Cornelia Mertens
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day hike · summer

Day hike

What I carry on a normal alpine day.

The full day-hike kit laid out and labelled: 20 l backpack, merino shirt, fleece, sunglasses, ibuprofen, sunscreen and lip balm, merino socks, hiking pants, 2 l water bottle, water filter, nuts, gel, trail runners, cap, rain jacket, lunch box, knife and headlamp.

Conditions on the day

Set what you expect and the list adjusts itself.

—
-10 °C 30 °C
—
0 % 100 %
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1 h 12 h
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0 m 2500 m
—
T1 T6

Wearing

In the pack

Food & water

Maybe

I pack roughly the same way for every alpine day, with small adjustments for weather and altitude. When it’s a hot summer day with 0% chance of rain, I wear shorts and a T-shirt, drop the rain jacket and fleece and only take a light long-sleeve layer.

A few principles:

  • Leave word. If you’re going on your own, let someone know where you’re going.
  • Stay hydrated. Refill at fountains and streams where you can. On hot days with nowhere to top up, I take 3 L. And when I’m not sure the water’s clean — think high summer with cattle milling around the streams — the water filter comes along.
  • Headlamp. Carry one even in July. You will eventually be glad you did.