Day 7 of our 2 Weeks of Travel Tweaks is here, baby! Let’s get into my the top things you need to know to backpack safely and respectably.
Plan a hiking itinerary and make 2 copies of it
You need one on your person and the other in your car. Why?
Because as much as we want to believe everything will be fine and you’re fully competent, sometimes shit happens. Be prepared for that shit by leaving evidence of where you are going (etc) in your car in case of emergency and someone has to come looking for you.
And the other copy stays with you. You never know when you might need a reminder of what the hell you’re doing out there!
Here’s what to put on it:
- Full name and phone number
- Medical conditions
- Allergies
- Car make, model, etc
- Name of the park you’re at (or forest, or trailhead)
- What trails you’re hiking that day (total miles and destination!)
- Estimated departure
- Estimated return
- Emergency contacts
- Your emergency contact
- The local ranger station
- local police
- park security if applicable
Always carry gear
Again, we don’t want to think about the worst case scenario, especially when venturing out into the wilderness, but you must be prepared.
Here’s a short list:
- plenty of water
- 1st aid kit
- emergency whistle (just do it!)
- poop trowel and toilet paper (yep, I went there.)
- sunscreen
- pocket knife
- snacks
- fire starter and a lighter (starting a fire safely is a great way to get found if you get lost out there.)
Learn some trail etiquette
Every trail is different and every hiker you encounter will be different, too. BUT there are certain things that are universal.
- If you’re listening to music or something, use headphones.
- Only put them in one ear, really low so you can hear others around you!
- Carry your gear and don’t rely on others
- Ask for help if you really need it and give help if you see others in need
- Give others personal space. People usually come to a hike wanting to be alone.
- Use common sense and yield to others when you can. Get out of the way of mountain bikers!
- Always yield to livestock and do your damndest not to spook horse, etc
- Don’t go off the trail to take selfies with bears. Why does this even need to be said?!
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Tips brought to you by the course below!
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Day 8 coming soon!
[…] more information on hiking, check out this blog post and video I made to help you get the most out of your next backpacking […]