Before you go on a hike, you need to correctly make a list of equipment for a hike. This is necessary not only in order not to forget to take something important with you, but also in order to correctly distribute the load and duties on the route. How to do it right? Preparations for the trip have begun!
At all times, people loved to travel, which is why the craving for a change of place of residence, at least for a short time, is in our genes. Transportation is now so developed that there are no problems to visit even the most remote places on earth. There is a huge variety of means of transportation, but here we will talk about the form that suits almost everyone.
Hiking tours are the most affordable for any traveler. The main thing is to be healthy and willing to walk. And if you have an abundance of these components, then we are preparing for the route for several days!
The standard equipment of a tourist usually includes: a backpack, a sleeping bag, a tent, a first aid kit, provisions, necessary tools, a telephone and more, if desired. But first things first.
First of all, you need to choose a company. It is necessary to act according to the benefit of the team, and not just friendly relations.
Equality between the participants of the campaign is important, since, for example, for women, no one will carry their heavy equipment.
A company of 4-10 people is considered the best: this number is ideal from a psychological point of view and allows the team to be more mobile.
The travel plan is usually drawn up by the team leader. But at the same time, the details, of course, are discussed by the whole team.
And the most important thing is that in the team each member must be an optimist. Or at least not boring.
Distribution of duties
Before the start of the tour, a leader is selected. Usually, they are a more experienced person, but this cannot be taken as a rule. Discussion and choice should be done by the whole group.
The leader is obliged to develop a route plan, prepare equipment, stock up on food and, of course, be responsible for all participants in the campaign. In this regard, he is obliged to take into account the wishes of all team members, but make final decisions regarding organizational issues on his own.
The group must have:
- responsible for medical care;
- responsible for food distribution;
- a person who will repair equipment during the trip, if necessary;
- photographer, operator, etc.
These positions do not have to be distributed in campaigns for up to 4 days, although they will not become redundant. But on longer routes, it is better to make an appointment without fail, because this will make it easier to organize a tour of the trip, and there will be no scandals between its participants: everyone will be able to clearly focus on completing their task.
List of things and equipment
Of course, each route will have its own list of things: after all, it depends on many factors. Here are just its main components.
Separately, it should be said that on a hiking trip you need to wear comfortable shoes and clothes, and also do not forget about the first aid kit and hygiene products.
Start of the hike
- Before heading into the unknown, write down emergency phone numbers or, if possible, pre-register with them. This is especially important when the route of the hike runs through the wild.
- It is necessary to make sure that the mobile phone is in good condition and fully charged.
- Each member of the expedition must have maps of the area visited, or at least a plan-scheme.
- It is necessary to discuss in advance the control points where it is planned to carry out parking and complete gathering of the group.
marching part
Hiking should be approximately 40 minutes long with 10-15 minute breaks. It is better not to drink water on the way, but it is necessary to do it at stops.
Cooking on the go
If possible, it is better to appoint kitchen attendants, this will greatly facilitate the fate of the entire team.
When cooking on a fire, one should not forget about safe behavior with fire. It is better to cover the fire with stones, and clear the clearing of leaves and dry branches. Before sleeping, the fire must be completely extinguished, because smoldering coals can provoke a fire. Do not burn fires in places where it is prohibited by law.
The most important thing is not to leave trash behind you, it is better to collect it and take it with you.
Hiking is different: it is mountain, and cycling, and horse, and water, and sightseeing, and, of course, on foot. Currently, there are many agencies offering to unite for a hike, you just need to leave an application with a description of what type of hike you would like to go on and wait a bit until the group is formed. Tour operators will help organize an individual route, taking into account the wishes of the customer.
But now, having a list of equipment for hiking, you can easily organize your route yourself. After all, this not only saves you money, but also helps to unite your team and each of its members to show their indispensable abilities.
Before you go on a hike, you need to prepare well for it: a hike is not an excursion. First, you need to understand: do you have the opportunity to make a 2-3-day (multi-day) hike with one or more overnight stays in the field (in tents), or is it better to organize a weekend hike.
Then the head of the trip (class teacher) needs to determine the goals of the trip. Spending time aimlessly, even in nature, can tire hikers. The main goal of any trip is to unite the teenage team and improve their health. In addition, it is also possible to specify goals: collecting local history material on a specific topic, herbariums or minerals, meeting interesting people, environmental studies of the area, familiarization with architectural monuments or cultural and educational centers, etc.
Preparing for campaign starts with group building. If the head of the trip (class teacher) decides to organize a weekend trip with the whole class, then in this case there are fewer problems: only the desire of the students of the class and the absence of medical contraindications are necessary. If the hike is 2-day (with an overnight stay), then it is worth considering here. Adults should remember that on long trips, the "compatibility principle" of the participants comes into play. The most important thing depends on who will be in the group, what is the physical training and tourist experience of the participants in the trip, what tasks they set, what time and money they have, the choice of the route of the trip depends.
Naturally, the desire to discover something new, to go through something that has not yet been passed. Our country is so vast, it has so many wonderful corners that there will be enough interesting routes and discoveries for a lifetime. But do not get carried away, as a rule, the amazing is always there! Maybe it is in your region (neighborhood of a village or city, district, region, region) that the most amazing places, architectural and historical monuments are located, interesting people live.
The route is easier to pass when it is well thought out and studied. Then there will be more time, energy to get acquainted with interesting places, the safety of the trip will increase and the probability of changing or not passing the route will be minimized. Groups of novice tourists and those who are heading to a particular area for the first time should use one of the reference routes. These routes are the most logical and interesting, introduce the sights and include obstacles typical for the area. You can get advice on the route at the tourist club, the ICC (route-qualification commission), the local museum. There you can also find reports on the trips of other tourist groups.
When developing a route, you need to collect all the necessary information about the hiking area, using maps and diagrams, descriptions of complex obstacles, information about weather conditions, transport capabilities, the state of roads and crossings, etc.
All preparatory work must be carried out in an organized and planned manner. To do this, a plan is drawn up, responsibilities are distributed among the members of the group.
Based on the duration and complexity of the route, the composition of the participants in the campaign and the planned tasks, general and special equipment, repair and first-aid kits are prepared. The caretaker of the group draws up lists of products, outlines where it is better to buy them, and solves the issue of packaging. The obtained data on the route, equipment and food allow us to determine the total weight of the cargo, the weight of backpacks on the approaches and the main route, and to make an estimate of expenses.
It is necessary that all participants in the campaign have not only similar skills and knowledge, similar interests, but also approximately the same physical training. To do this, 2-3 months before the trip, joint training sessions should be organized, during which tourists improve physically and master technical skills and techniques for overcoming obstacles. Weekend trips, tourist rallies and competitions should be used for this purpose.
During weekend trips, methods of movement, overcoming natural obstacles planned on the route, methods of collective insurance and self-insurance are worked out, equipment is checked and finalized. Specially created heavy loads in these hikes make it possible to identify and compare the physical condition and training of individual participants.
If several children from the class are engaged in the tourist section of the physical education team of an enterprise, institution, educational institution, institutions of additional education for schoolchildren, then these organizations should create conditions for the physical, technical and theoretical training of tourists, provide them with the necessary equipment if possible.
All members of the group must undergo a medical examination no earlier than a month before the start of the hike and obtain a doctor's permission to participate in weekend hikes of I-III categories of difficulty, and to participate in hikes of IV-VI categories of complexity - the conclusion of a medical and physical education dispensary or a sports doctor .
Any multi-day hike begins with a check in the IWC. The main document giving the right to conduct sports tourist trips of I-VI categories of complexity is the route book of the established sample. The route book can be obtained from the route-qualification commission at the place of residence or work. Two copies of the book should be filled out correctly, accompanied by certificates of the tourist experience of the group members, medical certificates, cartographic material, descriptions and, if possible, photographs of difficult sections of the route, lists of special equipment and first aid. Everything should be collected in advance in preparation for the trip. The ICC gives an opinion on the possibility of the group making the declared trip.
Even if you have a weekend hike and you don’t need to draw up documents at the ICC, then you should remember that before the hike, an order is issued without fail for the school (lyceum, gymnasium) indicating the route, group composition, timing, responsible for the life and health of children . If the group of students exceeds 12 people, then an assistant to the leader of the trip is appointed from among the adults (teachers, parents). If the trip is done by the whole class, it is best if two adults are the leaders of the trip. The class teacher must remember that the appointment of a second adult teacher is a crucial moment. The main condition is that an adult be sociable, physically healthy, mobile, have authority (or be familiar to most children) among the schoolchildren of this group.
In recent years, more and more people who want to relax are taking cycling and hiking trips. On a hiking trip, you can escape from the hectic city life and be alone with nature. But, before you go on a hiking trip, you need to clearly understand all its possible dangers and difficulties. To prevent and overcome them, you need to have the necessary things with you.
Travelers must bring with them:
- Compass.
- Map.
- A pot at the rate of 1.5-2 liters per person.
- Bowler hat.
- Mug.
- Spoon.
- Ladle.
- Jackknife.
- Flask for water.
- Thermos.
- Hand lamp with a supply of batteries and light bulbs.
- Washing accessories.
- Appropriate clothing.
- Sleeping bag or tent.
- Comfortable shoes.
- Sewing accessories.
- Products with a long shelf life (usually cereals or canned food).
- Roomy and lightweight bag.
- Sapper shovel.
- Thin steel wire.
- Metal rod with a diameter of 5 millimeters.
- Medical kit.
There are some general rules for tourist clothing. It should be warm and light. At the same time, clothing should in no way hinder movement. In winter, it is recommended to use thermal underwear, and in summer to have a light windbreaker in case of strong winds. Also, in the summer hike, you need to have several pairs of cotton socks, and in winter, woolen socks. Shoes should be comfortable, warm and spacious. Winter shoes should be freely worn over two pairs of socks - cotton and wool. Shoes should never rub your feet!
How to complete a first aid kit?
Here is a list of essential first aid medicines that should be in every first aid kit:
- Bandages are sterile and non-sterile.
- The bandage is elastic.
- Harness.
- Plaster bactericidal and in a roll.
- Hydrogen peroxide.
- Potassium permanganate.
- Albucid or sofradex.
- Panthenol.
- Validol.
- Ammonia.
- Analgin or baralgin.
- Citramon.
- Fenkarol or suprastin.
- No-shpa.
- Bellalgin.
- Activated charcoal.
The contents of the first-aid kit should be supplemented taking into account the chronic diseases of the group members. So for example, if there are cores in the group, then you need to take nitroglycerin as well. The first aid kit must have scissors.
How to eat on a hike?
In many ways, proper nutrition is the key to the success of a hiking trip.
- Scientists and experienced tourists advise to organize hot meals three times a day.
- It is undesirable to eat dry food, as such food leads to a deterioration in performance.
- When hiking, you should take long-term storage products, such as cereals and canned food.
- You can also eat collected berries and caught fish during the hike.
- It is better not to take perishable products. In the summer, in the heat, they disappear much faster. Therefore, the thoughtless use of perishable products in the summer during a hiking trip can lead to gastrointestinal diseases and disruption of the trip.
Compliance with the elementary rules of safety and personal hygiene during the campaign will be the key to the success of this event.
A one-day hike is a school of great and long-distance travel. It is available to every pioneer and schoolchild who wants to get to know their land better, develop, get stronger, and have a good rest. It acquires the skills of a camp life and the ability to see the surroundings.
How about a day trip?
First of all, you need to decide where to go, and set a clear, precise goal for yourself: what to see and what to do on a hike.
The purpose of a one-day trip may be to get acquainted with the industry and construction of the region. You can set yourself the task - to get acquainted with the historical monuments of the past. You may face a more difficult goal: to explore the riverbed, collect collections of minerals, plants, insects, draw up a map of the area, get acquainted with the natural resources of the region.
The hike can also be training, in order to test the ability to walk, find the way, navigate without a map.
When the goal of the trip is determined, it is necessary to outline the route, that is, the path along which you will go hiking. You need to find and read in books and ask experienced people what else interesting you can see in the area where you will go, and where and how it is more convenient to go. In order to map out a route, get a map, or at least a diagram of a map of the part of the area through which the route passes. On the map, determine the length of your route by measuring separately the part of the path that you need to walk.
In a one-day hike, the length of the walking part of the route should not be more than 10-14 km for your age, otherwise the hike will be tiring and will bring little benefit. Having carefully studied the nature of the terrain on the map, you need to pre-determine places convenient for halts (high, dry banks of rivers or lakes) and fishing, collecting collections, conducting observations, and the like.
After you have carefully read the map and outlined the route, make a trip plan. The plan must indicate the start time of the trip, the order and time of transitions and stops - rest, the time of the big halt for lunch and the hour of return.
When drawing up a plan, remember that every 40-45 minutes of movement you need to arrange a 10-15 minute rest. In the hot time of the day from 13 to 16-17 o'clock it is not worth going: it is very difficult and unsafe (there may be heat or sunstroke).
The most interesting and important part of the route should be completed in the first half of the day, when attention is not yet tired; therefore, one should strive to start the campaign as early as possible and in any case not later than 8 o'clock in the morning.
It is best to go on a hike with a pioneer link or a group of 10-12 people. All participants must be approximately the same age. Before the trip, everyone needs to be examined by a doctor.
Divide the responsibilities between the members of the group before you go camping. Everyone should be responsible for some area of work in the campaign. The most authoritative, experienced and energetic young tourist is appointed head of the group or detachment. His duties include: requiring all participants to observe strict marching discipline, the distribution of work and duties on the way and at rest, drawing up a list of duty.
The head of the group must know the topography well and be best able to navigate the terrain. He leads the group on a hike. A foreman is selected to help the chief. He is in charge of food and equipment. The foreman himself distributes who and what food and equipment will carry, draws up the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, gives instructions to the cooks on duty, and distributes food on the campaign.
The person responsible for keeping the diary of the group, the photographer and artist, mass worker and orderly are also selected in advance.
It is the responsibility of the person responsible for keeping the diary to record everything that the young tourists saw and did on the way. He must be able to make his notes clear, truthful, interesting and conduct them in good literary language.
The mass organizer organizes games, singing and other entertainments at a halt and on the way. He is in charge of publishing a travel newspaper.
The orderly is selected from the badges of the GSO. He carries a first aid kit in the campaign, is responsible for it and provides, if necessary, first aid.
His duty is to ensure that all participants in the campaign comply with sanitary and hygienic rules.
The duties of a campfire and a cook should not be distributed in advance. Each of the participants in the campaign should be able to quickly and in any weather make a fire and cook a delicious dinner. Therefore, all participants in the campaign are appointed in turn as firemen and cooks.
After the responsibilities in the group are distributed, make a list of equipment and products that you need to take with you.
What to take with you on a hike, how to put food and equipment in a backpack, you can find out by reading the books: Nikolsky “How to conduct a hiking trip”, Gubanov “Tips for a tourist”.
In the city, in settlements, when boarding a train, steamer, bus, the group moves in formation. The head of the group is in front, his assistant is behind. In field, rare forest and on the roads the group moves without formation.
The pace of movement should not be too intense. The group should always equal the weakest member. During the hike, you should not drink a lot: it does not quench your thirst and makes it very difficult to walk freely. Don't drink cold water. It is best to drink warm acidified water or tea. In order to not feel thirsty during the hike, even on a hot day, you need to eat 10-12 grams of salt with a piece of bread in the morning before the hike. Salt helps retain water in the body and prevents thirst.
Movement along the way should alternate with rest - stops and a big halt.
A big halt is arranged from about 12-12 o'clock. 30 minutes. until 15 o'clock. 30 minutes. - 16 pm. It happens that it is more profitable to choose a suitable place for a halt earlier or later than the scheduled time. But nevertheless it is necessary to remember the planned plan; it determines the mode of travel, and the mode determines healthy recreation. When planning a trip, it is necessary to outline the places of halts. For a tourist who has a topographic map and knows how to read it, this will not be difficult.
The place should be chosen so that it is protected from the sun and from the wind. Good drinking water must be available nearby.
The halt is arranged in a dry and beautiful place.
It is best if it is a river bank or the edge of a forest.
As soon as the resting place is determined, duffel bags are removed from the shoulders, folded in one place, where a tent will be set up or a hut will be built. It is recommended that you immediately take off your shoes and put on slippers to give your feet a rest. Now everyone can get to work organizing the bivouac. If the camp is near the river or there is a reservoir nearby, you can swim only when the bivouac is ready. By this time, tourists will have cooled down from the journey and will be able to calmly swim in anticipation of lunch. Swimming should not be allowed immediately upon arrival at the halt.
At a halt, a fire is needed to cook dinner.
First of all, you need to prepare a place for a fire: a site about one square meter in size. Sod should be cut from the site and folded along the edges: this will not allow the fire to diverge to the sides and determine the border of the fire. Put the fuel on the side where the wind does not carry the sparks of the fire. Choose a campfire site that is sheltered from the wind. The best place for him by the river (generally in water bodies), on a slope, in a deepening of the shore. If a campfire site is chosen near the river, on the sand, separate the place with a sand roller. Make a fire at a distance no closer than five meters from the trees, and in the forest - only in a clearing.
You need to make a fire like this: put small dry branches or birch bark in a loose pile and set fire to it, laying larger dry branches on top. As soon as the fire flares up brightly, you need to put large thick branches or chocks. The best fuel is dry brushwood (birch, oak). It gives a strong, low-smoke, hot flame. Pine and spruce give a lot of smoke.
It is convenient to support a fire with such fuel, which is bred specifically to protect against insects. If you need a signal fire, throw up a few bunches of fresh grass - thick white smoke will go out, visible from afar.
If you need to use a fire to dry clothes and shoes, build another one nearby, preventing shoes and clothes from drying near the fire on which food is cooked.
In order for food to be cooked quickly and not to smell of smoke, it is necessary to put boilers on a fire or hang over a fire only when a bright flame flares up and the fuel turns into coals. Consider carefully the drawings, and it will become clear to you when and what type of fire you will make.
You have to be careful with the choice of water.
The most dangerous may be the stagnant water of ponds, swamps, rainwater reservoirs. Spring water is the least dangerous. You can not drink raw water. Boiling for 15-20 minutes neutralizes the worst water.
The afternoon rest should be used to put shoes in order with clothes.
Use the rest of the rest time for games. We recommend volleyball, bast shoes. You should not at all play basketball or football at a halt, as a lot of energy is spent here, and you need it for further movement.
When you leave the halt, carefully clean the place. Especially carefully it is necessary to put out the fire; it should be filled with water and covered with earth.
When collecting collections, keeping records of observations and sketches, and when photographing on a hike, one must remember that all these materials will be used to organize a local history corner or museum at school. Therefore, the collection of all materials and keeping records must be done conscientiously and accurately, as far as possible in field conditions. The collection of materials must be carried out according to a pre-planned plan - to know what to look for. When collecting collections, samples must be wrapped in pieces of paper, on which the place where they were found, the date (day, month) and your last name are inscribed. If this is a sample of an already known plant or mineral, you need to write its name.
In the notes, you should indicate what you liked most about the trip. You need to remember that other groups will follow your route. You pave the way for them.
Properly selected and well-tested equipment of a young tourist is of great importance on a hike.
Let's start with shoes.
“Shoes are as important to an infantryman as a horse is to a cavalryman,” said one general.
A careless choice of hiking shoes, poor fit causes, even after a short walk, foot wear. Shoes should be well worn and should sit freely on the foot (it is recommended to have a margin in length - a tolerance of up to 2 cm). The toe of the boot or shoe should be wide enough not to compress the toes.
For a hike, you need durable, as soft as possible, waterproof shoes. To do this, it must be lubricated with fat: blubber, fish oil or castor oil. Not suitable for lubricating wax: it makes the skin hard and permeable to water. It is necessary to impregnate not only the top of the shoe, but also the sole and the gaps between the top and the sole.
Backs are best - soft; otherwise they will press on the heel and very soon cause severe pain in it.
For hiking, shoes with a wide toe and low heels are required. You won't get far in high heels. Step with high heels is always shorter. At the same time, the position of the foot is inclined and the torso is fed back to maintain balance, and in this position the step is always shorter.
The sole is recommended thick or double. Otherwise, after several transitions, you will have to walk on your own sole. It is necessary to monitor the heels and, if they are worn out, immediately nail the heels. The heel should be lined with metal horseshoes or nails; the shoes are less likely to wear out.
Boots with solid or leatherette soles are suitable. Worse if the sole is rubber; her feet sweat. Then you can put a thick felt insole in the boot or put on woolen stockings. For short stops along the way, in this case, you should take off your shoes for at least one minute to ventilate your feet.
On a large halt, boots must be taken off for airing and drying. Do not dry them close to the fire, as the skin may crack. While the shoes are drying, wear athletic slippers. They are light and will help the leg to relax.
It is necessary to check that no nails protrude inside the boot, that the lining that passes through is not folded.
On a dry, flat road, it is good to walk in light boots. You cannot wear boots on bare feet. In this case, even in light shoes, it is easy to rub the heels and balls of the foot. Thick cotton socks will be good for light shoes. But on long trips, off-road, woolen stockings must be worn in rough shoes. It seems strange that it is recommended to wear woolen stockings in the summer, but an experienced hiker knows that the leg feels better (even cooler) in a woolen stocking. Woolen stocking quickly absorbs sweat, and the skin remains dry. A woolen stocking, in addition, is a good pad between the leg and the skin of the boot, smoothes out all the bumps, roughness and folds.
If a tourist knows how to properly wrap footcloths, they should be worn. The leg is perfectly protected by a thin, washed, soft footcloth (woolen or linen are the best).
Only those who used to go barefoot a lot before the trip and are well trained in this can go on a hike barefoot.
Acquiring this skill during a hike is hopeless - the legs will be knocked down at the first small transition. In addition, it is easy to get bruised and injured legs. But whoever has the skill of walking barefoot, in some sections on a good road, will walk part of the way barefoot with pleasure.
Clothing is recommended durable, light, not easily soiled, but not dark in color. It should be free, not constraining movements. You can not tighten with ties, sashes, it is better that the belts be replaced with armholes over the shoulders. The shirt is desirable with an open collar and always with sleeves. Only those who are already well tanned can go in a sleeveless T-shirt. You can not go camping only in shorts.
It is necessary that the clothes easily absorb sweat. Therefore, it is hygienic to wear a thin knitted undershirt or (better yet) a thin woolen mesh. Otherwise, sweat, having soaked the shirt, cools and wets the body. And this can cause a cold, especially in the wind, when sweat quickly evaporates again from the surface of the body. Girls wear light knitted leggings or satin shorts; over them - a light woolen or satin skirt. For long trips, trousers (ski suit) or satin bloomers are good. The best material for tourist clothing is wool, flannel is also good. These materials soon dry out after rain. They are lightweight and durable.
Headgear should serve as protection from the sun and bad weather, and should be used when this protection is needed. You should learn to walk without a headdress in the summer and when traveling, at least part of the way, go with an open head (without, of course, allowing the head to overheat by the sun's rays). Comfortable on the road hat type "Panama". The color of the hat should be white - in any case, light, less absorbing the sun's rays. Straw hats are beautiful, but they break quickly. Instead of a headdress, you can tie your head with a scarf (without covering your ears) or a towel (like a turban). But still, you need to have a hat with you: it will come in handy in strong sun, bad weather, on a cold evening.
Camping things are placed in a duffel bag-backpack. It is made of durable, dense matter (canvas, tarpaulin, thick burlap). You need to choose a backpack wider. A wide shoulder bag lightens the lower back, like a saddle, and the brunt of the load will fall on the sacrum. Your shoulders will feel better. The straps are made wide, better belt, and if cloth, then from a dense, durable material. Narrow straps twist and cut the shoulders.
It is not difficult to make a backpack yourself. The figure shows how you can use any bag instead of a backpack.
It is necessary to put in a backpack so that soft things lie on the back evenly and flatly. Put the heavier ones on the bottom. The center of gravity of a loaded backpack should be at the bottom, not at the top and side. Otherwise, the backpack will pull the shoulders.
The length of the straps should be made so that the backpack lies almost parallel to the back.
Carrying a shoulder bag requires training, and if it was not there before the trip, then a beginner may experience, out of habit, aching pain in the shoulders.
It is best to put on the straps on the edge of the shoulder and do not cross them on the chest. This will compress the chest.
Inside the backpack, a fabric partition is desirable.
When packing things, they should be sorted: products in one compartment, everything else in the other.
The weight of the cargo allowed for a young tourist depends on the age and health of the hikers (see table).
When distributing general equipment, it is necessary to take into account the training and strength of the participants in the campaign, so that the more trained and strong take on a larger load.
Cargo norms for hiking in medium rough terrain
When preparing camping equipment, follow the rule: do not take anything with you that can be useful, take only what you cannot do without!
From things for personal use with you you need to take and put in a backpack:
- towel;
- soap (in a tin soap dish);
- tooth powder (or paste) and a toothbrush;
- foot towel;
- two needles, threads (white skein, black skein); 2-3 buttons, 2-3 safety pins - all this in an iron box;
- 2-3 pieces of rope, 1-1 1/2 m each, not thick, but strong;
- individual package or (in a tin box) some cotton wool, bandage and vaseline;
- spare stockings or footcloths (in case you get your feet wet);
- a small napkin - it will serve as a tablecloth when eating at a halt, and on the way you can wrap bread in it;
- a few old newspapers or other paper;
- an enameled mug is better, but aluminum or tin is also suitable;
- spoon
- comb;
- small mirror,
- a book to read.
The backpack will also include some items from group equipment.
In addition to a backpack, it is also good to have a small field bag.
From personal things you need to put there:
- route map, topographic;
- compass (can be worn on the hand);
- notepad or notebook in a folder;
- a pencil with a tip;
- gum.
In the hands of a tourist is a staff - a light, straight, strong cane - more than a meter in size. It will come in handy when jumping over a ditch; from several staves you can always make a crossing over a stream; the staff will help when climbing the mountain. It is good to carry luggage on it (together), putting the staff on the shoulders; it is convenient to make a tripod for a fire from the same staffs. If you mark the staff in centimeters, it will also come in handy for measurements.
Group equipment usually consists of the following things:
- shovels, small sapper, in a cloth case,
- hatchet - small, also in a cloth case,
- camp kitchen equipment.
Here will be:
- two buckets (better than a kettle, which is less convenient on the way and on a fire) for cooking food, tea;
- pouring spoon (it is also for stirring during cooking);
- bread knife (preferably folding or in a case) for cutting, cleaning food, and so on;
- a small light (aluminum) frying pan, a kitchen towel, a piece of laundry soap, matches, food containers: bags of dense material, pulled together with a cord, parchment or wax paper.
If the trip lasts several days, then the following is added to the set of personal items:
- linen change,
- sheet,
- 2-3 handkerchiefs,
- a light blanket (flannelette or woolen) or a raincoat (worn over the shoulder, like a soldier wears a “roll” of an overcoat).
To the group equipment is added:
- candles,
- laundry soap,
- flashlight, 2-3 spare batteries,
- clothes and shoe brushes and shoe ointment (not wax).
The tent is taken on a long trip, but it is also useful for a one-day trip, especially when moving through sparsely populated areas. Separate tent panels can also serve as raincoats in rain or cold windy weather. It must be taken into account that the tent has a significant weight, and by taking it on a hike, the group adds this most significant load. During radial hikes, that is, when a group leaves a certain point for a day or two and comes back again, the tent is left at the base. It is, of course, more convenient and hygienic than a hut.
The simplest type of homemade tent is this.
Two pieces of canvas 150-170 cm long and 120-140 cm wide each are reinforced with two supports installed along the edges of the tent. The lower end of the support is pointed (to stick into the ground). At the upper end of the supports, loops are put on, driven into the upper corners of the panels. The tent is secured in place with two ropes and six wooden pegs (see picture). The weight of two such panels will be at least 5-6 kilograms. Thus, an additional load of 2 1 / 2 -3 kilograms (the weight of one panel) falls on the tourist.
More details about the equipment of a young tourist on an excursion and hike can be found in the book by V. Nikolsky "How to conduct a hiking trip" (1941).
"Companion of a young tourist". Detgiz, 1948.
"Study your land." Ed. "Young Guard", 1951. Khrshanovsky A. A dying fire. 1951.
Dobkovich V., Kravtsov V. In the campaign. Ed. "Young Guard", 1948.
Traveling in your own country. Ed. "Young guard". 1950.
Nikolsky V. How to conduct a summer camping trip. 1948.
Do you understand everything in the job descriptions, did our advice help you, what benefits would you like to receive? Write to us at the following address: Leningrad, Kutuzova Embankment, 6, Detgiz Children's Book House, giving your name, surname, age and address.
State Publishing House of Children's Literature
Ministry of Education of the RSFSR
Moscow 1952 Leningrad
Download: (downloads: 115)
Page QR code
Do you prefer reading on your phone or tablet? Then scan this QR code directly from your computer monitor and read the article. To do this, any application "QR Code Scanner" must be installed on your mobile device.
© 2017 site
The inexorable law of landscape photography is that the more beautiful the landscape, the more difficult it is to get to it, and a photographer who sets out to capture unprecedented views may suddenly require skills that are very remotely related directly to photography. Indeed, it is not necessary for a studio photographer to know how to survive in the middle of the dense taiga, but if you decide that landscapes are your photographic passion, and you don’t have enough hiking experience, do not be too lazy to take a look at the short course of a phototourist presented below. It is aimed primarily at the photographer who has decided to become a tourist, and not at the tourist who has decided to become a photographer. A hardened tourist, inexperienced in photography, but endowed with minimal artistic taste, will be able to take good hiking pictures even after a short study of my site, while the pampered urban photographer will need a lot of time and effort before survival issues stop distracting him from creating masterpieces in the bosom nature.
It will be mainly about hiking, as the most accessible and popular, but the reader retains the right to make the necessary extrapolations for water, bicycle, and any other direction.
Get Fit
General fitness is the most important element of your hiking gear. And not because, as some thought, a strong tourist will be able to take equipment from a weak one, but because a strong one will be able to carry more cargo in his backpack and travel a greater distance with it.
It is impossible to get in shape a week before the hike - this takes months, if not years, and, therefore, you need to take care of this issue extremely well in advance.
I would like to believe that people who have taken up reading this article are not alien to an active lifestyle and physical activity does not frighten them. But if in the orderly ranks of smart photographers there are, let's say, purely mental workers who do not hesitate to use the elevator to go up even to the third floor, then it's time to remind them of their responsibility to their own bodies and the need to stop fooling around and still do reforging fat to muscle.
Even the simplest hike in the mountains is somewhat different from a walk in the city park. Walking 30 kilometers in a day across rough terrain with a heavy backpack on your shoulders is an almost impossible task for a person whose sports interests are reduced to watching football with a bottle of beer.
In other words, if you want to get shots that are better than those taken from the window of a sightseeing bus, start training today so that you don’t become a burden on the trip, both for your comrades and for yourself.
Why is physical fitness so important for a landscape photographer? Because if I run out of steam on the route, I won’t be able to really shoot when I get to the beauties. Physical fatigue reduces mental performance, which means that I will not be able to fully control all the many technical and artistic nuances that must be taken into account when shooting. Fatigue not only dulls you, it kills your creativity in the most insidious way and dampens any enthusiasm. This means that I simply will not notice photographic opportunities where they are, and if I do, then the photographs I take will be uninteresting and lifeless.
Hence the conclusion: if after the next transition a serious photo shoot is expected, you should not be exhausted beyond measure. This can be achieved either by avoiding any difficulties in principle (which method we, of course, dismiss with indignation), or by accustoming your body in advance not to be afraid of adequate physical exertion.
Vaccinations
Regardless of the region, you must have an up-to-date vaccination against tetanus and diphtheria, since no one is immune from abrasions and scratches. If you are going to the taiga (and this is 60% of the area of Russia), be sure to get vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis. Look for information on diseases specific to certain regions on the relevant thematic resources (for example, www.privivka.ru). A lot of useful information can also be found on the WHO website.
Minimalism
On a hike, you should take only those things that you will definitely use, and not at all those that you may need. Most likely, you will not need them, and will only take up space in your backpack. The only exception is medicines and a repair kit, which we are not going to use under a favorable set of circumstances, but which should always be at hand, in case the circumstances cease to be favorable.
An experienced tourist takes with him only the necessary minimum of equipment, which, as he knows, will really come in handy for him on a hike. A beginner, trying to be ready for all real or imagined hardships, stocks up with such a quantity of junk that no one needs on a campaign that then he is unable not only to tear his backpack off the ground, but even to remember: what exactly he took with him, and in which pocket it is buried.
If a tourist is a photographer, then he will also have to overcome the temptation to take with him all the photographic equipment at his disposal, so as not to miss a unique shot. In fact, this is the best way to miss it. The lighter and simpler your equipment, the further you will carry it and the more quickly you will be able to handle it in conditions that are far from being the friendliest.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all trying to sway you towards ultra-lightness (which, by the way, requires special training, and for which I myself do not have enough health). I only call for rational minimalism, the purpose of which is by no means to increase the degree of extremeness of the trip, depriving the tourist of all the benefits of civilization, but rather, on the contrary, to make life easier for yourself by getting rid of the obviously unnecessary burden and the troubles associated with it.
Know your gear
The last days before a trip are not the best time to choose and buy equipment. Small things like a shovel, a flashlight, or kitchen utensils can make an exception, but there's nothing more reckless than hiking in new, unworn boots that are sure to hurt your feet. Just as stupid is to take with you a DSLR you bought the day before, which you have not yet had time to thoroughly understand, and whose processor knows more ways not to take a picture than you can imagine.
There is no place for new things on a big trip. All equipment should be tried and tested as far as possible and familiar to you.
Check everything. If you've bought a new backpack, adjust the straps, straps, and belt ahead of time, load it with whatever you like, and go for a walk to make sure you're comfortable carrying it. If you don’t have a tent, and you borrowed it from friends, then don’t be too lazy to carry out a training setup in advance, so that later on a hike at night in the rain and wind you don’t try to feverishly figure out: what to do with all these arcs, pegs and stretch marks?
Get comfortable with your photography equipment. Learn how to handle the camera quickly and accurately, without thinking about your manipulations, and, of course, without looking at the instructions every minute. All equipment should work flawlessly and this should be checked not a day before, and preferably not even a week before departure. In the event that you find any defect or malfunction, you should have time to repair or find a replacement. This is not something you want to do just before departure when you have other things to do.
Before you go on a multi-day expedition, go on weekend hikes to get used to the camp life, assess the level of your tourist preparation and identify weaknesses, both directly in your equipment and in your ability to handle it.
List
The best way to make sure you don't forget anything is to make a list of everything you're going to take with you in advance, and then constantly check the list when you pack. The list, among other things, helps to optimize the volume of your equipment. Having listed all the things that you would like to have on hand on a hike, you will realize that you may need a small mining truck to transport them, and hastily begin to reduce the list to a reasonable minimum that you can carry on yourself.
I advise you to break your list into categories, for example, "clothes", "food", "medicines", etc. This will make it easier for you to navigate your own luggage.
Separately, it makes sense to make a list of urgent things that should be done before departure (buy stews, mend a backpack, pick up a passport from the embassy, urgently learn how to take pictures, etc.), so that these things do not suddenly surface at the very last moment and do not interfere with your trip.
Further, I, by no means claiming to be a comprehensive coverage of the subject, will try to list and comment on things that are really worth taking with you. Since we are talking about hikes with a photographic bias, I consider it my duty to focus first on photographic equipment, and only secondly on general-purpose hiking equipment.
photographic equipment
“Ninety percent of my best life"s work could have been made with a manual body, a 24mm lens, and a telephoto zoom in the 80-200mm range".
"Ninety percent of my best work could be captured with a mechanical camera, a 24mm lens and a telephoto zoom between 80-200mm."
Galen Rowell
Photographic equipment taken on a hike should not be a burden for you. When Ansel Adams traveled around Yosemite with a large format camera, he used a pack mule. If you don't want to feel like a mule, it's best to ditch the heavy equipment and bring only the bare minimum necessary to meet your photographic needs, as the tedious transitions will likely take you much longer than the photo shoot itself.
Camera
Cropped DSLRs like the Nikon D7200 are the preferred outdoor cameras because they combine relatively low weight with reasonably high image quality. Full-frame cameras (FX or Full-frame), for all their merits, are still a little heavy for hiking, not to mention the fact that they need proportionately heavy and bulky full-frame lenses. If you're not going to shoot at 5-digit ISOs, full frame won't give you any noticeable advantage in terms of image quality, but the astonishingly light weight of the amateur Canon EOS 200D or Nikon D5500 is something that any tourist will appreciate.
Mirrorless cameras, such as the Olympus OM-D E-M10, would be even better than DSLRs due to their compactness, but, unfortunately, their batteries do not last very long, and far from civilization, you need a camera that can save electricity. If you have the opportunity to regularly recharge the batteries on a hike (say, at camp sites), then, of course, a voracious camera ceases to be a problem.
Among compact camera-soap cameras there are models with a large sensor, like a DSLR, but such cameras are unreasonably expensive and do not have the functional flexibility of system devices with interchangeable lenses.
One of the best outdoor compacts is the Nikon Coolpix AW130, which is waterproof and shockproof, but unfortunately the small sensor means traditionally soapy image quality.
Do not forget that any, even the most reliable camera, can suddenly fail. It always happens unexpectedly, which is why you need a backup option. You do not want to return home without the desired pictures, just because your brand new camera suddenly jammed the shutter, and the nearest service center is like going to the moon, right?
Ideally, the spare should be the simplest and lightest camera that belongs to the same system as your main camera, so that they can use the same set of lenses. The trouble is that carrying a second DSLR somewhat contradicts the minimalist strategy mentioned above, and therefore, if weight or cost is critical, limit yourself to a good compact as a backup. The camera in a mobile phone is, as you understand, an extreme case, but even it is better than being left without a camera at all.
Lenses
Landscape photography rarely involves shooting wide open. From this follows an interesting conclusion: heavy and expensive high-aperture zooms are useless on a campaign. Leave them for weddings and reports. Quite a lot of "amateur" lenses behave more than decently if their aperture is covered to f / 8 or f / 11, and otherwise they are not required.
The light travel kit I recommend includes: Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR DX II, Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G VR DX II, and Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX, or an equivalent combination within another system. This is enough for 99% of the photographic situations that you will encounter on a hike focused mainly on landscapes with elements of hunting and macro photography.
If you still didn’t listen to good advice and took a full-frame camera with you, then a close-to-ideal set of lenses might look like this: Nikon 20mm f / 1.8G, Nikon 70-300mm f / 4.5-5.6G VR and Nikon 50mm f/1.8G. The kit is a compromise, but quite versatile and relatively light (as far as it is possible for a full frame).
Due to numerous requests from workers, I also bring options for camping optics kits for Canon cameras.
For APS-C: Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM, Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM, Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM and Canon EF 50mm f/ 1.8 STM.
For Full-Frame: Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM and Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM.
photo bag
For starters, forget about the photo backpacks that are advertised here and nearby. If you have a photo backpack on your back, where do you plan to carry your camping gear? Combined backpacks for the camera and for equipment are also not an option. Firstly, they are usually not roomy enough for a long trip, and secondly, any backpacks severely limit access to the camera. To take a picture of something interesting, you have to take off your backpack, put it on the ground, find the camera in it, and then make sure that everything interesting has already ended. No, gentlemen! When a bigfoot crosses my path one day, I certainly want to have time to photograph it, which means that the camera should be easily accessible.
Some hikers wear the camera around their neck during the transitions, but the camera constantly hanging on the neck strap, firstly, tends to rub the neck, and, secondly, can be easily damaged, especially when climbing uphill. Ease of access should not compromise comfort or safety.
For me, as practice has shown, the most comfortable were waist bags for cameras with a wide soft belt, which I usually place at the waist above the carrying belt of a tourist backpack, covering the hips. The belt buckle of the photo bag is on my back in the area of the lumbar deflection (lordosis), covered by a backpack. Thus, the camera is protected from accidental shocks and can be quickly removed from the bag, and then just as quickly hidden in it. It is important that both the bag and the backpack, not being linked together, can be both removed and put on independently of each other and in any sequence. An additional strap of the photo bag can be thrown over the shoulder, in case the main buckle accidentally unfastens.
An example of a solid and practical belt bag is the Lowepro Inverse 100 AW. The 200 model (Inverse 200 AW) is also not bad, but somewhat larger. The Outback series from the same Lowepro is specific due to its modularity, but it is not without charm. Another good option is the Think Tank Speed Demon, as well as its sister models Speed Freak and Speed Racer.
The compact camera fits in your pocket or in a small case that you attach to your belt.
Tripod
If you are able to do without a tripod, you can only be envied. Unfortunately, many landscapes are good at twilight, and hands tremble more than usual after a difficult transition, which adversely affects the sharpness of handheld shots, and therefore, a tripod, even if minimalistic (like the Manfrotto MKCOMPACTADVBH), is all still desirable. The weight of a camping tripod should not exceed 1.5 kg, otherwise you will soon begin to regret that you did not leave it at home. Do not forget that you will rarely use a tripod for its intended purpose, but you will have to carry it with you constantly.
The tripod can be attached to the outside of your camera bag or backpack, making sure it doesn't dangle or get in the way of your walking.
Memory cards
It is better to take a lot of small capacity cards than one big one. Yes, you will have to change them more often, but you will minimize the risk of losing all your pictures at once if the card fails or is lost. The optimal calculation is 200-300 shots per card.
Memory cards, especially captured ones, must be packed in sealed bags - empty cards separately, full ones separately. Stack the cards in such a way that there is no possibility of confusing an already captured card with a clean one.
Filters
It's a good idea to equip all your lenses with protective filters while hiking to protect the front lens from water splashes, dirt and scratches. However, if you are confident in your own accuracy or are afraid of unnecessary glare, you can do without protective filters.
In addition, you may need: a polarizer, a gradient filter, and possibly an ND filter for shooting waterfalls and streams.
It is very convenient when all your filters are of the same size, and therefore one of the criteria for choosing outdoor lenses should be the unity of the filter thread diameter for the entire set of optics. If this is not the case, you can choose filters for the lens with the largest thread, and for smaller lenses, buy step-up adapter rings.
Filters can be stored in a special holder-envelope or in suitable pockets of a photo bag.
Flashes
Usually the built-in flash is enough to fill in the shadows, but if you're going to be using the flash a lot, then it might make sense to grab a small external on-camera flash (something like the Nikon SB-400) paired with an extension cable.
Other accessories
In addition to all of the above, you should have with you:
- accessories for cleaning optics (at least a soft brush and microfiber cloths);
- remote trigger (cable or infrared remote control);
- bubble level (if the camera is not equipped with a virtual horizon);
- a plastic bag to cover the camera bag from sudden rain (some photo bags are initially supplied with a waterproof cover);
- a charger and spare batteries (in an amount depending on the appetite of your camera and how rarely you will have access to an outlet);
- batteries for optional flash (if available).
Tourist equipment
I’ll make a reservation right away that for your survival on a hike, camping equipment is much more important than photographic equipment, and if you encounter a dilemma during the training camp: take an extra can of stew with you or an additional fisheye lens? - preference should be given to stew.
So, what can you do without in the wilderness?
Backpack
The backpack should be as comfortable as possible. Certainly with a rigid back, adjustable shoulder straps and, most importantly, with a soft wide waist belt. No "koloboks" if your health is dear to you. In a good backpack, you can carry up to 25% of your own weight without consequences for the body.
The amount of backpack you need depends on the nature of the hike. If you have the opportunity to replenish water and provisions every few days, then a backpack of 80 liters for men and 60 liters for women will be more than enough. For long, fully autonomous expeditions, a tower of 100 liters or more may be required.
Tent
The tent is usually the heaviest piece of equipment, so try to choose a model that is lighter, but without sacrificing too much comfort. For hiking in the summer, there is no particular need for an extreme all-season tent, but I personally like it when the tent has some margin of safety, and the weather in the mountains can be unpredictable even in summer.
In any case, even a summer tent should be two-layered and have at least a minimal vestibule, otherwise it will be cold, wet and uncomfortable in it. The minimum water resistance of the awning is 3000 mm of water. Art., bottom - 5000 mm of water. Art. The mosquito net should be dense, fine-meshed.
The volume of the tent is an individual matter, but for couples, double tents are optimal, of course.
To prevent the bottom of the tent from rubbing against stones and branches, a piece of polyethylene is often laid under it or, which I prefer, a 3-5 mm thick polyethylene foam substrate for the laminate, since the latter further improves thermal insulation.
Hardened light-movers get by with an awning instead of a tent, but this is far from acceptable in all weather.
Sleeping bag
Choose a bag according to height and weather. In summer, a rectangular sleeping bag is convenient, which turns into a blanket when unzipped. If cold weather is expected, you need a "cocoon".
And remember: a warm sleeping bag is a dry sleeping bag. Even the best bag stops heating if it gets damp. Therefore, ventilate and dry the bag in the sun whenever possible.
Mat
A tourist rug (aka foam, aka karemat) is placed on the bottom of the tent under a sleeping bag for greater comfort and thermal insulation. Rug choose thicker and softer. Metallic rugs are a rare nonsense, since a layer of foil in fact does not help to keep warm at all, but climbs instantly.
In addition to the rug, it is useful to have a seat with you, i.e. a small piece of thick polyethylene foam, equipped with a strap so as not to sit with a bare profile on damp stones and logs, risking chilling the lower anatomy.
clothing
Dress for the season. You should have at least two full changes of clothes with you in case you get wet. Needless to say, spare clothing must be packed in waterproof bags.
Remember that several light layers not only warm better than one warm one, but also leave more room for thermoregulation.
Bring a rain poncho large enough to keep the rain out of the way with your backpack. It is easy to make a raincoat yourself from thin oilcloth.
A headdress is useful for protection, both from the cold and from the sun.
Shoes
Shoes are, without exaggeration, the most important piece of equipment, because they determine how far you can go.
The ideal hiking shoes are trekking boots, but in summer they can get a little hot. To an even greater extent, the latter is true for army berets. Sneakers are comfortable, but on rocky mountain paths they become unusable relatively quickly. Tourist sandals - shoes for an amateur - you need to be able to wear them so as not to knock your feet down. Sneakers are not that very comfortable (much depends on the model), but due to their low weight and versatility, they are good as a spare pair of shoes, without which you cannot go hiking.
Any shoes (especially berets) must be well carried before the hike. There is nothing worse on a hike than worn feet, and therefore old, tried-and-tested shoes are always preferable to new ones.
Deserved attention should be paid to socks. Regardless of the time of year, socks should be thick, soft and in sufficient quantity. Change them often on the go.
kitchen utensils
A mug, spoon, bowl, knife (KLMN) should be with each participant in the campaign. It is not necessary to take a fork, although it is permissible. Anything that can be eaten with a fork can also be eaten with a spoon, but not vice versa.
The knife should be small but sharp. A large knife is of little use: as a weapon, it is of little use, but problems may arise with law enforcement officers.
Mug and bowl, of course, tin or plastic, but not ceramic.
A pot (or, as it is called, “kan”) for cooking can be taken one for several people. Small army bowlers are quite comfortable, but their volume is enough for a maximum of two or three people. By the way, a liter tin mug may well combine the functions of the actual mug, bowl and individual pot.
It is highly advisable to have a compact gas burner with you, even if you are mainly going to cook on a campfire. Dry firewood is not found in every parking lot, and the burner, in their absence, makes life very easy for a tourist. In the reserves, for a fire, they are fined at all.
Matches or a lighter must be duplicated in different places and hermetically packed.
Other tools
On the hike you will need a small axe. It is enough to take one per group. Drinking won't hurt either. If you are not going to cut down entire trees, then a pocket wire or chain saw will suffice.
A small infantry shovel or its equivalent is useful for digging a fire and sorties as needed.
Also grab needles, thread, electrical tape, spare buttons and buckles - in a word, everything you need for urgent repairs to equipment and clothing.
Trekking poles
If you want - take it, if you don't want - whatever you want. Personally, I prefer to pick up a suitable stick for myself in the nearest forest. It’s convenient to walk with this, and it’s not a pity to lose, and for self-defense, in which case it will do.
Food
Give preference to foods that do not spoil for a long time and have high nutritional value at low weight: crackers, cereals, pasta, dry mashed potatoes, egg powder, etc.
Milk should be taken condensed, and even better - dry.
Stew - a classic tourist food - is very good on a hike, although it is heavy (both in a backpack and in the stomach). Choose the stew carefully, and only the one corresponding to GOST 5284-84 of the highest grade. However, in our time, even GOST does not guarantee the proper quality of the product.
Freeze-dried products (sublimates) are indispensable on long hikes, when you need to take a lot of food, and its weight is critical.
Perishable foods such as bread, cheese, fresh vegetables, etc. should be bought in settlements along the route and consumed without waiting for them to deteriorate.
In the presence of flour and the proper skill, bread and cakes can be cooked right on the fire.
Do not forget about tea / coffee, sugar, salt, seasonings and vegetable oil.
Nobody prevents you from eating wild berries and mushrooms, provided that you are well versed in them and can avoid poisoning. Fishing is also not prohibited.
In case you get hungry, and it’s still far from the halt, it is advisable to have dry rations with you for emergency recuperation. Nuts, chocolate and dried fruits (in particular, raisins) are best suited for this role.
Water
Make sure you have enough drinking water and plan ahead for places where water supplies can be replenished. The drier the region, the more seriously this should be taken. In an area rich in springs, you can feel freer and carry water for one day.
Dehydrated water is sold in specialized stores in the form of powder or tablets.
You should not drink from suspicious sources, and in general, do not be lazy to boil any water if it is not artesian. Some play it safe and take a camping water filter with them.
Torch
The most convenient are small LED headlamps, but this is a matter of taste.
Navigation
Be sure to get an up-to-date topographic map of the area you plan to travel. The minimum acceptable scale is 1:100,000. The larger, the better.
You need to take the map even if you have a GPS navigator, since GPS does not work everywhere (especially in the mountains and in cloudy skies), and the battery can run out at the most inopportune moment.
In addition to the map, take a compass with you, and just in case, learn how to determine the cardinal directions from the sun and stars.
Mosquitoes protection
In the regions abundant with mosquitoes, i.e. in all lacustrine and swampy regions, the presence of repellents is vital.
My experience has shown that quite effective remedies even for Karelian mosquitoes are: Taiga cream (if you can find it), Gardex Extreme aerosol and Raid mosquito coils (good for a halt).
Do not forget that diethyltoluamide (DEET or N,N-Diethylmethylbenzamide), which is part of most repellents, is dangerous not only if it gets into the eyes or respiratory tract, but also has an unpleasant property to corrode plastic, and therefore protect photographic equipment from DEET and try not to apply repellent on the palms.
In addition to chemical mosquito repellents, fine mesh mosquito nets also work well.
By the way, a good fine-mesh mosquito net that does not let in midges is one of the important criteria when choosing a tent if you often travel to mosquito places.
first aid kit
The contents of the first aid kit depends very much on the length of the trip and its difficulty, but even a minimal first aid kit should include the following:
- Iodine or brilliant green (brilliant green) - for abrasions and cuts.
- Hydrogen peroxide - to disinfect wounds.
- Amoxicillin or amoxiclav is an antibiotic.
- Bandage.
- Cotton wool.
- Plaster - for corns and chafing.
- Harness (if necessary, can be replaced with a belt from pants).
- Citramon or aspirin is an analgesic and antipyretic.
- No-shpa is an analgesic, antispasmodic.
- Activated charcoal - for poisoning.
- Furazolidone - for intestinal infections.
- Loperamide is a remedy for diarrhea.
- Panthenol - for burns, incl. solar.
- Scissors (manicure is also suitable).
Depending on your individual sensitivity and personal preferences, the medication list can be creatively redesigned. Also, the first-aid kit should be understaffed with drugs that you are forced to take for health reasons (for example, antiallergic drugs).
Personal care products
This item is up to you. The main thing: do not forget a toothbrush and toilet paper - the most difficult thing to do without them.
Money and documents
I strongly advise you to have a cash reserve with you, in case something does not go according to plan, as well as an identity document.
Both money and a passport are rarely used directly in the forests, so pack them in a waterproof bag and hide them deeper.
Alcohol
For more than ten years now, the author of these lines has not been drinking anything stronger than kefir, and wishes his readers the same. However, if you can't imagine a trip without drinking, be prudent and take only pure 96% medical alcohol with you, and in a light plastic container. Alcohol is perfectly diluted with water at a halt to the desired concentration, but dragging glass bottles of vodka or, even worse, wine, with you into the mountains, is both hard and stupid.
The best thing is to do without alcohol at all. Head in the campaign must be clear.
Protect the environment
Garbage littering at least somewhat popular tourist routes, spoils the mood much more than mosquitoes or a heavy backpack. It is a scourge that can only be dealt with by the combined efforts of each and every one.
Stop littering! I'm sick to death of removing plastic bottles and other rubbish from beautiful, in general, landscapes in Photoshop. If you are a photographer, then take pity on yourself and your colleagues.
You must leave your lodging in a condition that is at least as good as it was before you arrived. Ideally, the parking lot after your visit should become cleaner.
Burn garbage that can be burned. Burn cans on a fire and bury. Take the rest with you and throw it away at the nearest settlement.
Do not carve commemorative inscriptions on trees and refrain from rock art - the Paleolithic is long over.
Do not cut trees unless absolutely necessary. Usually, deadwood is enough for a fire.
Be careful with fire. Do not leave the camp and do not go to bed until the fire is out. It is very easy to start a fire in a dry forest, and in terms of its consequences, forest fires leave any other tourist atrocities far behind.
In a word, behave decently, treat nature with respect and it will not remain in your debt.
Thank you for your attention!
Vasily A.
post scriptum
If the article turned out to be useful and informative for you, you can kindly support the project by contributing to its development. If you did not like the article, but you have thoughts on how to make it better, your criticism will be accepted with no less gratitude.
Do not forget that this article is subject to copyright. Reprinting and quoting are permissible provided there is a valid link to the original source, and the text used must not be distorted or modified in any way.
