Hiking 101: The Ten Essentials
You may be an experienced hiker, or you just might be a novice to the trail. Whether or not you are just starting your hiking career, though, there are important things that every adventurer should know. The wilderness is a dynamic environment, and even if you’ve checked the weather or hiked a trail a few times before, situations can change rapidly and you need to be able to adapt. It’s always better to be prepared than caught off guard, right? That’s why every hiker is encouraged to carry the 10 Essentials.
The 10 Essentials was a list first compiled by The Mountaineers in the 1970s, in the book Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills. According to the Mountaineers, the goal of this 10 Essentials list is to answer two questions:
Can you prevent emergencies and respond positively should one occur?
Can you safely spend a night (or more) outside?
According to the Center for Disease Control, hiking is the third most common source of injuries that occur in the outdoors. A 2005 study of the Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks revealed that for every one million visitors to the parks, there were 22.4 injuries. This might not seem like a startling number, but most of these injuries were from people hiking in daylight hours in the summer - in situations that wouldn’t necessarily seem like the most dangerous. And when you think about the many millions of people that visit our national parks each year, the number of injuries grows. In her article on the dangers of hiking, Wilderness First Responder Vicki Carrol notes that between the years 2011 and 2014, the National Park Service reported more than 11,000 search-and-rescue (SAR) incidents, with over 3300 hiking-related injuries.
A lot of the injuries and deaths that occur in the wilderness are attributed to people being inexperienced and unprepared - meaning that these situations could have easily been preventable. Sure, you can’t control every variable in the outdoors, nor can you expect to be prepared for every possible scenario. Things like weather changes, trail conditions, wildlife, and other people might be out of your control. But there is something you do have power over - the supplies you have on hand, and what tools you can use in response to whatever situation you end up in. And simply bringing or wearing the proper hiking equipment can help you prevent and respond to an emergency, or even save a life.
We all (hopefully) know to dress for the weather, and to bring extra food and water “just in case”. But there’s more to being prepared than just those three basic things, and they aren’t going to all necessarily help you in a rough situation.
That’s where these 10 Essentials come in:
Navigation
Sun Protection
Insulation
Illumination
First-Aid Supplies
Fire
Repair Kit and Tools
Nutrition
Hydration
Emergency Shelter
This list may seem daunting or overwhelming, especially if you’re a new hiker. Supplies like this might not be cheap, and it can be hard to identify what exactly you need for each item. So let’s break it down.
Navigation - You might be able to find a physical map of the area you’re hiking at a ranger station or a nearby town. Having a physical copy other than your phone is a great way to be prepared for the worst. But at the very least, you certainly can download a map onto your phone - just consider bringing a portable charger to make sure that your map doesn’t run out of battery! A physical compass is also something that’s not hard to find - and not too expensive! Just keep in mind that a cheap compass may not always be 100% accurate.
Sun protection - This one is fairly simple. Pack up some sunglasses and a small container of sunscreen, and maybe even a baseball cap. While the sun shining in your eyes isn’t necessarily an “emergency”, having these on hand can prevent you from getting a sunburn, or at least having to squint the entire trip.
Insulation - Extra clothing can be useful in many ways. Maybe your hiking buddy needs another layer, or you want to exchange one of yours because you’re wet or sweaty. Perhaps the day started off sunny but the wind suddenly picked up. Or perhaps you’re just on the trail for a lot longer than you anticipated, and the sun has started to set. Tossing an extra hat, set of gloves, socks, and/or a sweater might take up more room but won’t add much weight, and can literally be a life saver.
Illumination - It’s not uncommon to start a hike thinking that you’ll be back before dark, only to discover that you’ve taken longer than you planned. No one’s going to judge you for spending some extra time at the top enjoying the view! Bringing a flashlight or a headlamp, with extra batteries safely in a waterproof bag (think kitchen ziplock!), means that if the sun does disappear, you’re not left in the dark. These supplies won’t take up much room, and are pretty light to carry.
First-Aid Supplies - Whether someone just needs a band aid and disinfectant for a cut, or more seriously an ankle wrap and Ibuprofen, a first aid kit can help save the day. No, it’s not the same as carrying around a hospital on your back, but it can still make a big difference. You can find lots of different pre-made first-aid kits online, or create your own at home! If you’re doing the latter, check out “How to Build a Hiker’s First Aid Kit” by the Washington Trails Association.
Fire - Hopefully you won’t find yourself in a situation where you need to build a fire, but if things go wrong one of your main challenges will be to keep warm - and that’s where those matches and firestarter come in. You can find emergency firestarting kits easily at outdoor supply stores, and they can range in sizes and weights while not costing you a pretty penny. Try getting waterproof matches, a lighter, or even candles - anything to keep the cold away through the night. Truly, hiking and preparedness are a perfect match! All joking aside though, with our changing climate and the increase in wildfires, please be sure not to mess around with flames or build a fire without need. This essential might be able to save your life in a bad situation, but it can also take many lives if you aren’t careful.
Repair Kit and Tools - Get yourself a little handy multitool and maybe a small role of duct tape. These don’t have to take up much room, and they never cease to be handy. After all, what problem can’t duct tape fix?
Nutrition - You know your body’s food needs better than anyone else, so when you hike you’ll have your meals planned out. It’s recommended that you have around 200 calories for each hour that you are out hiking, even if you don’t plan to eat much. But consider tossing in a few extra protein bars, nuts, or dried fruits - maybe not for you, but at least for a fellow hiker who might not be as prepared. Have some nutrient-dense snacks that are high in carbs or fats, to help keep energy levels up for longer - future you might just appreciate it!
Hydration - A general rule of thumb is that for every two hours of moderate activity, you should have one liter of water. So when you prepare for a hike, you should estimate about how long you’ll be out and how much water to pack. But what happens if you’re out in the woods for longer than you’ve planned, or you come across someone who doesn’t have water, or if the weather is just that much hotter than you expected? Having that extra H2O packed might add a bit more weight, but it’s important to make the space for it - and there are ways to mitigate the extra effort. You can always pack a water bladder, so that as you drink the water it takes up less room than a regular bottle. Or, you can pack in a water filter such as a Lifestraw, so if you come across a water source you can safely drink it. Of course, when you think about extra hydration, you should always keep in mind where you’re hiking - in a desert, you’ll be less likely to find that wild water to clean, as compared with our wonderfully wet Washington winters.
Emergency Shelter - No matter the time of year, you should always have something to insulate you from the ground. Obviously if you’re not planning to camp, you likely won’t have a sleeping bag or pad on hand (unless you want to be extra comfortable in a pinch). But you can get an emergency tarp or space blanket that won’t take up much room at all, and can come in handy for a variety of situations, to keep you warm, dry, and out of the elements.
It can be easy to get caught in the mindset that something might never happen to you. After all, if you’re just going on a day hike and you’ve checked the weather, why would you ever need these things? But packing these supplies will do you more good than harm in the long run. At the very least, you’ve just carried some extra supplies and maybe gotten a better workout - what a win!
Millions of people hike each year without incident - don’t let the fear of the unexpected stop you from going out! Just be mindful and take the time to bring those extra supplies. Packing the right gear means you can spend your hike focused on enjoying the great outdoors, while knowing in the back of your mind that you are ready to respond to the hand that Mother Nature deals you.
For more hiking preparedness from the IATC, check out the Hikes & Events page: https://www.issaquahalps.org/hikesandevents