Required Clothing and Equipment for a Day Hike
- 1 daypack or backpack with a capacity to hold all the items below
- Lunch and snacks for the trail
- 1 wool or pile hat
- 1 pair gloves or mittens
- 1 wool sweater, wool shirt or a fleece jacket
- 1 light weight short or long-sleeved shirt. Polyester is best.
- 1 pair pants (wool or fleece are best)
- 1 polypropylene long sleeved top
- 1 pair polypropylene or similar fabric (most comfortable) or lightweight-wool long underwear bottoms. Again, try and avoid cotton if possible.
- 1 pair shorts - lightweight nylon is best (preferably not cotton)
- 1 pair heavy socks (extra pair is nice if the first pair gets wet)
- 1 pair sock liners: thin wool, polypropylene, or other synthetic (not cotton)
- 1 pair underwear (shorts with liners can work great)
- (Suggestion for women: athletic/jog bras are the most comfortable to wear) (again, preferably not cotton)
- 1 rain top: jacket, anorak, or cagoule with hood.
- As this is a crucial item it is important that it be made either of coated nylon or Gore-tex (or equivalent) fabric. Don't bring vinyl (too heavy) or plastics (rip easily). Bring a poncho (coated nylon) only as a last resort.
- 1 pair rain pants: again only coated nylon (recommended) or Gore-tex.
- 1 pair sunglasses (100% UV protection).
- 1 small bottle of sun BLOCK, 25 SPF or greater
- 1 small flashlight or head lamp with extra batteries
- 1 small pocket knife
- 1 small Bible (pocket size, with Old Testament and Psalms preferred)
- 1 small notebook and ball-point pen or pencil
- 1 baseball cap or sun visor
- 1 pair boots. Day-hiking boots or sturdy shoes you don’t mind getting muddy will be adequate
- 1 quart water bottle at least, 2 is better. Often there is no water available on the trail.
- Ziploc bags or plastic bag. Great for waterproofing paper materials and clothes
Optional Equipment
(These items are not essential)
- Sandals or old, lightweight sneakers
- Insect repellent
- Bandanna
- Camera and film
- Lip balm
- Small package of moleskin, mole foam, or other foot protection such as athletic tape
- Gaiters
- Toilet Paper and plastic bag to pack “it” out
- Map (copy of topo-map provided)
- Compass
No Walkmans (iPod's) and no pets please.
