The original Ten Essentials list was assembled in the 1930s byThe Mountaineers, a Seattle-based organization for climbers and outdoor adventurers. In 2003, the group's updated "systems" approach made its debut in its seminal text on climbing and outdoor exploration, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (The Mountaineers Books), now in its eighth edition.
Packing these items whenever you step into the backcountry, even on day hikes, is a good habit to acquire. True, on a routine trip you may use only a few of them. Yet you'll probably never fully appreciate the value of the Ten Essentials until you really need one of them.
We present both the Classic and Updated Ten Essentials here for your reference:
Classic Ten Essentials
Map
Compass
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Extra clothing
Headlamp/flashlight
First-aid supplies
Firestarter
Matches
Knife
Extra food
Updated Ten Essential "Systems"
Navigation (map and compass)
Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
Insulation (extra clothing)
Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
First-aid supplies
Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
Repair kit and tools
Nutrition (extra food)
Hydration (extra water)
Emergency shelter
For more detailed information on the Ten Essentials we suggest you checkout the links below:
02/12 - The Skagit River is one of the... OutVentures returned to Rockport on Saturday, February 10 for a guided nature walk by the Bald Eagle Interpretive Center at 11:00 AM, Overcast or cloudy days are perfect for viewing eagles. This is a great opportunity to watch these iconic raptors in their environment.
02/05 - Moss Identification Hike and bonus... A dimly-lit, old growth forest on the south side of Heart Lake, in the Anacortes City Forest Lands (ACFL) was the setting for our moss identification hike on a
mild, early February day.
01/01 - A Visit to the Washington Park... In the mid 40's, dry and a bit of a sunny break in the clouds made for a very enjoyable visit to the Washington Park Arboretum. Sharing the experience made it all that more enjoyable.