The night that precedes the hiking day is always a pleasure for us hikers. It is like waiting for Christmas day to unwrap the presents. On the hike day, whether you want to go deep into the forests or climb that mountain, the places to go are numerous. Many trails and natural reserves offer a broad networks for trails with diversified difficulty levels. To determine which hike is for you, check our “upcoming events” section on wwww.bluegreenadv.com
To decide what to bring with you on a day hike ask yourself the following:
• How far you plan to hike?
• How remote the location is?
• How is the weather looking that day?
• Who are you planning to take with you?
• How long are you planning to spend on the trail?
The must-have items
These items should be on your hiking checklist for all type of hikes:
¨ Hiking backpack (with waist stripes to distribute the weight)
¨ Weather-appropriate clothing (think moisture-wicking, UV repellent, and layers)
¨ Hiking boots or shoes
¨ Plenty of energy snacks and fruits (bananas are great)
¨ Plenty of water (a minimum of 2 liters for a full day hike)
¨ Navigation tools such as a map or an offline GPS track on your phone (we recommend Guru Maps)
¨ First-aid kit
¨ Knife or multi-tool device
¨ A pair of trekking poles (aka batons) – these are amazing for descent and ascent and to reduce the weight pressure on your knees
The rest of the essentials should be considered as appropriate for you and your hike
Clothing and Footwear
Check the forecast and make sure to dress for the conditions. To be prepared for changing weather or an unplanned night out, pack extra clothes beyond those required for the trip. It’s also important to consider how much protection your clothing provides against the sun’s ultraviolet rays. For footwear, determine what to wear based on the terrain. On gentle hikes on smooth trails, hiking shoes or trail runners are sufficient. For treks on rocky, rugged trails, boots will provide more support. Learn more about choosing hiking clothing and footwear.
¨ Moisture-wicking underwear
¨ Moisture-wicking T-shirt (quick-dry material used in most sports)
¨ Quick-drying pants/shorts
¨ Long-sleeve shirt (for sun, bugs)
¨ Lightweight fleece or jacket
¨ Boots or shoes suited to terrain
¨ Socks (synthetic or wool)
¨ Extra clothes (beyond the minimum for unplanned emergencies)
Additional items for rainy and/or cold weather:
¨ Rainwear (jacket and pants)
¨ Long underwear (or base insulating layers)
¨ Warm, insulated jacket or vest
¨ Fleece pants
¨ Gloves or mittens
¨ Warm hat
Optional:
¨ Bandana or Buff
Health & Hygiene
¨ First-aid kit
¨ Lighter/matches and fire-starter
¨ Whistle
¨ Hand sanitizer
¨ Menstrual products
¨ Prescription medications
¨ Sunscreen
¨ Sunglasses
¨ Sun hat
¨ Lip balm
Optional:
¨ Insect repellent
¨ Toilet paper
¨ Baby wipes
¨ Alcohol or antiseptic wipes
¨ Blister treatments
The Extras
¨ Headlamp or flashlight (with extra batteries)
¨ Camera
¨ Two-way radios
Gaby W. Awad