in may, my 6 year old daughter and i start our first section hike of the AT. and plan to finish 1 state a year. its all thanks to you for giving me the drive to actually start doing it. wish i could do a thru hike. but 15 years of memories with my little one sounds just as good! thank you Dixie
Hey Dixie, I know you won't read this lol but anyway, I am an assistant helper at my scout group where we have recently really pushed the kids to do their hikes. While they may only be really short 3 day hikes for their age 30 km in 3 days seems like a long time ahaha. They don't take adults on these hikes and only I can go on them as a support member (making sure they don't die lol) but they feed themselves, navigate and everything else. I have found your channel to be an amazing resource and really helped me to improve my hiking which I then have passed on to them. I've shared your channel to the group so they can learn, and they seem to really enjoy it! Since you're really down to earth, PG and a really great role model I think you're a perfect learning opportunity for them and I. But yeah, thank you so much for everything you do for the community :D also love your content -Frog and the scouts
I just thought of this and I will add....it's also a great idea to let someone know when you head out for a hike & an approximate time you plan to return. As a solo hiker, I always let a family member know when and where I'll be hiking....and I again let them know when I'm done and somewhere safe. A simple text to family members who are willing to be "aware" for you is all it takes. In the same respect, I also NEVER post anywhere "public," where or when I'll be hiking until I come home. While a crazy person might not be willing to chase you 10 miles down a trail~ they might choose to wait for you at a trail head. I hike many different trails and nobody (other than trusted friends or family) know where/when I will hike until I'm home (and have photos to share 😉).
The matches as back-up statement is so true. I was above 9000 feet at Mt. San Jacinto, and there wasn't enough oxygen for my lighter to work. I thought it was maybe broken, but it worked the next day at the trailhead. Matches meant hot coffee for breakfast!
These are the most straight forward, informative hiking videos on the Tube. Great nature shots, and all while being entertaining without fluffy side out stories. Really to the point- love it. I am catching up on your videos, and snuck a peek at Episode 15 of the CDT series. I live in Texas, but am working on a cabin I bought in Berthoud Falls, Colorado. You walked right past my cabin on US 40 where the Jones Pass cutoff is to the left, and the Berthoud Pass first switchback goes off to the right. I was even there in August when you were on your hike. Wish I knew then what I know now. It would have been great to say "hi". Thanks for the videos, I am working up to day hiking the top of the 12,343 mountain in Arapaho National Forest I see from my porch. Your videos will help me get ready. Baron von Berthoud Falls Dewey Warner
Thank you for the video. It is good to remember these things, even on a day hike. (Went for a day hike last year in a well marked state park. Got to the back side of the park and discovered some of the signs had been removed. As suggested in the video, I downloaded a copy of the park map before the hike. So I was able to find my way back using the map and landmarks.)
Hey Dixie, I'm starting hiking. I'm going to follow your videos as my how to guide. I'm doing this full time. I've moved to the Rockies to start training. You have inspired me. I just wanted you to know.
Short, sweet, and to the point. Perfect! Thanks for sharing Dixie. I'm interested in what else you have planned for this series. Looking forward to it. 🙂
Hi Dixie !! When I was in Scouts we made fire starters from lint, also rolled up news paper soaked in wax and cut onto little wheel shapes after they dry. Thanks for all the videos !!
Good video! I have all of those items except a temporary shelter in my day pack (and I don't always carry a topo map if I'm on a trail I know well). I do have a large rain poncho that could be a makeshift shelter in a pinch, but have been meaning to add something specific for this purpose (just haven't decided what I want to use quite yet). Having acquired these items over the couple years or so, I will say that it has added to my confidence in trying new trails. 😊
I got an inexpensive bivy that weighs less than a pound to carry around on day hikes. An emergency blanket weighs maybe an ounce and is dirt cheap. Lots of options for something you hope to never need.
Great video, Dixie. I think my weakest links in terms of the essentials explained in this video is sun protection and repair gear. I rarely put on sunblock or wear sun protecting clothing. I think that is a bad idea because it can get me in the future but because I really don't burn, I rarely think about it. Gear repair has only been something I've recently got because nothing has ever happened to my gear but I'd rather be safe than sorry, right?! Great video as always - if you're ever looking for a shorter thru-hike, my forest (Shawnee NF) has an easy longer trail that is a bit over 100 miles that many people try to do each year. Plus being a shorter trail, there is more time to see all the cool things our forest has to offer like a road closed two times a year for snake migration!
Hello Dixie, thank you again for this vital information. You always do a superb job in your video presentations. Take care, be safe and always have fun out there. 🤗
Great list. Something I learned hiking with Boy Scouts that I haven't seen on RUclips, is to wrap a few rounds of duct tape around a water bottle. Gives you enough for an emergency, without having to carry a heavy roll. Hike on!
this is a very good and interesting video, my compliments! I have also tried a similar theme once. for our pilgrimage on the Via Francigena. Best regards to you from Saxony in Germany Thomas - das ist ja ein sehr gutes und interessantes Video, mein Kompliment! An einem ähnlichen Thema habe ich mich auch einmal versucht. Nämlich für unsere Pilgerreise auf der Via Francigena. Ganz liebe Grüße an dich aus Sachsen in Deutschland Thomas
The first thing I carry is a whistle around my neck. It's a good way of day and night communication. My compass also has the mirror so that's another way to signal during a sunny day. I use back ups for the most important things so there's another whistle and a button compass (among other things) in my survival kit (Altoids tin). I carry a pocket knife/multi tool but also a fixed blade. In fact I received a lightweight fixed blade recently I'm going to review. I carry a lighter but also a ferro rod. I carry a stainless steel water bottle so I can also cook in it and boil water. I wear a hat for sun and rain protection but also have an army poncho I can wear or use as a tarp. I carry a high visibility orange or yellow reflective vest to signal with or to wear when crossing hunting territory. I'm a bushcraft, outdoor and survival instructor so my approach is different maybe. I do bring my phone and it's off and in a waterproof casing (communication). I don't rely on anything electronic or battery operated. I might bring a headlight for convenience but not the extra batteries because I very rarely use it (signaling device). I just take the time for my eyes to get adjusted to the dark.
Not only matches in a waterproof case but something that you don't have to worry about being wet or such is a good firesteel. Takes a little practice ahead of time though
Kirk Harrington I have carried a bic lighter in a ziplock bag and matches in a separate waterproof tube for decades and never once needed anything else. Bushcraft guys tend to make fire a practice of magic... if Daniel Boone was alive to day he would be carrying a bic lighter and matches.....
@@ferdonandebull Until his Bic lighter ran out of fuel or didn't work because it was too cold. It's just another option, not knocking what Dixie had to say
I just love that the Seattle Mountaineers originated the list 70 years ago. I challenged my cub scouts to see who had the most. My buddy kids me about having them every hike but I do.
I’ve been away (hiking and camping) but a friend saw my earlier post on this topic. The question he put to me was essentially, what are MY “10 Essentials”? (Not “to start”, but to be reasonably safe on a DAY hike). Here it is: 1- Survival kit (carry on your belt, NEVER in a pack. Already contains: Mylar bivy, UCO Titan stormproof matches, lighter, compass, reflector, knife, eyeshade sunglasses, basic first-aid items, whistle, Micro-Maglite and 3 AAA batteries, water treatment pills, bouillon cubes, and MUCH more!) 2- Smartphone (in a waterproof, shockproof case with a spare battery or battery bank) 3- Appropriate clothing (PLUS rain AND thermal layers) 4- Water for the day/duration (may include a water filter) 5- Area topographic map (KNOW how to use a map and compass!) 6- Ultralight inflatable sleeping pad (i.e. Thermarest short “head-to-hip”, or Big Agnes AXL full “head-to-heel”) 7- Fix-It kit (or “ditty bag”, i.e. sewing, patching, etc. miscellaneous items, possibly depending on where you’re at or what you’re doing, etc.) 8- Essential prescription/s (i.e. eyeglasses, medication, etc.) 9- Emergency Personal Locator Beacon (day hikers NEED this kind of help!) 10- Food for the day/duration (OR an emergency food bar, like Mayday, or two) You may notice a PROPERLY assembled survival kit ALREADY has many of the “essentials” most people like to list. Also, remember most victims are rescued within 10 to 24 hours after a report to Search and Rescue, virtually ALL are rescued well within 3 days, so the survival kit should be assembled with that in mind. Any questions?
I’m going on a trail in Denmark this summer by the coast so there will not be a lot of water possibilities so just hoping to get though some towns with churches or something to get a fill up
11. Lightweight battery bank. If you can get your phone back up and running it takes care of map, compass, light, communication and exact coordinates for a rescue team.
How frequently do you rest? Like hike for x hours, rest for x amount of time? Or walk for x miles rest for x amount of time? I'm training for a section hike next year, but have no experienced hikers around in my circle.
You gave general tips, but reality is 1 is none and 2 is 1, so a day hike can be 2 days. What a great hike this is going to be can turn into a nightmare. Boy scout "be prepared" even with friend.
Yes, AND something like petroleum jelly cotton balls to catch the spark and make flame when everything else is damp or wet, solid tinder to prolong the fire.
@@jamescooper2618 I keep a small leather tinder pouch in my pack at all times. It's contents; Firesteel, birch bark, fatwood and titan matches. Cheers!
Thanks Dixie for all the tips. I'm Leandro, from Argentina and I'm going to do my first hiking in winter. So I'm learning a lot with your videos. I have one doubt, since I am hemophilic and I have to take refrigerated medication. Do you know any way to keep cold ??? The route I'm going to take is 70 km, from San Miguel de Tucuman, we pass through Yerba Buena, to Tafi del Valle. What we plan to do in 5 or 6 days. For what I need cold for 4 or 5 days. I was told that 1 or 2 days at low temperatures is resistant, so I am investigating different ways to maintain it. Thank you very much for your videos, they are very specific and you are very nice to listen to!
I think you have a difficult problem. In Mexico, we once kept some medication cold for a couple of days on a bus by getting it quite cold to start and packing it in ice in a thermos (vacuum flask). But we had a refrigerator at the destination, so we only needed to keep the medicine cold during the journey from the hospital to the patient. You say you're hiking in winter so maybe there will be snow or ice along the way so you can replenish ice/snow in your thermos. Check your maps and the terrain and normal temperatures for when you are traveling. Also, be super careful not to injure yourself.
Thanks for sharing your experience. To the area that I'm going, it's not going to snow. But it's going to be cold. Of day it is going to do 20º C approximately and minimum of 6º C. For the wounds, I will be prepared with a medicine kit as a precaution and I am watching videos on how to treat wounds on the route. Also I am preparing physically, I have 4 months more.
I suggest you take a some instant first aid cold packs that you sort of snap or squeeze with your hands to get them to be cold. If you bring a bunch of small ones and use a small insulated lunch pack to store your meds with a cold pack, you should be able to do it. I've had to deal with keeping medical supplies cold for a day or two at a time in the past, and this is how I did it.
@@maxximus67 LOLOL... No kidding?? Yes, I'm fully aware of that, unlike most people that watch RUclips videos. I didn't say that " I " am a beginner. I knew all of this before Dixie was born. But thanks for your concern :-)
Try a local Orienteering event to learn map & compass. It's fun & super cheap. Free training at all events. And, when you get better, there are advanced (challenging) courses!
All right ultra-light hikers calm down i missed it on the first watch. I love Dixie too, I practice bushcraft so a knife is extremely important to us who do B/C
"EVERYONE IS A POTENTIAL VICTIM, NOT EVERYONE IS A POTENTIAL SURVIVOR." - John Lech, PhD (It's always SO cute to watch NON-survivalists try to talk about survival!) The so-called "10 Essentials" is actually little more than a beginner's guide on what to pack. It is TOTALLY insufficient by itself if we're talking about actually being PREPARED! But okay, so what do you pack? START with... 1- Kits (First-Aid= including necessary med's, contacts and case, etc.; Repair= needle and thread, duct tape, etc....) 2- Communication (A smartphone in a waterproof-shockproof case and a spare batter or battery bank) 3- Illumination (A headlight and spare batteries 4- Navigation (Map on waterproof paper and a quality compass, but LEARN how to use them!!) 5- Clothing (Wear proper [layered] clothing, but include rain and thermal layers) 6- Sheltering (At least a Mylar bivy sack, but a regular bivy would be better) 7- Signaling (At least a whistle and a reflector) 8- Fire (At least a lighter, maybe some stormproof matches and fire starting tinder) 9- Water (for the day/duration) 10- Food (for the day/duration) AFTER you have the "essentials", then you can add a buff, sunglasses, etc., but you should also know a number of outdoor Rules, including: THE TREKKING RULE Rest before you're tired, drink before you're thirsty, eat before you're hungry, remove layers before you're hot, replace layers before you're cold THE LOST RULE Stop, sit, eat, drink, THINK. Then follow one of the 8 reorienting strategies. THE PRIMARY SURVIVAL STRATEGY Keep calm, keep thinking. Seek safety, be ready for rescue. The more you try, the better you're odds. Lose your hope, lose your life! NOTE: Day hikers are responsible for more Search And Rescue missions than ANY other outdoor activity BY FAR (about ONE THIRD of all SAR missions!!!). However, whether you're day hiking, distance hiking, wilderness hiking or bushwhacking, ALWAYS follow The Five Essential Steps: 1- Plan (heavy on research), 2- Prepare (pack proper gear and supplies starting with a smartphone and water), 3- Proficiency (be PHYSICALLY ready and have the necessary knowledge, skills, experience), 4- Backups (tell at least two people where you're going and when you'll be back, take other reasonable precautions/gear starting with a smartphone), and 5- Basic Survival (understand the basic survival strategies and concepts). For good measure, also follow The Five Basic Skills: 6- Signaling, 7- Sheltering, 8- Fire, 9- Water, 10- Food.
Essential gear on any hike, even a dayhike, are basically what is referred to as 'survival items'. You casually mention a knife as in the toolbox but basically any survival instructor will tell you a good sturdy (fixed blade) knife is your #1 item. #2 a loud whistle. #3 a fire steel/ferro rod. The list is longer but these are items you did not mention or did not emphasize enough. You carry these items on your person and not in your pack in case you loose your pack. As somebody already mentioned most search and rescue missions are about dayhikers getting lost or wounded. I suggest you talk to some survival instructors and search and rescue people before making a list like this. The items you listed sure are useful but not all are essential for survival.
"EVERYONE IS A POTENTIAL VICTIM, NOT EVERYONE IS A POTENTIAL SURVIVOR." - John Lech, PhD (It's always SO cute to watch NON-survivalists try to teach survival!) "The 10 Essentials most often comes up when discussing day hiking, but day hikers are responsible for more Search And Rescue missions than ANY other outdoor activity BY FAR (about ONE THIRD of all SAR missions!!!). However, whether you're day hiking, distance hiking, wilderness hiking or bushwhacking, ALWAYS follow The Five Essential Steps: 1- Plan (heavy on research), 2- Prepare (pack proper gear and supplies starting with a smartphone and water), 3- Proficiency (be PHYSICALLY ready and have the necessary knowledge, skills, experience), 4- Backups (tell at least two people where you're going and when you'll be back, take other reasonable precautions/gear starting with a smartphone), and 5- Basic Survival (understand the basic survival strategies and concepts). For good measure, also follow The Five Basic Skills: 6- Signaling, 7- Sheltering, 8- Fire, 9- Water, 10- Food. The "10 Essentials" is really just the beginner's Survival Kit, that's because beginners DON'T HAVE survival kits (another reason they need rescue more than anyone else!). So to be clear, the so-called, "10 essentials", is a just quick-and-dirty "guide" on what to pack, but it is TOTALLY insufficient if we're talking about actually being PREPARED! But okay, what do you PACK? Start with... 1- Kits (First-Aid, including necessary med's, contacts and case, etc.; Repair, needle and thread, duct tape, etc....) 2- Communication (A smartphone in a waterproof-shockproof case and a spare batter or battery bank) 3- Illumination (A headlight and spare batteries 4- Navigation (Map on waterproof paper and a quality compass, but LEARN how to use them!!) 5- Clothing (Wear proper [layered] clothing, but include rain and thermal layers) 6- Sheltering (At least a Mylar bivy sack, but a regular bivy would be better) 7- Signaling (At least a whistle and a reflector) 8- Fire (At least a lighter, maybe some stormproof matches and fire starting tinder) 9- Water (for the day/duration) 10- Food (for the day/duration) You should also follow a number of outdoor Rules, including: THE TREKKING RULE Rest before you're tired, drink before you're thirsty, eat before you're hungry, remove layers before you sweat, replace layers before you're cold THE LOST RULE Stop, sit, eat, drink, THINK. Then follow one of the 8 reorienting strategies. THE PRIMARY SURVIVAL STRATEGY Keep calm, keep thinking. Seek safety, be ready for rescue. The more you try, the better you're odds. Lose your hope, lose your life!
You would be awsome at doing "brake down" videos of motorcycle gear. You're so thorough on every topic.There aren't any females on RUclips that I know of.
Instead of the 10 essentials of Hiking I rather use the "The 3 things where you cannot improvise!" motto. Its mostly about not saving money on these 3 items when buying/using them as with those you cannot improvise in the wild. Can you quess which 3 items I mean?
All those extras and you still manage a 28 lbs pack WITH water for half a year? For a week-hike, I don't carry navigation, sun protection or insulation (season is temperate, lots of canopy, well marked) and I can't get below 35 lbs, without water… How? I don't understand.
You'd have to post your actual gear for recommendations. How much do your big three weigh (bag, pack, tent)? Are you carrying a lot of extra clothes or things you don't really need?
@Jay DeSimone - I agree, posting my gear would help, just not into getting 1,000 different opinions if you know what I mean… but here goes... I never weighed individual items: phone (for photos), spare phone battery, ENO hammock/rainfly/stakes - 5lbs?, fleece blanket, Gregory 55L - 5 lbs?, AAAflashlight, 50' paracord, bearbag, "travel" toothbrush/paste/t-paper, mylar blanket, bandana, neosporen, tinactin (foot), dry sack with dry sleep top/undy/sox, brimmed cap, 2-undy, 2-sock, 2-short, 2-shirt), $1 rain suit, micro-stove, fuelcan, lighter (dixie "ladder"), cookpot, squishy-bowl, titanium spoon, knife, two 2-L platypus, filter. My three-a-day meals are - oatmeal/coffee for breakfast, couscous/seasoning w/meat for lunch and dinner, one snackbar per meal, 4oz whiskey :), a waste baggie. Credit card, car keys… and I forgot that I do pack a magnetic compass, but never have used it. 35 lbs was my lightest for seven days. I want to get under 35lbs for ten days (eventually six months - if possible)… and I'm not a big person. 5'9". Thanks Jay (and Dixie)
in may, my 6 year old daughter and i start our first section hike of the AT. and plan to finish 1 state a year. its all thanks to you for giving me the drive to actually start doing it. wish i could do a thru hike. but 15 years of memories with my little one sounds just as good! thank you Dixie
Hey Dixie, I know you won't read this lol but anyway,
I am an assistant helper at my scout group where we have recently really pushed the kids to do their hikes. While they may only be really short 3 day hikes for their age 30 km in 3 days seems like a long time ahaha. They don't take adults on these hikes and only I can go on them as a support member (making sure they don't die lol) but they feed themselves, navigate and everything else. I have found your channel to be an amazing resource and really helped me to improve my hiking which I then have passed on to them. I've shared your channel to the group so they can learn, and they seem to really enjoy it! Since you're really down to earth, PG and a really great role model I think you're a perfect learning opportunity for them and I. But yeah, thank you so much for everything you do for the community :D also love your content
-Frog and the scouts
I just thought of this and I will add....it's also a great idea to let someone know when you head out for a hike & an approximate time you plan to return. As a solo hiker, I always let a family member know when and where I'll be hiking....and I again let them know when I'm done and somewhere safe. A simple text to family members who are willing to be "aware" for you is all it takes. In the same respect, I also NEVER post anywhere "public," where or when I'll be hiking until I come home. While a crazy person might not be willing to chase you 10 miles down a trail~ they might choose to wait for you at a trail head. I hike many different trails and nobody (other than trusted friends or family) know where/when I will hike until I'm home (and have photos to share 😉).
The matches as back-up statement is so true. I was above 9000 feet at Mt. San Jacinto, and there wasn't enough oxygen for my lighter to work. I thought it was maybe broken, but it worked the next day at the trailhead. Matches meant hot coffee for breakfast!
Thanks Dixie! My daughter and I start the PCT on April 3rd!
Family Adventures Good luck on your hike!
Best of luck on your hike! Keep us posted..... ATB : )
I am soooo jealous! 😊I'd love to go hiking the PCT. I hope you enjoy it and the best of luck!
Stephanie Bosch That was last year. We made it about 1,000 miles out of 2,658 miles.
These are the most straight forward, informative hiking videos on the Tube. Great nature shots, and all while being entertaining without fluffy side out stories. Really to the point- love it. I am catching up on your videos, and snuck a peek at Episode 15 of the CDT series. I live in Texas, but am working on a cabin I bought in Berthoud Falls, Colorado. You walked right past my cabin on US 40 where the Jones Pass cutoff is to the left, and the Berthoud Pass first switchback goes off to the right. I was even there in August when you were on your hike. Wish I knew then what I know now. It would have been great to say "hi". Thanks for the videos, I am working up to day hiking the top of the 12,343 mountain in Arapaho National Forest I see from my porch. Your videos will help me get ready.
Baron von Berthoud Falls
Dewey Warner
Thanks Dixie!! The series of videos you've been putting out lately including this one are great help.
Thank you for the video. It is good to remember these things, even on a day hike. (Went for a day hike last year in a well marked state park. Got to the back side of the park and discovered some of the signs had been removed. As suggested in the video, I downloaded a copy of the park map before the hike. So I was able to find my way back using the map and landmarks.)
Hey Dixie, I'm starting hiking. I'm going to follow your videos as my how to guide. I'm doing this full time. I've moved to the Rockies to start training. You have inspired me. I just wanted you to know.
Short, sweet, and to the point. Perfect! Thanks for sharing Dixie. I'm interested in what else you have planned for this series. Looking forward to it. 🙂
Hi Dixie !! When I was in Scouts we made fire starters from lint, also rolled up news paper soaked in wax and cut onto little wheel shapes after they dry. Thanks for all the videos !!
Hey Dixi .. thanks to you and other you tubers i am turning from a dayhiker to a trailhiker .. going to do the Tour du mont Blanc this year..
Good video! I have all of those items except a temporary shelter in my day pack (and I don't always carry a topo map if I'm on a trail I know well). I do have a large rain poncho that could be a makeshift shelter in a pinch, but have been meaning to add something specific for this purpose (just haven't decided what I want to use quite yet). Having acquired these items over the couple years or so, I will say that it has added to my confidence in trying new trails. 😊
I got an inexpensive bivy that weighs less than a pound to carry around on day hikes. An emergency blanket weighs maybe an ounce and is dirt cheap. Lots of options for something you hope to never need.
The lathe work was stunning! It’s almost unbelievable what you can make from a bar of aluminum.
I love all your stuff and find you a real inspiration. From a UK walker.
Thanks Dixie! This is perfect!
Some really nice and informative videos you are putting out Dixie !
Thanks for the info. You are very good at WHAT you do. Please keep it up. HAPPY Trails to you
Great video, Dixie. I think my weakest links in terms of the essentials explained in this video is sun protection and repair gear. I rarely put on sunblock or wear sun protecting clothing. I think that is a bad idea because it can get me in the future but because I really don't burn, I rarely think about it. Gear repair has only been something I've recently got because nothing has ever happened to my gear but I'd rather be safe than sorry, right?! Great video as always - if you're ever looking for a shorter thru-hike, my forest (Shawnee NF) has an easy longer trail that is a bit over 100 miles that many people try to do each year. Plus being a shorter trail, there is more time to see all the cool things our forest has to offer like a road closed two times a year for snake migration!
Thanks, Dixie! Nicely done. Good info. 👍👍
Hello Dixie, thank you again for this vital information. You always do a superb job in your video presentations. Take care, be safe and always have fun out there. 🤗
Nice. Thanks
Great list. Something I learned hiking with Boy Scouts that I haven't seen on RUclips, is to wrap a few rounds of duct tape around a water bottle. Gives you enough for an emergency, without having to carry a heavy roll. Hike on!
Thank you this series is an eye opener for me
this is a very good and interesting video, my compliments! I have also tried a similar theme once. for our pilgrimage on the Via Francigena.
Best regards to you from Saxony in Germany
Thomas - das ist ja ein sehr gutes und interessantes Video, mein Kompliment! An einem ähnlichen Thema habe ich mich auch einmal versucht. Nämlich für unsere Pilgerreise auf der Via Francigena.
Ganz liebe Grüße an dich aus Sachsen in Deutschland
Thomas
REI course was awesome! Thank you, Dixie!
Thanks so much for the videos. I’m going to be doing The Presidential Traverse this year and your movies are very motivating!
The first thing I carry is a whistle around my neck. It's a good way of day and night communication. My compass also has the mirror so that's another way to signal during a sunny day.
I use back ups for the most important things so there's another whistle and a button compass (among other things) in my survival kit (Altoids tin). I carry a pocket knife/multi tool but also a fixed blade. In fact I received a lightweight fixed blade recently I'm going to review. I carry a lighter but also a ferro rod.
I carry a stainless steel water bottle so I can also cook in it and boil water.
I wear a hat for sun and rain protection but also have an army poncho I can wear or use as a tarp.
I carry a high visibility orange or yellow reflective vest to signal with or to wear when crossing hunting territory.
I'm a bushcraft, outdoor and survival instructor so my approach is different maybe. I do bring my phone and it's off and in a waterproof casing (communication). I don't rely on anything electronic or battery operated. I might bring a headlight for convenience but not the extra batteries because I very rarely use it (signaling device). I just take the time for my eyes to get adjusted to the dark.
What about a whistle and perhaps a small mirror to attract attention? Would help if you need to attract attention.
Not only matches in a waterproof case but something that you don't have to worry about being wet or such is a good firesteel. Takes a little practice ahead of time though
Kirk Harrington I have carried a bic lighter in a ziplock bag and matches in a separate waterproof tube for decades and never once needed anything else.
Bushcraft guys tend to make fire a practice of magic... if Daniel Boone was alive to day he would be carrying a bic lighter and matches.....
@@ferdonandebull Until his Bic lighter ran out of fuel or didn't work because it was too cold. It's just another option, not knocking what Dixie had to say
Great info Dixie, Thanks
Great vid, Dixie! This video could help save someone life!!
I just love that the Seattle Mountaineers originated the list 70 years ago. I challenged my cub scouts to see who had the most. My buddy kids me about having them every hike but I do.
I watched all three JOB WELL DONE!!! You are a warrior!!!! Come do the foothills trails
Wow girl, you keep cranking out these videos. Good work!
Great video and excellent advice for any hike!!
I’ve been away (hiking and camping) but a friend saw my earlier post on this topic. The question he put to me was essentially, what are MY “10 Essentials”? (Not “to start”, but to be reasonably safe on a DAY hike). Here it is:
1- Survival kit (carry on your belt, NEVER in a pack. Already contains: Mylar bivy, UCO Titan stormproof matches, lighter, compass, reflector, knife, eyeshade sunglasses, basic first-aid items, whistle, Micro-Maglite and 3 AAA batteries, water treatment pills, bouillon cubes, and MUCH more!)
2- Smartphone (in a waterproof, shockproof case with a spare battery or battery bank)
3- Appropriate clothing (PLUS rain AND thermal layers)
4- Water for the day/duration (may include a water filter)
5- Area topographic map (KNOW how to use a map and compass!)
6- Ultralight inflatable sleeping pad (i.e. Thermarest short “head-to-hip”, or Big Agnes AXL full “head-to-heel”)
7- Fix-It kit (or “ditty bag”, i.e. sewing, patching, etc. miscellaneous items, possibly depending on where you’re at or what you’re doing, etc.)
8- Essential prescription/s (i.e. eyeglasses, medication, etc.)
9- Emergency Personal Locator Beacon (day hikers NEED this kind of help!)
10- Food for the day/duration (OR an emergency food bar, like Mayday, or two)
You may notice a PROPERLY assembled survival kit ALREADY has many of the “essentials” most people like to list. Also, remember most victims are rescued within 10 to 24 hours after a report to Search and Rescue, virtually ALL are rescued well within 3 days, so the survival kit should be assembled with that in mind.
Any questions?
I’m going on a trail in Denmark this summer by the coast so there will not be a lot of water possibilities so just hoping to get though some towns with churches or something to get a fill up
Love seeing your subs going up
Love this series. So detailed.💞
Can you go over the Guthook app and how it worked for you??? Thanks!!!
Simple and straight to the point, nice one Dixie 👍🙂
Good advice
Glad I came across your channel.. Subscribed.
Awesome video!
Nicely done! 👍👍👍👍
Excellent advice .. tfs
11. Lightweight battery bank.
If you can get your phone back up and running it takes care of map, compass, light, communication and exact coordinates for a rescue team.
Good stuff Dixie!
Nice! Thank you for the awesome info as usual.
Great info. Thanks for sharing another great video. ATB : )
Yes this was a very good video young lady keep up the good work
a small mirror to use as a signal is also a good idea.
Eyeglass repair kit or spare specs
Nice job with this post!
1. Navigation (map/compass/gps)
2. Sun protection (Sunscreen/sunglasses/umbrella)
3. Insulation (jacket, hat, gloves etc)
4. Illumination (headlamp)
5. First aid supplies
6. Fire starters (matches/lighter)
7. Repair kit (knife, glue, duck tape etc)
8. Nutrition (enough food)
9. Hydration (water/water filter)
10. Emergency shelter
Corporals corner made an excellent video on compass usage if anyone wants to learn more
How frequently do you rest? Like hike for x hours, rest for x amount of time? Or walk for x miles rest for x amount of time?
I'm training for a section hike next year, but have no experienced hikers around in my circle.
Nice job at Wofford last night.
You gave general tips, but reality is 1 is none and 2 is 1, so a day hike can be 2 days. What a great hike this is going to be can turn into a nightmare. Boy scout "be prepared" even with friend.
The 10 Essential...what I've been calling a Tens Pack since a was a young Boy Scout. Anyone else watching this ever use this term?
I wear prescribed glasses. Are there any sunglasses that can fit over my regular ones?
Two thumbs up on this video young lady I did watch it I'm stuck at home right now waiting for delivery
Is that a bottle of champain? 2:31
A firesteel never fails I recommend people carry em
Yes, AND something like petroleum jelly cotton balls to catch the spark and make flame when everything else is damp or wet, solid tinder to prolong the fire.
I tried my fire steel on fine shaved fat wood and it worked!!
@@filmic1 Yep! That's why fatwood is so popular, and for good reason!
@@jamescooper2618 I keep a small leather tinder pouch in my pack at all times.
It's contents;
Firesteel, birch bark, fatwood and titan matches.
Cheers!
Thanks for all you do Dixie. One question. Is your book available in print?
Thanks Dixie for all the tips.
I'm Leandro, from Argentina and I'm going to do my first hiking in winter. So I'm learning a lot with your videos.
I have one doubt, since I am hemophilic and I have to take refrigerated medication. Do you know any way to keep cold ???
The route I'm going to take is 70 km, from San Miguel de Tucuman, we pass through Yerba Buena, to Tafi del Valle. What we plan to do in 5 or 6 days.
For what I need cold for 4 or 5 days. I was told that 1 or 2 days at low temperatures is resistant, so I am investigating different ways to maintain it.
Thank you very much for your videos, they are very specific and you are very nice to listen to!
I think you have a difficult problem. In Mexico, we once kept some medication cold for a couple of days on a bus by getting it quite cold to start and packing it in ice in a thermos (vacuum flask). But we had a refrigerator at the destination, so we only needed to keep the medicine cold during the journey from the hospital to the patient.
You say you're hiking in winter so maybe there will be snow or ice along the way so you can replenish ice/snow in your thermos. Check your maps and the terrain and normal temperatures for when you are traveling. Also, be super careful not to injure yourself.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
To the area that I'm going, it's not going to snow. But it's going to be cold.
Of day it is going to do 20º C approximately and minimum of 6º C.
For the wounds, I will be prepared with a medicine kit as a precaution and I am watching videos on how to treat wounds on the route.
Also I am preparing physically, I have 4 months more.
I suggest you take a some instant first aid cold packs that you sort of snap or squeeze with your hands to get them to be cold. If you bring a bunch of small ones and use a small insulated lunch pack to store your meds with a cold pack, you should be able to do it. I've had to deal with keeping medical supplies cold for a day or two at a time in the past, and this is how I did it.
Hot glue sticks are great as well!
Do you journal during the hikes? If you do, how do you do that?
LOVE THAT ACCENT.
Finally!
For a "beginner series", this should have come first :-)
No order--watch them all
This has been available on the internet for many years. No one needs to wait for Dixie to make a video.
@@maxximus67 LOLOL... No kidding??
Yes, I'm fully aware of that, unlike most people that watch RUclips videos. I didn't say that " I " am a beginner. I knew all of this before Dixie was born. But thanks for your concern :-)
@@Dan-uw6xv Such modesty.
Love youu
Dave Canterbury’s 10 C’s of survivability are also something everyone should have a look at
Try a local Orienteering event to learn map & compass. It's fun & super cheap. Free training at all events. And, when you get better, there are advanced (challenging) courses!
I would like to see your setup for recording video while walking. It would seem like holding a selfie stick would make for awkward walking.
I just wanted to say hi and that pretty much sums it up. 😊
All right ultra-light hikers calm down i missed it on the first watch. I love Dixie too, I practice
bushcraft so a knife is extremely important to us who do B/C
Don't >>>FORGET
I got to have my seasonings! 🍤🍲🥒🏕
11. Ray Jardine's Corn pasta?
What’s the name of the app? sounded something like gut hook?
KTVlog it is called guthook. Guthook was the trail name of the guy who wrote the app.
Sean Elkins thank you 😊
"EVERYONE IS A POTENTIAL VICTIM, NOT EVERYONE IS A POTENTIAL SURVIVOR." - John Lech, PhD
(It's always SO cute to watch NON-survivalists try to talk about survival!) The so-called "10 Essentials" is actually little more than a beginner's guide on what to pack. It is TOTALLY insufficient by itself if we're talking about actually being PREPARED! But okay, so what do you pack? START with...
1- Kits (First-Aid= including necessary med's, contacts and case, etc.; Repair= needle and thread, duct tape, etc....)
2- Communication (A smartphone in a waterproof-shockproof case and a spare batter or battery bank)
3- Illumination (A headlight and spare batteries
4- Navigation (Map on waterproof paper and a quality compass, but LEARN how to use them!!)
5- Clothing (Wear proper [layered] clothing, but include rain and thermal layers)
6- Sheltering (At least a Mylar bivy sack, but a regular bivy would be better)
7- Signaling (At least a whistle and a reflector)
8- Fire (At least a lighter, maybe some stormproof matches and fire starting tinder)
9- Water (for the day/duration)
10- Food (for the day/duration)
AFTER you have the "essentials", then you can add a buff, sunglasses, etc., but you should also know a number of outdoor Rules, including:
THE TREKKING RULE
Rest before you're tired, drink before you're thirsty, eat before you're hungry, remove layers before you're hot, replace layers before you're cold
THE LOST RULE
Stop, sit, eat, drink, THINK. Then follow one of the 8 reorienting strategies.
THE PRIMARY SURVIVAL STRATEGY
Keep calm, keep thinking. Seek safety, be ready for rescue. The more you try, the better you're odds. Lose your hope, lose your life!
NOTE: Day hikers are responsible for more Search And Rescue missions than ANY other outdoor activity BY FAR (about ONE THIRD of all SAR missions!!!). However, whether you're day hiking, distance hiking, wilderness hiking or bushwhacking, ALWAYS follow The Five Essential Steps: 1- Plan (heavy on research), 2- Prepare (pack proper gear and supplies starting with a smartphone and water), 3- Proficiency (be PHYSICALLY ready and have the necessary knowledge, skills, experience), 4- Backups (tell at least two people where you're going and when you'll be back, take other reasonable precautions/gear starting with a smartphone), and 5- Basic Survival (understand the basic survival strategies and concepts). For good measure, also follow The Five Basic Skills: 6- Signaling, 7- Sheltering, 8- Fire, 9- Water, 10- Food.
I gave your comment a like because you have some good points but as a survivalist the first item you bring is a solid knife.
I see in the list you responded but can't find the response now.
Add a whistle.
Liking the series. Oh my, I'm first!
We all need to review the basics. Thanks.
Essential gear on any hike, even a dayhike, are basically what is referred to as 'survival items'.
You casually mention a knife as in the toolbox but basically any survival instructor will tell you a good sturdy (fixed blade) knife is your #1 item. #2 a loud whistle. #3 a fire steel/ferro rod. The list is longer but these are items you did not mention or did not emphasize enough. You carry these items on your person and not in your pack in case you loose your pack.
As somebody already mentioned most search and rescue missions are about dayhikers getting lost or wounded.
I suggest you talk to some survival instructors and search and rescue people before making a list like this.
The items you listed sure are useful but not all are essential for survival.
"EVERYONE IS A POTENTIAL VICTIM, NOT EVERYONE IS A POTENTIAL SURVIVOR." - John Lech, PhD
(It's always SO cute to watch NON-survivalists try to teach survival!)
"The 10 Essentials most often comes up when discussing day hiking, but day hikers are responsible for more Search And Rescue missions than ANY other outdoor activity BY FAR (about ONE THIRD of all SAR missions!!!). However, whether you're day hiking, distance hiking, wilderness hiking or bushwhacking, ALWAYS follow The Five Essential Steps: 1- Plan (heavy on research), 2- Prepare (pack proper gear and supplies starting with a smartphone and water), 3- Proficiency (be PHYSICALLY ready and have the necessary knowledge, skills, experience), 4- Backups (tell at least two people where you're going and when you'll be back, take other reasonable precautions/gear starting with a smartphone), and 5- Basic Survival (understand the basic survival strategies and concepts). For good measure, also follow The Five Basic Skills: 6- Signaling, 7- Sheltering, 8- Fire, 9- Water, 10- Food.
The "10 Essentials" is really just the beginner's Survival Kit, that's because beginners DON'T HAVE survival kits (another reason they need rescue more than anyone else!). So to be clear, the so-called, "10 essentials", is a just quick-and-dirty "guide" on what to pack, but it is TOTALLY insufficient if we're talking about actually being PREPARED! But okay, what do you PACK? Start with...
1- Kits (First-Aid, including necessary med's, contacts and case, etc.; Repair, needle and thread, duct tape, etc....)
2- Communication (A smartphone in a waterproof-shockproof case and a spare batter or battery bank)
3- Illumination (A headlight and spare batteries
4- Navigation (Map on waterproof paper and a quality compass, but LEARN how to use them!!)
5- Clothing (Wear proper [layered] clothing, but include rain and thermal layers)
6- Sheltering (At least a Mylar bivy sack, but a regular bivy would be better)
7- Signaling (At least a whistle and a reflector)
8- Fire (At least a lighter, maybe some stormproof matches and fire starting tinder)
9- Water (for the day/duration)
10- Food (for the day/duration)
You should also follow a number of outdoor Rules, including:
THE TREKKING RULE
Rest before you're tired, drink before you're thirsty, eat before you're hungry, remove layers before you sweat, replace layers before you're cold
THE LOST RULE
Stop, sit, eat, drink, THINK. Then follow one of the 8 reorienting strategies.
THE PRIMARY SURVIVAL STRATEGY
Keep calm, keep thinking. Seek safety, be ready for rescue. The more you try, the better you're odds. Lose your hope, lose your life!
Dixie how does a person send u stuff camping hiking what not thing . Plz some kinda address
A small whistle. The piercing sound of a whistle can carry. Just something I carry day hiking.
You would be awsome at doing "brake down" videos of motorcycle gear. You're so thorough on every topic.There aren't any females on RUclips that I know of.
What do you think of leaving the Post-Dated, "something went wrong, send help," RUclips video? Is that a good safety net for backpackers??
No. 😉
Great idea. Have it automatically sent to Rusty West so he can blather on about the lost hiker.
@@professorsogol5824 😉
Bring all you need, carry all you bring.
Awesome
Instead of the 10 essentials of Hiking I rather use the "The 3 things where you cannot improvise!" motto. Its mostly about not saving money on these 3 items when buying/using them as with those you cannot improvise in the wild. Can you quess which 3 items I mean?
👍👍🐕
Some people are mentioning guns but they are not permitted on the trails and parks, correct?
Would love to see an NCT thru hike
All those extras and you still manage a 28 lbs pack WITH water for half a year? For a week-hike, I don't carry navigation, sun protection or insulation (season is temperate, lots of canopy, well marked) and I can't get below 35 lbs, without water… How? I don't understand.
You'd have to post your actual gear for recommendations. How much do your big three weigh (bag, pack, tent)? Are you carrying a lot of extra clothes or things you don't really need?
@Jay DeSimone - I agree, posting my gear would help, just not into getting 1,000 different opinions if you know what I mean… but here goes... I never weighed individual items: phone (for photos), spare phone battery, ENO hammock/rainfly/stakes - 5lbs?, fleece blanket, Gregory 55L - 5 lbs?, AAAflashlight, 50' paracord, bearbag, "travel" toothbrush/paste/t-paper, mylar blanket, bandana, neosporen, tinactin (foot), dry sack with dry sleep top/undy/sox, brimmed cap, 2-undy, 2-sock, 2-short, 2-shirt), $1 rain suit, micro-stove, fuelcan, lighter (dixie "ladder"), cookpot, squishy-bowl, titanium spoon, knife, two 2-L platypus, filter. My three-a-day meals are - oatmeal/coffee for breakfast, couscous/seasoning w/meat for lunch and dinner, one snackbar per meal, 4oz whiskey :), a waste baggie. Credit card, car keys… and I forgot that I do pack a magnetic compass, but never have used it. 35 lbs was my lightest for seven days. I want to get under 35lbs for ten days (eventually six months - if possible)… and I'm not a big person. 5'9". Thanks Jay (and Dixie)
you are a machine
Ohh I wanted to be 1st