The most important part of hicking in the mountains is to plan ahead. Ensure you are bringing most, if not all, of the following:
- Hicking boots (or shoes);
- A backpack that can be strapped at the hips;
- A fleece (the thinner, the less room it takes in your pack);
- A jacket to protect against the wind (again, the smaller and lighter the easier it is to carry);
- A hat;
- Light, breathable pants, shorts (if one can do both, great!) and shirts;
- Some form of hicking socks.
We really recommend hicking boots, as they make the journey much more comfortable, but don't spend a lot of money on something you will only use during your trip here. A good pair of hicking shoes will work just as well and you will be able to use it everyday back home. Generally, shoes are also quite a bit cheaper.
Everyone should have his / her own backpack. A hike will typically take between 3 and 6 hours, round trip, so we need to eat and drink lots of water. It's easier for everyone (and nicer) if everybody carries their own water, food and spare clothing. The backpack you get must attach at the waist; otherwise, your shoulders and back will support all the weight, causing you to ache more and tire sooner. By strapping around the hips, the majority of the weight is transferred to your legs instead of your back.
Climbing mountains usually mean you end up at the top of a large bump, surrounded by nothing. This is important: imagine how much wind you will face at 10,000 feet! It quickly gets cold at the top, particularly when the wind runs across your sweat-drenched clothes. A fleece helps to keep you comfortable and a wind-breaker will keep the cold wind away from your body. You don't need some very heavy gear, at least not in summer; you just need to stay relatively warm for 30-60 minutes while you eat your lunch and take pictures.
A hat is mandatory. The sun hit really hard here and remains high for a long time (consider that, in summer, it rises around 6am and sets around 10pm). Sun screen we have and we can buy here; but a hat will make a very big difference. A hat with an all around brim is best -- compared to, say, a baseball cap -- as it will protect your ears and neck from the sun. We recommend Tilley hats as they are Canadian made, quite stylish and guaranteed to survive being eaten by an elephant.
Socks, pants / shorts and shirts are the least important part of the equipment. So long as they are comfortable, even when wet, it's ok. If you want the best, get a "quick-dry" shirt and a "high-performance" pant, the kind that will move the sweat away from your skin. A good pair of hicking socks, we've discovered, really does make a difference. They are more expansive than regular socks, but if you're looking for the best you'll want some of those. We own multiple items from the Tilley company, a Canadian outdoor clothing company, and we highly recommend that brand.
