What to Bring

One of the many things I love about living in the Black Hills of South Dakota is the easy access to miles and miles of public trails through the Black Hills National Forest. We are especially fortunate to have maps of the many Forest Service roads. These maps are updated annually and available from Forest Service offices. So, in addition to how I endure the weather conditions, another common question I am asked is “Aren’t you afraid??” This is because I spend hours running and walking often by myself on trails in the woods. I got hooked on trail running many years ago in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts when I ran races staged by the Western Mass. Athletic Club. This is an area very much like the Black Hills but on a smaller scale. Since that time I have slowed considerably and now do more walking and jogging than running, but my love of trails has persisted. I spend a lot of time studying the Forest Service maps and exploring those roads. Often the lure of paths leading from these roads is irresistible to me. “Where does this one go”, I wonder. I am also continually on the hunt for paths that lead me to other FS roads so that I can navigate between them. Many of these paths have been forged by off-road vehicles so they can be fun and challenging with numerous ups and downs and twists and turns. But following them sometimes means that I am out longer than I plan to be. So I try to be prepared.


The following items are staples for my travels:

• Bandaids (2 or 3) – more than once I have been “attacked” by barbed wire. Also, if one is going to walk in the rocky woods, one must expect to trip and fall occasionally. We all do! Bandaids weigh virtually nothing and are very easy to carry. I put them in snack-size zip-lock bags which keeps them dry and can be folded to fit in small places.

• Aspirin or Ibuprofen (4-6 coated tablets) – these can be placed in the same zip-lock bag as the bandaids and are another “just in case” item which can be really helpful after one of those falls or when you’ve just gone further than you expected and find that you may have over-estimated your capacity.

• Water – As mentioned in my last entry, I always carry water. In the Black Hills we have both a dry climate and an altitude of 5,000 plus feet above sea level. These conditions alone present challenges. Add the weather which can change in a matter of moments and often includes strong sunshine and you have a recipe for dehydration. As previously mentioned, I am often out for longer periods of time than I expect to be. I have experienced dehydration and it is not to be trifled with. Even in the winter, water is just as necessary as it is in the summer. Just remember that in winter, you need to protect your water bottle from freezing. I always wear an outer layer that is large and/or stretchy enough to cover my water bottle carrier.

• Pepper Spray – A pocket-size pepper spray dispenser can provide some peace of mind. The one I currently carry came from Cabela’s, but I have purchased them elsewhere. Mine is small (only a couple of inches in length) and lightweight. I keep it in my pocket so that it is easily accessible. As I’ve mentioned before, I will not buy outerwear that does not have pockets. It is worth the extra effort that might be necessary to find the right clothing. People around here seem very concerned about mountain lions. I am more concerned about loose dogs, rabid foxes or coyotes, and predators of the two-legged variety. The pepper spray helps me to feel just a bit more secure.

• GPS Locator – I use a little orange gadget called “SPOT”, a satellite personal tracker available from offroute.com. Originally designed for sailors, it is a tracking device that uses the GPS satellite network to pinpoint location. It can be pre-programmed to send a message via a commercial satellite network to a computer and/or cell phone together with a link to Google Maps™. Mine is programmed to send a message to my husband’s computer and cell phone (text message) which either says – “I’m OK, just delayed” or “Please come get me.” Along with the message, the computer will also display a map showing my location. I can also directly alert Search & Rescue services via a “911” button if necessary. People have asked why I don’t just carry a cell phone. I could do that, but there are many locations where cell phone service is not available. SPOT uses AA Lithium batteries which are good for about a year. It can be used anywhere in the world. A subscription service is required for satellite and 911 access. This is roughly $100 per year and well worth it for the peace of mind. The company has just come out with the second generation of this device which is a bit smaller and lighter in weight than mine. But mine is fine. It weighs just over 7 ounces and is small enough to fit in a pocket carrier that I attach to my water bottle holder.

• Cotton Handkerchief - At the risk of sharing too much information, I admit that my nose runs a lot. Especially in the winter. Kleenex just is not sufficient. A handkerchief is an essential item for me. Avoid synthetics. For this purpose, cotton is best. The old fashioned version – men’s cotton handkerchiefs which used to be a wardrobe staple – have become difficult to find, though not impossible. Walmart still carries them as does Pamida. Target, unfortunately, does not. Cotton bandanas which are pretty readily available work just as well, but they are usually a bit larger than traditional handkerchiefs.

• Lip Balm – Never leave home without it! I am especially fond of Burt’s Bees, but we all have our own preferences.

So how do I carry all this stuff and not feel weighed down? By the way, I keep all of the above items with me both summer and winter. It is a bit more of a challenge in the summer when I am not wearing a jacket, but it still can be done.

There are many versions of fanny packs and water carriers from bottle holders to so-called camel-backs and everything in between. I use a single bottle carrier made by the company Nathan which can be found at most outdoor and running gear stores as well as amazon.com. Double bottle carriers are also available as well as carriers with pockets and pouches of all sizes. It is best to try them on if possible. Once I received a water bottle carrier as a gift and found that when I ran with it the bottles dug into my back. We are all different shapes and sizes so what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. My current carrier has a slanted bottle holder and a zippered pocket (where I keep my bandaids and aspirin). I have a pouch with a velcro cover and belt loop that I can slip over the belt and attach to my bottle carrier. It is big enough to hold SPOT, keys, my MP3 player and any other small items I need to keep with me (e.g., extra batteries, lip balm, etc.). You can find a large assortment of lightweight water carriers and other essentials at rei.com. Check out runners’ accessories. You do not have to be a runner to use them and they are likely to be lightweight, versatile and easy to carry.

Hopefully these additional tips will provide you with more encouragement to get out there and enjoy! As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.