Posted: 6/17/2026 9:02:45 PM EDT
| My wife and I are going to the Tetons & Yellowstone in about a Month. I've spent a little time in the woods but we have never really been hiking. Wife is planning on us doing some hiking while there and I'm looking for things we would need to take with us. Realistically what would we need to have with us for being out for up to 6 hrs.? |
To Those Who Have Given For FREEDOM I THANK YOU
1/26/2020
12/27/2023
1/26/2020
12/27/2023
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A 10L to 20L pack, a hydration bladder (or equivalent), rain shell jacket & pants, a compact mylar blanket. Your phone, preferably with a mapping app, or at a minimum a downloaded Google Map of the area (the Google map will expire in 2 weeks and cleared out of cache). I have Garmin Explore on my phone because I have an InReach tracking/comms device, and those maps have proven pretty nice out in the field ... when I remember to download the area I'm in ... along the course of a 10,000 mile road trip, it's easy for me to lose sight of what I've stored for offline maps. A very light first aid kit: pain killers, imodium, gauze, a self-adhering wrap in lieu of athletic tape, some bandaids, sunscreen and hand sanitizer. And an elastic ankle wrap. Shears instead of a knife. For clothing that you'll be wearing, I'm a huge fan of a synthetic sun hoody and baseball cap. The sun is pretty brutal up there in the summer. Keeps the sun off, keeps the wind at bay. It's all I wear out there when on the trail. Headlamps and spare batteries. "Do you think we need to bring the headlamp? We're just going out for a couple of hours." Yes. |
| Water, raingear, food to munch on, pocketknife, flashlight or headlamp for each of you with fresh batteries, small first aid kit, definitely bear spray in that area, satellite communicator in case you have no cell signal (T-Mobile has “T-Satellite” which lets you use Starlink. It’s low bandwidth but fine for text messages), some kind of insulating layer (down jacket or fleece.) I have no idea about that area but in NW Maine I bring my down jacket every time I camp and always use it. Even in summer temps regularly drop to the low 40s-mid 30s at night. If you know how to use a map & compass it can’t hurt to bring them, if you don’t know how and aren’t going to learn don’t bother with it. Get On-X instead. |
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Small Pack with some sort of structure to it Phone or some other way to communicate Layers of clothing I.e. rain jacket and maybe some other light layers to help maintain body temp if weather changes or you get stuck due to injury Water bottle and a way to make water safe to drink. Chlorine Dioxide tabs. A multitool or pocket knife Small first aid kit with some OTC meds Whistle / mirror A way to start fire (probably won’t need it) Snacks Bear spray or other way to deal with bears or animals Map of area and compass if you know how to use them if not use an app with off line maps and carry a battery bank for the phones Let someone know where you are going and for how long or check in with a ranger or the box at the trailhead. Don’t over estimate how far you can go in a time frame if you are not used to hiking. On flat surfaces we humans do about 3 mph if it’s hilly terrain drop that down to 2.0-2.5mph super hilly drop it even more. |
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Originally Posted By L_JE: Bear spray. +/- firearm as well. Google the 10 essentials. I carry that basically every day hike. I typically also carry one additional layer- rain jacket or light sweater/long sleeve shirt- basically something to wear if I spend the night. You can't have too much water. 2 qts minimum, per person. Heck, my kids were carrying a whistle, compass and flashlight from the time they could keep up on hikes. |
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For your pockets/pack: Water (3L is what I'd recommend) Rain jacket/poncho Extra warmth layer Knife/multi-tool Flashlight/headlamp Lighter & tinder (dont burn the place down!) Map/GPS First aid kit Bear spray/firearm Small filter/purification tablets Thermal blanket Bug spray Sunscreen Good hiking boots A walking stick Brimmed hat |
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Attached File It might be overkill this time but if you find yourself getting more adventurous in the future it could save your life. |
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Originally Posted By HEATH223: My wife and I are going to the Tetons & Yellowstone in about a Month. I've spent a little time in the woods but we have never really been hiking. Wife is planning on us doing some hiking while there and I'm looking for things we would need to take with us. Realistically what would we need to have with us for being out for up to 6 hrs.? New to hiking? 6 hours? SHOES. Make 100% sure you have good, tested broken-in footwear (don’t bring brand new footwear. Most well-built footwear needs a break-in, and brand new footwear is untested. You don’t know how well it holds up, if there are hot spots etc). Decent places that cater to outdoors types will have some kind of test-walk platform so you can see - how the ankle support is (different people - different needs/preferences) - how the soles feel on rocks and stuff that isn’t smooth pavement - grip - fit, and things non-hikers don’t deal with, like do the shoes/boots comfortably prevent your feet from sliding forward and squashing your toes when walking down a decline? - do they hold your heels securely? Any movement/rubbing/hotspots anywhere in the shoes/boots = blisters. SOCKS Wool is king. Cotton SUCKS. Synthetics can be decent, but will get stinky more easily. Point 6 has Father’s Day sales right now. HYDRATION Camelbaks have become ubiquitous for a reason. It’s a lot easier to carry fluid on your back vs being able to carry enough in your hand. Water is heavy. Electrolyte solutions are good. If you’re sweating, you need more than just plain water. Lose too much salt from sweating without replacing it? Cramp city. You didn’t mention age and fitness levels. Be realistic. If you don’t do much hiking, either use the time between now and the trip to increase your energy envelope, or take it easy and don’t push too hard. What’s your energy envelope? It’s how much energy you have (depends on your individual physical condition) to do stuff. Learned this concept a long time ago. If you only have enough energy to make it to X point, it’s going to be a suckfest all the way, as you’re pushing yourself to your limits just to reach that point. With backpacking, that can mean reaching your campsite absolutely spent. You dump your pack and drop to the ground and it takes 30 minutes before you can even muster up enough energy to setup the tent, start making lunch/dinner etc. Increase your energy enveloped by training to walk further/faster/with a heavier pack etc. and when it comes to the actual hike, because your energy envelope is greater, the actual hike is now relaxing enough to enjoy it, vs a slog to reach X. Health/fitness levels will also determine a bunch of other precautions. Small First Aid Kit to include bandaids, moleskin for blisters, ibuprofen, sunblock, insect repellent |
| Definitely bear spray and still maybe a firearm when we're were there one person was stomped by a Buffalo and another was killed by a bear |
Originally Posted By nickforney
This subforum has filled up with a bunch of worthless fudds and I feel less and less that this is any kind of community I want to be a part of.
This subforum has filled up with a bunch of worthless fudds and I feel less and less that this is any kind of community I want to be a part of.