Seek adventure! Safely. Vamp up your hiking game with this essential packing list for beginners. Also, check out our latest trip to the one… the only… Mt. Rainier National Park!
Hiking Essentials: For Beginners
Fuel
• Plenty of water
• Meals & snacks
For longer hikes, it’s smart to pack a meal like a footlong sub to share. To supplement electrolyte expenditure, pack many nutrient dense snacks like bananas, protein bars, cliff bars, gatorade gummies & trail mix.
Gear
• Hiking boots
Hiking boots are essential when hitting the trails to avoid injury, improve performance, & ultimately be prepared for any terrain you may approach. Try them on in stores like REI, Columbia, Dicks Sporting Goods, etc. & search online for the best prices!
• Day/Backpack
Invest in a durable, comfortable, storage friendly bag for a days worth of adventure!
Outdoor Products 9.0, hydration bladder compatible
Teton Hydration pack, 2L bladder included
• Hiking poles
• Flashlight & headlamp
• Weather appropriate clothing
Check the forecast & be prepared for a change in weather along the hike. Remember: you can always take off extra layers that you don’t need!
– Rain/winter jacket
– Insulated vest/sweatshirt
– Wool socks– always bring an extra pair!
Safety
• Cell phone & accessories
• Map or GPS
If available, always grab a printed map upon entry
Mobile Device Maps: AllTrails app, REI National Parks app
• Survival bracelet
Compass, whistle, fire starter all in one
• First Aid
• Multi-Purpose tool
15 in 1 Portable Pocket Multi Tool with case
• Sun Protection
Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
Miscellaneous
• Tissues & trash bags
Pack it up, pack it in. Help keep our earth beautiful & always refrain from leaving anything behind- even TP or a banana peel. If you see trash, kindly collect it & dispose of it when able.
• Camera
Memories are priceless. Don’t forget to snap pictures along your journey to share with others & reflect on in the future! You will be so grateful you did.
7/13/19
Mount Rainier National Park
Hike to Camp Muir
8.4 miles roundtrip
4,606 ft. elevation gain
One of the most challenging, breathtaking (literally), hikes of my life! The well respected trail lead us through the blissful meadows surrounding Mt. Rainier, up a 2,800 foot vertical ascent on the Muir Glacier. For the entirety of the glacier, we were following footprints & trekking up a snow filled terrain, with visibility of only about 15 meters in diameter due to clouds. When the sun appeared, the mountain was illuminated, allowing us to visualize other hikers & the enormous climb yet above us. After 3.5 hours & plenty of water breaks, it finally appeared in the distance- Camp Muir. The first overnight stop for climbers intending to reach the summit by day three, Camp Muir is composed of stone shelters, toilet houses, & a flat base for campers to pitch tents. After a quick rest & meander around Camp, we began our playful descent. Using garbage bags we slid down the mountain in manmade snow slides, as we watched other hikers ski their way back down the glacier. When we tried to walk, it automatically turned into a run as our feet effortlessly slid down the mountain, as if we were gliding down a sand dune. Finally, the valley appeared & we were back on populated paths lined with flowers, marmots, & squirrels. A day I’ll remember forever.
“… the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings.”
John Muir, conservationist, 1889
