A few weeks ago my husband and I joined my parents and brother in lovely, non-humidified mountain country. Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colorado is seriously the best place. It is gorgeous, there are a million things you can do, and the weather is awesome! We did a couple pretty big day hikes and a few smaller ones. We had a blast hiking; it’s amazing exercise and you get to see the most inspirational things!
There are some items that are essentials – it’s best to always be prepared! I also included some optional items to pack, as well as a few handy ones to keep in your vehicle for after you are finished with your hike.
Day Pack essentials:
Pocketknife
Flashlight (We threw in an extra set of batteries as well)
Emergency Whistle (We used this one which also has a compass.)
Map
Protein rich snacks/lunch (Protein bars, Cliff Bars, meat sticks, apples, trail mixes, etc)
Water (We used this Camelback Reservoir and this BONL hydration bladder and also these collapsible bottles)
Layers/rain gear (Jacket and Poncho)
Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sun glasses, lip balm)
First aid (pack the essentials in a waterproof case or purchase one ready made )
Bug spray
Bathroom/toiletry bag: travel pack of tissues, travel pack of Cottonelle wipes, small ziploc baggie for trash, hand sanitizer and wipes. (This is an essential for me as a woman who hates to have nature call while out in nature. After a rough time last trip, I decided to grab one of my small travel bags and packed a mini-toiletry bag to take into the woods with me. Seriously, it made everything so much easier.)
Paracord Bracelet
Foot First Aid (I got really bad blisters our first day out, so we picked up this pack for me to use and to keep on hand.)
Emergency blanket
Waterproof matches
Compass
Bag for trash/wet items
Ziploc bag for phone
Extra shirt and socks
Bandana
Duct tape
Water treatment tablets
Hand sanitizer
Binoculars
Camera
Secondary hiking shoes (We love Keen Sandals such as these.)
In the car:
Extra water in cooler
Extra food (You’ll be so hungry!)
Itinerary (Just in case you don’t come back and someone needs to go find you.)
Sandals (Because you might be like me and get blisters or twist an ankle and want to get out of your hiking shoes! My feet tend to swell after coming down from high altitudes, so I like to throw on sandals for the ride home.)
What other things do you like to take with you when you hike?