5 Must have bits of kit

Here are a five items I never leave behind on a mountain day with or without the kids. Some are obvious - some maybe not!

When we venture into the outdoors we have a lot of small decisions to make. Some of the most important of these decisions are the items we choose to put in our packs. With limited space and the need to reduce the weight we carry to a certain degree, we need to choose well! Remember, everything we need to survive the adventure will be on our backs. Make those items count.

Rather than a complete unpacking of everything I take on the hill, this is a look at a few stand out items. Some obvious, but worth mentioning, some less so.

Look out for other blogs in the series to see what tweaks I make depending on the mission!

This is one of the most important bits of kit of any trip, whether it's a 2 hour stroll through a wooded Snowdonia valley, or a 5 day wild camping expedition in the Highlands. The map and compass is an absolute must-have for any mountain adventure. You'll notice it says Maps, not map. They're so important I take 2, in case I lose or damage one! Not having a map in the mountains is like driving with your eyes closed - probably fine for a bit, but there's no way it ends well!

There is a potentially major drawback with the map and compass though... Do you know how to use them? Like, really know?

I think hillwalkers, outdoorsy types, hikers, whatever we want to call ourselves, fall into 3 categories when it comes to these key skills.

1. Those who know...

These are the walkers who can use a map and compass properly to navigate away from paths, using their own initiative to move around the hills with confidence. They understand what the map can tell them. And what it can't.

They have been in situations that have required their skills to be deployed, and have risen to the challenge - they have navigated for real, and seen what it really means!

They understand the superpower that is harnessed when this intimate knowledge of the map is combined with compass skills, with timing, with pacing, and with experience. As a result they are liberated in the hills, free to roam, free to explore. The only limitations are the weather and their own ambition!

(edit; I need to calm the hell down, I know. I just bloody love maps, sorry)

2. Those who think they know...

This is quite a large category, and I know it well - I used to live here! "Sure, I take a map and compass into the hills" my younger self would say, "I'm not an idiot" And I did, always. But could I really use them? I'm not so sure!

I could roughly follow where I was on the map, and I always had a good "inner compass", so could orientate myself in the landscape well, but deep down I knew my skills were wobbly - built on dodgy foundations of good luck and near misses!

This type of navigator will get by in summer on a busy hill no problem, as long as paths are clear and the weather holds, they will possibly go on for years not needing to test just how much they really know about navigating. Sooner or later though they will be exposed, winding up well and truly, panic inducingly, get wrenchingly lost. Not a pleasant experience, and all too common in our mountains.

(edit; yes I do speak from experience)

3. Those who don't want to know...

It's only Scafell Pike... It's only a little hill... We're on a path... My mate did it, so it can't be hard...

There are a million reasons people go into the hill underprepared, some may just be visiting as a one off, and don't know what to expect. Others rely on youthful confidence, and some have had their judgement clouded by previous successes.

Many people rely solely on smartphones, which are great if the battery lasts, and service is good, and you don't drop it.

To some people map and compass skills are not considered important enough to learn.

If it wasn't obvious, you really want to be in the first category! Those mountains out there are big, they're complicated, and they're confusing. It can get misty, it can get dark - you really don't want to get lost in the mountains, that will be bloody miserable at best - and well, unthinkable at worst.

So when people say "always take a map and compass into the hills" that's a good start, but not the full story. You really need some skills to go with it. In fact, I'd go further and say, you need all the skills to go with it! It's safer, and way more fun that way.

Despite my remarks in the last section, guess what? My phone is probably the best bit of kit I have!

Here's why;

1. It's a pretty good camera (in my non-photographer view).

2. Its a back up navigation tool (not primary, see above, don't get me started again..)

3. It tells the time.

4. It has loads of apps on it that I use, such as a lightening alert and weather apps.

5. It's a radio and podcast store when I'm camping.

6. Oh, and its a PHONE. Meaning in an emergency, I can call for help!

That's pretty straightforward then, its a great bit of hill kit.

Personally, on a walk I have it on silent, and I have no intention of using it to answer calls, or emails or any of that real life rubbish! No, that's a different world, calls, email, social media, that can all wait for me over there, just out of sight until I'm back. Other people don't want to hear my phone beeping away either. So keep them tucked away until needed, maybe?

As a Mountain Leader I am outdoor first aid trained and assessed regularly. If leading a group, or part of a big group, I will always pack a relatively large kit with an array of useful things. I also take a Sam Splint, which is a long malleable splint that can easily be folded and formed into many semi-rigid shapes and used to support limb and extremity injuries - which are obviously common in the hills! This splint is very light, although a little bulky, but in my view worth the space.

Whether or not you're trained, its a very good idea to have a basic first aid kit. Being able to stop a bleed, or support a fracture, or simply to apply a plaster to a burst blister could make a big difference on a day out. You don't need much, and your kit really should reflect your level of knowledge, as there's not much point carrying stuff you don't know how to use. Courses are run all over the country by dozens of providers, so there is no excuse not to get even basic training!

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to use first aid - remember to look after yourself first. In the hills, these situations are likely to be on steep ground or perhaps slippery surfaces. Make sure you don't add to the casualty count. Assess the area before committing to help. If you need assistance from Mountain Rescue services, you dial 999 and ask for the police, then Mountain Rescue. You need to try and give as much information as possible about the casualty, the location, and what has occurred. Try and use a grid reference rather than What 3Words, as this system is not liked by Mountain Rescue teams due to the potential for misinformation. Link here for more info;

In case of emergency - Mountain Rescue England and Wales

Such a simple thing, and yet a beanie hat is the absolute best way of regulating your temperature on the hill. I always have 2 with me in summer and winter, plus a cap in the summer if its sunny. There's no rocket science here - your head is where most heat leaves your body, so if its cold put a hat on - if you get a bit hot take it off again! Using a hat for this can mean you spend less time messing around with layers, and really will help you move more efficiently. On snack stops, no matter how warm you feel as you drop our pack to the floor and look for a flat rock to perch on, put your hat straight on and conserve that heat.

In winter they're also great for clearing icy snot from ones nose! Lush.

This thing is great. Its a red stuff sack, small, and is always in the bottom of my pack. In there is everything important, but hopefully not needed. The insurance policy, but a bit sexier than an actual insurance policy.

The contents of the Bits-Bag will change slightly depending on the trip - for example I add things for wild camping, such as headphones, go-pro cable, poop trowel!

But generally it looks like this and has all the cool little bits in it that make me feel safe and prepared in the mountains.

We have;

Spare compass; like having 2 maps, a spare compass is must given the importance of being able to navigate in the mountains.

Headtorches; 2 of them, and a spare battery. If it gets dark, you may be able to see a bit, but not well, and you'll struggle to read a map. This is a must have, especially in the darker months when getting caught out in the dark, even for just an hour is pretty likely.

Whistle; For attracting attention.

Spare watch; Useful for navigation.

Battery pack and phone cable; A working phone is vital in the hills, as mentioned above, so these power banks, although heavy, are brilliant. This one will charge an iPhone fully about 5 times on one charge.

Midge net; Seasonal, but when you want one - you really want one!

Tissues; Handy for general hygiene - plus the obvious use-case when on a mini expedition.

Painkillers; A good idea in a first aid situation, and for general headaches / soreness etc.

My kit is an evolving list. Things get added, things get taken out, things get put back in, and what goes in a pack really depends on the objectives of the day, the group that I'm with, and the weather. These 5 items above are always there though - no if or buts.

We also all have our own preferences and priorities - my lovely wife, for example, gets slightly grumpy if she doesn't have her small foam sit-mat to protect her bum at rest times! For me that's just a faff, and not worth the effort of packing - plus they really want to get blown away! The debate will, I'm sure, continue!