Basic Hiking Essentials By Lee McFarland

Introduction

The founder of Radiant Church in Arizona, Reverend Lee McFarland served as the church’s senior pastor for close to 15 years before founding his own consulting firm, Lee McFarland Consulting, LLC. In his free time, he enjoys being outdoors and often hikes in the mountains and other pleasant locations nearby.

Bike Gear

Several pieces of gear are essential to take on a hike, including a compass and a topographic map of the area. This is especially important when hiking in unfamiliar territory. Topographic maps are better for hiking than the basic maps found at a visitor center since they show details of elevation and slope, hidden footpaths, streams, and landmarks and give you the distances between certain points. Compasses help you orient the map properly and allow you to determine the proper direction to take.

Proper Clothing

It is also essential to wear proper hiking clothing. Good-fitting boots are most important. Layers of clothing when hiking in variable temperatures or insulating clothing when hiking in cold weather help keep the body comfortable. Depending on the terrain, long pants or a long-sleeved shirt might provide protection from thorns, thistles, or poison oak. Sun protection such as lip balm, sunscreen, and a hat are important for preventing sunburns, and sunglasses are helpful for both sunny and snowy hiking conditions.

Conclusion

Carrying a first-aid kit is a good idea for treating minor injuries that might occur. You can buy a pre-assembled kit or make one of your own. Most kits contain such items as over-the-counter pain medication, gauze pads, bandages, pen and paper, disinfecting ointment, a tourniquet and/or a sling.