The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy says bring a towel. I’ll expand on that to include socks. Bring extra socks. At least one pair. There is NO thing that will ruin a trip quicker than uncomfortable feet. Keeping your feet comfortable is of the utmost importance if you are going to have a good time.

Keep your cell phone off. If you have spotty coverage, the battery will drain incredibly quickly as it’s searching for signal. Only turn it on as you need it.

A basic first aid kit should go without saying.

A new friend of mine just reminded me of another vitally important step in planning an outing:  Let someone else know of your itinerary and plan. If you get into trouble out there, you can’t expect to get help if nobody even knows you are missing or at least the general area in which you may be.

Also, have a backup plan. Whether it’s an alternate source of water, food or route,  be prepared to execute Plan B. Be open to anything: Analyze, Improvise, Adapt and Overcome. Which brings us to our next tip…

Map and compass. A map and compass will never break down. Learn to use them. A GPS is cool, sure, but the moment you need it, it will die, not get reception, break, whatever. Never rely solely on modern technology.

Fire. A basic fire starting kit can save your life just as much as a first aid kit can. Practice alternative methods of fire starting. Always keep multiple methods with you. Flint/magnesium/tinder and a lighter, at the minimum.

Wear lightweight, breathable clothes. Cotton shirts soak up sweat and stick to you, chaffing and causing general discomfort. Jeans will get wet, bind to your body and cause you to work much harder than necessary just to walk. I’m a big fan of loose fitting Under Armour type shirts. They wick away moisture quickly and are smooth on the skin. Lightweight slacks or shorts help you keep your mobility. Layer up for warmth. Wear a t-shirt, a light long sleeved shirt and a light jacket rather than a thick sweatshirt or heavy coat. With layers you can adapt to any weather, heat and cold. With a backpack on, your back will sweat no matter what you do. Get used to it. It’s not so bad. The worst part is taking a break then putting the pack back on, pressing your cold, wet shirt up against your back can be quite a chilling experience.

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