December 04, 2012

I've learned over the years to pack a bit lighter. If canoe tripping – paddling and portaging into places like the St. Regis Wilderness Canoe Area – taught me anything, it was "only take what you need."

But what you need on a balmy 70-degree summer day is drastically different than an all-day, hike-to-the-top-of-a-mountain-to-get-a-deer day. So I'm struggling with packing for those few hours which, if we're not careful, could turn into many more.

I'm not trying to scare anyone away from the a High Peaks experience. I've often said my greenhorn "hike" up Mt. Marcy several decades ago was one of the hardest things I had done up until that time, but it was also one of the most rewarding. Don't let the wilderness scare you, but have a healthy respect and prepare.

I realize you can't take it all with you, but with some careful choices you can make the experience even better. If you put all these things together once, in a kit, you won't be throwing them together at the last minute and possibly forgetting an important piece.

Starting with your clothing; make sure you've got winter wear. Then I add a little extra. What sounds like overkill in downtown Lake Placid may not be enough as you climb 1,000 feet or 2,000 feet. The weather in the Peaks is its own machine and can change in a matter of minutes. Make sure you have good boots – snowshoes if you know you'll be heading into the white stuff – and layers of warm clothing. And use the layers. You don't want to overheat and then freeze in your own sweat hours later.

You'll need a good backpack. You have your hunting firearm in one hand and you'll need the other free for the hike, so you're backpack is your best friend. Make sure it fits and can carry what you need. And it's nice to have a spot to lash the snowshoes when you're not using them.

As you start to fill it, first think of what will happen that day. You'll need all your gear should you get that deer – gloves, knife, a rope to drag it out with. That should come standard in any hunter's pack.

Take along some energy bars, chocolate, some hard candies. I would also recommend a good protein source – peanut butter or beef jerky. If nothing else, a winter hike gives me the excuse to eat some of those favorite foods; I can have a salad when I get back to town. If you've got one, a small backpacking stove means a lot if you'd like to boil up some tea or hot chocolate at midday. There's a lot to be said for warming up from the inside out. You could also use this to melt snow for water. You'll need quite a bit of that; dehydration is a huge problem in the winter.

Many of the "survival" items I carry are very small – I don't, for instance, carry a Mr. Heater Buddy with me. Fire starters can save your life. Some waterproof matches, a small lighter or one of the many kits available at outdoor stores will work fine.

I used to scoff at those "space blankets," but have heard enough stories now to know that I don't want to be without one. There are any number of styles available, including a sleeping bag-type type that weighs less than 4 ounces.

Chemical heat packs are also small and lightweight, but can save a toe or a finger from frostbite. I prefer the chemically-reactive packs to the battery operated ones. Cold can negatively affect the batteries, and eventually they will run out. So will the heat packs, I suppose, but I like the idea of not carrying around extra batteries; it seems a lot less can go wrong here.

You can take a cell phone. Honestly, I don't know if it will work. There are places in the High Peaks where I've gotten great service and others where I would still be searching for it. It won't hurt to have it on you. And I would keep it close to my body to keep it warm and keep it turned off until I needed it.

A compass (and know how to use it) and map go without saying. You can take a GPS, but you may run into the same problem as you did with the cell phone. Also, the tree cover may make it difficult to get a satellite signal.

All of this is not to scare you from heading to the High Peaks to find your deer – or snowshoe hare, or grouse or bear. Once you've done that, and returned home safely, you'll want to do it again, and again. Knowing you're ready makes it all the more fun.

For more information on guided hunts in the High Peaks, visit our guides and outfitters page here.

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