Hiking Preparations 😱

1 week before: Pre-climb/itineraries. 🏔

• Confirm itinerary.

  • When to leave/meeting place, expected costs, options re: going to the jump-off point.
  • Required permits for the climb.
  • Confirm assignments: who’s the team leader, assistant leader/sweeper, medic.
  • Get contact details/person to contact in case of emergency for all hikers.
  • Get a contact person in Manila or wherever you are where you can send climb updates to.
  • Required clothing/tools (cold wear, gloves, trekking poles).

• Get hike details.

  • How long is the hike/how many days?
  • What is the expected weather like?
  • Are there river crossings involved?
  • Is the trail rocky/do we need to double up on socks?
  • Is there a need to grapple/rappel/do rock climbing things?
  • Do you need gloves? The trail might have a lot of prickly plants.
  • Do we expect leeches/limatik? If so bring sprayable alcohol. Dealing with Leeches.

• Get campsite details.

  • Is it warm enough that you can get by without a sleeping bag/sleeping mat, even if it rains?
  • Is it cold enough that you need a fleece/gloves/doubly-lined socks?
  • Are there trees/places where you can deploy a hammock, so you don’t need to bring a tent?
  • How many tents/hammocks can fit there?

• Ensure you have a complete set of group equipment.

  • Cookset.
  • Stoves (2-3 for a group of 6). Check what type of fuel (butane/white gas/etc..) they need. Make sure you know how the stove works.
  • Tents.
  • Temporary shelters/tarps. (2-3 for a group of 6, probably less).
  • Ground sheets/mats/places to sit on.
  • Trowel(s).
  • Group first aid kits.
  • Cleaning implements (dish scrubber/tissue paper).
  • Rope.
  • Bolo/machete (optional).
  • Radios (optional).

2-3 days before: get everything you need for the climb. 🏔

Reading list: The Ten Essentials, Backpacking Checklist.

• Confirm you have all the equipment you need.
  • Bag. Try packing everything in before the climb just to make sure everything fits. Rain cover, waterproof lining/mother bag.
  • Shelter. Tent (body, flysheet, poles, pegs), groundsheet, temporary shelters/tarps (tying strings, pegs).
  • Insulation. Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, malong.
  • Illumination. Headlamp with extra batteries. Make sure those batteries fit.
  • Navigation. Emergency whistle/compass, rope. Fortunately I’ve only had to use the whistle once, but being lost is really disconcerting.
  • First aid kit. Personal medicine, triangular bandage, elastic bandage, insect repellent.
  • Camp hydration. Water containers when camping. If the campsite has a water source, you probably don’t have to fill this up.
  • Trail hydration. Hydration pack/water bottles while climbing. Sports drinks.
  • Cooking. Cookset, stove, stove wind screen, enough fuel, fire-starter/lighter/waterproof matches, folding knife, ladle, chopping board.
  • Nutrition. Mess kit/plate/cup, spork or spoon and fork, chopsticks.
  • Emergency food. Peanut butter has a high energy to weight ratio, though canned goods like canned tuna can also work.
  • Toiletries, sun protection. Tissue paper, toothbrush/toothpaste, sunscreen/lip balm, comb, alcohol, deodorant, petroleum jelly for chafing, etc.
  • Number 2/poopsies. Trowel.
  • Repair. Sewing kit, tent repair kit, duct tape.
  • Water treatment. Water filter.
  • Identification. Dog tag.
  • Money!
• Check that you have your costumes ready:
  • For hiking. Cap/visor/brimmed hat, sunglasses (optional), dry fit shirt/polo, rash guards (optional), gloves (optional), shorts/leggings, technical socks (2 layers if you need), trail runners/boots (check if they might break down during the climb). Reference
  • For camping. Bonnet/Ushanka, face mask, base layer, fleece/mid layer (optional), gloves (optional), windbreaker, thermal underwear, wool socks, sandals for walking around the camp/resting your feet after the climb. I wouldn’t recommend cotton jackets because if it gets wet, it’s unusable. Layering basics.
  • For going home: cute outfit.
• Review your meal assignments.
  • How many people do you need to cook for?
  • Roughly 0.5 cups of raw rice per 2 people per meal. How much rice should I cook per person?
  • Roughly 0.8kg of protein/meat for 4 people per meal.
  • Soupy foods are also nice if you’re assigned to cooking at the campsite.
  • Precook (boil your meats, then put some vinegar before freezing).
  • Blanch your vegetables.
  • I prefer pasta if I know there’s a water source near the camp site. It’s easier to cook than rice.
• Trail food.
  • High in carbohydrates 🍫, my favorite is Nips/Jelly Ace.
• Carb loading.
• Treats: Iced tea, coffee ☕️, chocolates/stuff you can melt to make a fondue, anything that can justify its weight.
• Review skills:
  • Knot tying. Taut line/clove hitch/sheet bend/2 half hitches/slip knot.
  • Pitch your tent just to make sure there aren’t holes etc.
  • Navigation.

The morning (or evening) of the climb: final preparations. 🏔

• This is my alarm clock: Kukuklok.
• Double check the weather and confirm that you haven’t forgotten anything. Scan room before leaving, also make sure you put your pre-cooked stuff inside your bag (they might still be in the fridge).
• I like bringing a Sleep mask because I find it hard to sleep anyways.
• Check with your team leaders first if the climb will push through before you go to the bus station. 😅
• Enjoy! 😄

TODO: (for me)

• Hiking apps.
• Actual checklist.