In the 1930s, the Mountaineers organization codified the Ten Essentials, ten items they claimed are necessary for dealing with common situations and emergencies typical for the outdoors. Many hikers, backpackers, and climbers rigorously ensure that they have the ten essentials with them [1].
According to the standard textbook Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, the ten essentials are:
- Map
- Compass (optionally supplemented with a GPS receiver, by some other sources)
- Sunglasses and Sunscreen
- Extra food (extra water is considered "important")
- Extra clothes
- Headlamp/flashlight
- First aid supplies
- Fire starter
- Matches
- Knife
The textbook also recommend supplementing the ten essentials with additional important items:
- Water treatment device (filter or chemicals) and water bottles
- Ice ax for glacier or snowfield travel (if necessary)
- Repair kit
- Insect repellent (or clothing designed for this purpose)
- Signaling devices, such as a whistle, cell phone, two-way radio, or flares
Not every trip will require the use of all Essentials. However, a cascade of bad events may require the use of some of them. For example, if a hiker's map is blown away and his/her clothing become soaked, and the flashlight battery becomes dead, and a snowstorm arises, then the whistle and fire starter become important.
More details
- Map and Compass: Becoming lost raises the risk of physical injury. Therefore, maps which cover the area of interest in sufficient detail and dimension (marked with topography, trails, campsites, etc.) and the skill and knowledge to use them are indispensible when traveling through areas lacking signage, markings or guides. Even a casual user of a compass can avoid going in circles.
- Flashlight w/extra batterys: Physical injury can result from travelling in the dark. The flashlight is also useful for finding things in the pack, and for distant signaling.
- Extra food and water: Hypothermia and dehydration can be serious risks in the backcountry, which can be avoided with extra food and/or water. Sustenance is also useful to minimize the odds of panic.
- Extra clothes: Again, hypothermia is a risk. Multiple layers of clothes are generally warmer than an equivalently thick single garment. A change of clothes is the fastest way to warm up after an inadvertant dunking in a cold mountain stream. Extra clothing is also useful for protection from shrubbery, thorns, insects, sun, wind, as well as cold. If need be, they can be cut into bandages, or used as a tree climbing aid or descent line.
- Sunglasses: Sunburn of the eyes can be avoided using sunglasses. In addition, walking into the sun reflected off snow or water is possibly dangerous.
- First aid kit: Such a kit may contain items for treatment for cuts, abrasions (blisters), punctures and burns. Additional items might address broken digits, broken limbs, crush injuries, cardiac conditions, hypothermia, frostbite, hyperthermia, hypoxia, decompression sickness, insect and snake bites, animal attacks, and chemical burns, depending on the specific locale and activities.
- Knife: useful for opening packages, building shelter, repairing clothing, eating, rapid disentanglement, field surgery, etc.
- Matches and Fire starter: Useful for preventing hypothermia by starting a fire.
- Water treatment device: Wilderness water quality wasn't an issue before 1970 . Most backcountry travelers now carry a water filter: low end models are inexpensive and provide protection against many diseases. Another benefit might be improving the taste of water (which can help avoid dehydration).
- Whistle: compact, light and inexpensive, these are a relief for the voice when calling for help is needed. Wind, snow and heavy rain can make hearing difficult, or make yells sound like trees or animals whistling.
- Insect repellent: insects can carry diseases, such as malaria, Lyme disease, or West Nile virus
- Sunscreen: Protection from sunburn
- Cell phone: though not on many essentials lists, they tend to be prolific and portable. If near an area with cell service, it is a way to obtain directions, assistance or evacuation. In remote areas, they might not work on the trail, but by climbing up a nearby feature, marginal service could exist. Also, two-way radios are useful in case a hiking group splits up where there is no cell coverage.
References
- Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 6th edition, Mountaineers, pages 35-40, (1997), ISBN 0-89886-427-5
