With the recent disappearance of hiker Tyler Wright in the B.C. wilderness it has opened up a discussion of safety and preparedness. I have read many articles and comments about this very sad event but it has also made us question the preparedness of his adventure. Was he prepared for what he said he was going to do? From what we have read we don't think so. But what do you need to be prepared? Everyone has their own opinion, every hiker and camper will be prepared in different ways. Hikers, whether day hiking or backpacking will be prepared differently too. Was Tyler a true minimalist backpacker and is that why he took so little with him? Why didn't he have hiking boots with him? Why didn't he have some type of communication device with him? Why was he alone? Is he really an experienced hiker? Did he have a compass and map? We hope he is found alive, maybe he went a different way then where the search efforts have been? Maybe he doesn't want to be found? These are just a couple of hundreds of questions pouring in from all over. Let's hope he's found and can answer these.
So, back to the original question of being prepared and what that means. If you are camping with your family it will be something entirely different than backpacking and hiking up a mountain.
I don't think anyone's "list" of what to bring is the end all and be all but must be only used as a guide. In our family, we are constantly revising and updating what we bring, what we think is essential depending on what we are doing, how long and where we are going.
Looking at our last hiking trip this is how we prepared ourselves:
We backpacked up Frosty Mountain knowing we would spend two nights.
First of all we checked the weather, we found that some people we met up there obviously hadn't done this which we found surprising. Keep in mind that the weather changes quickly in the mountains and you do need to be prepared for it all. Layers, always bring layers and avoid cotton. We love to layer up in wicking fabrics, merino wool and goose down (ever seen a cold goose?). We also bring rain gear even if all that means is a good strong garbage bag.
Shelter: We have a variety of tents for different needs. Bring a tent with a good fly for wet weather.
We have quality mummy bags and will soon be investing in winter bags as well to do more cold weather camping. You need to stay warm at night. There is nothing worse than a sleepless night because you are cold. If it is cold out, don't forget my tip for warming up your sleeping bag.
Food: Make sure you have enough. Be prepared in advance. Write out your meal plan on paper if that helps, we do it just to make sure. Remember what you are doing, if it's lots of hiking you'll need proper re-fuelling with good carbs and protein. Dried fruit is nice and nuts are a great source of long lasting fuel.
We always bring assorted salted nuts, chocolate candies and some type of fruit.
First Aid: Again, this is just what we do for a weekend backpacking trip, but we bring a small roll of duct tape, magnifying glass wrapped with some medical tape, matches, band-aids, polysporin, a mirror, some type of pain reliever, bug spray, emergency blanket(the compact foil looking ones), swiss army knife, tensor wrap, ear and eye drops and sharp tweezers.
We also have bear bangers and bear spray. A compass and topographical maps of the area.
We have our water bottles and a water purifying pump. We also bring extra fuel for our stove.
We also bring our phone with us although it doesn't work in many areas. We do tell AT LEAST three people when we are leaving, where we are going and when we'll be back and we notify those people as soon as we're done our adventure.
Rope, always bring rope, it just comes in so handy. Whether for hanging your food if there isn't a cache, fixing things, using for your tent or hanging clothes between trees.
We're always adding or renewing what we take for our own safety and well being, just really think through what you are going to do and what you would need in any given situation. It just makes the whole experience more enjoyable if you are prepared.
And remember this: depending on the situation, what you bring with you can have multiple uses. A magnifying glass can be used to get a better look at some really cool small things you find but also used to make a fire in an emergency. Same with a mirror. Duct tape can be used for a variety of uses including the back of your heels if you get any blisters. Be creative, things have multiple uses when you're away from home!
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