The Essentials for Backpacking
Great Smokey Mountains National Park
Those of you who are veterans to the passion of backpacking already have a pretty good idea what is needed to survive a backpacking trip, whether it is one day, three days or two weeks. But what about those who have never backpacked, but always wanted to or those who’ve only been out a few times for the timid one hour hike or nature walk? Well, this one’s for you!
Just about everyone who’s slapped a hat on, grabbed a stick and kicked up some dust could tell you the basics you need or give you a varied response of what they agree is necessary for a great, comfortable hike. We at Adventure Crew want to make sure you survive that first backpacking trip, whether it is just one quick hour or three days. So here’s our supply list for basic survival. Now don’t let that scare you. It never hurts, (and could just save your life), to be prepared when you are out hiking/backpacking in the backcountry somewhere or even in a nice “civilized” national park like Cuyahoga, located in northern Ohio. Because some short day hikes just might unexpectedly turn into an extended stay.
There is little discrepancy on what are the essentials for a simple day hike or overnight hike. Whether you carry an actual backpack or not for a short day hike is entirely up to you. You may be able to get away with just a fanny pack if your hike is in an area with always stable weather; in other words never a chance for a rain storm or cold front coming through. Or you might possibly have a jacket that has multiple pockets that would hold most of your gear. But if you are in any place where the elevation differences could change the weather, you need to be prepared for the worst.
The essentials that everyone in your group should carry are pretty elementary. Trail shoes or hiking boots, layered clothing warm enough for the season and place (no cotton in winter as it stays wet, and cold once wet), a hat, topographical map, compass (make sure you know how to use it), sunglasses, sunscreen (even in winter), water bottle with at least two quarts of water per person (more for arid areas), water filtering system or purification tablets, extra food in case you’re stuck out somewhere overnight, (extra food is also good in cold weather hikes to help prevent hypothermia), flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs, first-aid kit, signal mirror or whistle, extra socks or clothes in case you get wet, raingear, multipurpose tool or knife, matches, insect repellent, jacket, and a tarp and sleeping mat for ground insulation, again, if you are caught out overnight somewhere. Don’t worry too much about the weight and bulk as most of these are fairly small items.
Now, if you’re planning to stay out overnight, you’ll need a few more items. A tent or tarp to create a shelter, a sleeping bag, sleeping mat if you haven’t already included this, toiletries, camp stove and fuel (most places won’t let you start a fire anymore or there may be no downed wood with which to build a fire), cooking pots and utensils, collapsible water container, backpack and tent repair kits, bear proof container for food and scented toiletries (depending if you are in bear or other pack-digging animal territory), more clothing, food, and water as needed, and plastic bags to maintain a Leave-No-Trace environment and to keep items dry.
Going back to bear-proofing your stuff, you could just hang your food and toilet articles between two trees or boulders, but these are not always readily available. You will need 75 feet of 1/4 inch thick rope to suspend the food sack 15-16 feet off the ground and at least 8 feet from the tree truck. The specifics for this can be covered in another entry. They could also be stuffed into a crevice 9 inches wide and 4 feet deep, but this will not stop rodents.
There’s sure to be other things that you might think of to make your trip more comfortable, but these are the things considered essential for survival in the wild. Now everyone likes a great adventure story, but not everyone wants to be the main character. If you’re one of those who want to enjoy your excursion into the outdoors instead of barely escaping with skin intact, then follow these simple lists and enjoy your trek.
