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