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Ten Essentials For Backpacking Trips
By Steve Gillman, Thu Dec 8th
I've had trips that included rain, snow, lightning,rockslides, altitude sickness, and twenty-mile days - all in asummer weekend. Wilderness trips can be dangerous, but you canmake then less so, by having the following ten essentials inyour backpack. 1. Knowledge. What good is a compass if you don't know how touse it? Play with matches if your fire-making skills are shaky.Learn what to do when you see a bear. Read a little, practice alittle - knowledge is more likely to save you than gadgets. 2. Map and compass. These are together, because that's the wayyou need to use them. 3. Matches and lighter. Bring both, or waterproof matches and afire starter of some sort. Having two ways to start a fire ismuch safer. 4. First aid kit. Buy a pre-packaged one or build your own.Make sure it has pain relievers, bandages, disinfectant, andnotes on basic first aid procedures. 5. Foot care. Your first aid kit needs moleskin, and maybe apin, to treat blisters. Your feet have to be well cared for whenyou're hiking miles from
the nearest road. 6. Water purification. A filter works, but they clog and breakso often that you should have a small bottle of iodine tabletsor other water purification as back up. 7. Rainwear. One of the biggest killers in the woods ishypothermia, and it often starts when you get wet. Try to staydry. 8. Shelter. This can be a tent, tarp or bivy sack. Just be sureyou know how to use it. 9. Sleeping bag. Down bags are the warmest for their weight,but be sure you know how to keep it dry, or bring a syntheticbag. 10. Specific trip items. For trips in Michigan inMay, bring insect repellant. In June in Arizona, bring sunblock.Think about the specific conditions for the time and place ofyour trip.
Make your own list if you take regular
trips. It'sno fun when a friend tells us ten miles down the trail that he'sallergic to bees and forgot his medicine. A little planningmeans less worries, and a better trip.
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