Welcome to Camping Guide
Virginia Mountain Hiking Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
You may also listen to this article by using the following controls.
Hiking Gear: Hiking Essentials and Extras.
from:There are several things you need to consider before deciding on the hiking gear you will need. Is this a simple hike of short duration, a hike that will require sleeping and eating on the trail, or is it an organized hike where amenities are supplied. The hiking gear you need will depend largely on this information, and, if it is not an organized hike, you will consider how willing you are to rough it.
The first step when determining what hiking gear you should take is to get together with your hiking partner. If you are hiking any distance, and plan to eat and sleep on the trail, you do have some choices to make, but when you plan carefully, so that each person has the responsibility to bring certain items, it can lighten the load considerably, and it is important to remember that these are items you will be carrying on your hike.
The first thing to consider is the pack itself. There are stores that specialize in hiking gear, and even military surplus stores, where you can find used hiking gear inexpensively. A hiking pack should be approximately four thousand cubic inches, unless you plan on carrying a lot of extras such as photography equipment, or things such as hunting and fishing paraphernalia. When shopping for hiking gear, try to keep in mind that it needs to be functional and efficient as well as light weight.
If you plan to be on the trail during the night, you should decide if you plan to sleep in the elements, or if you will need to include a tent in your hiking gear. Again, it is never wise to hike alone, and you will need two one man tents, or one two man tent. Trail tents are available that weigh from three to four pounds. If it rains or gets chilly, you will be glad you brought a tent on your hike. You will need sleeping bags as well, if you plan on sleeping on the trail. Depending on the weather and terrain, you might choose a very light weight sleeping bag or even one much more cold resistant and even a sleeping bag liner. There are sleeping bags available that provide protection from the cold down to thirty degrees. These sleeping bags weight as little as one pound and two ounces, and pack down to about the size of a softball.
You could choose MRE (meal ready to eat) such as those the army uses, which can be heated with a small can of Sterno. Should you choose to hunt, fish, forage, and cook on the trail, include cooking essentials made to be light weight and compact, specifically for hiking gear.
Clothing to include in your hiking gear depends on the season, climate, and duration of the hike. In summer, you really need basics like plenty of socks (wet ones tend to cause blisters) comfortable outer wear, boots, and any climbing accessories you might need. However, if you are hiking in cold weather, or climbing in high altitudes, you’ll need long underwear, light nylon shorts, a mid-weight fleece jacket, a light rainproof layer, gloves, hat, and accessories to suit the weather and your own needs. Extra hiking gear includes a headlamp, tool/knife, first-aid kit, compass, sunglasses, and sunscreen, and you’re good to go!
Virginia Mountain Hiking News
Virginia Scenic Drives Make for Colorful Fall Getaways
Enjoy Fall in Virginia when leaves turn brilliant reds, yellows and orange. The perfect getaway for you and your loved ones.
Read more...Fall foliage, Southern charm in Asheville, NC
They're called the Blue Ridge Mountains, but in Asheville in the fall, they might as well be called the orange, red and yellow.
Read more...Blue Ridge rainbow
Tracking the fall colors of North Carolina CHEROKEE, N.C. — My plan to drive all 250 miles of North Carolina's portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway was derailed after 2.1 miles.
Read more...Outdoors-East Bay Through September 19
ARDENWOOD HISTORIC FARM Ardenwood farm is a working farm that dates back to the time of the Patterson Ranch, a 19th-century estate with a mansion and Victorian Gardens. Today, the farm still practices farming techniques from the 1870s.
Read more...Bringing ecotourism to Maine classrooms
I don't know about you, but every once in a while, I find myself imagining what I might do or be if I could reinvent myself — or if my friends could, or my neighbor, or my sister. What interesting, totally different opportunities exist out there...
Read more...