What to bring on a hike

SUMMER

Here are a few tips and guidelines as we move into the summer hiking season:

• Bring food and water. Most trails do not have water at the trailhead so bring enough for the day. In addition to lunch you may want to bring some snacks since we're usually out having fun for most of the day.
• Wear sturdy hiking shoes. Even in the spring and summer there's the potential of hiking on snow, mud, or rocks which make footing challenging in sneakers.
• Bring extra clothing. Weather can be different in Seattle from the hike site. Bring raingear and some warmer layers so you won't be cold or wet if the weather changes.
• Be on time at the meeting point. We'll wait a few minutes but since the hikes are usually a bit of a drive we like to get going. If you're not sure where the meeting place is, send mail or call the hike leader.
• Be willing to drive to the hike location. We always need drivers and it's great when we can rotate. Don't worry if you haven't been to the destination before -- the hike leader will provide directions -- and cars meet up at turnoffs if it's tricky to find the exact hike site.
• If you're not driving be prepared to contribute gas money and/or toward a daily-use forest pass for the car you're riding in.
• We usually return by about 5pm. So if you need to be back sooner, you should either arrange your own transportation or pass on that day's hikes.
• It's not too good to discover at the trailhead that the car you rode up in will be returning at 5pm if you need to be back at 3.
• We're not going to check that you have the 10 essentials or if you're wearing cotton but we want everyone to have a good time. For a list of the 10 essentials check the Mountaineers website.

WINTER

While we are happy to accommodate different hiking ambitions, everyone should be reasonably well prepared for the elements. It's been a while since we've talked about equipment, and with the weather turning worse, it's time to re-iterate. For the hikes that we generally do, a bare minimum would be to bring some rain gear, warm clothes, a quart of water, and a lunch. You'll also want a backpack to carry all that in. A regular school-type backpack is perfect.

I strongly recommend bringing hiking boots rather then tennis shoes. Besides the support for your feet, tennis shoes will soak through quickly in rain or snow, and you'll be wet and miserable until you get back home.

If there is any risk of precipitation (almost always here in Seattle), I also strongly recommend against bringing cotton clothing, at least any that you intend for warmth. I'm thinking in particular about jeans and sweatshirts. Wet cotton is actually colder than not having the layer at all. Wool and synthetic fibers are good alternatives.

To be better prepared is to know the Ten Essentials. The Mountaineers have identified the ten essentials through long experience, and recommend that ALL hikers carry them. In truth, most hikers skimp. But with the weather turning worse, your risk incurred by skimping increases significantly. Personally I'll take them all along unless it's a very straightforward hike in nice weather.

I remember the ten essentials in rough pairs:

• Extra Food, Extra Clothing
• Map, Compass
• Matches, Tinder
• Sunglasses, Flashlight
• First Aid Kit, Knife

The only oddball pairing is the last one. You might think of it as having the first aid kit in case you cut yourself with the knife. Or you have the knife if you suddenly decide you need to do surgery in the course of first aid. Just don't be operating on me. People often wonder why the sunglasses are on the list. They're there to ward off snow-blindness, which can have a sudden onset and be quite debilitating.

In addition, bug spray and suntan lotion are often nice to have along, especially in warmer weather. I gauge the amount of extra food and clothing by asking what I think I'd need if I got lost and had to spend the night outside.

Remember that the purpose is to bring along enough to avoid a serious incident, but not so much that you guarantee one.

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