Because accessing the backcountry cemeteries in Great Smoky Mountain National Park often entails hiking into remote areas, we consider it important to promote hiker safety skills and awareness.  As an outgrowth of this, we developed hiker safety and backpacking classes, which we have presented on a number of occasions.

The question arises regularly:  "What gear should I carry on a day hike?"  To that end, we include here two handouts we distribute in our classes - our basic day pack gear list and our emergency kit contents list.  Please be aware that a collection of gear is only half the equation.  Collecting the skills to properly use this gear is paramount to your safety on the trail.

It is not our intention here that a few words on a web page substitutes for adequate training and preparation.  But for the beginning hiker especially, the more you know, the better off you are.  So, we also include here the outline of our hiker safety class - realize this is a class outline only, that many items on the list might not have a lot of meaning outside the context of the class, and that each item on the list is intended to be discussed in further detail in a classroom setting.

The gear lists reflect what we personally carry.  Other equally experienced hikers might have items to add or subtract from their lists.  Ultimately, you will find what works for you.  We make no claim as to the completeness of these lists - they are not intended to substitute for adequate skill training.

Basic Hiking Gear List - Click Here

Emergency Kit List - Click Here

Outline of Hiker Safety Class - Click Here

The two classes mentioned above are:

Live to Hike Another Day - A common sense approach to safety on the trail
Little Things Learned the Hard Way - Refining your backpacking gear and skills

For more information about these classes and other presentations we offer - Click Here