Backpacks ensure that the load is carried close to the body and that the load can be balanced on the hips and legs. Small bags with a volume of between 20 lt and 40 lt are used to carry the materials required for daily use. For longer duration and camping activities, large bags between 40 lt and 80 lt are used. While around 10 kg of cargo is carried in daily bags, this figure can be up to 30 kg in large bags. The maximum load you can carry should not exceed one-third of your own weight.
MATERIALS TO ALWAYS CARRY
Apart from normal clothing, water and food, there is a small list of "vital items" that should be in every bag. Not all of these items will be used on every trip, but they can save lives in an emergency and should be carried as a safeguard against the unexpected.
Ten Items You Should Always Carry
They are special gear that many climbers believe they should always have with them. The following list is detailed in the following pages:- Map
- Compass
- Sunglasses and sunscreen cream
- spare food
- spare clothing
- head lamp and hand lamp
- first aid supplies
- easy fire starter
- Match
- Knife
Map
Always have a detailed terrain map of the area you are visiting with you and carry it in a protective or waterproof case.Compass
The compass is a very important tool for finding direction and heading. Each member of the team must have a map and a compass to be used in the event of the team being accidentally separated.Sunglasses and sunscreen cream
The intense shine of the sky in the mountains makes sun protection essential on every trip. It is difficult to avoid the sun when the forest border is lower. The ultraviolet radiation above 3000 meters is 50 percent stronger than at sea level, and the increase of this radiation by reflection from the snow makes it even stronger.Sunglasses are essential items in mountainous terrain. Even brief exposure to the effects of the bright sun reflecting off a snow-covered field can cause a headache or distract you from the route. Eyes in particular are sensitive to radiation and the corneal layers of unprotected eyes burn before any discomfort is felt, leading to a very painful condition known as "snow blindness". Ultraviolet radiation can pass through cloud layers, therefore; Don't forget to protect your eyes if the weather is cloudy.
Sunglasses should be able to filter 95 or 100 percent of ultraviolet radiation. It should also be colored so that very little of the light can be transmitted through the lens to the eye. Glacier glasses require a 5 or 10 percent transmission rate. Look in the mirror while trying on sunglasses. If you can see your eyes easily, the lenses are very thin and transparent. If you want realistic colors, your lens colors should be gray or green. Use yellow for better visibility in cloudy weather or fog.
Infrared (infrared) radiation (heat-conducting radiation) has not been proven to be harmful to the eyes if not viewed directly at the sun. But any material that filters infrared radiation highly, as is the case with many glasses, provides better protection of the eyes.
Sunglasses should have side protections that reduce the light reaching the eyes but provide enough ventilation to prevent fogging. Fogging problems can be reduced by using anti-fog lens fluids. Teams should carry an extra pair of sunglasses in case one of their team members forgets or loses their glasses. If there are no extra glasses, small slits can be made in a cardboard or fabric to try to protect the eyes.
Many climbers with impaired eyesight prefer to wear contact lenses instead of glasses. Such lenses increase vision, do not slip from the nose, do not get wet and allow you to use ungraded sunglasses. However, contact lenses have some problems. Wind blown dust, sweat or sunscreen can irritate the eyes. Field conditions make cleaning and maintenance of contact lenses difficult. A mountaineer with a broken eye who wears contact lenses or lenses should always carry spare regular glasses or graduated sunglasses in his bag.
"Sun protection cream" is vital to our comfort in the mountains. People are very different from their natural color caused by pigments and the level of protection required by their skin is very different. However, the cost of neglecting protection is very high, including possible skin cancer. Therefore, you should always protect your skin.
When climbing, always wear sunscreen that prevents ultraviolet A and B radiation and has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or more. The number of factors -for example, 15- refers to a cream with a protection substance that allows an average person to stay in the sun without getting burned 15 times the time he or she will stay in the sun without applying any sunscreen or getting burned. Sunscreen of SPF 40 or higher may be available, but the duration of protection depends on perspiration. Even though some sunscreens are advertised as water resistant and provide longer protection than any product, ignore what you're told and apply cream often.
Apply sunscreen to all areas that will be exposed to the sun, including under the chin, under the nose, ears and inside the nose. Even if you wear a hat, also cream your face and neck to protect against reflected rays from the snow. Apply the cream half an hour before going out in the sun, as it will take time for the cream to take effect.
You can apply the substance, also known as zinc oxide cream or actor oil paint, to your nose as an alternative to regular sunscreen because it provides full protection and does not lose its effect with water. It is effective throughout the entire climb, except where your fingers and material touch. The disadvantage of such creams is that they cause contamination and require cleaners, as they are difficult to remove.
Lips should also be protected against peeling and blistering like skin. A cream that is resistant to washing, perspiration and licking should be applied to your lips. Lip balms containing zinc acid or PABA (para aminobenzoic acid) are ideal.
spare food
carry additional food; delays due to bad weather, faulty navigation is logical for emergencies such as a behavior too late to injury or other reasons. Such foods should not require cooking, should be easily digested and stored for a long time. Dried meats, peanuts, candies, cereals (like muesli), and dried fruit are best. If the stove is carried, cocoa, powdered soup and tea can also be added. There are so many possible options.spare clothing
How much spare clothing material may be required in an emergency? Clothes used in nature and accepted as basic clothing materials ; inner and outer socks, boots, underwear, trousers, shirts, sweaters or jackets made of fleece fabric, hats, gloves or mittens and raincoats. What is meant by spare clothing is the extra clothing needed to pass the long, sedentary hours of an unplanned overnight stay. Spare clothing should be chosen according to the season. Ask yourself the question: "What do I really need to survive in the worst conditions I can face?"It will add an insignificant amount of weight to your undergarment bag to be carried in tow and will be of great value in terms of warming. It would also be wise to carry spare hats and balaclava-type caps, which, according to their weight, are much more effective than any other piece of clothing. Bring a spare pair of socks and a pair of polyester or fleece mittens.
In addition to the rain cover, carry spares for rain protection, such as a plastic tarpaulin or an oversized garbage bag. The possibility of damage due to cold in nature makes it necessary to carry a reflective emergency blanket. You can use this cover when giving first aid to someone who has hypothermia or to build a shelter. You can carry a piece of insulating mat to reduce heat loss while sitting or lying in the snow. (Some bags can also be used for this purpose.)
Head lamp/Hand lamp
Even if you plan to return to your parked car before dark, a head lamp or hand lamp should be with you just in case. Always carry spares of both, as batteries and bulbs don't last forever.Head lamps are much more comfortable than hand lamps for lighting or navigating in the dark if you're in nature before dawn. Headlamps are also more convenient at camp because you have both hands free.
You should have a moisture-proof (rain-proof) lamp, or better yet, get a completely waterproof lamp. (It may be the type that can even work underwater.)
All lamps should have sturdy buttons that won't accidentally turn on inside the bag. Running out of batteries due to accidental power-on is very common and can have serious consequences. Lamps with concealed release buttons are perfect. The types that are opened by turning the body of the lamp by half a turn are also very good. If the switch of your lamp is of the type that can be accidentally turned on, take precautions by securing the switch in the closed position with tape, removing the bulb or inserting the batteries backwards.
The batteries you will use in the flashlight are as important as the flashlight. Alkaline batteries work best among general purpose batteries. They contain much more energy than cheap lead-zinc batteries. The biggest disadvantage of alkaline batteries is that the voltage (and brightness) decreases significantly as the battery runs out, and their lifespan is extremely short at low temperatures (they can only work with 10% or 20% efficiency at -18 degrees Celsius).
Nickel-Cadmium batteries, also known as nicads, can be recharged up to a thousand times. They never lose their voltage and brightness while working and work well in the cold. (They can operate with 70% efficiency at -18 degrees Celsius.) However, they do not contain as much energy as alkaline batteries.
Lithium batteries are more expensive but have higher performance. A lithium battery cell delivers twice as much energy as two alkaline operating hours. The voltage of the lithium battery is almost constant during operation, and the operating efficiency at -18 degrees Celsius is the same as at room temperature. Since lithium batteries have exactly twice the voltage of their standard counterparts, you may need to readjust your lamp as if it were to run on half a battery.
first aid supplies
Being in nature – steep terrain, slippery surfaces, loose rocks, sharp tools, heavy loads, fatigue – it is essential to carry a first aid kit . But don't let a first aid kit instill a false sense of confidence, because it will cure very few illnesses. Doctors say that in the event of a serious injury in the field, there is usually little they can do other than basic fixation and transporting the patient. The best course of action is to take precautions to prevent illness or injury first.First-aid kit; It should be small, compact and robust. Place the contents of the first aid kit in a waterproof bag.
A first aid kit should have at least different sizes of gauze, rolled gauze, small adhesive tapes, military wound dressing (or Carlisle bandage), adhesive moleskin tape that can be used for blisters, scissors, cleaner or soap, latex gloves, pen and paper.
Carry enough bandages and gauze to draw large amounts of blood. Severe bleeding wounds are common in field injuries and sterile absorbent materials are not readily available.
easy fire starter
These materials, which ignite better than a match or lighter, are essential in emergency situations to light a campfire and quickly ignite wet wood. You can even use them to warm up a bowl of tea or soup if you have a metal bowl to heat.Common easy-to-fire materials are candles and chemical heating tablets. In high-altitude glacier or snow climbing, firewood is not available and heating tablets may be insufficient. In this case, you can choose to carry a stove as an additional emergency heater.
matches
In addition to the matches or butane gas lighter you use in daily life , an emergency matchbox stored in a waterproof box should always be with you on every trip. In an emergency, matches should be used instead of lighters. Because the matches are less likely to break down and not work. You will have a good emergency system if you place the matches in a film box with the hard igniter parts.Matches are made in many different types. There are also windproof and waterproof types. Whatever type you carry, try it out in windy or humid conditions before you set off and see if you can use it in an emergency.