Here are a few tips for your gear during preparation trips and during the actual climb.
Prep Hikes
McDonald Mtn, Mailbox Peak:
- Running shoes in good condition with reasonable traction work just fine. Trail running shoes are best. I do nearly all of my hikes in trail runners. Here are a few of my favorites
- Scott Kinabalu Trail Runner
- Brooks Cascadia
- New hiking boots - if you bought some new boots, this is a great time to break them in. You definitely need to know how your feet react to your boots.
Camp Muir (Paradise, Mt Rainier NP)
- Please, please wear good hiking boots - no trail runners on this one.
- Gaiters are strongly recommended.
- Bring at least 2 liters of water per person. Good method - bring two, disposable, 1-liter bottles - one with water, one with Gatorade/Nuun/some electrolyte.
- Sun protection! Sunglasses, a sun hat, bandana, and good sunscreen are all a must.
Misc:
- Hiking poles - they do help but are not required. I've tried them many times and I personally prefer to have my hands free - I don't use them. They are very helpful for balance and give you something to lean on when you're tired.
- Sunglasses - the sun is very strong high up on the mountain. Good, wrap-around sunglasses are a must. My favorite sunglasses for the mountains are the Julbo Sherpa Spectron 3.
- Footwear - please size your shoes and boots with plenty of room. Your feet swell and increase in size (at least 1 size up) when you are walking on them all day. The downhill will also shove your foot forward in your shoe/boot. You do not want your toes hitting the edge of your shoe, in any condition. You should have 2 thumb-widths between your longest toe and the tip of your shoe.
- Socks - small, but critical item. Rather than describe - here is my absolute favorite: at Walmart, get the And1 brand, 12-pack for $10. I wear them for running, hiking, work, church - everything. For reference - any model of the Darn Tough brand is among the best you can buy -$20 per pair. Unbeatable performance, though.
Backpacks:
I love the Teton Sports brand (available on Amazon.) My go-to, big pack is the Teton Sports 4600 Outfitter. The 4300 Escape is also an excellent pack.
Hiking Boots:
The Asolo, La Sportiva, Garmont, Vasque and Danner brands are excellent options (we have at least one of each). Goretex lining is strongly recommended. We find good deals on the Sierra Trading Post website.
Obviously, knowing the right size is critical. REI stores can be very helpful in getting the right fit. The Smith home also has many boot sizes to try on....
Sleeping bag:
Shoot for a temperature rating around 30-40 degrees F. The bag should be no heavier than 3 lbs.
The Suisse Sport Adventurer bag ($28 on Amazon) has worked ok for us. Zippers like to break after 3 years of moderate use. But they are plenty warm to below freezing. We haven't found a go-to option that is perfect, yet.
Sleeping pad:
You need to choose from two main categories - inflatable or closed cell foam.
Inflatable - the Klymit Static V2 ($40 on Amazon) is a great option.
Closed cell - the Thermarest Ridgerest Classic ($20 on Amazon), is a great purchase that will last for a lifetime.
Gaiters:
These are critical for hiking in snow.
Please note - favorites listed above are not your only options. They are only meant to give you real-life examples. Please use your own judgment when purchasing gear.
Posted on 4/13/2019
Revised on 4/23/2019
Posted on 4/13/2019
Revised on 4/23/2019
Thank you
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