The 10 Essentials
By Karen Berger
Photographs by John R. Fulton Jr.
Don't leave home for the outdoors without these basic items. They could save your life.
THE 10 ESSENTIALS are items every outdoor adventurer should include in his or her pack. The original list was devised in the 1930's by The Mountaineers, a Seattle-based hiking, climbing, and conservation organization, whose members get out in some truly dreadful weather—including in the rainy North Cascades, along the Olympic Peninsula, and on such snow-covered peaks as Mount Rainier.
The Mountaineers' essentials list was designed to keep climbers safe in case of accident, injury, or misadventure. Over time, like any classic, the list has been used and altered, but the core remains the same. Seventy years later, the list is included in many outdoor guides, including the latest edition of the Boy Scout Fieldbook.
Here's what you need—and why.
1. Pocket Knife or Multipurpose Tool
These enable you to cut strips of cloth into bandages,
remove splinters, fix broken eyeglasses, and perform a
host of repairs on malfunctioning gear—not to mention
cut cheese and open cans.
2. First Aid Kit
Prepackaged first-aid kits for hikers are available at
outfitters, but you can customize your kit with your
favorite blister treatment and ointments for common
outdoor ailments (a topical antihistamine, for example,
to take care of itches and rashes). Double your
effectiveness with knowledge: Take a 16-hour Wilderness
First Aid Basics course from the Ameri-can Red Cross.
3. Extra Clothing
Above timberline, bring one more clothing layer than you
think you'll need. Two rules: Avoid cotton (it dries slowly
and keeps moisture close to your skin), and always carry
a hat. A windproof, water-resistant fleece jacket can help
you withstand ornery mountain conditions. Plastic baggies
or extra socks can help keep hands warm.
4. Flashlight or Headlamp with Extra Batteries
Headlamps and flashlights allow you to find your way in
the dark or signal for help. Headlamps are convenient for
hands-free use.
5. Rain Gear
Remember that high mountains make their own weather,
and storms can erupt suddenly and violently. Even in a
temperate summer forest, a dousing rain can quickly chill
you to the point of hypothermia. Rain gear protects against
not only rain, but also wind, cold, and even insects.
6. Water Bottles
Without enough water, your body's muscles and organs
simply can't perform as well. You'll be susceptible to
hypothermia and altitude sickness, not to mention the
abject misery of raging thirst. Al-xways carry plenty of
water and stop often to drink.
7. Map and Compass
A map not only tells where you are and how far you have
to go, it can help you find campsites, water, and an
emergency exit route in case of an accident. A compass
helps you find your way through unfamiliar terrain—
especially in bad weather where you can't see the
landmarks. A GPS (global positioning system) can also
help—but it is no substitute for knowing how to read a map.
8. Matches and Fire Starters
The warmth of a fire and a hot drink can help prevent
hypothermia. Also, a fire can be a signal for help if you get
lost. Carry matches and a small amount of fire starter
protected in zipper-locking bags. Dripping candle wax on
match tips helps waterproof them. Commercially available
windproof and waterproof matches are also a good choice.
Fire starter is anything flammable, from pocket lint to
filled-in journal pages. Pine needles and birch bark make
especially good starter, even when wet.
9. Sun Protection and Sunglasses
Especially above timberline, when there is a skin-scorching
combination of sun and snow, you'll need sun-glasses to
prevent snow blindness and sunscreen to prevent sunburn.
Buy sunglasses that are ultraviolet ray (UV) resis-tant and
have side flaps (ventilating holes that keep them from fogging).
Don't use sunscreen that's been sitting in your medicine
cabinet for a season or more: It has probably lost at least
some of the effectiveness of its sun-protection factor (SPF),
a rating of how well and how long the sunscreen will keep
you from getting sunburned. A light-colored hat with a wide
brim is also an effective sun deterrent. In desert conditions,
consider using a long-sleeved light shirt and lightweight
loose-fitting long pants. Zipper-off legs give more versatility.
10. Trail Food
Nothing boosts energy and spirits as much as a quick trail snack. See the Outdoor Smarts column in Scouting's September 2003 issue for suggestions. You can make your own trail mix
with nuts, raisins, banana chips, and chocolate bits. The combination of sugar, fats, and potassium tastes great and provides quick energy, long-lasting calories, and replacement electrolytes. Always take a bit more food than you think you will need. A lot of things could keep you out longer than expected, like a lengthy detour, get-ting lost, an injury, or difficult terrain.
Karen Berger's latest book, More Everyday Wisdom (Mountaineers Books), answers scores of outdoor questions. Visit her at www.hikerwriter.com.
