10 Hiking Essentials

I recently came upon an article about the death of a hiker in New Zealand, and I thought it might be a good idea to come up with a list of some things I like to bring while hiking, especially in case of an emergency.
Lots of people have a "Ten Essentials when Hiking" list, and I thought I would share mine.

1. Map and Compass

Above all, the most important thing to have is a map or picture of the trail at hand. Once you have the map, make sure you study it and find a landmark nearby, such as a river. If you get lost on your way, just walk in the direction of the landmark, so you eventually find your way back home.

2. Water/Food

Having a water bottle that works (and I mean WORKS) is ideal for the avid hiker. After my first hike, I quickly realized having a water bottle that could filter out just about any water on earth was necessary. I personally bit the bullet and dropped $40 on a 1-liter bottle that I've taken on each hike I've been on. And it has been a huge relief. I've used it every time. As long as there is water nearby, I always have a drink. The one I chose to buy was the Katadyn BeFree, and I would certainly recommend.

Where will your next drink of water come from?
Photo Credit: @adventures_azhttps://t.co/vDrUzaEKav pic.twitter.com/gKICOdrjJX

— Katadyn Outdoors (@katadyn) June 4, 2019

Furthermore, it might save your life.


Having a water bottle that can drink just about any water safely is a big essential.
The food is pretty self-explanatory. Don't go hungry.

3. Bathing Suit and Towel
This one is more of personal preference, but I love having a bathing suit and towel in my backpack at all times. You really never know when the opportunity will yield itself to a quick plunge. Especially in the thick heat of summer, sometimes a quick shower from a waterfall or dive into a quarry can cool you off and get you energized for the rest of your hike. Even further, a towel is great to have for when it rains. After my last hike where I got soaked by Mother Nature, packing an extra towel was perfect.

4. Flashlight
Ah, the one that got away. I have yet to blog my hike to Virgin Falls, but I'll touch on it more when I do. On the way to the falls (which was an excellent hike, I might add), you could go off the path for a short trip into Sheep's Cave. Every time I've seen hikes advertise a "cave," it's usually just a quick ten-foot detour off the trail, and that's what I was expecting this time around. Oh, but I was horribly mistaken. Sheep's Cave was a legitimate cave and went back several hundred yards. At least, as far as I could tell. I turned around after about 100 yards because the flashlight on my phone was too weak. In conclusion, bring a flashlight. And not just a phone flashlight, bring something that will actually let you see.

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#sheepscave #getoutsidetn #hiketn #wanderlust #discovertn #adventureculture

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Pictured above is the very beginning to Sheep's Cave, and you can see just how dark it is at the very beginning. Go deep into the cave, and you'll see a flashlight is necessary.

5. Extra Clothes and a Rain Jacket

There is nothing, and I mean nothing, worse than having to walk or drive home in wet underwear. This one's pretty self-explanatory. Bring an extra set of clothes in case it rains or you have to cross a stream or anything else. Also, purchase and carry a good rain jacket with you - well worth the investment.

6. Find Yourself an Emergency Contact

This isn't something so much to bring as it is to shore up beforehand. Be very sure to tell at least one other person where you will be, exactly what trail and how long you plan on taking during your hike. Similar to having a water filter, an emergency contact is a must-have. The man seen below was rescued because he had an emergency contact in his mother.

7. Fire
Like water, heat is a fundamental utility of life. Having some sort of fire-starter is an important resource for staying safe while out on the trail. It can be a lighter, a torch, matches or anything else that keeps heat, just make sure you have something.

8. Phone/Portable Speaker
This one is interesting, and it's not one you'll find on most other essentials list, but I think these two items are great for a hike. The phone is absolutely necessary, even if you aren't anticipating having cell phone service. If you get lost in an area of no service, you still have a tracker in your phone (at least, this applies to iPhone) because of Location Services. This means you can still be found even when you don't have service.
The portable speaker isn't necessary, but it has made my hikes far more enjoyable. Just adds a little variety, especially if you've been doing your hikes like me - by yourself. Even with a group of people, having some music can simply liven up the atmosphere.

9. Knife



All jokes aside, it's a smart idea to have a knife on you at all times. God forbid you get attacked by an animal while on your trek, but if you do, you'd much rather have a knife on you than nothing. Moreover, it can be used for food, gear, kindling, just about anything you need it to.

10. First Aid
Probably the most predictable on the list, first aid is essential on your hike. You never know when you might fall, get scratched or get injured in any other way. You hope it never does, but it's definitely smarter to be safe than sorry.
I can't embed another webpage on this site, but this story of a man who injured himself with an ax and healed himself using a first aid kit he brought might help show how important an aid kit is.

Honorable Mention: Hiking Boots. It seemed too obvious to include, but a good pair of hiking boots makes all the difference.

Summiting Mount LeConte

This was an absolute journey of a hike. Mount LeConte is one of the most popular peaks in all of the Smoky Mountains, as it is the third tallest peak in the mountain range. The summit of the mountain is actually a central point for several different trails, including the Boulevard Trail, the Appalachian Trail, the Alum Cave Trail, the Trillium Gap Trail and a few more beyond just those. Also at the top sits LeConte Lodge, a mega-popular stopping point for hikers who choose to hike the mountain. It's so popular that it books up more than a few months in advance.

The peak of Mount LeConte is supposed to feature one of the most beautiful panoramic views in the area. As I progressed into my hike, I realized I would not be able to experience such views on this instance, as the heavens opened and rain heaved as soon as I reached the top.

I chose to take the Alum Cave Trail, as it was regarded as the most popular of all the hikes by many blogs and other guides.

The hike - a lofty 11-mile trek - is practically straight uphill for 5.5 miles, then straight downhill for the same distance. For the first two miles or so, it was fairly flat. A moderate incline, but nothing that would make your calves shiver in fear. 

I was brought over several small streams and creeks with equally small bridges. This continued until the first landmark: Arch Rock.

It was...cool. That's about all I can really say about it. At first, it looked like I was heading down into the depths of a cave, which excited me. I, instead, ended up walking about 20 feet to the other side of the rock. Still, it was a unique sight, a nice stop along the way, if you will.

The trail continued for another mile, maybe mile-and-a-half or so before I reached the next landmark on the way: the Alum Cave Bluffs. The word "cave" led me to think there'd be a legitimate "cave." The last hike I trekked (Virgin Falls Trail) had a pitch-black cave that went deep into the earth. These were just bluffs. Still though, they were interesting, made for a great view without the clouds misting about.

This is when the trail really started to take its toll on my legs. For the most part up to this point, the trail had been on a relatively minimal incline. I stopped and took a rest at the cave bluffs because it seemed like a natural stopping point, but I'm glad I did. The next 2.7 miles would have been incredibly difficult if I hadn't. After the first 300 feet or so, I looked up and said to myself, "Oh (expletive)." I believe myself to be in pretty decent hiking shape, but it was a journey from here on out. Plus, the clouds really began to form more impactfully at this point as well. The weather took the views away from me, which was disappointing. But it was still really, really cool. The views may have been gone, but the lack of visibility made the trail itself really serene. It legitimately felt like I was walking around in a lucid dream. It was filled with a light mist, dense fog and passages that made you feel like you were walking through to the other end of a forest.



I had to stop and rest a few times in the final mile or two, but I eventually did make it to the top. Or at least close to the top. I got a little bit lost trying to find exactly what I was looking for, as the signage becomes minimal toward the top. I eventually made it to the zenith of the trip - Cliff Tops. Unfortunately, as I referenced previously, the view was, well, nonexistent. It made for a very spooky atmosphere.
As you can see in the video below, clouds were everywhere. And it was pretty much at the precise moment I put down my phone, the heavens opened and rained down upon me. I mean I was getting soaked. I eventually made my way down to the lodge to seek some shelter.

After waiting for about ten minutes to see if the rain would let up, it did not. I began my journey back to the base of the mountain. About halfway down, the rain prevailed and blue skies prevailed, much to my comedic dismay.

Overall, it was a solid hike. I'd rate it about a 7/10 with the potential for an 8 or 9 if the view at the top lives up to the hype. I will eventually be back on a clearer day.

Welcome to the Knoxville Nomad! My name is Chris O'Brien, and I'm a rising junior telecommunications student at the University of Florida. Currently, I live in Knoxville, Tennessee, for a news internship with TEGNA's WBIR-TV. Ultimately, my life goal would be to work for ESPN, ABC, NBC or CBS, but I know it's certainly a journey to reach that kind of ceiling. When I graduate, I plan on getting a job as a multimedia journalist in a local news market. You can see more of my MMJ journey on my website.

The Knoxville Nomad will be dedicated to hiking and the outdoors in the tri-state area of eastern Tennessee, northern Georgia and western North Carolina. Being from the east coast of Florida, you might think being away from the beach is eating me alive. And you'd be right, to an extent. I do miss the salty air and brisk sea breeze the ocean provides, but I actually enjoy the mountains and lakes just a bit more. There's something different about that fresh mountain air and the refreshing chill of a cool lake that hits me just a bit differently than the beach does.

Adventure is out there. Stay tuned on my quest to conquer it. Below is a picture from my trip to Virgin Falls, one of the best hikes I've ever embarked on.