day hike · summer
Day hike
What I carry on a normal alpine day.
Conditions on the day
Set what you expect and the list adjusts itself.
Temperature
Weather
Wind
Hike type
Wearing
In the pack
Food & water
Maybe
I pack roughly the same way for every alpine day, with small adjustments for weather and altitude. The rain shell can also help against wind, especially when it’s cold.
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.