Day Hiking Trails: Why you should bring a candle on a day hike

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

When day hiking with kids, bring an unscented votive-sized candle, preferably one that hasn’t been used. If you are forced to stay the night in the wilds, matches easily will light a candle, which in turn can be used to start tinder aflame for your campfire. That’ll go a long way in keeping you and the children comfortable.

Related articles:
g Carry wet wipes during day hike with children
g Select right sunglasses for hiking children
g Pack waterproof bags on day hike with children
g Carry safety whistle when hiking with children
g Selecting the right camera for a day hike with children

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Meet the Author

My name is Rob Bignell. I'm a long-time hiker, journalist and editor. My son Kieran and I have been hiking together for the past decade. Before Kieran, I taught middle school students in New Mexico and Wisconsin, served as an infantryman in the Army National Guard, and worked in newspapers. I've won several journalism awards, from editorial writing to sports reporting. In 2001, The Prescott Journal, which I served as managing editor of, was named Wisconsin’s Weekly Newspaper of the Year. Currently I own and operate an online editing business, Inventing Reality Editing Service. After spending several years in Southern California, my son and I now live in Wisconsin on the scenic Red Cedar River.