Trek or hike: remember to equip yourself well!
Hiking, altitude or trekking are more and more popular with lovers of nature and exotic sensations. Are you planning a mountain adventure yourself and want to know what to bring with you? In this article, we reveal 3 tips that, if you follow them, will allow you to leave with peace of mind.
Bring a first aid kit
First essential of the travel backpack, the famous first aid kit! Yes: hiking, even on foot, is far from being the least dangerous sport. Do not forget that certain elements do not depend on you outdoors: weather, small animals ... In the event of a snake bite, small or even bigger injuries, a first aid kit is therefore essential.
Choose a portable size suitable for the size of your backpack, for better convenience. Rest assured, there are a multitude of special travel first aid kits on the web.
In all cases, your first aid kit must contain: bandages, dressings, cotton, headlamp, tweezers, disinfectant, etc.
Think about hiking gear
It's often the first thing you think of when packing your backpack. However, no one is immune to forgetting one or more pieces of equipment. Here is the list of what you will need to have with you depending on the circumstances:
- bivouac equipment,
- sport shoes,
- ice axes, crampons if necessary,
- hiking pole suitable for your height.
Also remember to include a map of the area to visit in your hiking backpack. Yes, it's hard to trust the GPS in the middle of the mountains… Finally, even if the objective of a hike is often to “disconnect”, a cell phone can be more than useful in the event of a problem.
Don't forget the clothes
During a physical effort such as a long walk or an alpine walk, it is common to experience strong changes in temperature. Sometimes you will be hot, sometimes you will be cold. So how do you choose the right clothes when you are a novice? Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- choose flexible pants that will allow you greater freedom of movement.
- opt for a “breathable” T-shirt, in other words one that lets air through. You will therefore feel less sweating.
- Remember to bring three layers of business with you: a T-shirt only in good weather, a fleece if the weather is cloudy, and a travel raincoat in inclement weather. Prevention is better than cure !
Finally, a self-respecting hiking backpack must of course contain some food to allow you to have a successful trip with complete peace of mind: water, protein bars, sugar in the event of hypoglycemia, etc ...
Now that you know everything, all you have to do is get started. Prefer a quiet marked trail if you are a beginner. For others, we remind you that the “most dangerous hiking trail in the world” is in Spain. Notice to amateurs!
