A strenuous trail for experienced Grand Canyon hikers, I hiked the Hermit Trail from Hermit’s Rest to Granite Rapids and back. *There’s another part to my story, someone who was in the background, but the reason behind my successful solo hike. Eric Stanley, a supervisor at the Grand Canyon General Store and top-notch in wilderness and adventure sports, advised me — especially on how much water was needed for a trail like this. He loaned me some of his gear, saving me on costly rentals. He …
Related posts:
- Grand Canyon Hiking
- What is it like camping at the bottom of the grand canyon?
- How many miles can you put on a Mercury Mountaineer?
You could probably just buy a commercial survival hiking pack but if you want to bring a pack that caters to your own specific needs, consider putting together one yourself. Here’s how:
Have enough water to keep you hydrated
Human beings can survive for some time without food but going without water for extended periods of time can be lethal. Probably the most important component of your survival hiking pack is your supply of water. Ideally, you should keep a gallon for every day you are out. Carry as much as you can. Before you run out, be sure to find an alternative source in the area where you are. That way, you will never have to suffer from the effects of dehydration.
Bring sufficient supply of food
Bring enough food that will allow you to survive for at least three days. While that may seem too much, the extra food will serve you well in case you get stranded or lost. Some of the best choices you might want to include in your survival hiking pack are:
- Instant coffee or chocolate
- Juice or pre-mixed drinks, especially those that contain vitamins and sugar
- Energy bars
- Dried foods
- Packed meals
- Small canned goods
When putting together a survival hiking pack, consider function over taste. The food must be easy to store, won’t spoil easily, convenient to eat and provide enough nutrition to help you survive.
Make sure your first aid kit is complete
A basic first aid kit is another important component of your survival hiking pack. It should contain medications and supplies to treat, disinfect and protect wounds, abrasions, cuts and insect bites. It should also contain medications such as antiseptics, anti-histamines, antibiotics and repellants against insects.
Bring only the basic gear and equipment
There are dozens of gears you can bring but there only a few basic ones can ensure your survival. These include:
A survival knife
A knife is important for cutting, slicing and piercing. Pack a knife with you, preferably one that has multiple uses.
Mirror
Always bring a small compact mirror if you’re going for long travels. Mirrors can be used to signal for help and attract the attention of rescuers.
Whistle
A whistle will help bring attention to you and can be especially helpful if you’re stranded or injured.
Water container
A small tin or metal coffee cup has multiple uses, not just for making coffee. You can also use it to collect and boil water and to cook and store food. For a multi-purpose material, you can bring aluminum foil instead. It’s light, can be heated or frozen and folds easily to pack.
Shelter and bedding
Bring a small tent, a light emergency blanket and a foldable canvas, nylon or plastic sheet you can use as bedding. The plastic sheet will also be helpful for keeping the contents of your survival hiking pack clean and dry.
A good thing to remember when putting together your own survival hiking pack is customization. Put together a pack that contains things you will find useful and leave behind those that you don’t need or don’t know how to use. Remember that what you’re bringing with you is for your own survival, so keep that in mind.
Related posts:
- Wilderness Survival Gear For Hiking And Backpacking
- Essential Items to Bring Along For Your Dog While on Your Hiking Trips
- My Coleman Camping Chair, Why Did I Leave You?
She has started to hike her leg and pee on my rose bush, lawn furniture, pots of plants. Whats is she thinking? I thought only male dogs hiked their leg to pee.
Related posts:
- Taking Your Dog Hiking and Camping
- Hiking With Your Dog: What To Take With You
- Hiking With Your Dog: What To Take With You
Many individuals when encouraged to go hiking express a fear of snakes and this fear keeps them from experiencing the beauty of our natural world. The fear of snakes is an exaggerated concern and by following some simple rules most persons will never have any threatening experiences with snakes.
When hiking, you should not go barefooted or in sandals but wear hiking boots or heavy walking shoes, along with long pants of a heavy material such as denim. These provide foot protection against bites from snakes and also protect against insect bites, scorpion stings and cuts from sharp stones. Coral snakes for example have small fangs that are usually unable to penetrate the fabric of a boot.
When walking through heavy brush or tall grass look down, look where you are walking. Very often poisonous snakes are lying on the forest floor among the leaf litter and so by looking down you will be able to see them and avoid accidentally stepping on or next to them. The beauty of our natural world often captivates us and so there is a tendency to look at the scenery as we walk. When hiking it is better to stop and look around to admire the beauty of nature, rather than walk and gaze around. One should always look at the trail while walking.
Fallen trees or logs across the trail are a common occurrence when hiking in the forest. Most persons simply step across the fallen tree, however depending upon the size of the log it may not be possible to immediately see on the other side of the log when you are approaching the log. It should be remembered that snakes often lie below fallen logs. The more appropriate method is to step on the log, look to see if there is a snake lying on the other side and then step down.
Depending upon how strenuous the hike is, there will be intervals when you stop to rest. The natural inclination for most persons on a rest break is to sit and fallen trees are an inviting location for resting weary bodies. Do not sit down without first checking the area and especially do not lean on fallen trees or rocks without first checking them well.
Snakes and scorpions often lie in hollow logs or in rock crevices therefore you should avoid thrusting your hands into dark places such as hollow logs, under logs or rock crevices without first thoroughly investigating the place. Similarly before you place your hand to pick up an object from a place that may be a resting place for a snake, such as under bushes, among leaves, rocks or logs, you should check the area first. It is a good idea to hike with a long stick that can be used to probe among rocks and under logs.
If your hiking trip involves overnight camping you should not leave your boots outside of your tent at night because snakes may crawl into them to escape from the cold. Alternatively you can place two poles in the ground and hang the boots upside down on the poles. Before putting on your boots you should turn the boots upside down and shake them to ensure that no snakes or scorpions have crawled into the boots.
Never attempt to pick up a snake unless you are an expert. Even freshly killed snakes can still bite as their nervous system may be still active and so their head may do a reflex bite.
If in the unfortunate circumstance an individual is bitten by a snake you should always treat the situation as if the bite is from a poisonous snake because the individual who was bitten may not have seen the snake or be able to identify the type of snake. Usually with bites from a viper there is pain and swelling around the area of the bite, however in the case of the coral snake often there is very little reaction around the bite area and symptoms may not appear for 8 to 24 hours.
The individual who was bitten should be made to lie down and kept still. The objective is to lower the pulse rate and so slow the spread of the venom. Ice should be placed on the bitten area if possible. The individual should then be transported to the nearest source of medical attention. You should never attempt to suck the poison out of the area as you may poison yourself.
By following these simple rules most individuals will never have to worry about being bitten by a poisonous snake.
Related posts:
- Safety Tips When Hiking With your Dog
- Wear Vasque Hiking Boots - Comfortable Hiking Trip Ensured
- Wear Vasque Hiking Boots - Comfortable Hiking Trip Ensured
Most of the outdoor survival situations that occur can be prevented with a little preparation and planning. A survival situation is something that can happen to anyone, regardless of his or her experience or expertise in hiking. Survival situations don’t always arise because someone is inexperienced or reckless. If you want to have the best time you can on your hiking vacation, while keeping yourself and your family as safe as possible, there certain steps you can take.
First and most important, be sure to leave a travel plan with someone at home. A travel plan lists the possible locations you expect to cover while on your hiking vacation. It does not have to be a detailed list. You can use a map and just mark the spots on it where you plan to be. If you leave a travel plan, then searchers will have an idea of where to look for you if you become lost.
Second, always carry a few basic items with you in case you have to spend the night on the trail. Take a garbage bag, a lighter, a whistle, a pocketknife, and a water bottle. This is the minimum number of essential items you should bring with you whether you are hiking for a day or for a week or longer. These items address the basic needs from shelter to water and heat. Depending on your outdoor activity, level of skill, and the climate you plan to hike in, you may need to carry more extensive equipment.
Third, be sure to pack something you can turn into a shelter quickly. A garbage bag is an example of such an item. It can be easily made into a shelter. Just cut a slit in the middle of the closed end and pull it over your head. This is a great solution to the problem, and a bag is easy to pack in a pocket. It only costs a few pennies, and it may save your life. Hypothermia can occur even in 50-degree weather, so it is critical that you have a way to make a quick shelter should the need arise.
Always carry a wool cap in your vehicle and your daypack. Eighty percent of your body heat leaves you if your head is exposed. You must always protect your head when you are hiking. If you don’t have a cap, use a sock or a bandanna. You can wear anything on your head as long as it keeps your head warm.
Finally, make a habit of carrying at least three fire-making resources with you. Having a lighter is always a good idea, but having only one source of fire making while hiking is inadequate. Lighters may get wet, and then they won’t light anymore. Also carry a spark rod and windproof matches in your pocket or pack. You are like to make a fire in rainy or otherwise bad weather. While this can be tricky, it can be done. Just collect dead twigs from evergreens like pines, firs, or spruces. These trees have a lot of resin so they will catch fire faster than other types of wood.
Related posts:
- Do You Have a Camping Vacation Plan?
- Hiking Survival Items to NEVER Leave Without
- Why You Should Plan Your Next Hiking Adventure in Advance
I have recently moved from the Lafayette area to the Bloomington area, and I am looking for a hiking spot to replace Turkey Run. I want something that would make for a good 3-4 spot to hike, and is somewhat rugged, much like Turkey run. Any suggestions? I would prefer to not drive more than an hour to reach this location.
Related posts:
- On The Hiking Trail (Pt. 4): X MARKED THE SPOT!
- How to Spot the Best Basketball Camps in Ohio
- How to Spot the Best Basketball Camps in Missouri
This idea is from “Where the hell is Matt”. We have to thanks Matt’s idea. What is Oxfam Trailwalker? www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.hk Our team is 0649 for Trailwalker HK 2008. We completed the 100km MacLehose trail by full team and used 36 hrs 58 mins. Our team member is included Heena, Poy-san, Steve and Tery. Specially thanks Wing to support the whole trail. Enjoy the movie! trail detail: www.hkwalkers.net map: www.hkwalkers.net
Related posts:
- Animal Watching: Best Time to Hike Or Visit
If you are going to take your dog camping or hiking with you then it is better to do some simple checks before you embark on your outing. There are many dog owners who will spend hours considering what type of new outfit to purchase for their dog when looking at dog clothes, and the same amount of time and consideration has to be applied before going camping with your animal.
The first step to take is to make sure your dog has all his/her vaccinations up to date, and it can also be a good idea to take along a copy or proof of its rabies vaccination. The next step is to check that you have taken a flea or tick precaution; this can either be with the animal wearing a flea collar or using the drops on the coat that can be acquired from the veterinarian.
If you have not already, then it is a good idea to have an ID tag on the dog, this could have for instance the name of the camping area where you are based or park. On the other side of the tag you could also put both your phone details, you’re home and mobile. All dogs should have a microchip with all the details but a tag on the dog is also beneficial to the owner in case of any mishaps.
There are many people who have taken their dog hiking or camping from when it was a tiny puppy and now enjoys. However for those of you who are going to take your dog for the first time then some light exercise needs to be done, after all you would not run a marathon without proper training and the same is necessary for your dog.
If your dog is obedient and does not run around barking and chasing people constantly then it should be alright to take them camping. If though you have a dog that is rather mischievous then a camping outing is not a good idea. It is always best to contact any campsites and parks before making the trip to make sure that a dog is allowed.
When packing for the trip as well as a first aid kit for yourself you will also need one for your dog, and if the weather is going to be hot put in a sun block for your dog, dogs can get sunburn just like humans. It is wise to take an extra lead in case the normal one gets damaged or wet, but take a normal one not the retractable lead as they can be quite dangerous when climbing steep hills. Then there is the usual like dog bowl, water, toy and a blanket in case the nights turn colder.
One of the most important things to remember is to take plenty of water, both you and your dog will drink more than usual. Whether you are going hiking or camping always keep a check every now and then on your dogs paws. As much as they love you they cannot turn around and tell you if they have a thistle or raw paw pad or small stone on their pad. If you venture through any long grass the same applies to the nose, eye and ears for any small blades of grass and also for any sign of ticks. As long as thought and proper preparation has been thought about there is know reason why you and your dog cannot have an enjoyable time.
Related posts:
- Essential Items to Bring Along For Your Dog While on Your Hiking Trips
- Hiking With Your Dog: What To Take With You
- Safety Tips When Hiking With your Dog
Getting ready to hike down (and up) the Grand Canyon and don’t want to run the risk of any blisters on my feet. Any clever ideas as to how to prevent them from occuring?
Related posts:
- How can I stop my new hiking boots raising blisters?
- Grand Canyon Hiking
- Anyone know of a good pair of hiking boots for flat feet?
My friend and I are hiking the Appalachian Trail this summer after graduation. We’re both athletic and are willing to work HARD to get in shape for this. He is a skier, and I am a runner and the more punishing the work out the better, but it has to be relevant, so bring it please.
Related posts:
- How can I prepare for hiking the appalachian trail?
- can i bring a gun for protection hiking on the Appalachian trail?
- What type of apparel should i wear/bring on my hiking trip to the appalachian trail?