Years ago, I would often decide last minute to take a hike. And nearly every time, it was a mad dash to ensure I have everything I could very possibly need for my day of fun outdoors. Inevitably, this would mean an item would be forgotten nearly every hike. My worst situation of forgetting a critical item was during my only attempt at the Superstitions Ridgeline Trail, fondly known as ‘The Death March’. Never heard of it? It is the apex of hiking trails in central Arizona — but it is not for the weak, or in my situation, the unprepared.
In a nutshell: after 15 hours of hiking, the sun had already set, I was at the top of the Flatiron Trail when I realized I had forgotten extra batteries for my headlamp AND flashlight. If you are unfamiliar with the Flatiron (check out my write up on the Siphon Draw to Flatiron Trails), this is a very steep and bouldery trail that is already strenuous during the daytime. Needless to say, forgetting those little items forced me to take much longer downhill – probably adding 2 hours to a normal pace.
However, I have learned and grown as a human! I set myself up for success in my future hikes by developing a Checklist I review prior to my hiking endeavors. Feel free to download the doc above and keep on your computer or print. Whatever you need to do to set you up properly for a great time outdoors.
Now…take a hike!
Ren Fou
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