The 10 Essentials 

Before I get into the ten essentials, I want to speak to why the 10 essentials are what they are. You see, in the early days of mountaineering, mountaineering was a dangerous activity. climbing mountains, we now stroll up just one hundred years ago could be the death of you. But as the hobby matured, there came a "mountaineering" philosophy if you will.

Now I don't know if the "philosophy" aspect is the correct way to refer to it, but it is how I refer to it.

The philosophy is quite simple really. it is about risk mitigation.

As mountaineering aged and became more and more mainstream, mountaineers began to standardize things. We have rock climbing as a discipline for example because of this, as well as hiking, skiing, camping backpacking and so on.

The 10 essentials came from the background of "What equipment is essential to every mountaineering trip that I go on?" and remains to this day a standard among guides, instructors, teachers, fellows, and professionals in the mountaineering world. They are not something to be taken for granted, lightly, or forgotten and if they are not, they should be a staple of every trip you go on.

The 10 essentials can be broken up as such:

1. Navigation
2. Flashlight
3. Sun Protection 
4. First Aid
5. A Sturdy Knife
6. Fire
7. Shelter
8. Extra Food
9. Extra Water
10. Extra Clothes

While it might seem like a lot, let's break it down.

1. Navigation - This can be a smartphone with a navigation application, paper map or standalone GPS unit. No, google Maps won't cut it, but something like Back Country Navigator (https://www.backcountrynavigator.com/) with offline maps for the area you are going to be in is a good choice. If I can, I personally like to get a paper map with topo and a compass since these require no batteries and work in extremely cold weather.

2. Flashlight - Preferably a headlight. make sure you bring an extra set of batteries and swap those out often.

3. Sun Protection - The sun is awesome and a great supplier of Vitamin D...and heat. Sun protection is important! Always have sun glasses, a hat, lip balm, and sunscreen. Nothing is worse that a bad sunburn...on your heard....or eyes! (Yep, the sun on snow can be bright and a sunburn on your eyes is the worst thing in the world. seriously.

4. First Aid - As a former Emergency Medical Tech or EMT, I over prep on this one. Simply put, buy one of those cute first aid kits at a big box store and then rebuild it with better gear and add to it. Make sure you bring hiking supplies like moleskin, and activity considered supplies like SAM splints to rock climbing or a backpacking trip. Also, use your equipment. I've met many people that hoard band aids like they are gold coins. the elastic and glue wear out so use it or you will be throwing them away.

5. A Sturdy Knife - The word sturdy here is important. It doesn't mean long, and a machete, or heavy. It means sturdy. I carry a 2 inch blade with rope cutting teeth at the base of the blade and keep it sharp.

6. Fire - Weather proof matches or a lighter will do here. Know how to start a fire and use the tools you have often. If you have never used flint and steel and wouldn't normally make a fire with it, don't bring it. If you are lost and cold, the last think you want to do is figure out how to use flint and steel.

7. Shelter - This can be a reusable tarp or emergency blanket and some para cord, or a bivy sack or tent. Just make sure it matched your activity.

8. Extra Food - Make sure to bring at least an extra day worth of food. be it snacks or meals, bring enough to be able to sit, raise your blood sugar and think through a problem, like, I busted my foot, or you are lost.

9. Extra Water - Bring a water filter if there is water along the route and a day extra worth if not. that can mean a gallon in the desert, but the weight is worth your life.

10. Extra Clothes - This can be warm clothes or a dry change in wet environments. Ultimately the goal is the same, as things change, you might need to change your clothes. For example, I recently went on a hike where I knew the weather was cold, but I didn't expect it to be as cold as it was when I got out of the car. If I didn't bring a fleece and rain jacket, gloves and a beanie, I would have had to cancel. But because I had extra clothes, I was able to keep my plans.

I hope that this information sets you up for success and that you build your 10 essentials if you haven't.

Cheers and stay safe out there,

-Mike