On a steep uphill hike, your lungs heave, your heart thuds, and the top is always just over the next rise. Heartbreak ensues when you discover that the climb continues. On a blustery night, your tent poles flex, your sleep is fitful, and the wind blows with more force than you anticipated. Grumpiness ensues when you emerge the next morning. On a day hike, you depart from a nearby campground, your family stays behind to relax, but the hike takes longer than expected. Anxiety ensues when you fail to return on time. These scenarios are readily avoided with the help of three useful backcountry gadgets: altimeters, anemometers, and two-way radios.

KILL YOUR DELUSIONS  An altimeter determines your elevation by measuring barometric pressure, which diminishes as altitude increases. Used in conjunction with a topographic map, this information allows you to better pinpoint your location, helps you to establish an appropriate pace on steep climbs and descents, and eliminates your “almost there” delusions. Barometric pressure fluctuates with the weather, however, and even small changes can have a marked effect on an altimeter’s readings (though it will seldom be significant over the course of an afternoon). For this reason, an altimeter needs to be checked, and recalibrated, any time you are at a known elevation.

Altimeters average around $150, though a few basic models are available for as little as $60. When properly calibrated, most are accurate to within 10 feet. Wrist-top versions are nice and accessible, easily read with a quick glance. Look for big, easy-to-push buttons that can be operated with a gloved hand for cold-weather use. Also evaluate the ease in which you can recalibrate the elevation—the most common task you’ll perform.

KNOW THE BLOW  In the mountains of the Northeast, wind is a particularly vicious element, especially above treeline where it can rip at hurricane force. It is also notoriously difficult to gauge. Most people overestimate its velocity in the field, a misconception that can cause them to substantially underestimate the implications of a gusty weather forecast. But you can gain experience in estimating wind speed with the help of a pocket-sized anemometer, which uses a tiny propeller-like device to measure air flow. Most also track other meteorological phenomena, including temperature, barometric pressure, and wind chill. By collecting this data, you can develop an enhanced understanding of how various conditions affect the outdoor experience, and how to best prepare for a safe and enjoyable excursion. Only a handful of companies produce these gadgets, most notably Nielsen Kellerman, which manufactures its line of Kestrel Weather Meters at a plant in eastern Pennsylvania. Prices range from $70-$400, but even the most basic model will accurately measure wind speed.

HEAR ME NOW  Cell phones do not work in most of the Northeast backcountry, which makes it challenging to communicate when an emergency—or late arrival back at base camp—is imminent. On the other hand, two-way radios (a.k.a. walkie-talkies) work everywhere and can provide an extra margin of safety. They are easy to use, widely available, and inexpensive ($25-$100 per pair, depending on range). But it is crucial to be aware of their limitations, especially their transmission range. Manufacturers routinely tout the maximum range of their products—five, 15, even 25 miles—but these figures are valid only under the most optimal conditions. A user may achieve the maximum range by broadcasting from a high point with a clear line-of-sight to the receiver, such as from a mountaintop to a field below. But on level terrain free of obstacles (such as a large body of water), range is typically only 40 percent of maximum. When you factor in obstructions such as trees and ridges, the range is usually much, much less. For best results, hold your radio as high as possible, keep the antenna vertical, and face in the direction of the receiver so that your body does not block the signal.

Courtesy of the Appalachian Mountain Club