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Don't hit the trail without the 10 essentials

Hiking and backpacking are great ways to relieve stress and reconnect with nature, but don't leave home without the 10 essentials for the trail to stay warm, healthy, hydrated, and to be prepared for emergencies and quickly changing weather.

And add to that list an 11^th essential – a sense of humor. While not tangible, a sense of humor can calm a tense situation and put people at ease.

These 11 might even save your life.

Lay out your hiking equipment and the 10 essentials before your trip. Learn how to use all equipment including the first-aid kit. Hikers and backpackers should take a CPR class with first aid.

1) Hydration: The most commonly forgotten essential is water. Hikers can easily forget to drink enough water or bring enough water, and additional hydration is needed during the warm summer months. Don't forget electrolytes, also.

2) Nutrition: Bring extra food. The conveniences of a refrigerator are not available in the wilderness. Bringing ample snacks and food not only provides energy, but also helps keep your body temperature up when the weather turns cold. Also, extra food can come in handy in emergencies.

3) First aid: Basic first-aid supplies can provide comfort and relief in an emergency. On long hikes, a blister can turn into a painful experience without proper treatment. Understanding how to use a first-aid kit as well as CPR can save lives. Get CPR certified. The additional knowledge doesn't add any extra weight to your pack and can help save a life.

4) Sun protection: During the hot summer month, the sun isn't your friend if you aren't prepared. UV-rated sunglasses can prevent eye damage. A sun hat with a drop behind the neck can help prevent sun burn and even sun stroke.

5) Insulation: Bring extra clothes if you are hiking at higher altitudes. Mountain weather changes quickly and extra layers will keep you warm and dry.

6) Light: Bring an extra flashlight even on day hikes that could run long. LED headlamps allow your hands to be free and are small, light, and easy to pack. Always change to fresh batteries at home before heading out on the trail.

7) Fire: Matches and a lighter don't always guarantee warmth in emergency situations, but they can go a long way in making an uncomfortable situation more tolerable and keep you alive until help arrives. Test your matches and lighter before leaving home.

8) Emergency shelter: In the event of an emergency or unexpected foul weather a Mylar bivy sack can help retain enough body heat to save your life or the life of a fellow hiker.

9) Tools/repair kit: Carrying a small multifunction pocket knife is a must for all hikers. It has infinite uses from cutting that annoying hang nail to cutting the gauze bandage in your first-aid kit, and more. Bring a basic repair kit specific to your equipment such as an extra pair of shoe laces that fit your hiking boots.

10) Navigation and communication: Take what you know how to use and is appropriate for the trip. Trails are often not well marked, and it's easy to take a wrong turn. A map and GPS (with fresh batteries) are basic for any hike or backpacking trip. 11) A sense of humor: Enjoy your trip, laugh, and bring home stories of your adventure to share with friends and family. It can also come in handy in emergencies and tense situations.

"Bring a sense of humor when you hike," says Neil Fricke of Norwalk and vice president of the OC Hiking Club. "And, a sense of wonder and adventure also can be useful."

Pack the 10 essentials in a water proof container such as a Ziploc baggy to keep them dry for stream crossings and wet weather.

OC HIKING CLUB PLAYS VITAL ROLE IN THE RESCUE OF TWO MISSING TEENS

IRVINE, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — A grueling five-day search for two missing teens had a successful outcome, thanks to the expertise of dedicated members of the Orange County Hiking Club.

Lost for days in Trabuco Canyon, the rescue of Nick Cendoya and Kyndall Jack was greatly helped by OC Hiking Club member, Ted Sindzinski.

Advanced Hikers from the OC Hiking Club (Hike Everywhere), were onsite in Trabuco Canyon a little over an hour after a search party was requested, applying their extensive expertise of the area and many years of hiking experience.

Using their knowledge of the terrain, the Advanced Hikers from the OC Hiking Club divided into five search groups. Each group was assigned an area to search and maintained regular contact with search organizers from the Hike Everywhere main office.

When the club's search parties were assembled, Ted Sindzinski spent the day searching for the teens and then deciding to stay on for one last search of the day.

Ted Sindzinski was approached by two friends of Nick Cendoya's and together they discovered and then identified Nick's voice and location via an echo from a neighboring canyon. Nick was located and airlifted out for medical attention. Kyndall was found the following day in a nearby area.

A big thank you goes out to all of the Advanced Hikers from the OC Hiking Club who responded to this emergency. Special thanks to Ted for staying on and helping Nick's friends go on a search that saved the lives of these two teens.

To acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the OC Hiking Club and its members, the OC Hiking Club is proud to announce the publication of a special edition of "Safe Hiking and Other Wilderness Adventures."

This fun and informative trail survival guide will be available April 16th, 2013 as a free download for a limited time. For your copy go towww.OC-Hiking.com.

If you would like to support the continued activities of OC Hiking Club, including search party support initiatives, please donate here. Hike Everywhere / OC Hiking Club is a 501c3 charitable nonprofit.

Thank you again to Ted Sindzinski and all of our Advanced Hikers and congratulations on a successful mission!

A special thanks to our Search Teams:

• Cadillac to Old Camp: Glenn, Dan, Sean, Steve
• Horsetheif and Trabuco trail: Tony, Scott, Ted, Ivana
• Holy Jim Falls area: Gary, Marc, Karen, Brian
• Falls Canyon: Dave, Danni, Esti
• Robinson Ranch Rd: Josh, Ryan

Peak of prevention

Don’t let these critters bug you on the trail

By SUKI REED

For The Orange County Register

The bugs that can be found on OC trails might also live in your back yard. Here are local insects to watch for and how to avoid them.

Spiders

You are about as likely to be bitten by a spider while hiking in Southern California as you are of meeting Spiderman on the trail.

All spiders have fangs, and all spiders have venom, but spiders seldom bite unless provoked and few are poisonous. Also, the reaction to a nonpoisonous spider bite can vary significantly from person to person.

Black Widows/Brown Widows - have a painful bite that is rare, but highly poisonous. Black/brown widows can be found under things such as rocks or deteriorating logs, but are almost never seen on the trail.

Brown Recluse - doesn't exist in California according to expert Rick Vetter of University of California Riverside. For more on spider myth go to: http://spiders.ucr.edu/brs.html

Bees

The European honey bee and killer bees are both common in Orange County and can be found in back yards or on the trail. It is difficult to tell the bees apart, so treat all bees with respect to be safe.

European Honey Bees - The most commonly used bee in So Cal agriculture is the Italian honey bee. This bee is docile and nests high in shrubs trees, and roofs. They will sting only if provoked and may chase for 5 to 10 minutes.

Killer Bees - They were interbred with Italian bees and the South African honey bee in hopes of creating a mild-mannered, but highly active pollinator. The breeding failed and the bad tempers persisted. The media dubbed this crossbreed - killer bees, and they are hyper sensitive. Do not swat or disturb them in any way.

When crossing a field be careful not to knock a bee off its flower as it pollinates. If you see a bee hive or swarm in the wild, stay at least 50 to 100 feet away. They also hate the vibration of machines like lawn mowers, weed whackers and even car engines. If you aggravate them in any way, they may pursue you for up to 45 minutes.

Nests are found low on the ground in drainage ditches or under rocks. If these bees chase, the only solution is to run and remember that they have a hard time navigating obstacles. They can be escaped by creating navigational confusion by running around trees, or through brush or buildings.

Orange County Hikers Rescued

We are so happy to hear that both of the teenage hikers were rescued.  Thank you to all of the Orange County Hiking Club members who helped during the search.  We hope for a quick recovery for all who were injured.

Read the LA Times story here.

Outdoor Cooking

By Suki Reed, OCHC President, as Published in the Orange County Register 

If you think of trail food as merely fuel, think again. There's no reason to abandon taste on the trail.

Here are a few tips and recipes for trail treats to delight the most discriminating palate.

Trail tips for the aspiring outdoor chef

To make cooking on the trail easy, before the hike throw away unnecessary boxes and packaging and place all the ingredients in Ziploc baggies. Be sure to label them with a Sharpie (especially since mashed potatoes look identical to pancake powder) along with any instructions cut from the side of the boxes, so you don't forget how to make it.

Another tip is to get familiar with your equipment before hitting the trail. Practice cooking trail meals at home using your backpacking camp stove, cookware and utensils. Also remember that water takes longer to boil at higher altitudes.

For an easy breakfast, do not underestimate the pleasures of a humble bagel at higher altitudes. This is my personal favorite at elevations above 10,000 feet. This is a no fuss, easy-to-prepare breakfast that is warm and allows you to get out on the trail early.

Early bird breakfast

Bagels Cream cheese Instant coffee or tea

Warm and brown the bagels over the camp stove flame, slather with cream cheese and enjoy.

An easy main meal

The main meal can serve as lunch or dinner. It is always safest to eat 1⁄2 mile away from your sleep spot so animals are not attracted to your area.

Salmon Surprise

1 package Mary Janes Farm Organic Mac 'n Cheese (Prepackaged trail meal) 1 package Raging River Ready-To-Eat Smoked Wild Salmon 4 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese

Directions: Purchase the prepackaged trail meal at any outdoor outfitter and add boiling water, plus all ingredients to the package, stir, seal and let sit 10 minutes. Neil Fricke, of Norwalk and Orange County Hiking Club vice president says, this is, "a meal you would be proud to share, but won't want to."

Couscous delight

1 cup of couscous (Near East---toasted pine nuts or whatever flavor you like) 1 --- 7oz pack of white chicken cuts (precooked) 1/2 cup of bacon bits (soy bacon)

1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes 2 tsp of dried onions 2 tsp of olive oil

Directions: Boil 1 1/4 cup of water (add 2 tsp of olive oil & spice sack from couscous box). Stir in couscous, chicken, bacon bits, sun-dried tomatoes, and onion. Cover; remove from stove. Let stand for 5 minutes

Serves: 2 hungry hikers

Smashed garlic potatoes & beef sausage

1 􏰁 9 oz. or 12 oz. of Hickory Farms Beef Summer Sausage 1 pack of instant mashed potatoes (just add hot water) 1 to 2 tsp. of garlic powder (add to your liking) 1/4 of bacon bits (soy bacon)

Directions: Bring 1 1/2 cup of water to a boil. Cut up Hickory Farms Summer Sausage to bite size pieces. Stir in mashed potatoes, Summer Sausage, bacon bits, and garlic powder. Let stand for 5 minutes

Serves: 2 hungry hikers

Using a dehydrator is easy.

Laura Romero from Irvine enjoys fine dining in the backcountry with these two easy recipes.

Easiest main meal of the day Use a dehydrator before hitting the trail. This meal requires prehike prep time, but using a dehydrator is easy. Simply pour the ingredients in and wait the allotted time. This meal is quick to make once you get to camp. From Mark Edwards of Huntington Beach comes an easy Italian meal for the trail.

Backcountry Italian dinner

One jar of your favorite marinara sauce (add spices to taste) Two servings angel hair pasta 2 tsp. olive oil Veggies (optional)

Parmesan cheese Bread, red wine (optional) Serves: 2 hungry hikers

Directions: Before leaving on your trip, dehydrate the jar of marinara sauce with spices added in a dehydrator. Using a Gardenmaster Digital Dehydrator and Jerky Maker makes this easy. This unit dehydrates sauces, veggies, fruit, beef, and chicken.

To dehydrate marinara sauce, pour the sauce on to the dehydrator tray and dehydrate at 140° for about 8.5 hours. Next, break the solid sheet of marinara sauce into two-inch pieces and put into a plastic Ziploc bag, make sure you label the bag. Dehydrate the veggies in the same manner.

Once at camp, cook the angel hair pasta for three minutes, rinse and drain. Gently stir in olive oil to keep pasta from sticking, set aside and keep warm. Next rehydrate the marinara by slowly adding the dehydrated marinara to warm or boiling water, stirring constantly. Mix with the pasta, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and enjoy. It'll taste like it just came out of your mom's Italian kitchen. Bring some bread, parmesan cheese, red wine, and you're ready for a delicious backcountry Italian dinner.