Читать книгу Best Summit Hikes Denver to Vail - James Dziezynski - Страница 14

Preparing for mountain hiking means that you may be dealing with blistering heat and frigid storms—sometimes in the same day! For three-season hiking in Colorado, here’s a checklist of recommended gear.

It’s been my experience that two particular pieces of gear are worth investing in the best possible options you can: eye protection and footwear. This doesn’t necessarily mean the most expensive, but it does usually mean paying a bit more for better quality.

• High-quality footwear. I prefer a low-hiker with a rugged, Vibram outsole, often paired with gaiters for off-trail terrain. For off-trail hiking, a stiffer, full hiking boot is recommended for those with foot or ankle issues.

• High-quality eye protection. Make sure glasses cover your full range of eyesight and are UVA–UVB protected (without distortion from cheap lenses). I often pack along eye drops to use during and after the hike as well.

• First aid kit (see for more details)

• Noncotton base layers

• Lightweight rain/wind shell

• Lightweight, long-sleeved fleece

• Lightweight down or synthetic puffy jacket

• Gloves

• Winter hat and neck gaiter

• Visor or baseball cap

• Sunblock

• Camelbak (or similar hydration system) and at least 48 ounces of water

• Plenty of easy-to-digest food and snacks (I often use gels, gummies, and energy bars only on many hikes)

• 1,800- to 2,500-cubic-inch backpack

• Compass, map, GPS, or navigation-based smartphone app

• Gaiters

• Hiking poles (strongly recommended for many of the hikes in this guide!)