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| The '''Ten essential''' items for hiking, backpacking and other similar outdoor |
The '''Ten essential''' items for hiking, backpacking and other similar extended outdoor activities are to deal with common situations and emergencies typical of the outdoors. Some are for prevention, others are for treatment. Also called ''Ten-plus essentials'', the essential items are: | ||
| # Map | # Map | ||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
| # Cell phone or two-way radio | # Cell phone or two-way radio | ||
| The first ten items originated (according to ) in mountaineering magazines |
The first ten items originated (according to ) in mountaineering magazines of the 1950s, probably descended from the ]. Additional items have been added over time as various concerns become widely perceived or technology advances. | ||
| The essentials are not necessarily items that are required |
The essentials are not necessarily items that are required to be used when in the backcountry. In fact, it is hoped that many of them will never be used. Some might seem to be for comfort more than necessity, but after a cascade of bad events (map blown away, clothing soaked, dead flashlight batteries, and an unexpected ]), the whistle and firestarter take on major significance. Redundancy is an attribute of self-sufficiency. | ||
| * '''Map''': maps which cover the area of interest in sufficient detail and dimension (marked with topography, trails, campsites, etc.) and the skill and knowledge to use them are indispensible when traveling through areas lacking signage, markings or guides. | |||
| == Map == | |||
| * '''Compass''': Some knowledge is useful, but even the a casual observer can avoid going in circles with a compass. | |||
| == Compass == | |||
| * '''Flashlight''': useful for the dark, finding things in the pack, and for distant signaling. | |||
| == Flashlight == | |||
| * '''Extra food and water''': great for sustenance, but also useful to minimize the odds of ]. | |||
| == Extra food and water == | |||
| * '''Extra clothes''': Multiple layers of clothes are generally warmer than an equivalently thick single garment. A change of clothes is the fastest way to warm up after an inadvertant dunking in a cold mountain stream. Extra clothing is useful for protection from shrubery, thorns, insects, sun, wind, as well as cold. If need be, they can be cut into bandages, or used as a tree climbing aid or descent line. | |||
| == Extra clothes == | |||
| * '''Sunglasses''': Walking into the sunset reflected off snow or water might make a great photo, but it's not terribly comfortable—and possibly dangerous. | |||
| == Sunglasses == | |||
| * '''First aid kit''': treatment for cuts, abrasions (blisters), punctures and burns is probably the minimum. Additional items to consider might address broken digits, broken limbs, crush injuries, cardiac conditions, ], ], ], ], ], insect and snake bites, animal attacks, and chemical burns, depending on the specific locale and activities. | |||
| == First aid kit == | |||
| * '''Knife''': useful for opening packages, building shelter, repairing clothing, eating, rapid disentanglement, field surgery, etc. | |||
| == Knife == | |||
| * '''Matches''': Yes, rubbing two sticks together might work, but it's way more difficult than using a match or lighter. | |||
| == Matches == | |||
| * '''Firestarter''': To start a campfire, something to bridge between the match and the pieces of wood saves on matches. | |||
| == Firestarter == | |||
| * '''Water treatment device''': Apparently wilderness water quality wasn't an issue before 1970 or so. Most backcountry travelers now carry one: low end models are inexpensive and provide protection against many diseases. Are you sure an elk didn't do his business upstream a few days ago? Another benefit might be improving the taste of water (which can help avoid dehydration). | |||
| == Water treatment device == | |||
| * '''Whistle''': compact, light and inexpensive, these are a great relief for the voice when help is needed. Wind, snow and heavy rain can make hearing difficult, or make yells sound like trees or animals whistling. | |||
| == Whistle == | |||
| * '''Insect repellent''': not only can insects ruin an otherwise great outdoor experience, there is recent attention being paid to diseases which insects might transmit. | |||
| == Insect repellent == | |||
| * '''Sunscreen''': Protection from ], and maybe from heatstroke and dehydration. | |||
| == Sunscreen == | |||
| * '''Food storage container''': now required in some areas as protection from (and for) bear curiosity. | |||
| * '''Cell phone''': though not on many ''essentials'' lists, they tend to be prolific and portable. If near an area with cell service, it is a great way to obtain directions, assistance or evacuation. In remote areas, they might not work on the trail, but maybe by climbing up a nearby feature, marginal service could exist. Also, two way radios are useful in case your group splits up where there is no cell coverage. | |||
| == Cell phone == | |||
| {{tool-stub}} | {{tool-stub}} | ||
Revision as of 01:13, 6 November 2005
The Ten essential items for hiking, backpacking and other similar extended outdoor activities are to deal with common situations and emergencies typical of the outdoors. Some are for prevention, others are for treatment. Also called Ten-plus essentials, the essential items are:
- Map
- Compass (optionally supplemented with a GPS receiver)
- Flashlight
- Extra food and water
- Extra clothes
- Sunglasses
- First aid kit
- Knife
- Waterproof matches
- Firestarter (quick burning fuel)
- Water treatment device (filter or chemicals) and bottles
- Whistle
- Insect repellent (or clothing designed for this purpose)
- Sunscreen
- Food storage container
- Cell phone or two-way radio
The first ten items originated (according to ) in mountaineering magazines of the 1950s, probably descended from the Scout Outdoor Essentials. Additional items have been added over time as various concerns become widely perceived or technology advances.
The essentials are not necessarily items that are required to be used when in the backcountry. In fact, it is hoped that many of them will never be used. Some might seem to be for comfort more than necessity, but after a cascade of bad events (map blown away, clothing soaked, dead flashlight batteries, and an unexpected snowstorm), the whistle and firestarter take on major significance. Redundancy is an attribute of self-sufficiency.
- Map: maps which cover the area of interest in sufficient detail and dimension (marked with topography, trails, campsites, etc.) and the skill and knowledge to use them are indispensible when traveling through areas lacking signage, markings or guides.
- Compass: Some knowledge is useful, but even the a casual observer can avoid going in circles with a compass.
- Flashlight: useful for the dark, finding things in the pack, and for distant signaling.
- Extra food and water: great for sustenance, but also useful to minimize the odds of panic.
- Extra clothes: Multiple layers of clothes are generally warmer than an equivalently thick single garment. A change of clothes is the fastest way to warm up after an inadvertant dunking in a cold mountain stream. Extra clothing is useful for protection from shrubery, thorns, insects, sun, wind, as well as cold. If need be, they can be cut into bandages, or used as a tree climbing aid or descent line.
- Sunglasses: Walking into the sunset reflected off snow or water might make a great photo, but it's not terribly comfortable—and possibly dangerous.
- First aid kit: treatment for cuts, abrasions (blisters), punctures and burns is probably the minimum. Additional items to consider might address broken digits, broken limbs, crush injuries, cardiac conditions, hypothermia, frostbite, hyperthermia, hypoxia, decompression sickness, insect and snake bites, animal attacks, and chemical burns, depending on the specific locale and activities.
- Knife: useful for opening packages, building shelter, repairing clothing, eating, rapid disentanglement, field surgery, etc.
- Matches: Yes, rubbing two sticks together might work, but it's way more difficult than using a match or lighter.
- Firestarter: To start a campfire, something to bridge between the match and the pieces of wood saves on matches.
- Water treatment device: Apparently wilderness water quality wasn't an issue before 1970 or so. Most backcountry travelers now carry one: low end models are inexpensive and provide protection against many diseases. Are you sure an elk didn't do his business upstream a few days ago? Another benefit might be improving the taste of water (which can help avoid dehydration).
- Whistle: compact, light and inexpensive, these are a great relief for the voice when help is needed. Wind, snow and heavy rain can make hearing difficult, or make yells sound like trees or animals whistling.
- Insect repellent: not only can insects ruin an otherwise great outdoor experience, there is recent attention being paid to diseases which insects might transmit.
- Sunscreen: Protection from sunburn, and maybe from heatstroke and dehydration.
- Food storage container: now required in some areas as protection from (and for) bear curiosity.
- Cell phone: though not on many essentials lists, they tend to be prolific and portable. If near an area with cell service, it is a great way to obtain directions, assistance or evacuation. In remote areas, they might not work on the trail, but maybe by climbing up a nearby feature, marginal service could exist. Also, two way radios are useful in case your group splits up where there is no cell coverage.
backpacking.net list of ten essentials
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