I’m planning a hike in a few weeks when the weather is better, in Illinois.
What do I really need to get that is useful?
So far what I am bringing:
A light that lasts as long as possible (any recommendations? headlight vs. flashlight?)
My small scissors, package opening knife, tape.
I have a compass and extra phone charging batteries (GPS).
2L pepsi max, and some dry food.
Do I need an extra gas tank? My scooter can do at least 100miles on a full tank, are there areas in Illinois where there are no gas stations for like 50 miles?
You need to do a modicum of planning. If you don’t have any idea how far it it from home to the parking lot where you’re planning on starting, you haven’t planned to even get there. Near Chicago, doubtful. In SE IL, possibly. How long are the trails, what time are you starting, how far can you reasonably go/what shape are you in? (Hint: I wouldn’t do 20 miles out on your first hike.)
Headlamp over flashlight; keeps your hands free, always shining where you look, less ‘bouncing’ of the light as you arm swings. Most take 3 AAA batteries; take an extra set in your pocket/daypack.
Don’t take a 2ltr of soda; very bad idea. You do realize what the movement while walking is going to do to the carbonation & what will happen when you open it? Water is better. Do you have a CamelBack or water bladder to put into a daypack/backpack? What do you mean by dry food? Pretzels, or something more nutritious, like even trail mix?
Compass is good; however, if you’re in a remote area, don’t count on your phone to work; no towers means no reception & no GPS. What are the scissors, package opening knife (box cutter?) & tape for? What kind of tape; scotch or duct? You’d be better off w/ a Leatherman-type knife?
It’s much easier to give advice if we know how far you are hiking. A mile? Ten miles? More? I keep hiking sneakers in my car and have a GPS mapping program on my iPhone (which works without cell towers), and if an opportunity presents itself I’ll hike 5 or even 10 miles without any planning at all. I also keep a sweatshirt, bug spray and small clippers for thorn bushes in the car, and optionally use them if I think the route warrants it.
Let’s take the scenario that you trip, injure yourself and can’t move. You either neither a companion or a communication system which works in all areas (cell phones don’t)–for example renting a satellite phone like Iridium.
The ten essentials are a good place to start. I usually carry two headlamps because without light you’re pretty screwed after dark. I wouldn’t expect to rely on a cell phone GPS; a map is much more reliable and easy to use. Ditch the soda, just carry 2 liters of water. Food, water, insulation, navigation, first aid, light are you big ticket items.
But your post has more questions than answers. What are you talking about with the scooter and gas?
I am starting from Chicago, and getting to the hiking location with my scooter. I was thinking of going to Starved Rock Park. I am just not sure how frequent are the gas stations on the way, hence the extra gas.
I am in great shape, but I don’t plan on hiking more than 5 hours.
I can’t stand drinking water, but you are right about the soda. I will get tea instead.
I got a map. I have also two batteries to charge the phone and a seperate GPS (for driving though).
If you are going to Starved Rock State Park you may want to listen to this podcast tour guide as you walk. Might have some interesting info for you.
Episode 1 - Starved Rock State Park
August 5, 2016
Welcome to Chicagoland’s Largest Playground - exploring the fun and excitement of the towns of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, Route 66 and Starved Rock State Park.
In this episode, Kathy Casstevens takes us on a tour of Starved Rock State Park. This is often voted as the state’s #1 Tourist Attraction. This was part of our LIVE tour series, which you can watch the video via our YouTube channel.
Both soda and tea are diuretics (will cause you to become dehydrated). You need to take water in order to remain hydrated. You should also take some kind of food that includes sugars and fats. Trail mix (sometimes referred to as “gorp”) will allow you to eat incrementally as you get hungry. Whatever food and beverage you bring, take more than you need. If you get lost you’ll be glad to have them, and if you run into someone else who was poorly prepared they’ll be glad for you to share them. I literally cannot count the number of times I have shared extra water or given out glucose tablets to people who had run out and were on the verge of panic. Most hiker deaths start out as panic from hunger and thurst or lack of preparation for a manageable injury, and then leads to a series of poor decisons.
Map and compass or GPS is all well and good, but you need to know how to use them, at least sufficient to use landmarks to locate yourself. If you are on a well-marked trail then this isn’t much of a concern (although people frequently manage to get lost even on marked trails) but if you are off-trail this is crucial.
Layered clothing (wicking layer, insulating layer, outer layer, weather shell) is important to thermal management. If you don’t expect rain you can leave the weather shell out, but I take all of the above even when hiking in Southern California summers because you never know what might happen, and extra clothing can also serve other functions such as bandages. Unless you are in the desert, no clothing should be pure cotton; wool or synthetic in the wicking and insulating layers and something water-resistant like nylon, cordura, or cotton/poly blend for the outer layers.
You don’t mention footwear, but having suitable footwear is crucial for a safe and enjoyable hiking experience. What is “appropriate” will vary depending on terrain and condition; although trail running shoes have become very popular with hikers and backpackers for their light weight, a good pair of boots that cover the ankle will provide more protection and can be cinched up on a sprained ankle to provide support. “Waterproof” boots are generally not actually waterproof in any conditions where that would be of concern; regardless, I would take at least a spare pair of socks and liners.
You don’t consider a first aid kit of any kind, but I would recommend at least taking a few bandaids, a small container of spray anticeptic, and a couple of blister treatment kits. The most likely injuries you’ll get on a day hike are blisters and scrapes/cuts from foliage, and not treating these kinds of injuries promptly invites infection. I would also bring steri-strips, glucose tablets, NSAIDS, alcohol swabs, and a pair of tweezers for removing splinters. All of this will take care of nearly every manageable injury you are likely to encounter, and anything more is probably going to require medical evacuation anyway. You don’t need to spend $20 on a pre-built kit; you can just put these items in a ziploc-type bag inside of your pack or pocket.
It should go without saying, but bring ID, insurance card, a credit card, and some cash. You would not believe how many people walk into the woods and walk out somewhere they weren’t expecting and then do not have the means to get back to their vehicle or call for help.
On the headlight vs flashlight issue: carry one of each. I frequently carry a headlamp, a bright (300+ lumen) flashlight, and a smaller backup light for nearby use. That is probably overkill but more than once I’ve ended up loaning a flashlight because someone else in the party was underequipped.
As to the advice to take a companion, while having a second person can provide some significant amount of margin against hazards, one of the reasons to go into the backcountry is to seek the quiet and solitude you don’t normally get in hiking with companions. I’ve literally hiked thousands of miles and only vary rarely with a companion, and I’ve never suffered a major injury despite some doing some things that were ill-advised in retrospect. Also, many times companions may be of little practical use if they are not experienced or trained in wilderness emergency response, and people can often goad or guilt one another into taking risks that a single cautious hiker would not do. If you are hiking alone, take care and when you go to do something that could carry risk such as crossing a moving stream, think about what you would do if something were to go wrong.
You sound as if you have put some good thought into this but don’t have a lot of practical experience. It may seem trivial but outdoor stores such as REI have classes on the basics of hiking (usually just an evening or a led hike), and the FalconGuides series have good books on the basics of various outdoor activities. No text is equivalent to experience but even if you only get a few items of critical information you’ll be suprised as to how much that can improve your experience.
Good luck, and be safe. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back.
If you really hate drinking plain water (you’d be surprised how good it can taste when you have been hiking a while, though), I’d suggest water flavorers, that have a little bit of either aspartame or Splenda in them, and some kind of fruity flavor (but no actual juice), and about 5 calories, or Gatorade, watered down. The caffeine in tea is a diuretic.
Bookend this by having a friend you will call when you leave, and when you get home. If they don’t hear from you by time x:00 in the evening, they will sound the alarm.
In that case, I’d second the recommendations for toilet paper and a first aid kit, and even if you don’t take a friend with you, TELL one: “I’m leaving at X on such-and-such a day, and I plan to hike this trail. I should be back by Y and I’ll call you when I return. If you haven’t heard from me by Z, please call the sheriff’s department / search and rescue / etc.”
I usually take my water with some flavoring too. I’ve found the Gatorade / Powerade powder mix-ins to be good.
I almost always take a lightweight revolver along on hikes, but sounds like you’re in Illinois, and I don’t even begin to claim any understanding of their gun laws beyond “they’re bad”, so you’re probably better assuming it would be illegal.
In 40+ years of regular hiking I’ve yet to encounter a situation where a handgun would have been of any use. In a weight-benefit analysis, a pair of hiking poles would be far more effective in both safety and defense.
Yeah, most animals will run away from you, and those that won’t aren’t going to be deterred by “a lightweight revolver”. If you see a snake you think might be dangerous, walk around it. If you see a bear that isn’t already running away, wave your arms and throw things. If you see a moose in rut…you aren’t in Illinois anymore. I can think of any number of things, like a SPOT transponder, more medical kit, or a boot upgrade, which would be a better use of weight and money.
I’m not sure you fully understand the concept of a lightweight revolver. You can get them chambered in .357 Mag, .44 Mag, etc. Anyways, I don’t want to hijack this poor would-be hiker’s question with more gun debates, so let’s just leave it as an aside that even I, one of the board’s gun enthusiasts, recommended against for someone in the state of Illinois.
That’s a very civilized hike – I wouldn’t concern myself with backcountry survival gear. There will be lots of people around if you happen to fall or get injured. My “disaster kit” would be a loud whistle to attract attention and my tiny Swiss Army knife with the scissors and tweezers – maybe a couple of band-aids if I wasn’t sure my shoes wouldn’t give me blisters, and some anti-itch stuff for insect bites.
Dress appropriately for the weather and the forecast; take a light wind breaker just in case. A wicking base layer really helps keep you comfortable; I’m partial to wool because it doesn’t get stinky but the synthetics work well – just be aware that the synthetic wicking fabrics all get pretty smelly and some develop an awful stench very quickly. Nylon or other synthetic pants dry quickly if they get wet but cotton (like jeans) stays wet and heavy for a long time.
I would drink as much as I could before getting out of the car and would carry one liter of water (water is heavy) and plan on just drinking from a stream if I needed more; I’d leave a bottle of a favorite beverage in the car for later. For food I’d take a big sandwich (hoagie, sub, hero, whatever it’s called in your area), maybe a small bag of chips to keep me thirsty, and a Snickers bar (very popular with long distance backpackers for an energy boost).
That’s really all I would carry on a 10 or 15 mile day hike in a very busy state park. I wouldn’t want to be loaded down with 25 pounds of equipment, I’d want to enjoy the walk in the woods.