What Are the 10 Essentials to Pack When Hiking?

 According to the American Hiking Society, there are 10 essential items that you should pack on every single hike whether you plan a short day hike for a couple of hours or you plan on trekking through the backcountry for a couple of months. You should pack the following items and know how to use them.

1)  Navigation – Map and Compass: GPS and a smart phone are very handy devices, although they require batteries and a signal and do not always work in the backcountry.  You should always carry a paper map and a compass and be sure that you know how to correctly use them. Consider an altimeter and know how to read a topographic map on complex mountain hikes. 

2) Appropriate footwear: well-fitting hiking boots or shoes are a must; happy feet make for happy hiking. Look for support, protection and traction when selecting footwear. Always pack extra socks and consider a change of clothes beyond what you think you would normally need, depending on your packing weight restrictions.

3)  Food: pack calorie dense foods that do not require cooking like nuts, jerky, dried fruits and energy bars. You should always pack an extra day’s worth of food just in case something extends your trip like bad weather or an injury.

4) Water: most people require about a half a liter of water every hour during moderate activity and temperatures. Start off with at least a water bottle and know where you will fill your bottle or reservoir and how to treat water while you’re on the trail, whether with chemical treatment, a purifier/filter or using a camp stove to melt snow.

5) Rain gear and dry-fast clothing:  always be prepared for wet weather by wearing moisture wicking items, dressing in layers and be sure to have a synthetic jacket and a warm hat.

6) First-Aid kit: it is critical to have a first-aid kit and know how to use it. You can find pre-assembled kits and modify them to suit your needs and the number of people in your group. Every kit should include disinfecting ointment, various bandages, gauze pads, adhesive tape, over-the-counter pain medication and nitrile gloves. Anyone hitting the trail should take a first-aid and CPR class, many online courses are available through the Red Cross.

7) Safety Items including Fire: Be sure you have a way to start an emergency fire, to signal for help, to cook food or for much-needed heat. Keep some durable matches in a waterproof container along with a butane lighter and carry some form of Firestarter. If hiking in the winter and snow where firewood is not available, be sure to have a stove for a source of heat and water.  In addition to fire you should always have a whistle to signal for help if needed and a light such as a headlamp with extra batteries if you need to see your map and the trail in the dark.

8) Knife or multi-tool: a knife or a multi tool is mandatory and can be used for many purposes such as repairing your gear, preparing food, making kindling or for first-aid. A multi tool includes some other convenient features like a pullout screwdriver, fold out scissors, or a can opener. If you need help or need to repair your gear in the backcountry you should also include some zip ties, duct tape, fabric repair tape and parts to repair your water filter.

9) Sun protection: protection from the sun is critically important, you should always have sunscreen, sun protective clothing and quality sunglasses. You should wear quality sunglasses regardless of cloud cover and temperature. Your sunglasses should block 100% of UV light especially if traveling on snow or ice to prevent snow blindness or cataracts from developing with long-term exposure.

10) Shelter: emergency shelter includes more than just your tent. You will need protection from the elements when hiking away from your tent especially if you are injured or stranded. Carry a lightweight blanket or a bivy sack when leaving your campsite.

These items, along with following the basic principles of Leave no Trace and carrying a trash bag with you to clean up your mess, will get you through your hike safely and prepared. Make the most of your hike with quality gear from Cascade Mountain Tech, such as our wide selection of hiking trekking poles, lightweight packable camp chairs, camp bedding and more.

Cascade Mountain Tech offers high-quality camping and hiking gear to make the most of your next adventure. We believe that outdoor adventure should be accessible to everyone. Contact us to check out our wide selection of quality gear to get prepared for your next hike.

Learn How to Use a Compass

 If you never got a chance to learn how to use a compass in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, it is definitely something you need to know to prepare for a hike.  A compass is such a small, lightweight tool yet provides insurmountable value if you know how to use it correctly.  The compass is one of the most important navigational tools that you can take on your hike to help you find your way.  It never requires batteries and can work right along with your map if you know how to use it correctly. 

Understanding How a Compass Works

The red tipped magnetic needle is always pointing north - Every new hiker needs to understand the basics of how to use a Compass. The first thing you should know is that the floating needle, usually with a red end, is magnetized and is always pointing towards magnetic north.  Even if you turn the compass, the needle will stay fixed towards magnetic north. 

Magnetic north is not true north – magnetic north is not true north, as in the North Pole, which is what all maps are oriented towards. Depending on the difference between the two, called declination, you could wind-up far-off course. So how do we adjust for this “declination”? 

How to account for declination – the difference in degrees between true north and magnetic north, declination, varies by location. To use your compass correctly you will want to know what this value is so that when you box your needle, when the orienting arrow is boxed around the red magnetic arrow, you are pointing to true north rather than magnetic north. If you are using a recent topographic map, it may display the declination as two straight lines with magnetic north noted as MN. Since declinations vary by area and change over time, do not rely on this number if you are not using a recent map.

What if your map does not show you the declination?  Not to worry, plan ahead and go to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, NOAA, Magnetic Field Calculator, and type in the coordinates for the area you’ll be hiking to have the exact, most recent, declination calculated for you.  This will be expressed in degrees, with a change west represented as a negative number or a positive number to represent a change east. Some compasses may have a screw that will allow you to make the appropriate adjustments. 

How to Use a Compass

There are a couple of different ways that you can get your bearing with a compass while out on the trail, by your map or by sight. 

By map - to use your map and compass together, use a compass with the base plate, and lay your compass on top of your map on the ground. Mark your current location and your intended location, then draw a straight line between both points. Lay the edge of your compass on this line so the travel arrow is pointing in the direction you need to go, then turn the outer ring with the measured units on it (the azimuth ring) until the orienting arrow and north on the map are aligned. When you pull your compass off the map, turn the orienting arrow until it is boxed in with the red magnetic needle and you will be pointed in the right direction.

By sight - it is much simpler to use your compass to travel by sight. If you can see the side of the mountain you are headed towards, for example, you can first point towards it with the travel arrow on the compass, then rotate the azimuth ring until the orienting arrow is lined up with the red tip of the magnetic needle pointing towards the north. Continue your hike with the needle boxed in and you should reach your destination. 

To learn more about how to use your compass and magnetic declination see Basic Land Navigation, a publication by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. For more tips on navigating through the backcountry, contact the outdoor adventurists at Cascade Mountain Tech, your one-stop for quality camping and hiking gear.  

You can find durable trekking poles in various materials in sizes with something for everyone to help you along your hike. Choose from a variety of comfortable camping chairs including lightweight, packable camping chairs.  Contact us with any questions and for the best trekking poles, camping chairs and more available today.

What Type of Navigation Should I Take on My Hike?

 Knowing how to navigate your way through your hike is critically important, whether you are taking a short-day hike or a longer trek through the backcountry.  The tools that you choose to take may depend on the type of trip you are taking. If you are taking a short-day hike, for example, you might prefer to get around with just your map and a compass, and your Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). For a more complex, longer hike you might want to include your GPS and altimeter.

As always, be sure to file a trip report and tell someone the exact location of where you plan to go and when you plan to return along with the route you plan to hike.

Top Five Navigational Hiking Tools

There are basically five different types of essential navigational tools commonly used by hikers:

• Map - be sure you know how to read a topographic map which should accompany you on any hike beyond a simple walking path. You should understand the map details, how the scales work and how the contour lines help you to visualize the terrain.

• Compass – considered the most important piece of navigational gear, every hiker needs to have a compass and know how to use it. A compass weighs next to nothing, takes no space at all and works without batteries. You can use it with your map or without.  Learn how to use a compass from the American Hiking Society and know the importance of declination. 

• Altimeter watch – an altimeter works by measuring the barometric pressure combined with GPS data to provide an estimate of your elevation. You should be able to quickly adjust the elevation reading if you make it a summit or known landmark with an established altitude. It can be nice to have one that records so you can track your progress, this is also helpful information to know where you are on the map.

• GPS device – many hikers choose to use the GPS on their smartphone, which is fine as long as you have a rugged case, a signal and a backup battery supply. 

• Personal locator beacon (PLB) - this device can notify emergency personnel if you have an emergency in the backcountry. When activated, the device will send your location via GPS and satellites. A PLB is a nice backup to carry and does not rely on cell phone signals.

Make sure that you understand proper navigational techniques and how to use each of the most important tools.  Make your hike even easier with quality hiking trekking poles to take some strain off your joints and help you glide along the trails.  You can pack some lightweight, foldable camping chairs to stop and rest along the way.  Cascade Mountain Tech offers lightweight camping chairs perfect for backpacking or camping chairs with something for everyone. 

Cascade Mountain Tech offers high-quality hiking and camping gear, built to last to join you on many memory making adventures.  Our mummy sleeping bags will keep you warm at night and the roto-molded cooler keeps your food chill with ice that lasts up to 10 days.  Contact us for quality trekking poles and with any questions on hiking safely in the backcountry.

What Are the Benefits of Trekking Poles in 3K Carbon Fiber?

 Trekking poles provide many benefits to hikers, alleviating stress on knees and joints and helping to offset a heavy load. Trekking poles are available in various materials such as aluminum, carbon fiber and 3K carbon fiber. You may have heard about 3K carbon fiber trekking poles and wonder what all the buzz is about and if they would be a good choice for you.

It helps to understand what 3K carbon fiber means and how these types of trekking poles are made to understand the benefits they provide. The most significant benefit is the undeniable durability in a lightweight material. Carbon fiber is known for durability and strength, measured in ‘filaments per tow’, which means that 6K carbon fiber has 6,000 filaments per tow, 12K carbon fiber has 12,000 filaments per tow and so on. Thus, 3K carbon fiber is made with 3,000 filaments per tow.

3K carbon fiber is a popular choice that provides both added strength and durability and it won’t slow you down because of its light weight. Carbon fiber is often weaved unidirectionally, meaning the weaves used to manufacture carbon fiber products are arranged in one direction only. 3K carbon fiber, on the other hand, provides added durability because it is weaved both horizontally and vertically which provides increased strength along with malleability. This allows 3K carbon fiber trekking poles to absorb more force from all directions over other types of hiking poles without bending or snapping. 

Cascade Mountain Tech offers a wide selection of hiking trekking poles, with something for everyone in all sizes and materials.  Our knowledgeable staff will help to answer any questions you have in finding the right type of trekking poll for you and making sure you know how to use it properly. We offer quality gear built to last such as:

• Hiking trekking poles

• Camping chairs, packable and lightweight

• Rotomolded super coolers, that keep ice for up to 10 days

• Camp bedding including sleeping pads and mummy sleeping bags

At Cascade Mountain Tech we believe that outdoor adventure should be accessible to everyone. We provide quality outdoor camping and hiking gear with a knowledgeable staff dedicated to exceptional customer service. Contact us with any questions and to learn more about our 3K carbon fiber trekking poles.

Pros and Cons of Using Trekking Poles

 Trekking poles, also called hiking sticks or hiking poles, provide many benefits to hikers when used correctly. Trekking poles are designed to provide additional stability when hiking and to spread out the weight load from your legs to your arms.  Hikers in the backcountry who encounter knee pain on hills or when carrying a heavy load can benefit from using trekking poles for reducing the amount of stress on the knees and joints.

Pros of Using Trekking Poles

The following are some of the most common advantages of using trekking poles:

• Reduces knee pain, especially when descending

• Increases endurance 

• Increases climbing power

• Helps in crossing soft ground

• Adds balance when crossing streams or rivers

Our knees can take a beating supporting our body weight during a lifetime of normal activities. Hikers that add additional pack weight and hike longer than usual put additional stress on muscles and joints especially caused by ascents and descents. It is not surprising that many hikers suffer from knee pain. Using trekking poles correctly can greatly reduce the amount of stress on your knees when hiking, especially on steep hills. 

Cons of Using Trekking Poles

The following are some of the most common cons of using trekking poles:

• Can be ineffective with poor technique

• Increases your total expenditure of energy

• Can add to erosion

• Keeps your hands full

Poor technique is probably the most common reason that hikers do not get the most benefit when using trekking poles. Adopting a useful technique and using your poles correctly is the only way to gain the advantages that trekking poles provide.  Many people may not also realize the extra energy required to hike with poles. If you are concerned about carrying a heavy load and the stress on your knees and joints, using trekking poles can be well worth the effort. If your body tires quickly however or you experience cardiovascular limits, exerting extra energy may be a hindrance. 

Check with the experts at Cascade Mountain Tech for more information on choosing the right trekking poles for you and using them correctly. Cascade Mountain Tech offers a wide selection of high-quality trekking poles in aluminum, carbon fiber and 3K carbon fiber for exceptional strength and durability in many lightweight options. 

Cascade Mountain Tech is your one-stop for quality hiking and camping gear such as trekking poles, lightweight packable camping chairs, mummy sleeping bags, rotomolded coolers and more. We believe that outdoor adventure should be accessible to everyone. Contact us to learn more about the many advantages that come with using our trekking poles.