Safety makes hikes more enjoyable Pack should include compass, map, guidebook, rain gear, lighter

Maybe you’ve seen people who would fit the following description on your favorite hiking trail:

They’re probably beside the trail, gasping for air as they struggle to get to the top of the mountain. These fictional hikers have a pair of flip flops on their feet. They’re not wearing a pack. They don’t have a water bottle. The one article of clothing they have for protection from the elements is a cotton, hooded sweatshirt and they’re wearing that because it’s starting to rain. If this sounds like someone you’ve seen, it doesn’t have to be like that.

That hiker could have taken a few precautions. Then it would have been a much more enjoyable time on the trail. All it takes is a little planning and preparation. Hiking is a great way to see the outdoors and most hikes in Maine aren’t difficult. With a little thought beforehand and a modest expense in the minimum of gear, every hike can be a safe one.

Let’s start with the equipment. No hike should be started without a pack to carry some essentials. You’ll want a windbreaker or a rain jacket, for when the weather turns bad. Your core body temperature drops quickly when rain clouds cover the sky and you’re soaked. Maybe there’s no chance of rain in the latest forecast. Carry a rain jacket anyway. It’s Maine, and as we know here, forecasts are always wrong. Wearing a rain jacket will keep you dry and warm, just in case.

Other things to throw in the pack are a disposable lighter or waterproof matches for starting a fire, water bottle, a first aid kit, extra food or snacks, a pocket knife, and most important, map, compass and guidebook of the trails where you’re hiking. Even if it’s a trail that you’ve hiked a number of times, the map and guidebook could be valuable for finding alternate routes or for directing rescuers should an accident happen.

No hiker should set out without an adequate pair of ankle high boots. I’ve never been a fan of trail runners for hiking. I know they’re light, but they just don’t offer the ankle support of a pair of boots. Trails vary in Maine from easy lakeshore hikes in a National Park to difficult, backcountry trails, miles from town. Boots protect your feet from roots and rocks. If you’re hiking, wear boots. It’s no sidewalk out there. Leave the flip-flops for the beach.

To stay hydrated in the summer heat and while you’re exerting, drink water or a sports drink. If you run out, fill up by treating backcountry water with a filter, iodine tablets or bleach. Hydrated muscles last longer. The consequences of dehydration are joint stiffness and pain, heatstroke, loss of mobility and eventually, death. If you want to get the most out of your hike, drink before you’re thirsty.

Taking snacks and a lunch makes sense for hikes longer than a half day, like Bigelow Mountain in Carrabasset. You’ll get hungry from the exercise of getting to the top and having lunch is a great reason to stop and take in the view.

That’s about it for equipment. A pack loaded with some essential stuff, a good pair of boots and that’s all you need, right?

Not quite.

The most important piece of equipment is not equipment at all. It’s your brain. You should give yourself an honest appraisal of your hiking abilities in terms of your physical condition, surefootedness, and comfort on high, exposed terrain. Next, read up in the guidebook on the difficulty of the trail before you decide on whether it’s one you should be undertaking. If it’s rated at a level that’s harder than your experience, maybe you should think about a different hike.

Finally, you’re set. You’ve thrown in a pair of binoculars for viewing wildlife. Tossed in a field guide for identifying wildflowers or birds, and a camera to capture a view. The day is bright with a light that can only be experienced in Maine. Midsummer wildflowers are in bloom everywhere you look.

You’re on a trail for a hike that could take all day, if you wring it out. Pace yourself. Hike fifty minutes or so, then take a 10-minute break. If you keep a steady pace, you’ll get there. Make the most of every rest. Take that pack off and lay back. The summit and the ultimate views are waiting.