What to bring

 

 

 

 

What to bring on a day hike

 

1. Down jacket

2. fleece shirt*

3. toilet paper*

4. wind breaker

5. plenty of water*

6. hat*

7. emergency kit * **

8. map and compass*

9. rain poncho (or rain jacket)*

10. sun screen*

11. mosquito repellent

12. headlamp/flashlight

13. hand held GPS

14. SPOT Personal Locator Beacon**

15. water filter (for long hikes in warm weather)

16. fishing gear   

17. Matches or a lighter *

 

*indicates essential equipment for any trip into the wilderness areas. 

 

**14, the SPOT is a wonderful invention.  It will send for help via satellite during an emergency, and give your exact coordinates.  It can also send for a tow truck, and it can reassure those left at home that you’re OK.  It is a little pricy for a casual user, but an avid hiker should consider one. Update: There are some new devices on the market now that also allow you to send and receive text messages via sattelite.

 

Edit: There are now apps for cell phones that will make our phone a topographical interactive map. 

** The emergency kit contains:

 

Ace bandage

Packet of band aide’s gauze pads, and adhesive tape

Pencil and paper (for leaving messages to other hikers)

Rubber gloves for first aid to other hikers

Packet of disenfectants and Neosporin

Moleskins to be applied before the blister happens.

Spare batteries for any GPS, headlamp and PLB devices

Lighter

Duct tape

Whistle

First aid tape

Tweezers

 

 

A good topographic map is a must. That may be a paper map, or one on a hand held GPS unit. I use an app called “Backcountry Navigator,” which I like a lot. It cost me $11.99 and allows me to download maps of the Sierras while in an area that has service. Once you have no service, you can use any map you’ve downloaded.  Update: There are lots of apps that can be had on your cell phone. Some cude good topo ,aps 

 

For overnight stays, this is a more comprehensive list.  It duplicates some of the things on the day pack list:

 

 

Backpack checklist

 

clothes:

 

pants

socks

sock liners

stocking cap

sweat pants or long johns

underwear

shoes or sandals

hat

sweatshirt or sweater/ jacket

wind breaker

 

cooking:

 

50-100’ nylon cord (or bear canister)

bowl

cup

dishpan or plastic wash pan

dishwash pad

fuel

stove

knife, fork, and spoon

pot

salt and pepper

olive oil (for cooking fish)

soap

towel

food

can opener

water bottle

water filter

lighter

water bag

carabiners

knife

trash bag

 

 

fishing*

 

rod

reel

fly box

floatant

pliers

tippit

sinkers

license

strike indicators

 

hygiene:

 

toothbrush

toothpaste

any medication you may be taking

toilet paper

sunscreen

mosquito repellent

toilet paper/matches

 

Sleeping:

 

tent and/or ground cloth

pad

pillow

sleeping bag

 

just in case:

 

emergency kit

rain poncho

waterproof matches

waterproof tarp

 

 

 

 

route finding:

compass

GPS unit

map

 

 

 

personal or extras:

book

camera

glasses

sun glasses

walking stick

flashlight and spare batteries

day pack

 

 

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Note on tent or ground cloth:  When deciding whether to take a tent, remember the undependability of those weather forecasts.  Moreover, it is usually more pleasant to not have mosquitoes singing in your ears at night, or feeling a mouse scamper over your sleeping bag.  Still, there are campers who like sleeping under the stars.