A Hiking Blog…

Do you love hiking and do not want to gamble with nature on every extended weekend you get? Then this write up on the 10 hiking essentials is for you. The list of 10 essential items may often vary from person to person. But the ones I feel most important as a hiker are listed below:

The Ten Essentials…

1.    First Aid Kit – You need to be fit and small cuts and injuries should not hinder your hike. A basic First Aid Kit with items like gauze, band-aids, adhesive tape, butterfly bandages for deep cuts, an elastic bandage for twisted knees or ankles, some pain killers and a few antihistamines for bee stings are very important. Also remember to carry the medicines you need regularly.

2.    Map and Compass – Instrumental usage is very essential in cloudy places and if you get lost. Carry a good compass and if possible the map of the location. The map will inform about the trails, campsites, topography, roads, towns, etc. and the compass will guide the directions.

3.    Extra Food and Water – Always carry extra food and water to avoid hypothermia and dehydration, which are dangerous if not given medical assistance. Moreover, if you get stuck and lose time the extra food would be a boon.

4.    Extra Clothes – Include wool or PolarTek Hat to avoid heat loss as 35% of the total body heat is lost through head. Extra clothing is also good protection from insects, wind, thorns and often cold. If needed, you can cut your extra clothes and make them into bandages, tree climbing aid, pillows or towels.

5.    Flashlights – Flashlights and headlamps are important equipments for traveling in the dark and during dawn.

6.    Rain Gear – An added rain suit or an umbrella will be a very smart choice. Personally I prefer rain suit as it doesn’t engage hands. Even carrying a coated nylon pack bags can act as extra protection against rain.

7.    Knife – A knife of any size can be useful to cut cord, shave kindling or even cut a fabric.

8.    Matches – Carry matches or lighters to light backpacking stoves.

9.    Sunglasses and sunscreen – Sunglasses protect your eyes from snow-blindness. Sunlight when reflected in snow is harmful for the eyes and can even reduce visibility. Sunscreen will protect you from the direct sun rays.

10.    A water treatment option (filter or chemical treatment) – You can treat any type of water – from the streams, pools or lakes with a water treatment device to make it drinkable.

Other important items…

•    Plastic tarp and rope for expedient field shelter.
•    Repair kit, including duct tape and basic sewing materials.
•    Ice axe for glacier or snowfield travel (if necessary)
•    Signaling devices, such as a whistle, cell phone, two-way radio, satellite phone, unbreakable signal mirror or flare.
•    Insect repellent (or clothing designed for this purpose)

You can always carry many other essential items that you think is needed and essential for the particular trip. Again, it is completely up to you to decide whether to carry all the essential items to safeguard yourself from any kind of need or danger because you never know what you have to confront in the wilderness.

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Trail signs alert hikers with directions, distances, arrows and information that prevent them from loosing their way while hiking. Trail signs reassure the hiker that he/she is in the trail. Trail signs are really useful to hikers when they have some confusion regarding turns, switchbacks, open woods and open areas with rocks. Elaborate trail signs with details of “do’s and don’ts” are definitely found where the trail begins and ends.

Trail signs are usually developed keeping in mind the universal method of interpreting signs and signals and it keeps very little chance for a hiker to misinterpret the signs. Sometimes trails are broken by intersections, missing bridges and many other obstacles. But with signs showing from where to pick up the trail is one development of trail signs.

About Trailhead signs

Signs with all information about the trail are generally placed at trailhead and access points. Trailheads feature essential information, signs, post or marker that marks the trail direction. In urban areas, trail signs are frequent and are also placed at parking lots for trail identification. Information is often found at trailheads that includes rules, map, special conditions, trail mileage, events and “friends of the trail” groups. Some more developed trailhead signs would include a bulletin board with safety messages, a trail register and wildlife alerts.

Trailhead signs are a way to teach and remind hikers of what they are supposed to follow in the trail. Not following the signs may prove fatal as well as compel the authorities to enforce laws on you. Signs also create awareness among hikers to conserve the area.

Appearance of trail signs

Trail signs come in different colors and shapes at different places. It can be a simple white rectangle of the Appalachian Trail or multicolored coding systems used for areas with many trails.

The frequency of trail signs depends on natural visibility of the route, local preferences and the amount of manpower available to maintain the trail. Trail signs should be always visible with clear message to help hikers in their way.

Some usual trail signs

Some of the very common trail signs usually mention:

• Vehicles are restricted to designated roads and parking areas only.
• The speed limit of vehicles per hour.
• No dumping or littering on park property.
• Motorized vehicles permitted on paved or gravel roads only.
• No alcoholic beverages allowed on park property.
• Riding on closed trails can result in a citation.
• No swimming allowed on park property.
• No firearms allowed.
• No hunting allowed on park property.
• No boating allowed in park without written permission from the Park Authorities.
• Disturbing habitat of animals prohibited.
• Fires in designated areas only – picnic areas and picnic shelters.
• Removal of plants is prohibited.
• Fishing is allowed, except where prohibited by sign.
• Cutting or timber prohibited

How to interpret trail signs

Most of the national parks use the same type of trail sign techniques but vary according to the area. There are some basic principles that can be followed everywhere. A blaze or a sign can be distinguished on the basis of color and shape. A sign will generally maintain the same color throughout the trail. Blazes are normally painted on trees and rocks but you need to keep your eyes open to locate it. Sometimes, blazes are painted with reflectors for night travel.

Normally, a straight trail will feature a sign every 100 feet. But when a trail has to turn or switchback, there will be another sign painted on top. Again, when a trail crosses another trail, there will be two signs painted. The first color represents your trail whereas the second one is the one you are crossing or turning onto.

Dangers of not following trail signs

Hiking is really an exciting past time. But sometimes you may face dangers if you don’t interpret or follow trail signs. The immediate impact will fall on you. You may be lost in the trail or face animal encounters. If there is a sign saying some danger is ahead, then try to follow it to avert dangers. Trail signs saying “loose rocks ahead” may not bother you in winter but you may find a whole lot of loose rocks during the rainy season, which may turn into dangerous mudslides. Seasonal trail signs are very important for hikers to follow. Many places take up a dramatic look during certain seasons. So, it is advisable to stay safe by obeying the signs.

When you are asked to follow certain rules and signs, you are actually saving yourself from danger as well as helping in preserving the environment. Hikers often tend to destroy the environment when they don’t follow signs. Again, protecting the trail and the nature is a responsibility of every hiker. Cleaning out the garbage made by you can help in the conservation of the trail.

Each individual hiker can help in preserving the ecosystem by not lighting campfire in restricted areas. Once in 2005, a Czech hiker burned 7% of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile by accidentally knocking over an illegal gas portable stove. By following and obeying trail regulations, you can actually save the environment.

Knowing how to make fire is one of the primitive survival skills mastered by mankind. It can be termed as the flag bearer of ancient human civilization. Since ages, a well-built fire has proved to be bliss – it has given the necessary warmth to people around it; provided light in the midst of a jungle; and helped in roasting meat in a forest camp.

Fire has diverse use and by learning to build it you are on your way to master one of the basic survival skills of life. This article provides you some valuable information about the art and logistics of fire building. Read on.

Components of fire

Fire has four basic components. Absence of any one of them will either not allow the fire to burn, or, will prevent it from burning any further. The four components are:

1)  Fuel. This includes wood, coal, gasoline, or any other combustible material.

2)  Heat. The initial amount of heat necessary to ignite the fire is provided by matches or by the rubbing of two sticks.

3)  Supply of oxygen. A burning fire consumes oxygen for combustion from the surrounding air.  

4)  Continued chain of chemical reaction. During the lifetime of the fire, a chain of chemical reaction goes on that produces intense heat and keeps the burning process on.

Four Steps to Fire Building

If you want to build a fire, you will have to go through a four-step process.

First, you need an ignition source. Popular sources of ignition include – matches, lighters, firesteel etc. If you are experienced, rubbing two wooden sticks can also provide the necessary spark. When you go for an expedition, it is recommended that you carry at least three different ignition sources in your survival kit. Waterproof matches, for example are highly popular among adventurists.

Second, you should arrange for the tinder. The role that tinder plays is to catch the initial spark or flame from the ignition source and then transfer this flame to the kindling. Sometimes, the kindling might be wet. The tinder in that case has to burn long enough to dry the kindling first before setting it on fire. The probability of building up the fire quickly increases proportionately with the dryness of the tinder. Tree bark (such as paper birch), dry small plants, grasses, wax, paper, dry needles of coniferous trees are popular tinder materials.  

Third comes the kindling. If the surface to volume ratio of the kindling is large, it becomes easily combustible. When the kindling produces a hot flame, the bulk of the fuel catches the fire. Some of the best sources of kindling include dry twigs, small pieces of wood, and cardboards. Kindling can also be made by cutting a large piece of wood into smaller pieces.

The last, but most crucial component of fire that you need to take care is fuel. Fuel catches fire from the kindling and continues to burn for an extended period of time. Once the fire becomes well-lit, you need to simply add more fuel to the fire to make it burn for an extended period. Dry wood, dry grasses, animal dung, and coal are excellent fuels.

However, there may be different scenarios when you need to build a fire from absolutely nothing. The following are some ideas that can help you to deal such situations.

Create fire with a magnifying glass – If you have a magnifying glass, use it. Just gather some papers and small pieces of dry wood. Hold the magnifying glass in front of the sun to form a small dot on the paper. Within a few minutes you will get a flame.

Create a spark with steel wool and a battery – You need to hold the piece of steel wool and the battery on different hands. To get the spark, touch the end of the battery to the steel wool. This would act as the ignition source for the tinder. With a few attempts you can get a flame.

Create a spark with rock and a knife – Find a flint rock or a quartzite rock that has a point on it. Hold the rock on one hand with the point aimed toward the knife on the other hand. Strike the knife with the rock and sparks would fly. Create a pile of tinder and use this method just on top of it. Soon you will get a flame.

How to ignite wet matches – If you have a flashlight, you are saved. Surprisingly, you can light a wet match stick with the reflective part. Remove the reflective part of the flashlight and push the wet match stick through it. Position the head of the match stick where the bulb is located. Now hold the thing directly facing the sun. Generally it takes some time to get the flame as the process has to dry the match stick and then ignite it. Remember to keep some tinder nearby so that you can set fire to it as soon as the match stick catches the flame.

Thus, now you can now create fire when you do not have a lighter or any ignition source or even if you have a wet match stick!

Hiking in the winter can be a great experience, but it is quite different than hiking at other times of the year. You will need to take extra caution and use gear that you don’t need during the other seasons. If you are contemplating winter hiking here are some things you should know.

First, never take your first winter hike by yourself.  It is always best to set out with someone who has some experience hiking in winter weather.  Even late winter can be cold, windy and snowy.  Learning from hikers who have winter experience will make for a safe, enjoyable hike. If you can, start by trying shorter winter hikes first.  Do a few before heading out on a long winter hike. This will allow you to get used to winter hiking and learn the tips and tricks that will allow for a smooth hike.

As you begin to prepare for your winter hike, know what gear you will need.  Without proper winter gear you could find yourself in trouble and even freeze to death.  Here is a list of items to get your started.

Boots:  The most important item for winter hiking is a pair of warm boots.  Many hikers choose insulated leather boots, but no matter what your preference, make sure the boots are large enough to fit at least two pairs of socks.  Always take extra socks, preferably made from wool, and layer them.

Layers:  Not only are layers great for keeping warm but they also allow you to remove clothing if you are getting too warm.  Yes, even in the winter you will sweat.  Your base layer should include long underwear, your middle layer should be some type of fleece jacket and your outer layer should be waterproof and breathable to protect you from winter winds and other weather.  Never choose cotton as a fabric for any of your layers as it can get wet, freeze and simply will not keep you insulated.

Hats, mittens and other protective wear: A light hat is recommended for when you are warm and hiking and a heavy hat that will cover your ears is needed for when it is windy and bitter cold.  You should also have some type of face mask.  You should wear gloves first with mittens layered over the top.  Make sure you bring several pairs.

Snowshoes and trekking poles:  If your hiking will take you into deep snow, snow shoes are a must.  There are different styles to choose from, but newer varieties made of aluminum or plastic tend to be easier to use.  Trekking poles help to keep you moving and balanced.

Snow shovel:  If you will be hiking in deep snow, especially if there is any threat of an avalanche, a show shovel is a must and everyone in your group should have one for safety.

Other recommended gear:  Don’t leave without your water bottle, plenty of nourishment, goggles, emergency gear and a first aid kit. Pretty much everything you would take along on your hike during other seasons should be with you in the winter as well.

Finally, as you hike in the winter, there are some easy techniques that might help you out.  One of the most important is how to make a snow shoe track.  When using snow shoes take turns leading to break the trail, this will help disperse the hard work of being the leader.  If you are in front make sure you are taking small enough steps that others can easily follow.  If you are following, try your best to stay in the track.  This will keep you moving at a faster pace.

We’re excited to bring you this brand new blog. We plan on writing about everything hiking related, from trails, the latest gear, weather and everything else we can think of. We hope you find “A Hiking Blog…” useful, informative and fun!!!