Hiking in
Wales
More than
perhaps any other outdoor activity, backpacking and hiking rewards
the efficient packer and punishes the people that over pack. After
all, you will have to both live with and carry and every decision
you make! In assembling a personal packing list, experience is
the best guide. Here is a useful list of things that you will
essentially need:
The
Basics:
• A backpack
• Tent
• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Pad
• Maps and guidebook
• First aid kit
• Compass
• Small flashlight
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Eating
and Drinking:
• Water bottles (at least two 1-liter bottles
per person)
• Water purification (filter or iodine)
• Stove and fuel
• Matches and lighter
• Insulated mug
• lightweight bowl and spoon
• Utility knife (e.g. Swiss Army-type |
Clothing:
• Boots (broken in and waterproofed)
camp shoes
• 3 pairs of socks (no cotton! wool or synthetic,
liners or not - your preference)
• 1 pair of long underwear bottoms (synthetic)
• 1 long underwear top (synthetic; zip-T style ones are
best)
• 1 pair of shorts underwear (optional)
• 1 T-shirt (cotton or synthetic)
• Rain jacket and pants
• Wool or fleece sweater or jacket
• Wool or fleece hat
• Wool/fleece gloves or mittens |
Accessories and Optional Items:
• Toilet paper in zipper-lock bag
• Extra zipper-lock/trash bags
• Lip balm
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Rain cover
• Trekking poles
• Sunglasses
• Journal & pen
• Ground cloth
• Camera, film
• Hair brush/comb
• Small strainer (for filtering food particles
while cleaning dishes) |
Planning
your Hike
Once you have chosen how many days you have and how many miles
you plan to cover, you can make a decision on your route and the
length of your hike. It is important to make sure you have the
right maps and guidebooks covering the area that your hike involves.
Don't forget to take into account big climbs or difficult stretches
of trail where you're pace will/ could be a little slower. If
you're a planner, you might want to decide in advance where your
target campsites will be. However, some people prefer to just
'go with the flow'.
Discuss plans with your hiking partner (You should have at least
one until you are confident in your outdoor skills). Make sure
you agree on the basics, the most important is how many miles
you plan to walk each day.
At that point:
• Check with your partner(s) regarding sharing gear: You
don't both need an army knife, stove, tent, first aid kit, and
water filter, so this is a great opportunity to shed some weight.
• Get all your gear together and check its condition to be
sure nothing is falling apart and no parts are missing.
• If you haven't been hiking in a while, it's a good idea
to take a few walks wearing your boots. It'll help you break your
feet in and avoid blisters on the trail.
• Shop
for food.
• Remember last minute items such as water and any food you've
stored in the refrigerator.
Respect the Countryside Around You
It is very important to respect the countryside around you and
to avoid damaging anything in or around the areas that you cover
on your hike. Here are some things to bear in mind:
• Hike in a single file. Hiking two or more abreast widens
and erodes trails.
• Stay on the trails. Don't be tempted to cut switchbacks
they're there not only to make the grade easier for walking, but
to prevent erosion. If the trail is muddy, walk straight through
the middle rather than walking around the edges, which broadens
the trail unnecessarily.
• You can help prevent flooded or muddy trails by shoring
up broken water bars. Placing a few rocks across the trail can
help divert any water downhill and away from the path. Unless
you've got trail maintenance experience, you'll be more helpful
if you do your bit and repair damaged water bars than if you attempt
to install new ones.
• Don't use so-called 'social'/ 'volunteer' trails that veer
off in all directions, sometimes criss-crossing meadows. Stay
on official trails. Encourage others to do the same by barricading
shortcuts and social trails with some sticks and stones, the recognized
hiker sign for 'trail closed' or 'don't go here'.
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