Packing for Hiking trips - a tricky affair

Hiking is one of the most ancient yet modern way of staying fit and enjoying nature. It is by far the best natural remedy against stress and anxiety. Somewhere in our Modern urban lives, amenities, and lifestyles, we have lost our connection with nature which is essential to keep our soul alive. In order to restore that connection, it is imperative that many of us seek refuge in nature by hiking up a mountain trail or taking up a camping and backpacking trip. Thanks to the social media, this trend is on the rise in our part of the world and every year more and more people head North to explore the greatest Mountain Ranges on this planet i.e. the Himalayas, Karakorams and the Hindukush.

In recent years I have encountered many enthusiasts with lot of energy and will-power to beat any trail, but unfortunately their lack of preparation pulls them down. While they lie at one extreme end of the spectrum, the other end is occupied by the extra cautious and over-prepared ones. This is where Packing become tricky. At one end you have to ensure that you pack the essentials while staying as light as possible, while at the other you are tempted to add a few non-essential items to the packing list, which only adds weight to your back-pack and slows you down on the trek - stay weary of them!!

This blog is aimed at helping people prepare better for the hikes to avoid any incidents or surprises that mountains might throw on them. Mountains provide excellent opportunities for recreation and adventure on one hand, but on the other they pose many challenges as well. Staying prepared to face those challenges can help in making those trips more enjoyable and memorable.

First, I will talk about items of equipment that are a must have even for smallest of hikes. Then we will get through a list of items required for backpacking. In the end we will review some of the items that are good to have but might not be required in all trips.

Must Have Equipment for all hiking trips:

1. Hiking boots: If you are out hiking, make sure that you take extra care of your feet to keep not only to keep you safe but to make the trip enjoyable. A good hiking boot is a must have item of gear for anybody taking up a trail. If you take up hiking regularly, Buy a pair of branded hiking boots and soon you will find out that it was your most worthy investment. We have a separate detailed guideline on picking up a suitable hiking boot for yourself. Please click here for the article.

2. Hiking poles: Hiking poles or hiking sticks are life savers. I learnt it the hard way, but I hope nobody would have to learn it that way. A pair of hiking sticks can significantly reduce the load and beating your ankles and knees are going to take during the trek. Besides, they help in maintaining balance and traction specially while hiking downhill. If you are taking a basic low intensity trek, a single stick should be enough but on tougher and lengthier treks, keeping a pair of hiking poles is advisable.

3. Water Bottle: If you are hiking all day, which is a tough workout, chances are that you are going to sweat a lot and will need a lot of water to hydrate yourself. Keeping a pair of water bottles is advisable for all sorts of treks. You can use 1 bottle for plain water and can add some electrolyte in the other. Lemonade or ORS are excellent electrolytes for treks. Most treks in Pakistan have fresh-water springs on them, and if you are carrying two medium sized bottles, they should be enough to keep you hydrated through your hike. However, if you plan to trek in sub-zero temperatures, make sure you pack an insulated bottle or a camel bag (to be inserted inside your backpack) to avoid freezing your water supply.

4. Sunblock: Sun shines hard in the mountains. Thanks to the clean environment and no impurities to block the sunlight in the atmosphere, the UV index is very high and a full day exposure of skin to that sunlight can cause serious sunburns. It is advisable to keep enough supply of sunblock lotions / creams (SPF-60 or above) to keep your skin from burning.

5. A hat / Cap: A hat / cap can be a good option to give you further protection from the sun. It will provide protection from sun on one hand and can keep your hair safe from dust & dirt on the trail and you don’t have to worry much about your hair (if it is covered under a hat) while taking photos.

6. Raincoat/ Rain suit: Weather in mountains is highly unpredictable. Many mountain enthusiasts believe that mountains create their own weather and it is quite true. No matter what the forecast says, make it a habit to keep rain protective gear handy. Raincoats come in varying sizes and qualities. If you are trekking in peak summer and want to stay light, pack a light-weight basic raincoat. However, if your trip is expected to span on multiple days, packing a water-proof Parka / Gore-Tex jacket and a waterproof trouser is advisable.

7. Sunglasses / Sunshades: Since Sun Shines hard in these areas, it is advisable to keep a pair of sunglasses handy. This can be especially useful if you are trekking over snow without protecting your eyes, as the sunlight combined with the reflected light from the snow can cause severe snow blindness on a bright and sunny day.

8. Pocket Flash-light: A pocket flashlight is a life saver if you happen to get late on the trek for whatever reasons. No matter how small your hike is or how early you plan to end your hike, a flashlight is a must pack item. Up there in the mountains you never know when something might cause an unforeseen delay. A sudden change of weather, a landslide forcing you to change course or any other unforeseen reason can consume a huge amount of time and can force you to trek till it is dark.

9. Hand Sanitizer: While on the trek it is very important to ensure your hand hygiene as it can keep you safe from respiratory and gastric infections. Since it is impractical to carry soap on treks, so a better option is to carry hand sanitizers. You can simply wash your hands with plain water after using toilet and then use a sanitizer to kill any germs that water might have washed.

10. A backpack: There's a lot of stuff already mentioned, so better have a nice sized, light weight back-pack accompanying you on the trek. Whichever bag you choose, make sure that it is either water-proof or comes with a rain cover. The size of the bag can vary depending upon what you are packing in it and whether it's a day hike or a multiple day backpacking trip.

Must Have Equipment for back-packing and camping trips:

Well, if you are planning a camping night, I am assuming you did not leave out your camp, sleeping bag and sleeping mat and listed a few other must-haves below:

11. Fire-starters: A pack of matchsticks or other fire-starter is a must have items specially if you are planning a multi-day camping and trekking trip. Fires can not only help you cook or warm your food but can also help keep the wild animals away from the camps.

12. Pocket Knife: A pocket-knife or a Swiss knife is another essential piece of equipment that can come handy in the time of need.

13. Head Lamp: Apart from your pocket flashlight, on a multi-day trip involving night stays in camps, you must pack a head torch / head lamp. A head lamp can come handy in many different situations. If you are hiking in the dark across a difficult terrain and want your hands to hold on to the hiking poles for traction and balance, then head lamp will keep showing the way. Similarly, if you have to use toilet at night, head lamp is a life saver.

14. Toilet rolls and wipes: I guess these two do not need much of explanation.

15. Extra Pair of shoes and socks: when you are out on a multi-day trekking trip, it is always advisable to use a new pair of socks everyday to ensure foot hygiene. Similarly, it is advisable to pack an extra pair of shoes which can come handy if your main boots are wet or wear out on the trek.

16. Slippers: Well, if you do not want to be moving around bare footed on the campsite, then you need to consider packing a pair of slippers. Since most campsites have some rocks and other debris, staying barefoot is not advisable at all. A lightweight pair of slippers won’t put you back much in terms of weight and space but will add to your comfort a great deal.

17. A jacket: No matter how warm it is in your city when you are leaving for a camping trip, whenever you are heading to Northern parts of Pakistan with intentions to camp, you must pack a nice and warm jacket, a down jacket is a recommended option for that purpose because of it’s light weight and warmth it offers.

18. A warm cap: Another important packing list item is a warm cap. This too comes handy on cold camp-nights.

It is always advisable to make a checklist of above items and keep ticking them while packing your stuff for the trip. This way you can avoid missing out on any of these essential items. Happy Trekking!!