It’s October and the air is cooler. Time to start hiking! John Robert Taylor recently wrote an excellent article on hiking safety. I’ve been wanting to explore the amazing hiking opportunities in the Las Vegas area, so I decided to get a backpack and hit the trail. First stop: the local REI store, because it was convenient and it has a large selection of outdoors items.

I learned that if you’re looking for a backpack, the one you should buy depends on several factors. Most important is the types of hikes you will be doing. Are you going to spend several days camping out in the wild? If so, you’ll need a large backpack for your food, tent and sleeping bag. Me, I just wanted a daypack for hikes that take less than a day.

After getting my torso measured for proper fit, I chose a Stratos 24 daypack manufactured by Osprey. It’s orange (if I’m lost or injured I want high visibility), has a ventilated back for comfort in hot weather, and has room for a CamelBak. That’s a plastic water reservoir with a long flexible straw so you can stay hydrated easily. In the desert, using a CamelBak (or something similar) is a no-brainer. The one I bought holds up to three liters of water.

I also got a “fanny pack” or waist pack, and some emergency items to put into it. That way, even if I’m on a short hike where I don’t need the daypack, I can use the waist pack for the necessities. Those important items include a first aid kit, waterproof matches, flashlight, emergency blanket, water purifying tablets, a mirror and whistle for signaling, Swiss army knife, and a compass. And there’s still room in the waist pack for my GPS and camera.

I already had hiking shoes, but I wanted a lightweight hat for the desert. I bought one with a flap that shields the back of my neck from the sun. It can be fastened up out of the way for more ventilation if needed. Here are a couple of photos of me, ready for a hike. Under my t-shirt is a black long-sleeved silk shirt, ideal for lightweight comfort in all weather. Next time, the details of my first Las Vegas hike.