Far too often we get to our destination only to find that we left something of vital importance behind. I even know of people who sat up their campsite, made the fire, and had their mouths all set for their lip-smacking dinner, when they realized they had forgotten to bring the food. They had to make do with blueberries for the night. Well, if you can forget something as basic as food you can just as easily forget to bring other important items just as well. This list may help alleviate that.

1. Maps - A map can be the difference between being completely lost for days on end and having an uneventful and enjoyable trip. An up-to-date topographic map of the area you're visiting should be considered as basic as clothing. This is especially true if you're in unfamiliar territory, but should be standard issue even if you've hiked the area for years, the unforeseen can happen. And, according to the first rule of Murphy's Law, it often will find a way to happen.
2. Compass - A compass should be attached to a map by an umbilical cord as they go together like a hand and glove. If you have the best map in the world and you're disoriented, without a compass to tell you which direction you're facing, it's useless. Many lives have been lost due to people wandering about aimlessly and burning up valuable energy when it could have been avoided if they had been prepared.
3. Flashlight - To be wandering around the mountains without a flashlight makes as little sense as driving around at night without your headlights on. Even if your plan was to only be out for the day, how many times have we all experienced that sickening feeling you get when you realize that the sun is getting low and it's a long way back to the car? If you're overextended this way and it becomes dark and you're only a few hundred yards from getting out, imagine how stupid you'd feel if you knew if you had only brought your flashlight you'd be out in ten minutes? Not only this example is reason enough to bring along a flashlight, but what if the light is getting dim and if you could only read the map and compass you might get a bearing on how far you are from camp? For these reasons always bring a flashlight and spare batteries and a bulb.
4. Extra Food - The unexpected can happen to anyone so always be prepared to spend an extra night or two outdoors just in case. If the weather turns foul you may need to tank up with some high-energy food very quickly. It also must be noted that a well-fueled body performs better not to mention the level of your decision-making capabilities.
5. Extra Clothing - First rule of how to dress while hiking: You can always take something off if you're too warm, but you can’t put something on if you get cold if you're not carrying anything extra. Hypothermia sets in very quickly and when it does not only does your body begin to act strangely but your mental functions quickly deteriorate. I speak from experience as I once became soaking wet from fighting a forest fire and when the sun went down, with my damp clothing, I quickly went from chill to uncontrollable shivering to barely able to walk and organize my thoughts. Once I arrived at the emergency room my body temperature was down to 92 degrees. At 90 degrees you go into cardiac arrest. This error in planning has killed many a hiker.
6. Sunglasses - A pair of sunglasses can be helpful not only in the hot sun but when you're hiking through the snow. You can quickly become snow blind from the glare and disoriented and lost.
7. First-aid Kit - You don't need a surgical grade kit that would do any Army doctor proud, all you need are the basics. Just some band aids, aspiring or Tylenol, a little disinfectant, some gauze, some Kaopectate or Immodium in case of diarrhea, and any other small item you feel necessary.
8. Pocketknife - One of these is essential. It doesn't have to be elaborate nor very large just functional. One of those military surplus survival knives are handy (especially the ones with the hollow handles which contain fishing line, hooks, and matches). But perhaps the biggest bang for the buck remains the old faithful Swiss Army Knife.
9. Matches or Other Fire Starting Device - If you can't make heat or cook your food (not to mention keeping warm) you might as well give up. Waterproof matches are the best but you can easily make your own waterproof matches by dipping common wooden matches in nail polish. Once dry they are as good as any other you'd ever buy. The best way to store them is in plastic empty film cans. But be sure to include a striker in the can otherwise they are useless to you. Another great option is a simple butane lighter. These can be lit hundreds of times and will float if you accidentally drop it in the water.
10. Signaling Device - A simple mirror or whistle are the age-old basic. Today there is more to offer. A cell phone is very good and has saved many a hiker in recent years. A two-meter radio with an auto patch may be even better as they have superior range and provide more functions (including weather reports). An auto patch is a method by which an amateur radio operator can make telephone calls via a hand-held or other ham radio set. A common complaint about these is that, as it's said, they "require you to be coherent enough to give you position to any would-be rescuers". This isn't really true. This is because once a call has been made, all that needs to be done is to get the listener to understand that you're in trouble. After that, if you aren't able to say anything else, the 911 technician will begin to search for you through triangulation with the phone company. This is done by determining the three repeaters which received your phone call the strongest and then they can establish the approximate location of the originator of the call. The same is done with a two-meter radio call. The national air patrol, the amateur radio emergency services (ARES), and the radio amateur communications emergency services (RACES) all conduct drills wherein these techniques are practiced. These are part and parcel of FEMA. I am an emergency communications technician with ARES and RACES and can report that it has never taken us more than two hours to locate someone by this method. Very shortly even this will become obsolete because GPS chips will soon be incorporated into the cell phone and will signal your location whenever a call is placed.
11. Water - This one is almost a no-brainer but after all these years of dealing with people I have yet to find the lowest common denominator. Therefore, I never assume anything and I include it herein simply because it is possible to forget to bring it. I’ve done it at least once and I know others must have as well. Lack of water in the heat can kill you just as quickly as too little clothing on a cold day.

I suggest that you keep this checklist with your camping or hiking gear and go over it each time you go out. Once you're made a habit of it, you should enjoy many years of pleasant and incident free hiking and camping.

Copyright (C) AJS 2000