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.

[Jeffshadows]

it's tempting to bust out a shemagh... it's a bandana on steroids

I wear mine on longer hikes, usually wrapped around my neck so I can dip it in water and cool down. It's great to stop at a spring or something and tent it over your head and just cool down for a while.

You should see the looks I get if I actually wear it like it was meant to be worn.

[te_wa]

oh wow! so Jeff and I have met on the trail. i got this photo of you back in '04 down near Organ Pipe...

[Jeffshadows]

I was afraid I would run into a few dogs on the trail that day so I went prepared!!

[writelots]

Buff - Do any women wear Buff's from the angler series...

hmmmm....

[Jeffshadows]

writelots?!!

[BobP]

I was thinking of getting the tarpon but hate the smell of fish which I can't seem to catch. With luck maybe this Friday on the Rim.

[joebartels]

apparently The 10 Essentials of Hiking weren't worthy of keeping the original link alive

okay I'm off to see if I can get a white paisley bandana, I hear they're the rage

[BobP]

Its still there although the link is diferent
http://www.americanhiking.org/uploadedF ... .30.11.pdf

edit...just saw you said original

[BobP]

a white paisley bandana, I hear they're the rage

I have a Dave1 original with bloodstains....if you want it.

[Grasshopper]

As for the 10 Essentials list, I remember it well from when I took a Basic Mountaineering course from the Sierra Club in San Diego in 1976.

I took that same Sierra Club course in San Diego in Feb-Mar'83. I took the 10 Essentials course segment seriously & glad I did: In May'85 while on a SD-Sierra Club Outing to Lake Arrowhead, we were car camping for the weekend doing a long dayhike on the PCT Segment that goes through this area to a popular hot springs called Deep Creek. We all stayed there too long and the dayhike turned bad trying to get back to our remote campsite before dark... to make a long story short, hiking in a swimming suit I got lost (was alone & it was my fault for getting lost), but I got through the night by myself in 40F temps and back to the group safely the next morning because I had ALL these published "10 Essentials". Until your number comes up and you need them, it can be somewhat of a :roll: issue to discuss. They are for the unexpected, not for the assumed.. First rule of the wilderness is: "Never Assume Anything" ;)

Worth repeating, the unexpected and unplanned can happen. "The 10 Essentials" are called that for a good reason.. :SB:
(Also, these "10 Essentials" are meant to be carried by each person in the hiking group since you can be separated from the group, thus each person needs to be self-contained for the unexpected..)

[kingsnake]

Or, as I say, "Better to have it, and not need it, than to need it, and not have it." ;)

[azbackpackr]

I really appreciate when on a trip to be with well-prepared people. I try to be completely self-contained. Occasionally I have fallen short on that, but generally I am fairly well-prepared. I am continually loaning out Ibuprofen and that antibiotic ointment that has the painkiller (aka butt rash goop). Those two things seem to be forgotten by a lot of people, or they don't bring enough.

Now I am in Costa Rica with a bunch of college students. Guess what I loan out all the time? Ibuprofen! (And ear plugs! I brought a baggy full of them. You don't need ear plugs on a backpacking trip, generally speaking...but you might want to bring them to Central America, assuming you like to sleep at night!)

[WilliamnWendi]

I am continually loaning out Ibuprofen and that antibiotic ointment that has the painkiller (aka butt rash goop).

As of our 17 mile Charlebois Canyon hike you will not need to supply me with that. I had no idea that could happen, I do now.

[imike]

Given that we are talking about an outdoor experience... that could drift up to the level of adventure, I think that all levels of preparedness are viable. There is no limit to the items that could be included to offset hardships, yet it might be nice to include greater hardship for a higher quality of experience. It makes sense to balance shared circumstances.... to the extent of not putting hardships on others, needlessly.

My best memories in outdoor experiences all center around times where there was little to no planning, and little to no essential items along. A below freezing night wrapped in only a serape... days of trekking sans canteen, licking water out of pock holes in rocks... foodless days canoeing down canyon... it is just one more level of that balancing risk/reward. Just by venturing out the door we have chosen a bit more risk. Whether it is a raging white water, a perilous peak, or a few days sans food... aren't they all just varying degrees of the same dynamic?

If the goal is to be safe and comfortable... then, items matter. If the goal is to experience new vistas of self, they might simply get in the way.

[outdoor_lover]

First rule of the wilderness is: "Never Assume Anything"

I think that rule applies to more than just the wilderness. I think it applies to every facet of life and to life as a whole....

And you guys can laugh at my heavy packs all you want. If I had gotten lost on the New Year's Day hike I would have been prepared! I could have lasted with a half a bottle of Champagne, Chocolate covered Strawberries and Oatmeal Cookies for a few days...I even had ice packs for sprains! Didn't hurt that they kept the Champagne cold!

Too bad it was one of those hikes that it would have been pretty impossible to get lost, since you could see the car the whole time.

Seriously though, I do carry all of the essentials on every hike I do, and I have supplied other hikers with some of those essentials, ie. ibuprofen....

[kingsnake]

Did you have a French count in you pack with the champagne and strawberries?

[kevinweitzel75]

@Outdoor Lover I'm sort of the same way. Always prepared. Although, trying to cut the weight of my pack, so some things have to go. I try to keep just what I NEED. "Do I really need this lawn chair?".

[WilliamnWendi]

I try to be prepared for anything for two, my pack weight with water is about 24lbs. I think those who think getting lost is the only challenge we face on the trails are not being creative enough. There's injury, stolen cars, broke-down cars, flat tires, flash floods or other wise cut off from the trail either by fate or foolish choices. Don't assume anything!

[Grasshopper]

I try to be prepared for anything for two

I know that I am probably going to be "blasted" by some for my position on this, but here goes anyway because I have personally "lived it" before:

Most all basic wilderness courses will teach that doing this is a "no-no". I do recall that one of the most common reasons for being lost is unplanned separation from the group or person you were hiking with. What happens if an unexpected and unplanned separation does occur and you are not able to get back together in a short period of time? This is the main reason why basic wilderness courses teach for each person to be fully "10 essential" contained.

Most recently on my and mnlumberjack's "White Canyon Upper - SW Approach FR319" 2/15/12 hike, roaming around the remote and rugged upper White Canyon rim overview areas taking pictures, we became unexpectedly separated from each other for probably less than 30 minutes but at the time it seemed like an eternity. Jack briefly commented on this happening in his triplog. We got back together without issue, but we both commented on it being a little scary during this separation period. It can happen so easily and does and can turn into more than a short separation..

[outdoor_lover]

@kingsnake No takers on that front, but I did get a few offers to help carry the load....I don't think any of my compadres were French though! By the way, I never did get to see the Photoset of the pics when I unloaded at the top! Who's camera was that anyway????

@kevinweitzel75 You take a lawn chair on a day hike? Although I have been accused of carrying the "kitchen sink" before, even though it wasn't true, it just looked like it. That's what you get for deciding to host a New Year's Party on a Peak!

My typical "daypack" weight is somewhere between 15 and 20 lbs. I have to carry alot of water, because I have to drink alot or I start getting sick even in winter. I took 5 liters to the top of Capitol Butte and used 3 1/2 of it....It is helpful though, for me to carry a heavier pack, especially on those hikes that require alot of scrambling, climbing etc. Because now I know that I can do those hikes with a heavier pack and I won't be in total physical shock when I start backpacking....

@Grasshopper No grief from me. I pack for the worst case scenario every time and count on being alone when it happens, even when I'm hiking with someone else....I'm slow enough on uphills that sometimes even in a group I can be alone for a stretch, which is fine with me, and I'm comfortable knowing that if something happens, even then, I'm prepared, if not to help myself, to help someone else if need be....