After reading and reflecting on the reports of the events on Whitney, and elsewhere in the Eastern Sierra, it got me wondering what other folks carry with them on a day-long hike. Not your neighborhood mountain, necessarily, or Whitney in particular, but a hike that takes you several miles away from any immediate help and into potentially changing weather conditions.

The tried-and-true Ten Essentials from Freedom of the Hills have been the standard for dozens of years, and I used to be religious about ensuring I had all of them. Several thousand miles of hiking in the rearview mirror later, I find that I'm not as detailed as I used to be in some things, and maybe more fussy about others.

For me, a dayhike usually includes:

Trekking poles (I may not always use them, but when you need them you really need them)
Camelbak water bladder (and water filter if necessary)
Extra bottle of water and one Gatorade/Powerade
Varied snacks
Cellphone (you can never tell . . .)
Headlamp and ultra-light emergency flashlight (and spare batteries)
First aid kit (somewhat stripped down to essentials)
Ace bandage (for a sprained ankle or makeshift sling)
Compass
Map (but not always, if I'm very comfortable with the area or trail)
Sunglasses
Whistle and signal mirror on a lanyard (often in my pack, though)
Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife
Disposable rain poncho
Emergency thermal blanket (you know - the UL Reynolds Wrap version)
Small spiral notebook and pen
Butane lighter
Vitamin I (Ibuprofin)
Extra socks/liners
3 bandanas (minimum)
Extra base layer shirt
Wind/rain shell, ski cap and gloves (when weather is iffy)

Generally speaking, though, most of these items take up surprisingly little space in my daypack. Many items are incorporated into two very small stuff sacks that fit snugly in the main compartment of my aged-but-dependable REI Traverse 30-liter daypack. Minimum gear comes in at about 10 pounds, maximum at about 16. When I want more weight for a heavier workout I drop in a couple of 5-pound ziplok bags of birdseed (can't take credit for that - it was catpappy's idea), or load up my overnight pack with a bunch of birdseed.

So, what's in your pack?