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Things To Bring On a Hike, Part 2

© Wayne R. Brown

As I sit here, it is the middle of the night and I am off work due to a back injury. What better time could there be to write the long overdue second part of this series where I will discuss my observations concerning how to dress for a hike.

In the last article, I covered footwear. It seems logical to continue with clothing and work our way up the body as we go.

For the lower body, I have two different preferences, depending upon the expected weather conditions. If it's going to be cold and rainy, a common condition in Western Oregon, I wear blue jeans. They're tough and durable, reasonably warm if they don't get too wet, and they're what I'm usually wearing, anyway. Cargo pants are an option, but I don't think they provide as much protection from the wind and rain and are better saved for milder weather.

In the spring or fall, where I might expect a breezy day and medium temperatures, jeans are still a good option. So are cargo pants, which are comfortable and have roomy pockets. I might even go with shorts.

If you're going to hike on a hot day, do yourself a favor and wear shorts. The hiking experience will be better for the cool comfort they provide. Of course, there are some circumstances where longer pants are a better plan. If the trail you plan to hike is particularly brushy or not well maintained, shorts may not be your best option. Scratched up legs are not a lot of fun. If there are a lot of mosquitos about, the wearing of shorts makes it just that much easier for them to get at your legs. Sunburn can also be a very serious consideration. If you're light skinned and plan an extended hike in the sun, long pants or a generous application of sunscreen are in order.

Now, a problem I have encountered a number of times is changing temperatures. If you start out in the morning, and hike into the afternoon, the temperature may change considerably during the hike. The jeans that were comfortable at the beginning of the hike might be awfully hot and uncomfortable by the time I'm done. One solution to this, of course, is to bring both a pair of long pants and a pair of shorts. This will work, but trying to change from one to the other while standing on one foot in the forest is a real hassle. And there is a good chance that you don't want your hiking partners, or whoever happens along the trail, to see you standing there in your underwear!

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