Revisiting Day Hiking 101

4/22/2011

With Easter weekend approaching, I thought I would repost an entry I made last April. I thought it might be a good idea to revisit day hiking safety tips. I hope these tips help while planning your first hike up Mt. LeConte.

1. Make sure someone knows where you are going. Have a contact person to call when you get off of the trail.
2. Always carry plenty of water. Carry more then you     think you are going to need.
3. Have a sturdy day pack to carry some emergency supplies.
4. Supplies: an emergency kit with a mirror, space blanket and some general first aid supplies, such as bandaids. I always carry duck tape wrapped around my    water bottle. Duct tape has fixed many of my hiking    gear. Flashlight is a must. Snacks. I always carry    some form of fire starter, just to be on the safe side.
5. Do your research about the weather. What kind of temperatures? Change of socks is always good. If it is going to be cold, take layers to put on or take off according to your activity. It is extremely dangerous to get caught in cooler conditions in cotton. You do not want to have soaking wet clothing and catch a chill. Cotton does not dry fast enough to keep you warm.
6. Now, the important information. Always keep in mind    how long you have been on the trail, when the sun goes     down and how long it is going to take you to get out. If you are prepared with a flashlight and the correct gear to get you thru the night, it is not going to matter. If you are day hiking and you do not have the correct gear, turn around in time to give you plenty of time to get back to the trail head. Do not be concerned with reaching the top. The peak is not going any where and you can hike it later when you are better prepared.

As I stated before, these are all suggestions. We have witnessed many different emergencies on the mountain and a lot of them could have been avoided if they followed some of these suggestions. I hope these help with your next day hike. Happy Hiking.

hclark

4/22/2011 02:15:39 am

Good Suggestions - I also carry a water filter and medical tape but will add duct tape to the pack.

However, I consider a watch a necessity in order to keep a perspective as to where we are on the trail in relation to our return destination.

June Bug

4/22/2011 02:22:08 am

And don't forget a Swiss Army knife!

Richard

4/22/2011 02:23:39 am

never go out on the trail without a map and compass.

Jennifer

4/22/2011 02:27:27 am

I know it's not essential, but a good field guide and a pencil are helpful. Especially a wildflower guide at this time of year.

Boy Scout

4/22/2011 02:30:14 am

These are great tips - I would be interested if any of the readers got themselves out of a bad situation as a result of your advice, or if the group here is already saavy enough to avoid problems on the mountain.

I worry that the folks who need this the most are the ones who are least likely to look here for information.

Walt

4/22/2011 02:58:37 am

Jennifer,
A field guide is an excellent thing to have in your day pack. I'm a birder, so I not only carry a field guide, but also a pair of spy glasses and a camera.

JimD

4/22/2011 02:59:53 am

The weather in the Smokies can change in a hurry. Even if you know the forecast, better take along a poncho or rain jacket.

Roger Driscoll

4/22/2011 03:06:32 am

I always take a pair of hiking poles for crossing the streams. They've saved me many a time from a boot full of water... or worse!

Wild Bill Jones

4/22/2011 03:12:35 am

My .44 Magnum-- Never leave home without it.

Doug

4/22/2011 03:20:24 am

Sunscreen. I've had some pretty good sunburn even in the winter.

Juanita

4/22/2011 03:26:18 am

Holy Moly! I think you forgot to add the kitchen sink to the list. If I have to bring along all that stuff I'll never make it to the top. I'm only visiting for the day, not the entire week! LOL!

Robert

4/22/2011 03:55:00 am

True, it can pile up to be a lot of stuff. But it's better to be prepared just in case you need one of these items. I always take along some extra cord. It has many uses, including replacing a broken boot lace.

Benjamin

4/22/2011 04:07:07 am

Good stuff! It's always better to be prepared than not. My pack is usually 30-35 lbs easy and it's not that big a deal going to the top with it (yes day hiking there and back). As suggested earlier some form of multi function Knife/tool is a must! Plus whatever else comes to my mind before I leave the house!

HonkyTonk

4/22/2011 04:31:38 am

BoyScout, I've never had myself in any real danger, but have helped others. This winter, Mrs. HonkyTonk and I ran into a group of college kids from Florida who were unprepared for even a short day-hike. With 10-12" of snow on the ground, they hiked in tennis shoes, blue jeans, without water or snacks. I always carry extra water, snacks, socks, etc. We gave them our extras...they weren't in immediate danger, but they were wet, cold, thirsty and hungry. The extras do come in handy.

John B

4/22/2011 04:32:05 am

I concur on the list. In addition to having a sharp knife or multitool, I would suggest carrying a length of para-cord and either a large poncho or smaller tarp in addition to the space blanket/emergency mylar sleeping bag. Also do not put all your firestarting requirements in one mode, have multiple ways to start a fire, and practice those skills for making fire with all methods you carry. You do not want to try to figure out how to start a fire with a new method when you are under stress!

The kit recommendations can slowly creep up making it a full backpack, but some folks can be comfortable with less.

Diane

4/22/2011 05:11:13 am

I guess I should have died a looong time ago! When our family used to hike LeConte in August, we took nothing but ourselves. After a few years, we broke down and took canteens. A lot of the suggestions make sense though. We COULD have run into a bad thunderstorm and got hyperthermia from being wet. Snow seems out of the quetion in August--even on LeConte.

Tim @ Appalachia & Beyond link

4/22/2011 06:45:33 am

These are all great suggestions and we always have the gear that's been suggested. Luckily we've only had to use a poncho or two and a couple of band-aids. I wouldn't want to be stuck with out that stuff. We also carry a two meter handie talkie with us (Ham Radio) you never know when you will need to call for help on the trail and just last year a Ham Radio operator helped a lady on Alum Cave trail that messed up her ankle. Another thing you may want to include is toilet paper. You never know. :P

4/22/2011 11:01:38 am

Oh thank you everyone for those helpful suggestions. I guess as long as I'm packing all that other stuff, I may as well throw in a bottle too for a little nip once I make it to the top. LOL!

Blake

4/22/2011 01:05:33 pm

Yeah! Now you're talking necessary day hiking provisions! Psrty hard Juanita-- just stay far back from the edge of the cliff tops.

Robert Geer

4/22/2011 02:36:09 pm

Bravo....good stuff. Yes, I've been in some nasty spots on the mountain & yes some of what I carry is because I needed it & didn't have it once upon a time. Good judgement often happens after exercising bad judgement. LeConte is a kind mountain but it suffers fools only so long. :-)

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Revisiting Day Hiking 101

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