Just a quick reminder to always carry the ten essentials while hiking, even if you will only be gone for a few hours. We had a couple guys here a few weeks ago who were eager to head out hiking at the many great hiking spots around Las Vegas. When I outfitted them with some day hiking gear they both left the "ten essentials" packets I put in their packs. Well, they are adults and can do what they want and they both have quite a bit of experience with doing long trails but for average mortals, carrying the ten essentials is a no-brainer and adds very little weight to your pack and even if you are a backpacking expert, these items can be lifesaving in an emergency.
Here's what to carry:
- Navigation (map, compass, GPS device)
- Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
- Insulation (hat, jacket, rain shell, etc)
- Illumination (flashlight, head lamp)
- First aid supplies (basic first aid kit)
- Fire (matches, lighter)
- Repair kit/tools (multi tool, pocketknife, etc)
- Nutrition (food)
- Hydration (water, water purification tabs)
- Emergency shelter (Mylar blanket, tarp)
Even if you have a lot of hiking experience, even if you only plan to be gone a few hours, even if you are in stellar shape physically, accidents can happen (
example here) and you need to be able to take care of yourself while you wait for help to arrive (
example here).
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