Bottom line: Be prepared to spend the night out in the wilderness in case of an emergency or if you simply don’t get out of the Core by dark.
First off, make sure you have the “Ten Essentials.” The Mountaineers has a good 2-page PDF illustrating the ten: Navigation, light, sun protection, first aid, a knife, matches, emergency shelter, food, water, and clothes.
Make sure each person has something, like a Mylar bivy bag and a jacket, to keep from getting hypothermia in case you’re stuck in the basin until dawn.
Dark sunglasses, a shade hat and sunscreen are all important to use.
Your first aid kit can be as large or small as your imagination. You can imagine the possible injuries on a hurried hike like this.
Add to that list of ten essentials: insect repellent (I’d call picaridin an essential on this hike), water purification, a satellite communicator, toilet necessaries, prescriptions you may need en route, trekking poles, and a few bucks in cash.
Collage illustrations by Claire Giordano for the Mountaineers.
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