No matter how long your planned hike is in the Adirondacks, you want to make sure that you are prepared for what you are doing. There are some things that you should have no matter what you are hiking.
Map: Make sure that you bring a map of where you are hiking. A map is very important because it shows you were you are, and what surrounds you. You should study your map before you go out and know what is around the area just in case you get lost. Don’t think it never happens because it does.
Compass: A compass is something that is essential along with a map. A compass tells you what direction you are heading in and will show you how to point your map. If you get lost and only have a map and no compass, you will not know which direction to map should be and could get yourself into more trouble then you might already be in.
Food: Make sure you bring enough food plus more. Having too much food is never a bad thing, but having too little food could cause some serious problems. Make sure you have snacks that are good for you. Chocolate is something that is always good on the trail because it raises your blood-sugar count. If you get lost and have to spend a night in the woods, you want to make sure that you have enough food to last you for another day. Too much food is never a bad thing!
Water: Make sure that you have enough water to make it through your hike. Check the map of where you are hiking before you leave to see if there are any streams, rivers, or lakes around just in case you need to get more water. Some people carry a water purifier with them when they hike, so that they do not have to carry so much water, because water is very heavy. This is a good idea but they can get expensive. Instead of a water purifier, you can purchase iodine tablets that you place in your water. Iodine tables work like water purifiers to kill any bacteria in the water which could cause you to get sick. These are cheaper than water purifiers, but leave a weird taste to water, if you don’t mind that.
GPS: The technology world has grown greatly in the past couple of years. The nicest thing on the market today for a hiker, camper, boater, or hunter is a GPS unit. GPS units range in price from around $250 to over $1000. But if you’re lucky enough to have one, they can be a life saver. With most GPS units you receive a standard map with not much detail, but most of the time you can buy separate maps that you down load to your GPS with greater detail of a specific areas such as the Adirondacks. We would recommend getting a GPS if you have the money, just make sure that you bring two to three sets of extra batteries. You don’t know how long you are going to need your GPS and you do not want to run out of batteries if you are in an emergency.
Water Purifier or Iodine Tablets: As stated above, a water purifier or iodine tablets are always a good idea when out in the woods. You might think you have enough water to make it through your trip, but you never know what can happen and you don’t want to get Beaver Fever.
Knife: A knife is a good thing to carry with you when you are out in the woods because it is a very handy tool. You might even want to carry a Leatherman Tool which has every type of tool on it that you could imagine.
Whistle: A whistle is a good idea to carry because if you get lost in the Adirondacks, it is very likely that there is someone near by. If you scream, you could loose your voice quite quickly, but if you have a whistle, all you do is have to blow into it. The sound off a whistle also carries farther than your voice. Usually when people hear a whistle in the woods, they know something is wrong and will come to help.
Rain Gear: No one can ever predict the weather. It is always a good idea to bring rain gear with you when you are out in the woods. You can either have a rain coat or a cheap poncho to put on when it starts raining. Hiking or camping when you are wet is not a very pleasant thing.
First Aid Kit: A fist aid kit is something that every camper, hiker, hunter, or whatever you are doing in the outdoors, should have. You never know what is going to happen, and you always want to be prepared. Your first aid kit should include band aids, ace bandages, burn creams, alcohol wipes, etc… When in the woods, no matter what I am doing, I also carry a hiker first aid kit. In this you should have a space blanket, flash light, extra batteries, matches, flint, and a whistle. These things can come in very handy if you ever need them.
