The most basic risk of hiking is getting lost. And just as it’s possible to drown in your kitchen sink, it’s possible to get dangerously lost in just about any outdoor locale beyond your back yard. It doesn’t really matter…
Hiking
3. Comfortable socks
by tmangan • October 13, 2007 • 2 Comments
The fabric closest to your feet has the most impact on them. Don’t imagine the old cotton athletic socks in your drawer will do. They don’t. They aren’t designed for walking long distances, they’re designed for chasing inflatable rolling orbs…
4: Comfortable shoes
by tmangan • October 13, 2007 • 2 Comments
No two feet are alike, but shoe manufacturers seem to think otherwise. Which means you have to go to the store and try on half-dozen models and sizes to see what feels best on your feet. Do you need big…
5. Underwear that doesn’t chafe
by tmangan • October 13, 2007 • 0 Comments
There’s nothing worse than getting rubbed raw in your nether regions, which can happen (especially on hot days) on long hikes, especially if you’re wearing the same cotton briefs you wear in your non-hiking life. Synthetic, boxer-style briefs fit snug…
6. Something to keep crud out of your shoes
by tmangan • October 13, 2007 • 0 Comments
A constant annoyance is having to stop what you’re doing, find someplace to sit down, take off your shoes and dump whatever bits of dirt, gravel or whatever has insinuated into a place seemingly calculated to cause the most discomfort.…
7. Nylon hiking pants
by tmangan • October 13, 2007 • 0 Comments
A couple years back I bought a pair of nylon hiking pants with the zip-off lower legs. They have a bunch of pockets for maps and other stuff, weigh practically nothing and have worn like iron. Also: extremely comfortable. When…
8. Something to block the sun
by tmangan • October 13, 2007 • 0 Comments
I never hike without my floppy hat and sunglasses. Ultraviolet rays from the sun are almost perpendicular to the top of your head, which means if you go around with no hat on you’re essentially asking nature to grant you…
9. Nourishment
by tmangan • October 13, 2007 • 0 Comments
Always take some food along — it keeps your energy level high and means less of your hike will be spent wishing to hell it was over. You don’t need much: an apple, an energy bar, some dried fruit, homemade…
10. The real 10 Essentials
by tmangan • October 13, 2007 • 1 Comment
This story at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer describes the so-called 10 Essentials for Wilderness Survival. On day hikes in good weather in the Bay Area you won’t need most of them, but it’s important to understand them. You can also buy…