety back into her experience.