Hitting the Treeline: What you need.

By: Jacob Clark- Field and Preparedness Team

First things first: why the proper equipment actually matters, and when it isn’t necessary.

If you’re going on a quick hour hike, especially on a well-traveled trail, you don’t need anything special on the equipment front. But if you’re doing a several-mile, several-hour hike, then you’ll need to begin to consider what you bring.

The correct equipment can be the difference between an enjoyable hike and a miserable outing. It can also, in a worst-case scenario, be the difference between coming home safely and under your own power and needing to be rescued.

This article isn’t the end-all, be-all of equipment lists, and it isn’t the only resource out there, but it will hopefully be a good introductory list and reference.

Know before you go

The first thing you need to know is where you’re going to be hiking and heading out from. There’s plenty of ways to find good trails; one of the best and most straightforward is your state’s National Park Service website. This will typically contain an address to find the trailhead, maps and routes for the trail, and contact information for the local park rangers.

Once you’ve got an idea of where you’re going, you need to know when and what the weather conditions will be. These two factors will be big factors in what you’ll need to bring.

If you’re going in the cooler months, you need to ensure you stay warm, and conversely, if you’re going in the warmer months, you’ll want to ensure you keep cool. If there’s going to be rain during your hike, you’ll want a way to keep yourself and your equipment from getting sopping wet.

The basic go-to’s

Typically, the most important piece of equipment you’ll need is a pair of good, reliable, comfortable hiking boots. When you first get a pair of hiking boots, it’s recommended that you start breaking them in before you make any longer hikes. The breaking-in process can be done on the trail, but can also be started at home; simply by wearing them around the house, to the grocery store, or anywhere else life takes you. A lot of people opt for over-the-ankle style boots to ensure there is ample ankle support; this can be especially important on uneven terrain, be it mountainous or just rocky. A two-mile return to the car isn’t bad, but it can be terrible on a badly twisted ankle.

Socks Make the Difference

After boots, another very important piece of equipment is a good pair of socks, especially moisture-wicking socks. Wool is excellent for this, yes, even in the warmer summer months! Wool socks help keep your feet comfortable and dry! Cotton is usually one that should be avoided; this is because moisture from your body or the environment will cling to the cotton, and you’ll end up with damp, uncomfortable socks. Over time, damp socks in boots will lead to blisters.

Water is Life

The most important non-worn item is a water system. Be it a water bottle, a hydration pack, or something in between, ensuring you have enough water and can easily carry it is extremely vital. Remember that a woman who weighs 170lb typically needs to consume roughly six to eleven ounces of water per mile of hiking – depending on the weather conditions. If it’s cooler, you can typically drink less; if it’s hot, you’ll need more. Of course, as with most things, this will be individual-dependent; a man who weighs more will also need more water more often. There are calculators to help identify how much you need.

First Aid

Finally, the last (but not least!) item that should always be brought when hitting the trail, the first aid kit. It doesn’t need to be an all-encompassing first aid kit, but it should have the necessities. Bandaids, neosporin. Some other items that you could bring depending on how comfortable you are with your first aid skills. You can even bring your favorite herbals.