Ok, so this DR ranger is going to play the RL ranger and go hiking around Mt Rainer this summer. It will be a bit over 90 miles, camping along the way for around 2 weeks!

I love hiking but i've never hiked for more than 1 day and would love to receive all possible advice from you nice rangers! :D

This was my usual kit when I would go out and about on camping back west or longterm hunting trips.

compass
landmap
If you cannot use a compass and map, find a GPS transciever
Flare gun and flares (since it is techinically a firearm and Mt Ranier is Federal property it'd probably be illegal)
signaling mirror
sleeping bag (as light as possible but with the best coldweather protection)
Clean socks and clean underwear(several pair, I cannot stress this enough, if you get lost and die do you want them to find out your underwear hadn't been changed in two weeks?)
tent
night glasses (like NVGs but are purely optical in how they intensify images so no batteries to run out on you) also called Starlight glasses or a starlight scope

a knife (a weapon, probably have to talk to the authorities which rules out the handgun I would suggest because handguns are utterly illegal), MREs, water purification tablets, first-aid kit, as much bug spray as possible, and a quart of whole grain alcohol (probably not allowed since it is federal property), matches, lighter, flints (better check on the firestarter kit, probably illegal) and a cellphone (in some cases I borrowed a sat phone), something to contain water, soap.

One should also note that one can make an explosive noisemaker from material found in MREs as well as a nice way to warm your body in a pinch. Matches are found in the MREs. Pretty good eating in some cases, craptastic eating in other cases.

Take along energy bars as well.

I also took along a guide book that telled what plants were edible and what would kill me.

V.

And whatever you do, do not stray off marked paths. Going off those paths can lead to your early demise in any number of ugly ways. They've found remains of people in the smokies that were just a few hundred yards from a well-marked and traveled path.

And if you and your hiking partner get lost and he asks you to kill him to end his misery. Don't, the ranger aid station is just two hundred yards around the bend. Yes, this actually happened, yes a ranger aid station was just a few hundred yards away and he went to jail.

V.

Before jumping into a 2 week trek make sure you've planned your food drops. I find that I can comfortably carry 3 to 5 days worth of food at a time. Start out with 3 days worth and work your way up. I can't stress enough how much planning needs to go into this. Where are you going to get food every X days? Where are you going to get water every night? Here's where a local outdoor club can come in real handy. Milk these guys for info on that kind of stuff. Also plan out your stops. How many miles a day will you hike? Check your elevations, a 7 mile day might not sound like much but if you're making 1000 foot climbs 3 times over those 7 miles, it's gonna suck.

Also make sure you're in shape for this. A few 1 to 3 hour hikes 2 to 3 times a week can get you ready. Make sure your boots are broken in. Prep your pack and throw in a brick or some canned goods to simulate 3 days worth of food weight. A set of bathroom scales can help you trim the non-essentials from your pack. I like a pack that's no more than 1/3 of my body weight if I can swing it. You can always spot the noobs by the size of the knife they're carrying (this is where I'm laughing at Volsa's night vision goggles and flare gun). Hike with a buddy, and decide how you're going to split up the big-weight items (tent/fly, stove/fuel, etc). The two items I'll splurge on for weight are a tripod hiking stool and a flask of Gentleman Jack for campfire at night. Just remember alcohol dehydrates you. Speaking of dehydration, I like to follow the 1 quart of liquid per 1 hour of hiking rule. And either break for less than 5 or more than 20 min. If you do break for more than 20, remove your boots and air out the socks (both pairs your wearing, liner sock and cushion sock).

Boy that's rambling on ain't it?

~Hanryu Ves'Shomis
Sword of House Calibanor, Ambassador of the Ilithi Court, Emerald Knight, Keeper of the CEC, ... still a Ranger
http://www.kynevon.info/CombatEquipmentCompendium.xls

Thanks Sauva. That was not a ramble, it was important info :)

I already bought my boots about a month ago and have been hiking around for 1 or 2 hours regularly (except when it rained the last few days).

I still dont know how the food will be. Dont know if there will be any place to stock up during the hike. I'm going to investigate.

All those little tricks will come in handy, i'll have to compile them all :D

It surely isnt going to be 2 confortable weeks but will be a great and fun experience.

Take a weapon gun or two. There are lots of wild mean animals up in that area.


Arctuniol

Knowledge is like manure, it's only good when spread.

If you're hiking in a group, then you really don't have much to worry about when it comes to other people. But either way, you should tell one of your friends that's not going your intended route and when you plan on being back. That way, if they don't hear from you on your intended return date they will know something is up and can get help.


Gimlias Minas-Tirith
Box Seller
The Dragon's Egg
http://www.thedragonsegg.net

---

"I won't learn anything - even if I arrange and try to skin it with a trader's caravan"

"Why don't you roleplay a character who is NOT retarded? ~Maje

Loved Mt. Rainer. I spent some happy times there running wild as a kid in the woods when my folks lived up near the park. Just remember, if the bear got to the berries first, the berries are the bears. I had no problems cause I knew this. Likewise if the moose is eating those roots etc you wanted, oh well. The moose got there first. My dogs were very good at teaching me such things. They also were good at telling dangerous things when to back off before it got to the point where a confrontation would be called for and I typically listened to my dogs when they said sit, stay, etc. This is when I developed the habit of always having a walking stick. Was good times.

Anyway...

Don't know if it's legal where you are but when I was up in Alaska they sold 'bear repellant' which was basically a little pocket knife size container of tear gas. I did not need to use it ever. Generally respecting the wild critter's space is the best course of action. This means paying attention to the sign in the area and your surroundings at all times.

I've always included a whistle and a metal mirror. They are low tech and sturdy and light. They are easy to tuck away and not worry about.

A small light weight digging impliment and a light hand axe are highly useful as well.

You will want a needle and thread.

Please make sure that you planned for layers of clothing. I generally opted for breathable clothing that would keep me warm even if sopping wet as at least my outter layer. Hence no hypothermia when the temp went from 90 to 40 and I ended up drenched in a sudden sever thunderstorm before I could get to shelter in the Rockies. I adjusted what I was wearing so it held my heat in and made it to shelter just fine.

Key is knowing where you are and what's around you at all times. This means actually looking and getting your bearings, not just relying on tech.

I generally have a walking stick. I love my walking stick.

Know your flora and animal signs. Spend some time finding out what is out there and what will make you sick just brushing against it and how to tell if that berry patch has hornets in it and such things.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." --Eleanor Roosevelt

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." --attributed to Albert Einstein

Loved it up there and yes the people were awesome.


"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." --Eleanor Roosevelt

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." --attributed to Albert Einstein

Have you gone on your hike, how did it go?

I found this thread too late and I hope your uncle knows what he's doing (cause alot of people on these boards sure don't!). ^_^


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Not so much a tagline as a cry for help.