EQUIPMENT FOR HIKING

Trail Food The most important meal for hiking is the breakfast you eat before you hit the trail. Whether in camp or at home, a hearty breakfast starts the day right. Carry a lunch in your pack. Sandwiches, fruit, nuts, and raisins are tasty. Or try crackers with peanut butter or cheese. A small bag of granola, dried fruit, or a couple of energy bars can give you a nutritional boost between meals, especially if you are out longer than you had expected. (For more on food for the outdoors, see pages 265-80)

Water Bottle
Fill your water bottle before you start out, and sip from it whenever you are thirsty. In hot weather, you might need to carry several containers of water. Purify any water taken from streams, lakes, or springs before you drink it. (For ways to purify water, see page 256.)