Check group for proper gear based on location, time of year and length/time of hike: footwear; clothing layers; bug repellent (clothing, clothing-only repellents and/or other commercial products); daypack/backpack (a school backpack is okay for short hikes); snacks and water; first aid.
Don't forget your Ten Essentials:
Updated Ten Essential "Systems" from REI
- Navigation (map and compass)
- Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
- Insulation (extra clothing)
- Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
- First-aid supplies
- Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
- Repair kit and tools
- Nutrition (extra food)
- Hydration (extra water)
- Emergency shelter
The 10 Essentials began with the Mountaineers
For more search hikeSafe in NH; REI; Backpacking (10 or 14 Essentials); ACA Camps/Outdoor Living Skills; Leave No Trace.
PROGRESSION OF HIKES
WALKABOUTS and NATURE TRAILS
Start with short hikes in a closed recreation area such as a school yard, town park or scout camp. Remember to Leave No Trace and Use the Buddy System.
BASIC HIKING
Easy trails at scout camps, Audubon properties, urban walks, etc.
WILDERNESS HIKING
Moderate trails at town and state parks.
BACKPACKING LEVEL 1 & 2
Wilderness Hiking including an Overnight
Level 1 with lodgings, sanitation and potable water
Level 2 backcountry location where you pack in shelter, sanitation tools, and water purification method(s).
Including wilderness scout camps, state park/management area sites; AMC Lodgings: camps, cabins, huts, lodges; etc.
====
TRAIL FOOD
Trail food needs to be “packable” in and out (minimal packaging or reusable). They should be compact, not crush easily, contain good nutrition (complex carbs, super nutrients, with minimal processed sugar if at all) and be high in calories. Visit Leave No Trace for more planning tips.
- Bagels, sandwich thins or tortillas
- Cheese/cream cheese in single-serving packages
- Sliced pepperoni
- Tuna packets
- Peanut butter in single-serving packages
- Nuts or trail mix
- Chocolate and nut spreads in single-serving packages
- Dried fruit: yogurt-covered raisins, dried apples and bananas
- Hard pretzels, whole wheat crackers
- Cereal or breakfast bars: granola, oat bran
- Power, energy or granola bars and chews
- Seeds: pumpkin or sunflower kernels (shelled)
Meals should be planned with consideration of fuel and water resources. Check local regulations beforehand for allowable fuel use. Freeze dried foods are available for snacks or meals but can be costly.
====
KNOW HOW TO GET FOUND:
Have each hiker carry a whistle and know how to use it if they get separated from the group.
KIDS: Hug a tree, blow your whistle three times, listen. Repeat. (more from NASAR)
TEENS and ADULTS: Learn your surroundings, explore carefully, and be able to return to the last known point. S.T.O.P. Stop. Think. Observe. Plan. Stay put if you need to.
====
OTHER SITES:
AMC Outdoor Safety: Tips for Parents and hikeSafe
USAOrienteering
American Hiking Society: National Trails Day - 1st Sat. in June
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
