Day Hike Checklist
Introduction
One of the nice things about day hikes as opposed to backpacking trips is that
you can afford to splurge a bit on the weight. Even if you do bring that
Frisbee or extra sandwich, it doesn't really matter because you're not carrying
that much in the first place. Besides, a bit of extra weight on a day hike is
par for the course because it gives you a better workout.
Physical Shape
Most of the day hikes described in this web site are achievable for virtually
any physical condition. Therefore, in the interest of health, I encourage you
to never let you physical condition stand in the way of exploring these
wonderful trails. I do encourage you to check with your doctor before beginning
any kind of exercise routine such as trail hiking. If you want to get ready for
hiking in the Sierra try exercises like walking, jogging, and riding your bike.
All of these exercises will help strengthen your legs and knees.
Day Hike Checklist
Use the following checklist as a general guide to planning what to take on half
or all-day hiking trips. A '+' sign indicates that the item may be shared
between one or more hikers and, therefore, reducing the amount carried. An '*'
means that the item is only required when the trail or other situation demands
it.
If you go hiking alone, then you can have any grade of attitude you want.
Otherwise, complaining about a hard hike is one of the best ways to ruin a fun
trip for everyone else that you're with. Therefore, make sure that you plan
properly for the trip. This means that you bring the right stuff and that
you're in decent shape.
Yes, there is usually some water on the trail but you should never count on it
being there and you can't count on it being free of disease. This is why you
always need water and plenty of it! Any sturdy water container will work but I
always take two one-liter Nalgene water containers. The clear brown Nalgene are
a good brand and type because they can come in wide mouths and don't absorb
odors and tastes from previous liquids.
On my last trip up to the top of Upper
Yosemite Falls, I downed 3 liters easy and was still dehydrated when I
reached the top. On one of my trips to the top of
Half Dome, I encountered a man and his young boy begging for water from
everyone else's already depleted supplies. Don't be one of these people!
Depending on how shy you are and how many other people are on the trail, not
having enough water can be anything from embarrassing to dangerous.
On the subject of water, remember that you may need to fill those containers up
again. Make sure that you or someone you're hiking with has the ability to make
potable water. The most common methods used are pump filtering and iodine
tablets. I usually go through the extra effort of bringing a good pump filter
because the iodine tablets taste yucky and they don't get rid of the floating
debris that a pump does. And besides, the best way to meet people on a day-hike
trail like this is by pumping water. Why? Because everyone else forgot their
pump (or don't have one) which makes you their best buddy. This will give your
arms almost as much of a workout as your legs so remember to switch between
your left and right arms when pumping. You don't want one arm bigger than the
other do you?
Shoes. Shoes. Shoes. Actually . . . Boots! I wouldn't let not having boots keep
me from a trail but I suggest getting a good pair of medium duty or better
hiking boots as soon as possible. A good pair of boots provide the ankle
support you'll need to protect from spraining. If you're going to be spending
some time on the trails, don't be afraid to drop some money into a good pair. A
good pair of medium duty trail boots will cost you around $120 - $200 but can
vary widely based brand and model.
If you decide to go shopping, then try to get boots with a steel shank in the
sole. The shank will protect from sharp rocks as you're climbing over them.
Also, make sure the boots are water resistant with a fabric like Gortex or
something similar. When you're trying on the boots for fit, make sure you use a
combination of wool and silk socks.
Since the best place to carry a backpack is on your back, make sure that your
backpack is strong enough to carry all of your stuff and not break in the
process. The second most important quality of a daypack is it's comfort against
your back. Mine has thick cushioning that makes for a more comfortable fit.
Another great feature of a daypack is the ability to hold your drinking water
in an external pocket so you don't have to dig around every time you need to
take a drink.
The high country weather in our Sierra is, at the least, unpredictable. For the
most part, I never need the jacket that I bring with me. That is, I rarely need
it to keep warm or dry during the day. My jacket usually serves the purpose of
a ground cover that I either sit or lay down on. On the right hikes, next to a
river, under a group of pines, and on top of a bed of needles, you'll find the
perfect place to lay on your jacket and take a nap. Just watch out for those
Herculean ANTS!
No dieting allowed on a hike! Besides, this is the time when you're really
earning your food and will need the energy. Before most of our hikes, we stop
at a grocery store and buy whatever we didn't remember to pack that morning. So
bring a couple of bucks.
You'll probably need napkins for your meal, toilet paper just in case, and small
plastic bags to put your trash in that will keep the rest of the backpack from
smelling.
This isn't one you'd normally think of on a day hike is it? Fact is, on a long
day hike you may be stumbling back down that trail in a moonless night. I tell
you from experience, it isn't fun. Even when the moon is out, the light just
isn't enough to make out all the rocks in the trail and you'll end up stumbling
anyway. If you're lucky, you won't fall off of a 2,000 foot cliff when you
fall.
So when you bring your flashlight, don't forget to bring extra bulbs and
batteries. If you really want to be prepared, go to a sporting goods store and
get yourself a "headlight" that you actually wear on your head. Sure, you may
get a few snickers when showing it to your friends, but you'll be the one
smiling at night. Having your hands free to help maneuver among the rocks can
be a definite advantage.
Even though two people can share one flashlight in a pinch, you'll want to have
flashlight for each person. On the Sierra trails at night, your watching each
and every step and you can't do that safely when sharing a flashlight.
Since you can never predict what kind of problems you'll encounter, if any, it
always good for at least one person in your group to have a well stocked
backpacking first aid kit. You'll find these on the net or a sporting goods
store. I purchased mine at Target for around $16 and it even came with a soft
case made especially for backpacking.
Gloves are only required when you plan on doing a bit of climbing, boulder
hopping, or doing something else with your hands. They are especially required
when climbing Half Dome because of the
cables you will be pulling yourself up with.
Printing out and brining this checklist along can be especially useful if you
plan on camping near the trailhead before starting your hike. I know that
because I used the bug spray out of my daypack while camping, forgot to put it
back in, and was then eaten alive by skeeters!
I hope this is an obvious one. A lot of the hikes we attempt are at very high
elevations. Most reach elevations from 7,000 to 11,000 feet. At these heights
there is less atmosphere to protect from the sun (you'll burn faster) and there
are no trees for shade. In addition to no trees, the lightly shaded granite
reflects the light of the sun quite well.
Make a recording where you've been. Percentage wise, an extremely minute portion
of the population have ever been where you're going.
One of the best ways to ruin your fun is the get a sun burn. No matter how much
cloud cover there is, you can always safely anticipate getting darker. The
trick is to not get redder.
At least one person in your group should have some insect repellent. Since
everyone's body chemistry is a bit different, you might find that some insect
repellents work for some people and not for others. If you've never run into
this situation, than just plan on sharing what someone else is using (if you're
traveling in a group). Otherwise, if you know what works for you, then bring
that.
The best thing you can do for your feet is to get a good pair of
hiking boots that fit snugly when you're wearing two pair of socks. The
two pair of socks should be a wool outer pair and a silk inner pair. The silk
socks will stick to your feet using your skin's sweat layer. The outer wool
socks will stick better to the boots. When you're walking, the two pair of
socks will rub against each other instead of the boot against your feet thus
providing a greater margin of blister protection for your feet. You can find
both kinds of socks at virtually all sporting goods stores that supply hiking
supplies.
I get burned most on my neck and face; especially my nose. That's why a good
shade hat is hard to do without. On a hot day, my first choice will always be a
wide brimmed straw hat that I can dip in a stream to cool off. It gives plenty
of shade and can also act as a swamp cooler in a pinch.
Most of the longer trails within the Sierra are very steep. The steepness of
these trails means that there will be a lot of pounding pressure on your knees;
especially while going downhill. The worst part about this is that, even if one
of your knees gives out, you still have to finish the hike. Aside from the
pain, you could be talking some serious long-term injury. Bringing some kind of
knee support is only a quick fix that might not even help. The best advice is
to not try something too ambitious the first time out. The second best advice
is to choose a regular exercise (when you're not hiking) that will constantly
strengthen your knees (i.e., walking, jogging, running, and bicycling). If
you're worried about your knees because of past injuries, make sure you see
your doctor for advice.
If you've got space in your pack, bring em. There's no end to the number of
magnificent vistas you'll find on these hikes. Besides, if you get to the top
of a popular lookout (Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, etc.) binoculars
are a great ice breaker when meeting new people.
There's nothing that makes the dogs stop barking after a long hike faster than
to simply remove your boots; besides removing your boots and putting your feet
in the stream. The sandals, which should be left in the car, are a nice change
when you've just completed your hike.
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