Safety hiking hats and equipment you need in summer and winter, post 571
A recent story about the fatal loss of a girl hiking alone in the USA set me thinking after reading the newspaper comments. What might you need?
Season
Hiking in winter is not hiking in summer
Weather forecast for your hiking region (not only the area where you drive from)
Clothing
Hiking Hats
I look for sun protection, SVF +50, and a strap to stop the hat falling off. i like a hood on my jacket, so that even if I forget the hat, the hood protects me. The hood helps secure the hat, and protects the back of your neck. It is one less thing to carry.
Fabrics
In summer I wear Mosiprroof sunscreen fabrics (eg mosigard)
Insulated/waterproof boots/Hiking shoes (not just sneakers or tennis shoes)
Gloves - features
With ribbon to attach to coat so you don't drop them.
Touch-sensitive gloves so that you can operate a phone with gloves on.
Waterproof.
Pockets
Pickpocket proof
Zip up pockets so items cannot fall out
Maps
Add a map of your planned route on your phone. it can be shared with those in your group and sent to family back home. Also the map could be printed in case your phone dies or gets dropped, broken or lost.
Destination and home entered in your car or hire car satnav.
Address
Hotel business card with address in case you get separated from your group and need to direct a taxi to your remote hotel. If your driver can't understand, phone your hotel receptionist who is probably multilingual and get them to direct the taxi.
Hotel's map of local area which lists nearest restaurants with their opening times, also cheap hotels by ski resorts and hiking trails, and shops selling walking sticks.
Souvenir shops at information centres selling maps and tick proof socks.
Pharmacies selling first aid kits, elastoplast, tweezers, rubbing alcohol.
Hat
Hat waterproof, neck protector, brim, insect or dust mesh
Walking stick or two, or the kind with spikes for uneven terrain, which can b bought at shops near hiking trails (but not if you arrive at weekends or late at night when shops are shut and your hike starts next morning
Folding sticks can be packed in suitcases. Full length sticks can be checked in. Failing all else, an umbrella might help.
A folding umbrella protects against rain and sunlight, but you might need a hand to hold it.
Energy bars. In the UK Kendal mint cake
Plan what to do if you see a snake, or bear
Check nearest overnight hut or village or major road and car park in case your trail is blocked by falling boulders or landslide and you need to find shelter whilst waiting for help or need to go downhill.
If you are in a convoy of cars, know the phone numbers of all other drivers, in case you lose somebody and the last car has to wait for them.
If you leave your group, catch a bus, and arrive back at your hotel early, or go off shopping, tell everybody, so they are not searching for you on a trail when you are already safely home.
Toilets
Note toilets at car park or nearest hotel or public toilet. Carry a lidded bowl or toilet device so in traffic with long tailbacks, or overnight snowstorm, you can go to the toilet without being seen or leaving your place or car or getting cold or bitten by insects, or attracting animals which seek out blook and excreta.
Wear clothes which unzip easily for toilet stops.
eye shades
Torch, and spare batteries, to backup phone's flashlight (which you want off to save phone battery)
GPS
compass
Know whether you should be walking south or north, east or west, especially if the route forks, and is the short trail upstairs to the car park or down the z shape slopes zig-zagging to the road below.
Will the sun be on your right or left, behind or in front, before mid-day and after mid-day, if you are en route.
We were driving along empty roads in Utah and came to an unmarked t junction. We went left.
After a bit, my husband said, "This is not the route. The sun is in the wrong place!"
We turned back.
Food and drink
water
Accessories
Pack a Swiss army knife (not in hand luggage on planes because it is likely to be confiscated. Some airlines allow knives under a certain length, so a tiny knife will do.
If you have tinned food and drink in the car, have tins with lift off tops, or a Swiss army knife with a bottle opener.
Fire lighters or matches
So if lost you can signal, or keep away animals, or keep warm, or cook food. (Beware of lighting fires in summer in areas prone to forest fires or where camp fires are forbidden
Hiking In Groups
What if it gets too tough and you turn back, or the trip is a loop and your vehicle is at the end?
Beware of carrying meat sandwiches or leaving them in cars, since these can attract bears.
Other Incidents and Accidents in Singapore
Hornet Bites
Snake Bites
Quicksand
GPS
Make sure your car has enough petrol and you know the last petrol garage (gas station) before you turn off the main roads.
I have vivid memories of my husband coasting downhill on a long journey "to save petrol".
When we reached the destination, he revealed that the car was nearly out of petrol with warning lights.
We just made it in time.
Infection Warming
My husband was on a hash house harriers paperchase in the jungles of Singapore when he fell over a knee-high post and grazed his leg knee. He kept renewing the bandage.
About three couple later, he started running a temperature. He got a taxi to an A and E department at a hospital.
He was put in put in a hospital bed and they he was vomiting in the night. It was bleeding and not healing after about 3 weeks.
The doctor told him that it was septicaemia.
The doctor put him on a saline and anti emetic drip and a ...cillin version of penicilin.
They did a blood test.
'Yes, blood poisoning.'
Later in the week, he said, 'Are you going to let me out? This is costing me a lot of money.'
She replied, "Yes, tomorrow. I was very worried about you."
Camping and Sports Clothes & Supplies Stores
REI
Paragon
Gander Mountain
Useful Book
How to shit in the woods
Useful Websites
Clothes
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/craghoppers-womens-nosilife-pro-ii-pants-A4B15897.html?colour=146
Hat
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/camping/
https://www.campingworld.co.uk/
https://www.llbean.com/dept_resources/outdoor_gear/dept_images/dayhiking-checklist.pdf
FOOD
https://www.adventurenutrition.co.uk/wet-meal-ration-pack-three-vegetarian-self-heating-pack.html
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