This would be an awesome help! Thanks to all who reply. I've learned so much from ya'll
This would be an awesome help! Thanks to all who reply. I've learned so much from ya'll
Everclear. Also known as golden grain.
"some editing should be done in parentheses for clarity where spelling prevents reading."---matthewski
Bandana - hides my dirty hair, protects my scalp from the sun, washes my feet, washes the rest of me, could be used to stop the bleeding, bandage a wound, tie broken things together, flag down a ride, be used as a special trail signal to my hiking partner to indicate where I've camped out of sight of the trail, etc.
A pair of cut-off fleece sleeves - use as pillow, pot cozy, arm warmers, leg warmers, feet warmers.
Some knew me as Piper, others as just Diane.
I hiked the PCT: Mexico to Mt. Shasta, 2008. Santa Barbara to Canada, 2009.
hiking sticks/tent poles
Hand sanitizer, also good for cleaning cuts and scrapes, and starting fires.
Dental floss, also works as thread.
Bandanna, also used to coarse-filter water before using AquaMira.
Bandana for all of the above uses PLUS using as a potholder when cooking.
Happy Lifetime Sectioner!
Wow, I was gonna say Gorilla Tape, but the bandanna is an extremely good answer....
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
Without a doubt, a bandana.
"If you play a Nicleback song backwards, you'll hear messages from the devil. Even worse, if you play it forward, you'll hear Nickleback." - Dave Grohl
People have said duct tape for first aid, repair, etc
Z rest closed cell foam pad.
sleeping pad
sit pad
fold up for a seat
"clean spot" for cooking area
wind screen for cooking
temp rain cover
+ sharpie sigh like "hiker to town for food" on one side then on the other "hiker need ride to "....then because it folds you can several different things like trail, post office, car, hospital, air port.....
CON: not so great for sleeping on hard shelter floors.
POS: Dont have to worry about durability issues.
My spork.
Good to eat with
Good to scratch my back with after I haven't showered in a week.
You're welcome.
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AT 2x, LT, JMT, CT, Camino, Ireland Coast to Coast, HWT, WT, NET, NST, PCT
Cash!
For a real answer, I have several loops of paracord about 1 ft long that are probably the most used item. It holds my drink cup in close reach while I'm walking, hangs my headlamp in the tent at night, holds my socks while they dry at night, ties my bag and lower pad together, and many more uses as I discover a need.
How bout my hammock. it makes an awesome recliner where ever and whenever I need it. Also great way to sleep.
i would say a knife
I carry a single extra winter tent stake. Good for digging catholes and if it's windy, I can use it as an extra guypoint for my tent.
Don't laugh but my favorite hiking item any time is my fly-fishing vest. I loved it the first time I used it hiking so much that I went and got the same vest that is dedicated solely to hiking so I don't have to switch the items around so often. The amount of pockets on that thing keeps handy all the small things I use the most or would need the quickest, has deep front pockets for my DSLR with the lens set up for easy picture taking (instead of carrying it around my neck, the strap is hooked to one of the built in carabiners-makes for easy grabbing and shooting). My i.d./money/cell is all right where I can get to it in seconds and while the weight of my pack may not be much less, the distribution of the small items in the pockets balances me out well. The big back pocket can hold my rain jacket/poncho/extra socks, etc. (put them in a ziplock!) and it is easy to get to without removing everything, I can just slip my hand between my pack and back and reach in to the pocket to grab it (although of course I have to take off pack to put on jacket, but you get the point).
"Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?"
- Frank Scully
My knife is the first thing that came into my mind.
Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time. - Steven Wright
Socks as gloves. They're much warmer than ordinary gloves. Fingers together keep each other warm.
litefoot 2000
Oh, I almost forgot. A hand-sized pack towel. I keep it fastened to the shoulder strap of my backpack. I use it to wipe sweat, put over my head when the pesky deer fly follows you a half mile down the trail, or to take a spit bath at night. It will also keep your head dry in light, short rain showers when you don't want to stop and put on your rain jacket.
litefoot 2000