Transport to the Trailhead

Before starting any hike you have to get to the trailhead – the point at which the hike begins. There are several ways to get to the there, some better than others depending on the type of trail you’re doing. Firstly, lets look at the two different types of trail.

The Types of Trail
There are only two different types of trails, the Linear – those beginning at the trailhead and ending at some other point, and the Circular – those that both start and finish at the trailhead, whether in a grand circle or by returning along the same trail once a certain point is reached. Both can pose differing challenges for transport, so let’s have a look at both kinds.

Circular Trails

Own Vehicle – Having your own vehicle is the easiest option for a circular hike as you drive to the trailhead and park it there, returning to it at the end. Be aware that some National Parks require a parking permit. Lone vehicles in a deserted National Park car park can be a target for thieves, so make sure valuable items aren’t left inside the vehicle while you’re walking. Also pay attention to the route to get to the trailhead, if you don’t have a four-wheel drive vehicle and there are fords on the way, more walking may be required before you even start the trail.

Being Dropped Off – While this method saves having to worry about parking permits and theft, coordinating the pick up may be troublesome. Your ride might end up waiting hours if there’s some delay on the hike and with little mobile phone reception in National Parks, there’s no way of letting them know.

Taxi – This may be the only option if there’s no-one you know near the National Park or if you’re in a foreign country. While it’s cheaper with more than one person, it suffers from the same issues as Being Dropped Off in that communicating with the driver in areas with no mobile phone reception is troublesome.

Buses – While this could be a valid option, if they’re available it would mean planning around getting to a certain point at a certain time, or knowing the timetable if there are delays. This only works if the National Park is near a major road, the more remote the hike the less likely there will be a bus service.

Linear Trails

Dropping Your Car At The End – Perhaps the easiest means of transport on a Linear hike is to get someone to follow you to the end of the trail, drop your car off and then have them taxi you to the beginning. This takes less organisation, and you’re not committed to finishing the trail at a certain time to be picked up. Don’t leave valuables in your vehicle, as thieves can target lone cars in National Parks.

Two Vehicle Drop Off – If hiking as a group and there are two or more cars between you, simply drop one or more cars at the end of the trail and transport everyone to the trailhead in the other. This is the easiest method for groups of walkers, but more opportunities for thieves.

Being Dropped Off – Having someone drop you off at the start and collect you from the end is the next easiest transportation means that only suffers from the issue of communication with the person picking you up, similar to that of Circular hikes.

Taxi – Similar to Being Dropped Off, but with a tariff. It also has some issue with describing the end of the trail if you’ve not been there before. Communication is still an issue.

Buses – The next easiest method as long as there’s a bus stop near both start and end of the trail. Ensure you have an up-to-date timetable and you plan around the times.

One Vehicle – A solo hiker with a vehicle can be the most difficult transport means for a linear hike. If you park at the trailhead you need to plan a means to get back to it once you’ve completed the hike. This could mean catching a bus to the other end or arranging someone to collect you and delivery you there. As an alternative, hitch-hiking back to your vehicle might be a way to go if both start and end are on or near major roads. Most hikers will pick up another hiker they see on the side of the road, your pack being the dead give-away.

Then, once you’re at the Trailhead the only thing left to do is begin walking…

The Lone Trail Wanderer

The Weight of Hiking – Packing Light

To the casual observer, hiking is just a bunch of walking, camping and stuff. While that pretty much covers it at a very basic level there’s far more to it than that. Hiking is a physical experience especially when walking long distances and intense climbing. Add to this a pack filled with food and camping equipment and it can become quite a heavy work out.

In saying that, the weight of your pack can make or break the hiking experience. Too light and you’re probably going hungry or shivering away in your tent trying to keep warm instead of sleeping. Too heavy and after hour three on the trail you’re struggling to put one foot ahead of the other and the pain in your shoulders/hips is killing you.

The Optimal Carrying Weight.
To find the optimal carrying weight, we need to look at what we as humans can carry comfortably.

It’s suggested that the maximum carrying capacity is 50% of our weight, although for those of us not trained to carry this much it’s not sustainable for long. At my own optimal weight of 95kg (209lbs), this would mean carrying 47.5kg (105lbs). Even though I’m fairly strong, this wouldn’t be an enjoyable experience over any distance.

Comfortably then, we can carry about 25% of our own body weight, half of the above maximum capacity. This is more sustainable and while it would still be quite a workout, it can and has been done. I’ve personally carried almost 30kg (66lb) on hike.

Optimally, and for the most enjoyment, the general aim should be to carry 15-20% of our body weight. My average carrying weight on a 3-day hike is 18kg (40lb) and for a week or longer hike is 22kg (48.5lb).

Packing Light
Putting together one list to suit everyone is impossible as there’s too much variation in requirements and item weights. So, what follows is a list of items and weights based upon what I would take on a hike. In this particular case, a 3-day solo hike, with a good water source at camp and a moderate temp requiring some warmer clothing at nights.

Note that weight referenced here relates to items carried only and excludes hiking clothing and boots.

Base Equipment	Metric Weight (gm)	US Weight (oz)
Hiking Pack (70l)	2,500	88.2
Camera, Carry Case, Spare Batteries	825	29.1
Tent	2,700	95.3
•Sleeping Bag	1,200	42.3
•Sleeping Mat	950	33.5
•Camping Pillow	275	9.7
Sleeping Bag Blanket	275	9.7
Sleeping Bag Liner	100	3.5
Plastic Trowel	75	2.6
Water Bladder	100	3.5
Whistle	25	0.9
Total	9,025	19lb 14oz
Easy Access Equipment
Money/Cash Card	25	0.9
Toilet Paper	125	4.4
Alcohol Based Hand Wash	50	1.8
Insect Repellant	125	4.4
Sunscreen	120	4.1
Head Torch	100	3.5
Pen and Paper	150	5.3
First Aid Kit w/ Survival Blanket	300	10.6
Pocket Knife	50	1.8
Pack Cover	150	5.3
Waterproof Jacket	400	14.1
Empty Plastic Bottle	25	0.9
Kindle/Book	300	10.6
Phone	150	5.3
Maps, Itinerary	75	2.6
Compass	25	0.9
Duct Tape	125	4.4
Total	2,295	5lb 1oz
Night Clothes
Thermal Shirt	275	9.7
Thermal Pants	175	6.2
Fleece Jacket	525	18.5
Flip-Flops	400	14.1
Gloves	25	0.9
Hiking Towel	175	6.2
Underwear	125	4.4
Wool Socks	125	4.4
Beanie	75	2.6
Total	1,900	4lb 3oz
At Camp Equipment
Cooking Stove	275	9.7
Cooking Pot, Lid & Handle	250	8.8
Plastic Mug	75	2.6
Cutlery	100	3.5
Lighter	25	0.9
Matches (Waterproof)	15	0.5
Scourer	10	0.4
Sewing Kit	25	0.9
Lightweight Durable Cord	100	3.5
Spare Batteries 3 x AAA	30	1.1
Toothbrush/Paste	100	3.5
Wet Wipes	40	1.4
Small Garbage Bags 4	100	3.5
Deodorant	50	1.8
Gas Cylinder	345	12.2
Water Treatment Tablets 100	10	0.4
Total	1,550	3lb 6oz
Food
Porridge (3 portions)	225	7.9
(tablets) x 20	2	0.1
Coffee (instant) 6 teaspoons	30	1.1
Teabags x 3	10	0.4
Pre-made Sandwiches x 3	900	31.7
Snack Bag (nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, sweets etc)	900	31.7
Camping Meals (2 serves) x 3	900	31.7
Water 2l	2,000	70.5
Total	5,067	11lb 2oz
GRAND TOTAL WEIGHT	19,837	43lb 11oz

The above packing list is typical for me at the beginning of a hike. Please note that I’m 189cm (6’3”) and fairly strong. I’m used to carrying weight and because of this include a few extra items for a more enjoyable personal experience, such as a 2-man tent, a Kindle and a full set of ‘night’ clothing.

Based on consumption of food, each day on the trail should reduce the load by approximately 1kg. While this is a reduction in weight, it’s barely noticeable. By the end of the 3-day hike, carrying the above equipment, my weight would be 15.1kg (33lb 6oz) due to my having used most of the food and water.

This should give you a general idea of weights and hopefully an understanding that a few extra items, even small items, can really add to your weight.

Water
While water is the greatest requirement on any hike, it’s also one of the heaviest consumable items. On the average hike, a person should carry between 2-3 litres (2.1-3.2 US quarts) per day for drinking, more in a hot climate or summer hike. This equates to about 2-3kg (4.4-6.6lbs).

The amount of water carried should also take into account the availability of water at or near the campsite. With limited water availability an extra1.5 litres (1.6 US qt) should be carried for food preparation and cleaning (covers both dinner and breakfast) plus the water required for the following day. If your aim is to carry a 15kg load, water per day will cover between 3 and 6 litres. (6.6-13.2lbs), which doesn’t leave a lot for the rest of your equipment. While the water may appear to be clean, it is always safest to purify any water you get on the trail, especially if it’s from a water tank.

Weights by Season
On average, pack weights during a summer or hot climate hike should be lighter because of the reduced requirement for heavier, warmer evening clothing needed on a colder hike. While more water is required during a ‘hot’ hike, the added weight is still lighter than extra clothing and heavier sleeping bags.

The Trail Wanderer

Prepare Yourself Mentally and Physically

Hiking has both mental and physical challenges associated with it. Here are some methods to help prepare in both areas.

Mental Preparations
Beyond any research you may have done on the trail, being prepared mentally is just as important as being prepared physically.

The ‘Can Do’ Attitude
Many people are put off by something that sounds too challenging. While they convince themselves to do it anyway, they tend to pull out when things get a little difficult. For the most part we can push the body further than we think. But if the mind’s not fully into it we’ll give up well before we meet our maximum exertion level. By having a ‘Can Do’ attitude we can actually achieve far more than we think.

The easiest way to get a ‘Can Do’ attitude is to stop doubting yourself. If others can climb a mountain there’s no reason you can’t. Always set your sights to the top and not ‘just as far as you can get’. It doesn’t matter how long it takes just that you’re prepared to go the distance. And once you make it all the way next one summit will be easier.

Dissect Your Map
While many people like to hike without much information about the trail, I like to break it down to get an understanding of what I can expect each day. I write a small blurb in my trail book and read it during breakfast to mentally prepare for the day. The blurb might read something like this… “Day begins with steep 500m climb to summit then gentle downhill along ridge line for rest of the day stopping at a lookout then a river crossing before a final short but steep climb to camp.” The blurb also allows me to note points of interest along the way so I can plan my breaks.

Dissecting the map can also be useful to pinpoint any known dangers on the trail. For example, if there’s a strong wind and the trail leads along a ridge line, you’ll be able to prepare accordingly. Or if there has been plentiful rain prior to the hike, the river crossing in the middle of the day may be heavier than usual or there may have been rock slides on cliff top trails.

Physical Preparations

Hiking is a sustained endurance activity which can take some conditioning to get used to. For the fairly fit, carrying a sizeable pack long distances with some intense climbing shouldn’t pose too much of a problem. But for the first time hiker undertaking a long hike can be challenging and exhausting.

On the first few days of your hike, your body’s not going to like you very much and will probably react something like this:

End of day 1: “I hate you.”
End of day 2: “It hurts, why are you doing this to me?”
End of day 3: “I’m sore but this isn’t so bad after all.”
End of day 4: “Another day on the trail? Let’s do this!”
Day five and onwards: “Sore? Tired? Not me, I’ve been on this trail my entire life!”

The problem is, most hikes finish on Day 3 just when your body’s getting used to the sustained exertion. To lessen this effect trick your body into thinking it’s already been walking for days as follows:

Increase your exercise leading up to the hike, focusing on building leg muscles and increasing your core strength. Squats, step machines and running are all good for this.

Training under weight will condition the body to carrying your pack. Fill your pack with 10-15kgs (22-33lb) of books or stones and walk for about an hour, increasing time and/or weight as you see fit. This can be done on a treadmill or to and from work if you live close enough. If you don’t, you can always get off the bus/train a few stops early and walk the rest of the way.

If you’re first hike is for a week or more, it’s suggested to do an overnight training hike a week or two prior to the major hike. This will not only get you used to the process, but will help you break in the new boots and allow you to recover from any blisters they may cause.

The more you do, the less likely your body is going to complain when you get out on the trail.

The Lone Trail Wanderer

Preparations: Doing Your Research

Usually the basis of a hike is to explore a national park or some other area of wilderness via a predefined trail. While exploring generally means ‘discovering as we go’ it’s still important to know a few things about the trail before we set out. With so much information available to us via the internet it shouldn’t take long to a little research and find out some of what we might expect. Here are a few things it’s suggested to look into:

Weather

We all know weather is a changeable thing and while forecasts aren’t always accurate it’s still handy to know what kind of weather we might be facing. Many people prefer to hike in fine weather, so if it’s going to downpour, maybe schedule the hike for another time.

But sometimes weather is just a mental challenge, something determined and prepared for. After all isn’t hiking about being in nature and isn’t weather a big part of nature? In saying that, there are some forms of extreme weather that should definitely not be hiked in, in particular very heavy rains – which can cause flash floods and landslides, and heat waves – which can cause heat exhaustion and rapid dehydration. Whatever the weather, if you decide to hike, pack accordingly.

Are Bookings Required?

Some national parks require a permit before you can hike in them while others only require permits to camp overnight. Most permits are purchased ahead of time as there are often limits to the number of people allowed on a trail at a given time, or the number of camping spaces are limited. Permits must be carried at all times, attached to packs or to tents in camping spots. Park Rangers will ask to see this permit and are well within their rights to impose fines or expel you immediately from the park. Most permits are obtained online, through the national park office or at trailhead.

Dangers of the Trail

The wilderness is a dangerous place, so be aware of any dangers on the trail.

Physical Dangers
Many trails have cliffs, rocky climbs, slippery trails, windy passes, rock slides, areas subject to scrub fires and the like. Details of injuries, deaths or rescues that have occurred on the trail should be easy to find. Most are caused by lack of planning or stupidity, but all should give clues as to where to be especially careful. If concerned contact a park ranger or don’t hike these areas alone.

Living Dangers of the Trail
It’s the fauna and flora in a particular area that may cause the most danger. Research will give not only plentiful insights about what dangers there are but also how to deal with them.

Plants – While it’s common sense, it’s worth mentioning here… Do not eat any wild mushrooms or berries found along the trail as they can cause sickness or even death. Those aside, there are many plants that can cause burns, blistering or worse, simply by touching their leaves. Stinging nettle is a good example of this.

Another example is the Gympie Gympie tree of Queensland, Australia, which has leaves covered in tiny hairs. A simple touch of these hairs can transmit a neurotoxin that will cause pain for weeks or even months. Enough exposure to the plant’s neurotoxin has caused death in animals and humans alike. Beware.

Beasts – National parks are protected wilderness areas that usually have varieties of wild animals living in them. This could be anything from the rampaging Iguanas of Australia that when frightened climb trees, occasionally mistaking humans for trees… There may also be monkeys, rats, possums and even some birds, that will tear or chew their way into your tent or hiking pack looking for food.

In many areas there are larger more dangerous beasts that can mistake the unwary hiker as its next meal. These include the likes of pumas, crocodiles, or packs of marauding dingoes. Care should also be taken around free roaming cattle. While many people think them domestic animals, they are actually responsible for more hiking injuries and deaths than any other animal.

Snakes – The silent threat in many counties are snakes as they often blend in with their surroundings. Tread carefully and always be on the look out for them as accidentally standing on one can cause it to strike. Snakes can often be found sitting in a patch of sunshine on the trail. If encountered give them a wide berth and do not kill them, they have as a much right to be there as you do.

Insects – It’s important to know if there are dangerous smaller creatures in a particular area. While flies can be annoying in hot climates and biting flies even more so, mosquitos in certain regions may carry dangerous diseases. Check online for information about preventatives and protections for diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. Ticks are also annoying and potentially dangerous. Know how to check for tick bites and carry a set of tweezers in your first aid kit to remove them.

Leaches – While these pests can do little harm on their own, in swarms they are particularly onerous. Leaches inhabit warm wet locations and latch onto you from any direction, but most usually from the ground by climbing onto your boots. Be especially careful of your eyes when swimming in infested areas.

Spiders – Spiders are everywhere and many like to hide in clothing and packs. Ensure you check boots and equipment left outside your tent in case they’ve taken residence in them overnight. A more lurking danger are larger spiders that have slung webs across the trail. Coming face-to-face with a Bird-eating spider or the Orb-weaver is not a pleasant experience.

Humans – In the remote areas of some countries foreign hikers have been targeted by locals looking for money and valuables. Stories have filtered around about hikers being held up at gunpoint, assaulted and even murdered. Many countries have laws against foreign hikers walking without guides or forcing them to only walk specific trails where protection is provided. On these trails, armed members of the local police or army patrol regularly. If however, you’re planning a remote hike in a foreign country and are genuinely concerned about the threat of locals, DO NOT go. Choose a trail that’s better organised and known to be patrolled, and live to hike another day.

Overall, there are too many living dangers to relate here. Do your research and know what you’re likely to come up against and be as prepared as possible.

In a future post I’ll provide more details of how to protect yourself against many of the creatures noted on this post.

The Lone Trail Wanderer.

Resupplying and Food Drops

For some people, a seven-day hike in the wilderness just isn’t long enough. Many extreme hikers want to walk for months on end, sometimes hundreds or even thousands of kilometres in one go. There are many hikes that accommodate this such as the Appalachian Trail in the US or the world’s longest hike, the Trans Canada Trail, stretching 24,000 km across the country.

While hikes of these lengths are vastly outside the bounds of this guide, a beginner may still consider a trek longer than a week or two as their first hike. This was my case, choosing to walk the Larapinta Trail across Central Australia for my first hike – 234km over 17 days.

While it’s possible to carry seventeen days worth of food, there are ways to avoid carrying such a heavy load. Here are some options:

A Tour
While a tour is the only means to do certain hikes, it’s not always considered true hiking when someone carries half of your gear, pitches your tent and prepares your meals. It does make it easier to carry a heavy load of food and depending on where you are, you might be able to hire a donkey to carry it for you.

Town Resupply Points
On many longer hikes, the trail passes through villages or townships specially for resupply. Hikes through the Himalayas or El Camino de Santiago – The Way of Saint James – in Europe are classic examples of this. In some locations, such as South America, many hikes have refugios where food is sold and accommodation provided.

Food Drops
On treks where there are no villages or refugios, the remaining option is the food drop. A food drop is a box left at certain points along the trail with food for the next part of the trail.

There are several options for food drops depending on the trek:

Food Drop Shelters
Some hikes, such as the Larapinta Trail in Central Australia have lockable food drop shelters. The food is stored in large plastic tubs with lids (to protect against mice) and are either dropped off prior to the hike or delivered by a transport company before needing them. These boxes are usually rented and allow the disposal of garbage also.

Nearby Residents
Where food drop shelters are not available, contacting home owners near the trail and begging them to allow you to leave food supplies at their homes may be an option. Most are unfortunately not so receptive, or may charge for the privilege.

Wild Drops
With no other option there’s always the wild drop, where the food box ii left in a hidden location along the trail. This may mean constructing rocky pyres or burying the food so scavenging animals can’t get to it. The ultimate downside of this approach is arriving at your drop point to find the food missing or destroyed by some natural disaster such as a fire. Likely this will spell the end of the hike.

Packing a Food Drop Box

Food drop boxes are easy to set up. After having planned the length of your hike, you should have an idea how much food is needed for each day. Then simply split the food into groups of days and add the required number of days to each box.

Food shouldn’t be the only things left in food drop boxes though, as other consumables may need to be refilled. This includes items such as toilet paper, spare batteries, cooking gas, medical supplies, water treatment tablets and the like.

Food Box Treats
Walking for a long period can mean eating lightweight and bland foods. So, leaving treats in your food drop box will add to the pleasure of arriving at a collection point. These are items that may be too heavy to carry with you, such as whole fruits (apples and oranges last best), tinned foods or special treats such as potato chips, chocolate bars and even beer. Remember, any packaging can be left in the drop box.

The Trail Wanderer

Standard Hiking Food Lists

Everyone is different, so providing an individualised standard food list suitable for everyone is impossible. With that in mind, the following food lists are based on what has worked well for the author. It is hoped that these lists should give an idea to aid the creation of lists suitable for your own requirements.

Standard Food List (per person per day)
This standard food list can be used for any length hike and is predominantly based upon dried foods.

Breakfast

• Porridge/Oatmeal or a lightweight high-energy cereal
• Milk Powder
• Sugar/Sweetener (if required)
• Coffee/Tea

Lunch

• Trail bread or hard crackers

Plus one of the following:

• Salmon/Tuna pockets (in foil not canned)
• Shelf-stable Salami rolls and cheese
• 2-minute Noodles (if a cooked lunch is desired)

Snacks

• 200gm mix of the following:

• Nuts – Peanuts/almonds are cheapest or other nuts
• Dried fruits pieces – raisins, coconut, sultanas or any other dried fruit (usually diced)
• Seeds – Pepitas/pumpkin seeds or similar
• Chocolate – chunks, M&Ms or similar
• Sweets – Gummy bears, snakes or similar. Avoid wrapped or sugar-coated sweets.

• 2 Muesli/Granola Bars

Dinner

• Cup of soup sachet/flavoured juice sachet/tea bag

One of the following:

• Camping meal (2 serves)
• Camping meal (1 serve) + 1 packet 2 minute noodles
• Pasta and sauce packet (requires milk powder and small amount of oil)
• 5-minute flavoured rice
• 2 packets of 2 minute noodles

Alternative Short Hike Food List (per person per day)
Short hikes allow different options, based mainly on fresh foods.

Breakfast

• Porridge/Oatmeal or a light high energy cereal
• Milk Powder
• Sugar/Sweetener
• Coffee/Tea (with or without sugar/sweetener/milk powder)

Lunch

• Premade sandwiches/rolls with a choice of fillings (cheese/ham/salami/dry salad etc)
• Fruit – apples/oranges/mandarins etc

Snacks

• 200gm mix of the following:

• Nuts – Peanuts/almonds are cheapest or other nuts
• Dried fruits pieces – raisins, coconut, sultanas or any other dried fruit (usually diced)
• Seeds – Pepitas/pumpkin seeds or similar
• Chocolate – chunks, M&Ms or similar
• Sweets – Gummy bears, snakes or similar. Avoid wrapped or sugar coated sweets.

• 2 Muesli/Granola Bars

Dinner

• Pre-cooked vegetable stew (brought from home, simply reheat. Add salami chunks if meat required)

or

• Boil fresh vegetables and strain. Cook rice separately, adding cooked vegetables and salami chunks when ready followed by an Italian tomato sauce.

Lightweight Food List

For those struggling to get pack weights down on longer hikes, or for more experienced hikers.

Breakfast

• Coffee/Tea
• A Cup of Soup
• 2 Muesli/Granola Bars

Lunch

• None

Snacks

• 400gm mix of the following:

• Nuts – Peanuts/almonds are cheapest or other nuts
• Dried fruits pieces – raisins, coconut, sultanas or any other dried fruit (usually diced)
• Seeds – Pepitas/pumpkin seeds or similar
• Chocolate – chunks, M&Ms or similar
• Sweets – Gummy bears, snakes or similar. Avoid wrapped or sugar coated sweets.

Dinner

• Camping meal (2 serves)

The basis of the light option is snacking. Having the bag of snacks at hand, eating while walking, during a 5 minute snack break or when stopped at a viewpoint of similar. Lunch becomes simply a ten minute snack break. While psychologically challenging, after two or three days a routine is instilled.

Hiking Food – Fine Dining On The Trail

Food has the potential to be one of the heaviest collective items in your pack, especially on longer hikes, so it should be a priority to find the right food while minimising weight.

The length of the hike is a large determinant as to what food is best to take:

Short Hikes (2-4 days)
Short hikes have three distinct advantages over longer hikes:

• Weight. A shorter hike can allow the carrying of heavier food items or more food overall. This may allow for a more gourmet menu or the carrying of fruit.
• Volume. Less food means more space for larger items, such as whole fruit or bread.
• Time. Some non-dried foods can survive out of the refrigerator for a handful of days before they spoil. These include fresh bread, pre-packed sandwiches and pre-cooked dinners.

Long Hikes (more than 4 days)

• Minimising weight is the most important philosophy when walking for an extended period. Unless using food drops, the goal is to keep food as light as possible while maintaining a level of nutrition. Dried or shelf stable foods become more important on a longer hike. Shelf stable foods are treated foods such as certain salamis and cheeses that are found on the shelf in the supermarket and not in the chiller section. Minimising waste materials should also be a high priority as carrying an empty can of tuna is almost as heavy as carrying a full can.

Food Variety
When you’re on a ten-day hike, eating the same meals day after day is a recipe for boredom. While breakfast and snack foods aren’t such an issue, having at least two different types of lunches and at least three different dinner options can make the daily consumption of dried food more bearable.

Food Quantities
Try to avoid packing more than needed. Measure out spoonfuls of coffee/sugar/milk powder etc into zip-lock bags and take only as much as required plus a touch more.

Dehydrating Foods
Dehydrating food prior to hiking is not only cheaper but provides a greater variety of food options.  Properly dehydrating food takes a Food Dehydrator and forward planning.  For dehydrated foods, special care needs to be taken with packing, especially with meat, to ensure it is free of moisture, as this can cause mould.  More information on Dehydrating food should be available from your Food Dehydrator manufacturer or from resources on the internet such as: http://www.drystore.com/page/page/1346972.htm

Emergency Supplies
It’s recommended to carry at least one extra full day’s supply of food in case of emergencies. The amount is dependant on the distance from civilisation the hike is. If there’s a busy road or township not far from the trail, less emergency food is required. But if the hike is remote, then it’s suggested to take more.

Breakfast
Breakfast is an important meal when hiking as it provides the body with a supply of energy to get it up and going. As oats are slow release energy, Porridge or Oatmeal is a standard choice on the trail. Alternatively, a lightweight high energy cereal can do the same although it can take up more space in your pack.

For coffee drinkers, walking with a caffeine headache isn’t pleasant, so working that morning cup into breakfast is important, and it will give an early energy boost.

Lunch
A lunch break on the trek is more about breaking up the day than having a hearty midday meal. In fact, having a larger lunch is counterproductive to hiking as it uses extra energy for digestion, making the body feel more tired. While a cold lunch is quick and easy, in cooler areas having a hot lunch might be preferable.

Snacks
Snacks should be lightweight and have a good mix of slow release energy, fibre and sugar. They are often more useful towards the end of the day when energy reserves are low, but are useful to give added push to get over that tough ridge. Nuts, chocolate and dried fruit are best.

Dinner
Dinner is an important meal for hiking as it’s the primary means of refilling the body after a hard day on the trail. In many countries, there are specially made meal packs for hiking or camping known as the camping/trail meal. These are lightweight dried meals that contain a high nutritional value with a minimum of preparation – usually by adding only boiling water. They can even taste good too! The servings are small, so adding extra noodles may fill it out enough without adding too much weight to your pack. Alternatives are quick cook rice, flavoured noodles, pasta packets or flavoured couscous. Conservation of cooking gas is important, so foods with small cooking times are better.

Carrying Cup of Soup sachets, juice sachets or teabags can provide something other than plain water to drink with dinner. After all, you’ve been drinking water all day.

Next time, Hiking food lists.

Better to have too much food and a heavy pack, than a light pack and an empty stomach.

The Lone Trail Wanderer

Modified Packing Lists when Hiking in Different Environments

In my last post I provided a standard packing list usable in many different environments. But as not all hikes are the same it’s sometimes necessary to adapt your packing list to the environment where you’ll be hiking.

What follows are four packing lists relating to different environments: Jungle, Rocky Desert, Cold Mountain and Wet Weather. These lists should be considered minimum necessary for first time hiking in these environments.

While these four environments are considered a little more extreme than standard hikes, there are other environments that fall outside of the scope of this blog. These are hikes, such as Ice Climbing hikes or Snow hiking, where specialised equipment is required. Lists haven’t been provided for these types of hikes.

Jungle Trekking Packing List

Jungle treks are hot and humid affairs, and will see you covered in sweat for much of the walk. You’ll also need to deal with the almost constant attacks from biting insects, some potentially carrying dangerous diseases.

Jungles tend to be wild and have few tracks, making it easy to get lost. Thus, most jungles hikes cannot be walked without first hiring a guide. Depending on the number of people in the party, the guide may have porters and/ or donkeys to carry equipment. The packing list that follows is built around your food and equipment being carried for you and accommodations being available in jungle villages or cabañas.

Base Equipment Hiking Pack Walking Poles Camera and Carry Case Water Bladder Whistle Plastic Trowel Sleeping Bag Liner Day Clothes Hiking Boots Boot Collars Socks Wool Sock Liners Underwear Hiking Pants/Shorts Hiking Shirt Hat/Bandana Sunglasses Easy Access Equipment Money/Cash Card Duct Tape Toilet Paper Alcohol Based Hand Wash Strong Insect Repellant Sunscreen Head Torch Pen and Paper First Aid Kit including Survival Blanket Pocket Knife Pack Cover Empty Plastic Bottle

Night Clothes Wool Socks Underwear lightweight Shirt lightweight Pants Flip-Flops Hiking Towel At Camp Equipment Deodorant Water Treatment Tablets/Device Sewing Kit Lightweight Durable Cord Spare Batteries A Book Toothbrush/Paste Wet Wipes Many Small Lightweight Garbage Bags Medication

Rocky Desert/ Beachside Trek Packing List

Hiking in a rocky desert environment will generally mean being hot during the day and cold at night. Constant exposure to the sun will be one of the harsher aspects of this type of hike as well as the potential that some places may not have available water.

Depending on where the hike is, and how well set up it is, a guide will likely not be required. Simply having a good set of maps and suitable information will enough.

Base Equipment Hiking Pack Walking Poles Camera and Carry Case Tent Sleeping Bag Sleeping Bag Blanket/ Liner Sleeping Mat Water Bladder Whistle Plastic Trowel Day Clothes Hiking Boots Boot Collars Socks Wool Sock Liners Underwear Hiking Pants/Shorts Hiking Shirt Hat/Bandana Sunglasses Easy Access Equipment Compass Money/Cash Card Maps, Itinerary Duct Tape Toilet Paper Alcohol Based Hand Wash Insect Repellant Strong and Plentiful Sunscreen Head Torch Pen and Paper First Aid Kit including Survival Blanket Pocket Knife Pack Cover Waterproof Jacket Empty Plastic Bottle GPS/Emergency Beacon

Night Clothes Wool Socks Underwear Thermal Shirt Thermal Pants Warm Long Pants Fleece Jacket Beanie Flip-Flops Gloves Hiking Towel At Camp Equipment Cooking Stove Cooking Pot Plastic Mug Pocket Knife Gas Cylinder Deodorant Cutlery Water Treatment Tablets/Device Lighter Matches (Waterproof) Scourer Sewing Kit Lightweight Durable Cord Spare Batteries A Book Toothbrush/Paste Wet Wipes Small Lightweight Garbage Bags Additional Water Bladder

Cold Climate / Mountain Treks

The grand mountain chains of the world, such as the Himalayas and the Andes, are perfect hiking environments and many of them have been set up as such. The common difficulty you’ll face on these hikes is the cold.

While many mountain treks have villages with huts/refuges stay in, this isn’t always the case, it may still be prudent to still carry a tent.

Base Equipment Hiking Pack Walking Poles Camera and Carry Case Tent Warm Sleeping Bag or additional bag blanket Sleeping Bag Liner Sleeping Mat Water Bladder Whistle Plastic Trowel Day Clothes Hiking Boots Boot Collars Socks Wool Sock Liners Underwear Hiking Pants/Shorts Hiking Shirt Hat/Bandana Sunglasses Easy Access Equipment Compass Money/Cash Card Maps, Itinerary Duct Tape Toilet Paper Alcohol Based Hand Wash Insect Repellant Sunscreen Head Torch Pen and Paper First Aid Kit including Survival Blanket Pocket Knife Pack Cover Waterproof Jacket Empty Plastic Bottle GPS/Emergency Beacon

Night Clothes Wool Socks Underwear Thermal Shirt Thermal Pants Fleece Jacket Beanie Flip-Flops Gloves Hiking Towel Waterproof Pants At Camp Equipment Cooking Stove Cooking Pot Plastic Mug Pocket Knife Gas Cylinder Deodorant Cutlery Water Treatment Tablets/Device Lighter Matches (Waterproof) Scourer Sewing Kit Lightweight Durable Cord Spare Batteries A Book Toothbrush/Paste Wet Wipes Small Lightweight Garbage Bags

Wet Weather Treks

While hiking in wet weather is not usually to most enjoyable experience, sometimes it’s simply impossible to avoid. But it does not have to be a bad experience as rain can make the wilderness beautiful in its own special way, whether the woods or on a mountainous plains. You won’t forget the experience, and not just because it rained.

Base Equipment Hiking Pack Walking Poles Camera and Carry Case Tent Ground Sheet Sleeping Bag Sleeping Mat Water Bladder Whistle Plastic Trowel Day Clothes Hiking Boots Boot Collars Socks Wool Sock Liners Underwear Hiking Pants/Shorts Hiking Shirt Waterproof Hat Waterproof Pants Lightweight Waterproof Jacket/ Poncho Easy Access Equipment Compass Money/Cash Card Maps, Itinerary Duct Tape Toilet Paper Alcohol Based Hand Wash Insect Repellant Sunscreen (always carry) Head Torch Pen and Paper First Aid Kit including Survival Blanket Pocket Knife Pack Cover Waterproof Jacket Empty Plastic Bottle GPS/Emergency Beacon

Night Clothes Wool Socks Underwear Thermal Shirt Thermal Pants Fleece Jacket Beanie Flip-Flops Gloves Hiking Towel At Camp Equipment Cooking Stove Cooking Pot Plastic Mug Pocket Knife Gas Cylinder Deodorant Cutlery Water Treatment Tablets/Device Lighter Matches (Waterproof) Scourer Sewing Kit Lightweight Durable Cord Spare Batteries A Book Toothbrush/Paste Wet Wipes Plentiful Lightweight Garbage Bags

Information is the key to good experiences.

The Lone Trail Wanderer

A Hike Packing List

So, you’ve decided where you want to walk on your first hike, but what do you take?

Knowing what equipment to take is a very important part of a hike’s preparation. Start with a basic list and adapt it over time to the hikes you do and your own needs. Take into account factors such as:

• where you’re planning to hike
• types of accommodation available
• how many people you’re hiking with
• and how much you’re prepared to carry.

As examples:

• if you’re planning to hike in a warm dry place, wet weather clothing is unnecessary and just extra weight to carry
• if there are huts to sleep in at the camp sites you may not need a tent
• and other factors similar to these.

The basic packing list below is a guide only and doesn’t take into account item weights, which is discussed in a later post. It’s important to get a feel for the types of items you should take and work from there.

If you’re unsure what the items on the list are for or why you should take them, check the notes at the bottom, or the more detailed descriptions in future posts.

The list is grouped into sections for convenience based upon when they are required.

Base Equipment

• Hiking Pack
• Walking Poles
• Camera and Carry Case
• Tent
• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Mat
• Water Bladder
• Whistle
• Plastic Trowel*

Day Clothes

• Hiking Boots
• Boot Collars*
• Socks Wool
• Sock Liners*
• Underwear
• Hiking Pants/Shorts
• Hiking Shirt
• Hat/Bandana
• Sunglasses

Easy Access Equipment

• Compass
• Money/Cash Card
• Maps, Itinerary
• Duct Tape
• Toilet Paper
• Alcohol Based Hand Wash
• Insect Repellant
• Sunscreen
• Head Torch
• Pen and Paper
• First Aid Kit including Survival Blanket
• Pocket Knife
• Pack Cover
• Waterproof Jacket
• Empty Plastic Bottle
• GPS/Emergency Beacon

Night Clothes

• Wool Socks
• Underwear
• Thermal Shirt
• Thermal Pants
• Fleece Jacket
• Beanie
• Flip-Flops
• Gloves
• Hiking Towel

At Camp Equipment

• Cooking Stove
• Cooking Pot, Lid & Handle
• Plastic Mug
• Pocket Knife
• Gas Cylinder
• Deodorant
• Cutlery
• Water Treatment Tablets/Device*
• Lighter
• Matches (Waterproof)
• Scourer
• Sewing Kit
• Lightweight Durable Cord*
• Spare Batteries
• A Book
• Toothbrush/Paste
• Wet Wipes
• Small Lightweight Garbage Bags*

Notes:

*Plastic trowels are for digging latrine holes if no toilets are available or for water channels if it’s likely to rain heavily at a camp site.
*Boot collars prevent small stones and sand from getting into your boots.
*Sock liners are a small lightweight pair of socks worn under hiking socks to help prevent blisters.
*Water treatment tablets/device should be used if you’re in any way unsure of water quality.
*Durable cord is useful in a number of ways: hanging food bags, extra tent support in windy weather, back up shoe laces, washing lines etc.
*Garbage bags are best used for keeping other bags dry within your pack and for carrying garbage.

Food is also an important, but as there are several options, details are provided in a future post.

Always check your equipment against you list at least twice before leaving home to ensure nothing is forgotten.

The Lone Trail Wanderer

Finding Your First Hike

So, you decided to go hiking for the first time. Not one of those short bush walks either, a real overnight hike out into the wilderness somewhere. But that’s the big question, where?

Finding a hike is fairly easy. The world is a big place and there are many beautiful wonders. And no doubt, there are some near where you live and someone has walked there. When choosing your first hike, take the following things into consideration:

• It shouldn’t be too difficult.
• Length doesn’t matter, a shorter hike will give you a feel for hiking, while a longer hike will teach you more.
• A popular hike is usually, but not always, better organised and better marked.
• Hiking closer to civilisation is better should something go wrong.
• It should have camp sites with toilet facilities and available water.
• You should do your first hike with a group or at least with one other person.
• Get as much information as you can before you go.

Here are some ways to find a hike in your local community:

1. Join a hiking group

• Your local hiking and adventure store should have a list of groups in your area. The more focused the store, the more likely they will know of groups.

• Meetup.com is a good site to meet other hikers as there are many hiking groups listed, and no it’s not a dating site. Make an account – it’s free – and search for a group in your local area. You should get plenty of feedback from other members about what would be a good hike. You might even find someone to hike with if you don’t have anyone else.

1. Your local hiking or adventure store
2. While a large warehouse store might not have much information beyond a small library of books or maps, a smaller more focused store generally can give a lot of advice about the hikes in the local area, gear required and suitability. They will also have a similar small library of books and maps.

• Government websites

1. The Queensland State Government in Australia has set up many hikes around the state and information is found here: http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/experiences/great-walks/ The site provides a lot of information to help with the planning of your hike. Your State, Provincial or Local government might also have a similar sites. The hikes listed are often better set up than many other hikes, and are perfect starting points for ongoing hiking.

1. National Park Ranger Stations
2. Most national park rangers have a vast knowledge of the hikes within their region and especially the park they are working in. Contacting them via email should garner plentiful information on current conditions and trouble spots in the park, they might even be able to sell maps and other guides. Many national park ranger stations will often collect entry fees (depending on the park) and they can sometimes sell overpriced equipment and food.

1. Books

The various books about hikes tend to fall into three categories:

• Hiking books about experiences on a certain hike. The Appalachian Trail, for example, has a lot of personal experience stories written about it. While this will give details of experiences on the hike, they often don’t give details about the hike.
• Trail books about specific hikes. These are the most useful books as they are a complete look at just one long hike, or several moderate length hikes in the same area. These are useful if you are happy to do a 6-20 day hike for your first hike, and usually contain complete maps, details of camps/huts, side trails and many other details. For many, a hike of this length is too long for a first experience. An example of a book that falls under this category: John Chapman’s Larapinta Trail
• Regional bush-walking/trail books. There are few books written about a specific 3 day hike as it would not be feasible to print. However, there are books that compile collections of short hikes and bush walks for specific regions. To make them worth printing, they tend to have a plethora of hikes, but details about the hikes can be vague and out of date depending on when the book was published. They make good starting points, but should not necessarily be used as the definitive guide about each hike. Books that fall into this category include: Backpacker’s Britain Northern Scotland and Lonely Planet’s Trekking in the Central Andes.

If you are travelling in a foreign country you can find information here:

1. Your hostel or hotel
2. If the region you are travelling is renowned for its hiking, such as Nepal, Patagonia or Peru; your local hostel or hotel might be the perfect place to find information. They may also hire equipment for the hikes, sell transport tickets to the trail head and may even have maps of the region for sale. They will likely be able to point you to the best source of information on the particular hikes, tour agencies and guides if they don’t.
3. Tour Agencies
4. The agencies in the region you are travelling should provide any information you might need, including maps, transport tickets, information on current conditions, park fees and other advice. Most speak english if you are in a country where the native population doesn’t. While some may hire out equipment for the hikes, many don’t.
5. Hiking or Adventure stores
6. If you are in a non-english speaking country and don’t speak the native tongue, these stores only be useful for providing gas and other equipment. But in the rare occasional where the owner speaks english or you speak the native language, they can be a useful resource. Often in poorer countries, they are primarily interested in sales and don’t know much about the hikes in the areas.
7. National Park offices
8. Many national park offices have full information about the park they are. While they don’t always sell or hire gear for the hikes, they usually collect the fees associated with hiking in the park and can provide maps and condition reports.

1. Local Guides
2. In many countries, you are unable to hike without an experienced local guide. This is usually a tourism initiative to bring money into the local economy, but are there to prevent hikers from getting lost or for the hiker’s safety in difficult terrain. The local guides are a fountain of information about the surrounding area and the trail, but many don’t speak english. Often booking a guide is expensive, but it has its benefits. Your guide and porter (if he has one) will carry most of your equipment, prepare the campsites and even prepare your meals.

Information is the tool of the wise,

The Lone Trail Wanderer