First of all, I'm definitely no expert in hiking, camping, mountaineering etc. When I was young, I learned to be safe, but simple. Take what you need to make the trip, and a few things extra in case of emergency. The philosophy I learned was, if you do things right, there won't be an 'emergency'. Don't wander off the trail. Don't hike when there's the possiblity of bad weather. Be aware of surroundings and trail conditions, use proper time management, take enough food and water etc.
This is a good example of do as I/they say, not as I do. Below is what I've always taken on long hikes, follow the links and compare to what the 'experts' say you should take. I've also noted a few extra items I'll be taking for these summit hikes. I suggest that you develop your own feel for what you should take, and talk to others who will suggest 'essentials' based on their experiences.
There are a lot of websites that offer tips on hiking. One of the best I've seen is Dan's Hiking Pages. No, I'm not that Dan, this guy is a REAL hiker. His site is really informative, so spend a little time browsing it.
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Items I've always taken on my long hikes
Not necessarily in order of importance. |
| Water |
You should get back to the cars with water. That means you took enough. You'll get an idea how much you will need from the training hikes. |
| Food |
Again, get back to the cars with extra food left over. I take snacky stuff for the hike up and hike down, and have some substantial grub for a meal on the top. Get a feel for what you will like, and what will work on the training hikes. |
| Sunscreen |
Any and all skin exposed to the sun could get burnt. Take a bottle of spf 15 minimum. |
| Sunglasses |
If there's too much snow (which can cause snowblindness without sunglasses) we will have to postpone. With no snow, squinting in the bright sun for hours can give you a headache that you don't need at 10,000 ft. |
| Large plastic trash bag |
This can be used for warmth, against rain, and other uses. I always carry a couple, and have used them often for different uses. |
| Utility tool |
Multi-use with knife, pliers etc. |
| T.P. (in plastic bag) |
Toilet paper, napkins, wipes, can be used for scrapes, cuts, blowing nose and the obvious use. |
| Matches (in plastic bag) |
Just in case of an unplanned overnighter. |
| Items I'm going to add for these hikes |
| Gauze/Tape/Band-Aids |
First Aid uses |
| Whistle |
To get all your attention when I'm yelling at you to "move out soldier!" |
| Gloves |
For comfort |
| Water Tablets |
Purification tablets for those of you who didn't bring enough water. |
| Map of mountain |
I can't read it, but if we get lost, I'll pull it out and pretend I can. |
| Wikipedia 10 Essentials |
| Backpacking.net 10 Essentials |
| Gear 10 Essentials |
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