How to Hike for Multiple Days

You are no longer a novice hiker. You have hiked many, many miles of territory and mastered the all-day hike. Now, you are ready for the challenge of hiking for multiple days. Plan for a safe adventure by prioritizing your safety and expecting the unexpected.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rations
• Water
• Water purification tablets
• Portable stove
• Fuel
• Sleeping apparatus

1. Select a region to hike, map it out and divide your journey into segments. Break the hike down day by day, and leave an itinerary with a friend or loved one that details your planned journey.

2. Plan to set up camp each night near a source of running water. Referring to detailed topographical maps of the area you plan to hike will facilitate your planning. Trails.com is an excellent online resource for topographical trail maps, for regions all across North America (see Resources below).

3. Pack light, but thoroughly. Be sure to include extra rations, plenty of water as well as those all-important water purification tables. You'll also need a first aid kit, a phone (satellite phones are better than cellular phones), a sleeping bag and a lightweight, waterproof tent.

4. Check out the trees before you set up camp. Look for the potential hazards posed by dead trees and avoid areas containing them. If a tree falls in the forest, you'll certainly hear it if it crashes into your campsite.

5. Bring rations that are high in calories and nutrition and can be easily prepared. Freeze-dried meals require only the addition of water and are an excellent choice for hikers, as are canned beans and legumes, dried fruits and trail mix.

6. Pack a small portable stove and enough fuel for multiple campsites. Store your fuel in a secure container so it will not leak on your rations.

7. Cook away from your sleeping area and clean up your cooking area well. Wild animals will be attracted to cooking sites, so it is best to be as inconspicuous as possible.

8. Store rations away from animals when you camp by hanging your food bag on a rope strung between two trees. Put it high enough that animals can't get to it, but low enough that you'll be able to retrieve it without having to climb the tree.

9. Select a comfortable sleeping bag that is cushioned or can be inflated to shield your body from the cold ground. If you're camping in cooler weather, make sure you know the lowest outdoor temperature that the sleeping bag is recommended for.

10. Prepare for rainy days during your hike by carrying a rain jacket, a tarp to cover your campsite and waterproof containers for items that can be damaged by rain (such as your phone or GPS system).

Tips & Warnings

• Use crude natural shelters found along many trails, such as banks of trees or rocks, to set up camp. This will have the most minimal impact on the ecology of the environment.
• You can use an end-to-end route, or a route which loops back to the same point where you began. The latter might be easier if you're planning to drive to the starting point and leave your car there.
• Hiking for multiple days should never be attempted by novice or even intermediate hikers. You should be in excellent physical condition before attempting a hike of several days in duration.

Who Can Help:

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Resources

• Topographical maps and more from Trails.com