The May Day holiday is coming again, and everyone is going out to have fun. Everything has its pros and cons—it's a double-edged sword. Behind the fervent trend of outdoor activities lie hidden safety risks; and the increasingly heated yet highly irrational atmosphere surrounding outdoor sports. I feel it’s still necessary to throw some cold water on this, so I dug up an old post, revised it a bit, and would like to discuss with you how to avoid low-probability incidents: There’s no denying that outdoor sports have become a trend; but this is largely due to the ignorant hype by certain mass media, which has contributed to the so-called fashion trend.
At the same time, the safety principles that used to be essential in outdoor activities have been completely abandoned or even trampled underfoot by them; they only focus on introducing gear and routes, and on stirring up emotions. Yet they completely fail to spread what they should be spreading: concepts of safe and environmentally friendly outdoor practices. As a result, accidents have followed in tandem with the frequency of their reports. Moreover, ordinary citizens may face greater safety risks in mountain and outdoor sports than we do; because they are mostly exposed to newspapers and TV; for example, many citizens, after watching TV or reading the newspaper, drag their whole family out to climb a mountain without any preparation.
It’s important to know that outdoor sports are a high-risk activity—climbing a mountain is not the same as strolling in a park; approaching mountain climbing with the attitude of visiting a park will sooner or later lead to trouble, and in serious cases, it could even be life-threatening; this is something that should always be kept in mind at all times. But the media doesn’t seem to have mentioned this, and among some hikers, this concept seems to have completely disappeared as well.
As hikers, I think that while we ourselves take effective measures to avoid low-probability incidents, we should also try our best to guide those around us who enjoy outdoor sports with the correct outdoor philosophy. After all, when facing the wilderness, we also have to face our own lives and the lives of others; we need to learn to respect the wilderness, rather than challenge it.
I remember there used to be a lot of debate about the topic of carrying loads, but there are some basic pieces of gear in the outdoors that can effectively help us avoid low-probability dangerous incidents.
From my personal understanding, you really don’t need to carry a lot of useless luxury items when climbing a mountain (like watermelons? Of course, unless you’re doing endurance training and have the ability, hehe); but essential and effective gear must not be missing. Even if you never end up using it, you should still bring it, because the one time you do need it, it could save your life. Due to the low-probability nature of these incidents, it’s quite difficult to assess which gear is essential in case of an emergency. Because bringing too little won’t prepare you for unexpected situations, but bringing too much increases the load and discomfort.
Generally, the situations we might encounter in the mountains and outdoors can be roughly divided into the following:
(1) Late return
(2) Exhaustion
(3) Bad weather
(4) Marching
(5) Injury or illness of team members
But these various situations often occur in sequence, such as:
1. Failing to complete the planned route on time, getting lost, or encountering bad weather may lead to 2
2. Becoming exhausted or late returning, which may then lead to 3
3. Being forced to march at night, which may then lead to 4
4. Causing injury to team members, which may then lead to 5
5. Being forced to camp overnight, which may then lead to team members getting sick, and a series of other related issues...
Therefore, no matter which route you take, some gear is absolutely essential and must not be overlooked; it ensures that you can safely get through emergencies or unknown situations, and this gear is the most basic essential equipment. You must think it through carefully, because bringing too much will add weight and slow down your pace. For example, some people think that a tent and sleeping bag are not essential; unless you initially assume that you might be forced to camp overnight.
The following are the basic gear that most mountaineers agree is essential to carry:
(1) Map (make sure it's waterproof)
(2) Compass
(3) Headlamp (including spare bulbs and batteries—the batteries should be charged, and the bulbs should work, hehe)
(4) Emergency food (including water)
(5) Emergency clothing (make sure it's waterproof)
(6) Hat, sunglasses
(7) Swiss Army knife
(8) Fire starter (make sure it's waterproof)
(9) Rope
(10) First aid kit (make sure it's waterproof)
Maps and a compass: Maps and a compass can help you know your current location and direction of travel; of course, that’s only if you know how to use them. At the very least, they allow you to safely retreat along your original route. Of course, that in itself is quite a challenge.
Headlamp: A headlamp or flashlight is a very important piece of gear, but be sure to remove the batteries when not in use to avoid corrosion. Also, headlamps come in waterproof and non-waterproof versions (sellers often say “rainproof”), so pay special attention when choosing. Personally, I usually carry a small waterproof flashlight as a backup — it’s definitely useful when replacing a headlamp bulb. Also, pay attention to the batteries: typical batteries have a capacity of 4 amp-hours, which equals about 8 hours of use with a 0.5-amp bulb. So make sure you understand the power consumption of your headlamp bulb so you know what to expect.
Mobile phone: While there may not always be mobile signal in the outdoors, bringing one is still a good idea. In case of real danger, you can find a spot to contact the outside world. It’s recommended to bring one with long standby time or a professional outdoor phone (like the Tecfone J1). That kind is better. Consider it a backup piece of gear. Professional outdoor phones often feature a bright flashlight, compass, SOS function, and most importantly, are waterproof and shockproof. In outdoor activities, anything can happen.
Emergency food: Carrying emergency food is for unexpected situations, so it should also be made waterproof. This type of food should be ready-to-eat, lightweight, easy to digest, and have a long shelf life — such as nuts, jerky, dried fruit, and candy. If you have a gas stove, you can also add simple foods like instant soup or tea. A hearty breakfast can generally provide enough energy for a day, and for a one-day trip, it’s usually enough to last until you’re ready to head back. But carrying emergency food provides endurance and energy for unpredictable delays or accidents. Of course, regular food should also follow the principles of being lightweight, high-calorie, easy to digest, and long-lasting.
Spare clothing: Two pairs of thick socks, lightweight shoes, underwear, outer pants, T-shirt, windbreaker; hat, gloves, and rain gear (which can help retain body heat when needed). These items are suitable for any temperature and can handle unexpected overnight stays — though we generally avoid camping in bad weather. There’s no fixed rule on what spare clothing to bring or how much, but for activities around Shenzhen, it’s best to bring a windbreaker with a hood (everyone has their own gear, haha), and extra socks can save your feet a lot of trouble. You’ll sweat a lot while hiking, so spare underwear is essential and won’t weigh much. Wearing long-sleeved, collared shirts and pants with adjustable cuffs can protect against snakes and scratches (on the neck, arms, legs, and head). Some veterans also use a hat with a headband combo.
Hat and sunglasses: The hat should preferably have a brim — or if you’ve got the money, you could get a Japanese jungle hat. The hat helps retain warmth in cold weather and blocks sun in hot weather. As for sunglasses, well, no need to elaborate. If you really don’t want to wear them, you won’t get snow blindness around Shenzhen. But if you want to protect your eyes from subtropical sunlight, it’s worth considering. The brim can also serve as partial sunshade.
Swiss Army knife: A great tool, useful for cooking, starting fires, and first aid. A good knife should have two blades, a saw, a bottle opener, a screwdriver, a awl, a corkscrew, scissors, and be made of stainless steel. It’s best to attach it with a carabiner clip where it’s easily accessible and won’t get lost. Also, learn how to use all its functions — I was pretty clueless at first too. Aside from the saw and blade, I never really figured out how to use the other features, haha.
Fire starter: Matches or a lighter should be stored properly to avoid getting damp and becoming unusable. In emergencies or when dealing with wet wood, a fire starter is essential — for boiling a drink to warm up, for example. Common fire starters include candles or solid chemical fuel (like magnesium). Of course, around Shenzhen, most people find using a gas stove more convenient and quicker, and it’s more environmentally friendly.
Rope: You never realize you need it until you don’t have it. Learning some knot-tying techniques and how to use rope properly will be very beneficial. Typically, a 30-meter, 8mm auxiliary rope is the hiker’s top choice; weighing about 40g × 30 = 1200g. Adding about 6–8 meters of 6mm auxiliary rope will usually cover most situations. But be sure to maintain your rope and never lend it out. Seriously.
First aid kit: Usually, a first aid kit can only handle minor issues; serious problems are probably beyond its scope — it’s better to go to a hospital. What we can do is provide basic treatment for external injuries, colds, or fevers, and evacuate the injured from the mountains as quickly as possible. Keep medications in a sturdy box — ideally, the best supplies are for:
1. Blisters
2. Sunburn
3. Abrasions; for severe bleeding or fractures, it’s best to wait for a doctor or someone trained in first aid
4. Venomous snake bites
5. Heatstroke
6. Minor colds or chills. For trips lasting a day or more, a first aid kit is essential. Be sure to waterproof the kit, such as using a waterproof bag.
* Cold medicine: Day & Night, Contac, Ganmao Tong, etc.
* Heatstroke prevention: Shi Di Shui, Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, etc.
* Digestive issues: Huoxiang Zhengqi Capsules, Coptisine, Baoji Pills, etc.
* Antibiotics: Sulfamethoxazole, Acetylspiramycin, Watermelon Frost Spray, or other lozenges
* Trauma care: Yunnan Baiyao Spray, a small bottle of Yunnan Baiyao Powder (can be used with alcohol for wounds), band-aids, bandages, medical tape, moist pain-relief plasters, snakebite medicine, etc.
* Others: Essential balm, Chloramphenicol eye drops (for cleaning wounds), Erythromycin ointment (for eye issues or preventing infection), Claritin, etc.
Of course, many other pieces of gear are essential for certain activities, but the equipment listed above is basically the foundational gear to consider for all activities — truly essential.
In short, I hope the above advice helps hikers — including myself — stay a bit calmer in the face of unlikely events and a little less panicked when things go wrong. That’s enough.
(Reposted from online article With deep affection)