In these hottest days of summer, it’s a good time to think about that most essential element: water. On nearly every hike I take, I notice people short on water, adults and children alike. Not only do people bring inadequate water for themselves, but also for their kids. Being thirsty is miserable; kids will remember that experience the next time their parents want to go hiking and they’ll balk. Aside from that, it’s dangerous.

Losing two quarts of body fluid without replacing it can reduce the body’s efficiency by 25 percent. Symptoms of dehydration are: dizziness, fatigue, a slowing pace, headache, fever, emotional upheaval, slurred speech, confusion, and sleepiness. A loss of 25 percent of the body’s fluid can be fatal, so taking enough water is not a joke.

On a hot day, the average person can lose up to two or three quarts of water per day; increased activity and higher temperatures can increase that amount. Being smaller, children lose less and require less water; however, that doesn’t mean a 12-ounce bottle of water will cut it.

So how much is enough? First of all, it depends on how long you’re hiking. I usually take two or three quarts for any hike longer than an hour. Yes, that means I usually have extra water, which is the point; I’d rather have extra that I can use to water my plants when I get home rather than run out and be thirsty on the trail. My daughter has a hydration pack that holds 64 ounces of water, or two quarts. We can always pack an extra bottle in our pack if we need to, or clip one to our belt loops, too. We don’t do this for an afternoon hike, but if I were taking a long hike through the Black Elk Wilderness, I would.

Finally, it’s important to be well-hydrated before you leave on your hike. This will ensure that the water you take lasts through the hike. This is especially important for children who may quickly feel thirsty when they begin strenuous activity. Making the outdoors fun means having the necessities of food and water available so everyone has a good, safe experience.

As soon as it really warms up, everyone dashes outside and what was intended to be five minutes turns into five hours. Sunburns, scratches and blisters abound, maybe even a bug bite or two. This is the time of year to take a quick inventory of your first-aid supplies so you have things on hand when needed (not if, when).

First on the list, Band-Aids for those guaranteed spring blisters. Whether from breaking in a new pair of hiking boots (and never hike too far the first couple times you wear them) or wielding the rake like a samurai, blisters are the unwelcome heralds of spring. Also, there are some specialty bandages for blisters now that are helpful, especially for your feet. However, get some Band-Aids for all those other garden-variety cuts and scrapes.

If you need a Band-Aid, you probably need some anti-bacterial ointment, too, so be sure to have plenty on hand. If you’re rolling up the tube in order to squeeze out a few more drops, it’s time for a new tube.

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen, at least SPF 30 and preferably sweat-resistant. A spray is helpful for reaching tricky spots like between your shoulder blades.

And when you forget the sunscreen, aloe vera gel. We have a big bottle to keep in the house and a small bottle for travel. Yes, we do overlook our sunscreen from time-to-time.

Don’t forget to protect your lips; grab some lip balm with sunscreen for extra protection from sun and wind.

Hydro-cortisone cream or calamine lotion is useful for bug bites, stings and rashes from some unidentified plant you picked up while raking. When I lived in Newell, I always ended up with some short-term rash after I raked in the spring. I never figured out exactly what plant bothered me, but it was every spring.

Sometimes we’re not near the house when we need to perform a little first-aid; for these times it’s helpful to have an alcohol or anti-bacterial wipe to clean the affected area. Keeping a cut clean is the most important thing you can do to prevent infection.

For those of you who tend to go a little overboard those first few days it’s sunny and warm, grab a little something for pain relief. Whether ibuprofen or acetaminophen, it will come in handy for the days when you raked too long or biked too far for comfort.

Once you’ve compiled your first-aid necessities, keep them handy. I have a basket of items in the linen closet, plus a couple of first-aid kits, one of which stays in my backpack. I always take a kit when traveling because the last thing you want to do on vacation is look for a drugstore when all you need is a Band-Aid or an aspirin. Lastly, don’t forget a kiss always makes everything feel better.

Sometimes even wildmoms have to stay indoors, but what do you when the temp is below zero and the wind is blowing? Bake cookies.

The weather has been pretty challenging lately, but I try to take advantage of the nice days when they pop up and make do with the rest. Plenty of good books to read, games to play and Christmas movies on TV have helped. Today we baked oodles of cookies, and hopefully tomorrow will be nice enough to have a fire in the fire ring.

This is the time of year when having a cold weather bag in the car is important. With the frigid temps we’ve had lately, it’s important to dress appropriately. Take warm clothes with you, including a hat, gloves and sturdy footwear. Flip-flops are not not safe; cars do break down, things happen, be prepared. And if you plan to travel, remember to tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Please be safe this holiday season.

That being said, I recently did just the opposite and have paid dearly for my hubris. While I hike with a nifty little kit, and so does my daughter, we hiked the short distance (little more than a mile) to Bismarck Lake for a picnic and swim on Sunday. Since it’s so close to our home, we just took the picnic basket and left the Camelbaks.

 

The hike and picnic were great. However, we wanted to swim a bit, but Bismarck doesn’t really have a beach. We decided to enter the water from a large boulder on the shore, upon which I immediately gashed open my right foot. And I do mean “gashed.” In trying to heave myself back out of the water, I cleverly managed to cut the bottoms of both feet, but I didn’t notice that until the blood stopped running out of the big slice.

 

Luckily, we had bottles of water to rinse it with and a towel to apply pressure. After sitting lizard-like on the rock for about 20 minutes, I felt I was ready to brave the walk home. Fortunately, the cuts didn’t bleed much on the way back, but the ones on the bottoms of my feet hurt by the time we finally reached the house.

 

While having the first aid kit along wouldn’t have prevented the cut, I would at least have had bandages and gauze to better protect the cuts on the way home, which may have saved me some pain. They wouldn’t have been rubbing against my sock either, and I could have covered them with antibacterial ointment.

 

After getting home, I thoroughly cleansed and bandaged them. They’re better now, and I’ll certainly live, but I won’t let a hike “close” to home give me false security again. Always take the first aid kit.

Hiking is not difficult, nor does it have to be an expensive endeavor. A few simple items make hiking with the family more enjoyable. I can’t count the times I’ve seen people hiking in flip flops or without any water. Injuring your feet or being thirsty are sure-fire ways to ruin the experience. So let’s go over the basics:

 Water: Everyone in your party should have water; a good rule of thumb is one quart for every hour spent hiking in hot weather. At least have a bottle of water per person! For people who intend to do a lot of hiking, consider a Camelbak, which is a water reservoir in a backpack. Kids can carry their own water more easily and drink directly from the attached hose. However, don’t think you must have one immediately and run right out and buy one – they’re an investment that’s worth it IF you go hiking often.

 Shoes: Hiking in flip flops and crocs is a good way to get an injury. Wear sturdy lace-up shoes and socks. You don’t have to have hiking boots; they can be expensive, and honestly, kids grow out of them so quickly they may only be able to wear them a few times. Tennis shoes are fine – just remember they’re not waterproof if you will be crossing streams. I wouldn’t recommend basketball shoes because they have very little traction and slip dangerously on rocks.

Now that we’ve covered the two most important points, there are a few other items that will make hiking more fun and safer for you and the kids.

 Snacks: Easily packed snacks make the difference between a fun outing and a whining/crying meltdown (hey – I’m talking about myself!). Nobody likes to hike hungry. Granola bars, cookies, trail mix, PB&J sandwiches, apples, and muffins are all easy to carry and don’t have to be kept cold. Just remember to pick up any trash.

 Other Stuff: A few small items can make a big difference!
• A small first aid kit with band aids, gauze padding, alcohol wipes, and antibiotic cream.
• A map of the area, the US Forest Service has free trail maps of all their major trails, check at any USFS information office. Custer State Park has a trail map in their Tatanka magazine, which you get at any park entrance. I get a couple of copies, tear the map out of one and put it in my pack.
• Sunscreen, chapstick, and bug repellent. You’re going to be outside for a few hours – it will come in handy. Keep in mind that these items can be shared by the whole group, and all of these can be fit into a small pack.

Now that the basics are covered, get out there!