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It is up to you, the hiker, to exercise good sense and good
citizenship in the wilderness. These lessons have been learned
by the Arizona Trailblazers over the years.
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leadership |
safety |
equipment |
food |
personal
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| communication |
The hike leader should always provide TalkAbout radios and insist
that people carry them and use them.
In the event that radios are not available, keep the group together
and do not allow people to become separated.
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| Chuck Parsons |
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| re-grouping |
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Pre-arrange two or three meeting locations along the trail,
including lunch, and wait for all hikers to meet there before
leaving.
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| Chuck Parsons |
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| rendezvous |
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If the group has to be split, appoint a deputy leader and
give them clear directions, including a later rendezvous.
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| Ted Tenny |
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| junctions |
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If the trail involves complicated junction points where anyone
could possible take a wrong turn or go in the wrong direction,
pass out copies of the route to all hikers before the start of the
hike and consider making arrangements for everyone to meet there.
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| Chuck Parsons |
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| the unexpected |
Always be prepared for the unexpected.
Never, ever assume anything except Murphy's Law —
"If anything can go wrong, it will."
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| Chuck Parsons |
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| weather |
Never completely trust the local weather forecasts.
Always carry a poncho or raincoat when hiking — regardless
of the forecast. It could save your life.
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| Chuck Parsons |
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| cell phones |
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Always carry a cell phone when hiking and provide the number
to the hike leader.
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| Chuck Parsons |
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| Hiking Boots |
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For day hikes I wear hiking boots that fit over my ankles. Basically I
want a comfortable fit, sturdy soles, and good traction. I always buy
boots that can be re-soled — in fact my favorite hiking boots are
on their third pair of soles. REI's annual May sale is a good time to shop.
I spend a lot of time in the shoe section trying on hiking boots and
walking around in them. They have to feel really comfortable, right now in
the store, rather than breaking them in later. Expect to spend $80 to $120.
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| Ted Tenny |
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| Canteens |
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For carrying water I’ve tried all kinds of canteens but prefer a
hydration system such as Camelbak®. Water is carried in a
flexible 100 oz (or smaller) plastic bag which fits inside the backpack.
You drink through a tube. If you need more water to refill the bag, carry
it in plastic bottles. Cool a jug of purified water overnight in the
refrigerator and use it to fill the water bag on the day of the hike.
If the hike is "B+" or "A", bring an extra bottle of
water and drink it just before you start hiking.
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| Ted Tenny |
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| Bring Stamps |
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Consider purchasing the post cards ahead of time to mail from the bottom
of the canyon.
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| Sylvia Prast |
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| Baby Wipes |
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Baby wipes are great when soap and water are unavailable.
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| Scott King |
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| Aluminum Can Tabs |
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Two holed pull tabs from aluminum cans make good tensioners for your
rain fly. They also make good replacement grommets.
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| Jeannie Van Lew |
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| Food Organization |
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There are lots of ways to organize your food. Some people pack foods
into general breakfast, lunch and dinner bags. I like to pack individual
meals into their own separate, resealable plastic bags. Unpackage everything.
You will carry out all your garbage, even leftover food. Pre-measuring
portions will make cooking easier, while pre-mixing ingredients that can
be stored together like a breakfast drink and milk powder can save space
and time.
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| Jeannie Van Lew |
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| Cracker Storage |
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If your crackers usually get crunched long before they meet the cheddar,
try storing them in a Pringles potato chip container. It weighs only a
few ounces when empty, and you can use it to pack out your trash once
the crackers have been eaten.
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| Jeannie Van Lew |
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| Taste Test |
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Try the food you buy before you take it backpacking. The worst time to
find out you don't like something is when you're tired and hungry.
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| Tom Van Lew |
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| Where to Cook |
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Be extremely careful when cooking in heavy wind! My Coleman 2-burner stove
was very stable when it was set on the table in its “closed”
position, but once it was opened, the vertical position of the lid and
side flaps made for a surface very unstable in the wind. In fact, the wind
was so strong that the stove blew off the table! Solution: the stove was
moved to the ground, and a partial windbreak was fashioned using a big rock
and an ice chest.
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| Bruce Fisher |
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| Weight |
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Try to keep backpack to 25% of your body weight.
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| Scott King |
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| Toenails |
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On the downhill trek, the toenails hit and are constantly being
“lifted” by the front of the boot. You will lose a toenail, and
it's not pretty. So, clip them back as far as you can.
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| Dawn Lavigne |
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