Emergency Kit

It's always good to know what should be included in a First Aid Kit for each situation. A well-stocked emergency kit will consist of pain medications, bandages, adhesive tape, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, and scissors. Suppose any people have any additional medical problems, such as allergies or diabetes. Then, in that case, those items should also be included and remember to take extra doses of the prescriptions just in case.

In addition, you must include proper safety breathing apparatus and other items, such as a Personal Flotation Device (PFD), especially if you will be crossing through any water or entering any caves. You should also consider carrying whistles and flares or smoke signals. Finally, always remember your cell phone! If there are any emergencies, then calling out may mean all the difference between life or death, however quite often, when exploring outdoors, there is no cellphone reception. That is why it is essential to ensure that your emergency kit is fully stocked and easily accessible! My BF always makes me take an extra battery pack too!

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Clothing And Shoes

For a more enjoyable outdoors exploring experience, include clothing items, such as a sweater and raincoat for possible cold, wet weather conditions. Breathable T-shirt and shorts for the warmer hours in the day, ensure that you have sunscreen too! A bathing suit is also recommended so that you can enjoy the freshwater to cool off and bathe after a long, hot day hiking.

Shoes, a decent pair of hiking boots is an absolute must! They should have good traction, be breathable, and should always have good ankle support. The right shoes are essential if you want to have a good time and stay safe on the trail. Hiking boots provide ample support, especially for your ankles, in all types of weather conditions and terrains, helping protect your feet from injury, and prevent blisters as there will be lots of walking involved. Pack some extra socks in, just in case. Specialised hiking socks can help prevent blisters. You should also make sure that your footwear is waterproof or water-resistant since most hikes go through forests which means plenty of wet areas along the way! Buying a high-quality pair of hiking boots with reinforced toe caps will keep them intact for many years while staying comfortable throughout long treks. You can find great second-hand deals too, I got a great deal on Ebay.

Map And Planned Route

Make sure to take a map that shows precisely where the trail leads and what to expect so that you do not get lost. Even though everybody thinks nothing terrible could happen while out exploring nature's wonderland, there still may be times when help is needed from emergency services back home. So make sure to plan your route and that someone knows where you're headed before going off on your adventure. If you will not have cell phone reception and cannot call for help, then ensure that you leave your name, the route you will be taking, and your final destination with the emergency services station or local visitors' centre before going off exploring. All Trails is a great app that you can download the maps of your hikes for free and you may find it also has many different hikes that you didn't know existed really close by!

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Food Items

In addition to an emergency kit, backpack, proper hiking footwear, waterproof clothing and other essentials for your trip into nature, there are a few essential food items you should take along with you. By taking the appropriate snacks on your hike, you can ensure that you will have enough energy to make it through your adventure while also enjoying yourself to the fullest! Here is a list of essential food items that will help keep you healthy and energised:

High Energy Foods - You want foods that provide quick bursts of high energy. These include granola bars, trail mix (with lots of nuts) and dried fruit like raisins and apricots, beef jerky, chocolate and other foods with lots of carbohydrates. Check out these handy vegan whole foods energy balls.

Slow-Release Energy Foods - These foods will provide you with energy for extended periods as they slowly release carbohydrates. These include bread, bagels, pasta, crackers and oats, bars made with whole grains or nuts, bananas and eggs.

It is essential to take plenty of water or even water purification tablets, as water bottles can become pretty heavy when hiking. You could also take along energy drink powders to mix with your water to get the final energy boost you need to get to your rest camp or final destination.

When deciding what types of snacks you want to take along, consider your own personal tastes. Each individual will prefer different things, so make sure you pack a variety of lightweight foods.

Final Thoughts

When going hiking, a few safety measures should always be kept in mind. So research the area you are exploring and where it is located on a map to be aware of your surroundings if anything happens. Camping overnight shouldn't be done unless doing so at an established campsite. When climbing any type of cliff, rock or mountain face, make sure to wear appropriate shoes that give good traction along with gloves that help grip onto rocks while also attaching yourself to a sturdy support beam with a rope. Another essential tip would be to keep food out of reach and stored away in zip-lock bags because the last thing you want is to encounter a wild animal. They will eat anything, including human food, which could attract them to your location.

While this is a lot of information to process and makes hiking trips seem like a daunting task, it is good to keep in mind that accidents don't happen very often, and if they do, there are usually other hikers around who can help you out. Going on a hike in nature is a fantastic experience and definitely one activity that should be added to your bucket list!

Have loads of fun! 

Jenna