Will This Be On The Quiz?
Take this short quiz to see how well prepared you are for backcountry hiking this summer.
The Ten Essentials has been a vital safety resource for hikers and backpackers for decades. However, staying safe extends beyond preparation. Take this short quiz to see how well prepared for unexpected hazards you might encounter on the trail this summer.
Photo By Tina Arnold
Knowing where you are and where you are going is key. Which answer is not one of the Ten Essentials' official tools of navigation?
- Map
- The sun
- Compass
- GPS app
Photo By Raymond Dion
The Ten Essentials lists three forms of sun protection, which is not included?
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Sun protective clothing
- Umbrella
Matches are the recommended fire starter by the Ten Essentials?
- True
- False
It's not always a bad thing to be "extra" but one of these you might not necessarily need on trail.
- Extra food
- Extra water
- Extra roller blades
- Extra clothes
What commonly used eating utensil is also a backpacking essential?
- Knife
- Fork
- Spoon
- Spork
You take this spread backpacking, right? Photo By Cliff Rosson
Bonus Question!
As snow melts, water levels rise and can make stream crossings dangerous. What question shouldn’t be in your consideration before attempting to reach the opposite bank?
- How cold is the water?
- How deep is the water?
- How fast is it flowing?
- Who brought the dragon floaty?
Answers:
- The sun. Although the sun can be used directionally as it rises in the east and sets in the west, we recommend any of the other three options for the sake of your retinas. Also, clouds.
- Again, an umbrella can be used as sun protection but assuming many hikers and overnight backpackers, especially, will already be packing some amount of gear there is no need for such a cumbersome object to be added to your haul.
- A butane lighter is the recommended fire starter. A lighter is much more reliable than matches when you need to light an emergency fire, especially in wet conditions.
- Extra roller blades. Simply not a good idea.
- A knife can be useful for a number of things including first aid, food preparations, repairs, and even climbing.
Bonus Question - Who brought the dragon floaty? Function over fashion, friends. As cool as you might look on Instagram, trail safety is not a joke. If you know you will be required to pass over a deep, fast running body of water on your journey, make sure you know how to cross and consciously manage your risks.
Safety should always be the number one priority when stepping out on trail, no matter if it’s a simple day hike or a multi-night adventure. Here are some additional WTA safety guides to reference before your trip.
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