Afternoon gents, it’s Max from the Young Gentleman’s Guide here! First off, thank you all so much for the amount of traffic and support you gave my last post about my grandfather. I could not have predicted how much support it got, and I truly appreciate all of you who read and/or shared it. In any case, let’s get on with today’s post! So, if you read my post about my grandfather, you would know that he is quite the outdoorsman. As a result of his teachings as well as my experience in the Boy Scouts, I’ve picked up more than a few tricks of the trade when it comes to going out on the trail. While I may not be as much of master trailblazer like Grandpa or my even my own father, I still believe I’ve gathered enough knowledge, either from Grandpa or the Boy Scouts, to share with you young gents reading this post. So today, I’m going to share four (4) helpful tips to make your next hiking trip a little easier and more enjoyable.

1. Plan out your route ahead of time

Every summer, my Boy Scout troop would go on a week-long, 50-mile hike in the High Sierra Mountains. It should be no surprise that such a venture required a meticulous amount of planning, including meal plans and, of course, planning our route. Grandpa, with the help of a few other guys in my family like my dad and my uncles, would scour over countless maps to figure out the best routes that could easily be completed in a week and had campsites near water sources. As a result of such planning, we have almost always been able to complete our hikes on time. But this should really go without saying. Planning out where you want to go will help figure out how many days you might be out, if you’ll be near any water sources, the kind of terrain you’ll be coming across, and if there are any viable camping areas along the trail. This will in turn help you figure out how much food and water to bring, and whether or not you’ll need overnight equipment like a tent or sleeping bag. So make sure to use a map, and figure out where you want to go before you even head out to the trailhead.

2. Pack the essentials first

When you’re planning for a hike, you should keep in mind the most important things: preventing blisters on your feet, staying hydrated, staying warm, and simply just trying to survive, especially if you’re planning to stay overnight in the wilderness. Because of this, you should keep in mind what equipment you should pack that helps you accomplish that. As such, the most important things to put in your pack are small, energy-packed foods that can easily fit in a small bag, (if you’re on a day hike, that is) and enough water to keep you hydrated for a few hours. And of course, in order to prevent blisters or other damage to your feet, make sure you are wearing proper walking/hiking shoes or boots that are just the right size. If your shoes are too tight, you potentially cause ingrown toenails, which can be an incredible pain if you’ve ever had to deal with them, but if your shoes are too loose, the friction from the constant rubbing of your feet in your boots can cause blisters, which can lead to infections if not taken care of. If you’re staying overnight, you’ll want to pack things to keep you warm. Jackets and/or sweaters are always good things to have, and a well-kept sleeping bag in good condition will obviously keep you warm and help you sleep better. And of course, a tent and a ground pad are also good things to take, so you can sleep as comfortably as you can. A decently-stocked first aid kit wouldn’t go amiss either. Just in case you get a blister, it’s always good to have some moleskin on hand to treat blisters, and some bandages and antibacterial to help dress cuts and other small injuries will also be extremely helpful. And these are just the most essential things. Now there may be other places that, by law, may require you to take some other things with you, so I would recommend doing a bit of research into wherever you plan on going, so you can be absolutely sure what you need to take with you.

3. Pack a little extra food

I know this may sound ridiculous, but just keep reading. Now, you hopefully will have figured out where you’re planning to go, and how long you’ll be on the trail for, but whether you’ll be out for three (3) hours or three (3) days, it’s always a good idea to pack a little extra food and water, usually about a day’s worth. The reason being that you may have miscalculated how long you would be out on the trail for, and need to camp out an extra day. Or in extreme cases, you might get lost, and need to take an extra day to either get rescued or find your way back onto the original route. In either case, it’s just always a good idea to have these extra rations on hand as a means to survive. Also, here’s a bonus tip. If you find yourself lost and need to camp out an extra day, find a nearby water source. It’s always a good idea to have as much water as you need close at hand as well as food.

4. Whenever possible, use the buddy system

Now, I’m willing to give Grandpa a pass on this one. He used to go on hikes on his own all the time, but because he’s been hiking and hunting for longer than I’ve been alive, he probably knows his way around the High Sierras better than I do my own house. But I’m  getting off-topic. If there’s one thing I can say I took away from the Boy Scouts without a doubt, it would be the buddy system. Always have a person to travel with, so you two can keep an eye each other. Better yet, if you can, travel with a group.  Not only will it make your hike more of a social experience and therefore more enjoyable, but in the event one of you gets lost, it’ll simply help them get found and rescued more quickly. On top of this, you can share food and water this way. If you run out of water on the trail before you reach your next water source, you can simply ask one of your buddies to share with you is they have any extra. In short, it’s just always a better idea to hike with a friend or even a group of friends if you can.

So there it is! Four (4) tips to help make your next hike a bit easier and more enjoyable. If you gents follow these simple tips, maybe one day you’ll be able to climb to the top of Mount Whitney like I did!

In any case, I hope you enjoyed reading today’s post. Please be sure to share the post, follow the blog, donte to our Patreon, and follow The Young Gentleman’s Guide on Facebook and Instagram. And on that note, this is Max from The Young Gentleman’s Guide, and I’ll see you next time!

Happy New Year gents, it’s Max from The Young Gentleman’s Guide here! So, this post will really only be helpful for those who are 21 or older, so to any of you who might still be in high school, please forgive me and don’t say I didn’t warn you. And to some older gents reading this, I thought this would be helpful if people start ordering drinks at a bar or with dinner at a restaurant. So today, I’ve compiled a list of some common and/or popular cocktails, along with a couple of my favorites, some info and history about the drink in general, what they’re made of, and possibly some popular dishes that they’re served with (though I don’t have much knowledge in that last area yet). Hopefully this will help you older gents figure out what to order with your next meal or on your next night out. With that in mind, let’s start the list! Almost all my info on the cocktail ingredients and recipes are from liquor.com, and if you’d like more info about other drinks I didn’t mention, I’ll leave a link. Also, there will be some drinks on this list that I haven’t personally tried, so my info on some of these drinks may be a bit limited. My word is not law.

1. Gin & Tonic

Ingredients: 2 oz of gin, 3-4 oz of tonic water, 1-3 lime wedges (proportions may vary based on taste)

I wanted to start with probably the simplest cocktail on this list to make. First made in the 1700s, this drink was made after the discovery of quinine. Quinine was used as a cure for malaria at a time when British soldiers began invading and colonizing India and Africa. The quinine was infused with tonic water for the soldiers to drink, but most soldiers found it unbearably bitter. In order to remedy this, soldiers started mixing the tonic with certain rations they had on hand, that being gin, limes, and sugar, and thus, the gin and tonic was born! Nowadays, since the threat of malaria is significantly lower now than it was then, the gin and tonic makes for a very refreshing drink for just about any social occasion. My parents even have a tradition of making a gin and tonic for themselves every Friday night after a long day at work (their choice of ingredients is Tanquerey gin and Schweppes tonic water). So if you’re looking for a refreshing drink that’s easy to make, and works with just about any occasion, the gin and tonic may be your best option!

2. Moscow Mule

Ingredients: 2 oz of vodka, 3 oz of ginger beer, juice of half a lime, garnish with lime slice or wedge

Born in the 1950s, the heydey of vodka, the Moscow Mule is one of the quintessential vodka-based cocktails, as well as one of my personal favorites. Though traditionally served in a copper mug, as shown above, it can also be served in a highball glass. Just as refreshing as the gin and tonic, it is also applies very well to many different social situations. Also, there is a variation on this drink: the Kentucky Mule, which replaces the vodka with bourbon. Whatever you preferences, whatever the occasion, this drink is the perfect flavorful refresher!

3. Cuba Libre

Ingredients: 1 oz of rum  (usually Bacardi Gold, as shown above), 3 oz of Coca-Cola, garnish with a lime wedge

Another very simple cocktail to make, the Cuba Libre, or Rum and Coke, is a refreshing delight enjoyed by many. There’s not much else to say. If you like soda and would like a bit more of a kick from your Coke, give it a try!

4. Mimosa

Ingredients: 2 oz orange juice, sparkling wine or champagne

Believed to have been invented in 1925 at the Hotel Ritz Paris, the mimosa is a staple of Sunday brunch. It’s pretty much impossible to see someone (who’s at least 21) having brunch without a mimosa in hand. Sure, it’s often associated with twenty-something white women, but the idea that a certain gender should only be able to enjoy certain drinks is pure nonsense. If you have a drink and you enjoy it, enjoy it! No one should be able to stop you!

5. Margarita

Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz of tequila, 3/4 oz of lime juice, 1 oz Cointreau (orange-flavored liqueur), kosher salt (optional)

Served at many a Mexican restaurant and on every Cinco de Mayo, the margarita is a famous and universally loved cocktail that can actually be very easy to make. Sure, the ingredients listed above make the cocktail more authentic, but if you’re hosting a party and can’t find all the ingredients in time, you can just find some margarita mix at any supermarket or liquor store. Sure it won’t be as authentic and have a bit too much sugar, but it will work just as well!

6. Cosmopolitan

Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz of citrus vodka, 1 oz of Cointreau, 1/2 of lime juice, dash of cranberry juice, garnish with lemon twist

Invented in Manhattan in 1975, the cosmopolitan is more commonly associated with more high-end affairs (hence the name of the drink), but nonetheless is a wonderful social cocktail to be enjoyed by all. As a guy who loves more sweet and fruity drinks, this is something that I will definitely be interested in trying eventually!

7. Martini

Ingredients: 2 1/2 oz. of gin (or vodka depending on your tastes), 1/2 of dry vermouth, dash of orange bitters, garnish with green olives (usually three (3) on a toothpick)

We all know 007’s drink of choice. “Vodka martini. Shaken, not stirred.” Though, similar to the cosmopolitan, this is also more associated with high-end affairs. But, maybe you have such an affair coming up, and you’ll want to get yourself a drink. If so, this drink will be perfect for just about any social occasion. Plus it may add a little bit of appeal if you’re trying to impress that certain lady

So that’s just seven (7) of the most popular and universally enjoyed cocktails that you can enjoy for whatever party social occasion you have coming up. There are dozens more that I didn’t list here, so if you’re interested, check out liquor.com! They have plenty of other recipes for cocktails that I didn’t mention here, and I’m sure they have just the drink you’re looking for. In any case, I hope you enjoyed reading today’s post. Please be sure to share the post, follow the blog, and follow The Young Gentleman’s Guideon Facebook and Instagram. And on that note, this is Max from The Young Gentleman’s Guide, and I’ll see you next time, and of course, drink responsibly!