There are certain things I take with me when I go hiking or biking on the local trails, that I leave in my car for when I return. I like to be over-prepared because I never know what I might have encountered on the trail, and may need some comforts when I return.
Spare Clothes
I’m often gone 2 – 3 hours and may be making a stop off for lunch or at a friends house before I return home, so I like to have certain clean clothes available to me when I get back to the car.
In particular I like to make sure that I have the following:
- A fresh t-shirt
- A warm layer for my body e.g. jacket or sweater
- A spare pair of shorts or pants (weather depending)
- A hat of some kind – I’ve probably sweated in the one I was wearing, or I may have helmet-hair that I need to hide 🙂
- A change of socks and shoes, sometimes just a pair of flip flops or Crocs depending on the time of year.
- A towel to dry off
Food and Water
I always make sure to bring enough food and water to last me while on the trail, but I love having the sense of security in knowing that I have food and water waiting for me at the car. Often, in remote areas of SoCal, I can be 30 -45 minutes away from the nearest restaurant or convenience store, so I have some supplies just in case I or my trail partner needs them. I bring:
- An extra 20-30 ounces of cold water
- various protein or energy snacks
- a fruit/nut trail mix like this one, or any that you normally enjoy.
Health & Safety
You just never know what might happen while out in nature so I keep the following in the car just in case I need to patch up or freshen up.
- a travel first aid kit with basic supplies, such as bandaids, alcohol wipes, eye wash etc. I recommend this one for basic needs. If I don’t have a spare in my backpack, I’ll most likely take this one with me on the trail.
- a towel, as previously mentioned above.
- deodorant (a must have for pitstops at a friends house along the way home)
This is just a basic list that I try to always have on hand. Depending on the day or where I’m headed I may add or take from these items.
Happy trails!
