What Would You Need In A Self Reliance Situation?

I recently watched a video put out by Dave Canterbury form The Pathfinder School LLC and co-host of the Discovery Channels Dual Survival. It was on what he has called the “10 C’s of Survivability” or the 10 items he feels should always be carried into the woods or backcountry when you go. They are as follows:

1. Cutting Tool: A good knife
2. Combustion Device: Sure fire, like a Ferro rod and Wet Fire cube
3. Covering: Wool blanket, tarp, etc.
4. Container: Canteen & cup, stainless steel Nalgene bottle, or a Nalgene & GSI Glacier cup
5. Cargo: Some type of pack, haversack or lumbar pack to carry your kit
6. Compass
7. Cordage: 100’ of Para cord, tarred Trot line (bankline), rope
8. Candle: A light source, flashlight, headlamp, or a candle
9. Combination Tool: A Swiss Army Knife, Multi-Tool, or folding saw
10. Cloth: A 3’x3’ piece of cotton cloth or bandanna

After watching this video, I could not get away from the thought that it was (in my opinion) missing a few key items. First of all, let me say that I respect and admire Dave Canterbury and feel that he is a true Master at his craft. I have also enjoyed his videos and teachings for many years and have learned a lot from them. With that said lets move on.

With the internet being what it is, I am afraid someone will follow the above list without taking the time to learn how to use the gear listed in the way he intended for it to be used. For example:  the 3’x3’ cotton cloth on his list.  He has stated at other times that in a first aid scenario he would use strips cut from that cloth (in conjunction with duct tape) as bandages in lieu of carrying a first aid kit and if you follow his Pathfinder training or his videos you will know that these “10 C’s” are part of his training concepts. But for the average person who watched this from the Discovery website or stumbled across the video on Youtube without knowing that it was part of his training program (at one time only taught in face to face training) and was intended as a refinement of a larger kit, they could inadvertently find themselves in a self reliance / survival situation without the items necessary to survive.

The additional items I would add to his kit (for the novice and back country cruiser alike) are: (sorry, mine do not all start with a C)

1. Knowledge and Practice: never stop learning new tricks, techniques, and skills to help you in the wild, and practice… practice… practice until those skills become second nature to you.
2. First Aid Kit: no one wants something bad to happen while they are enjoying the wild, but at times it does and you need to be prepared for it. If all you are carrying is a cotton bandanna and it has been used to strain debris from a water source before boiling, would you want to use it as a dressing for an open wound?
3. Water Treatment: I am a fan of the Aquamira Frontier Pro filter. It is small, light weight, has many options for use, and filters more than enough water for a self reliance situation. It also leaves your container and/or cup for other uses.
4. Food: I have always been an advocate of taking some with you. 1-2 Powerbars, some trail mix, a few coffee or tea bags, & some hard candies take up almost no room and add little weight compared to the advantages of having them when you need them, like before you can catch or forage something from the wild. I have also been in favor of including a small fishing kit (hooks, line, weights, & a bobber) as well as leg snares for small game (10-12 in a small container).
5. Repair: at a minimum I would include a needle & thread and some duct tape.
6. Signaling Device: call me old fashioned but a nice loud whistle can be heard for long distances.

All or most of these I have heard Dave Canterbury talk about carrying with him in the wild, and I am not sure why he has not made a point of expounding on their importance in recent days. Maybe when I have had as much dirt time as he has, or have reached the level of knowledge and skill as he has I will change my mind, but I am too set in my ways and do not think it will happen any time soon.

Get outside and experience the wonder of Gods creation, just do so safely. God Bless.

I would also like to take a moment to express my condolences on the loss of Mr. Ron Hood. The extent of your loss will be felt in the outdoor community for years to come.

Picture from Yahoo Images.

DIY: Homemade Gear

There is a certain satisfaction that goes along with making your own gear. A confidence that only comes with the knowledge that you are capable of providing for your own needs, but what gear should you try to make your self and which should you buy? Let me start by saying that if you are new to backpacking, talk to a lot of seasoned hikers, visit the hiking / backpacking forums and get some experience first before deciding what you want to try making. For the rest of you seasoned and crusty hikers, we will look at some of the most common DIY (Do It Yourself) gear.

Probably the most common piece of homemade gear is the soda can alcohol stove. 2 aluminum cans, a utility knife blade, a drill (a pin, nail, awl or other pointed object), steel wool, and the red & black JB Weld and you’re on your way to having a quiet, fuel efficient, light cook stove to add to your pack. You can find detailed plans all over the internet but I would recommend www.zenstoves.net they have detailed plans to make several types of alcohol and wood burning stoves as well as other DIY projects.

Another great way to cut weight and save space in your pack is to repackage your freeze dried meals into zip lock freezer bags. Once done, you can make a bag cozy (an insulated pouch) to place the freezer bag in while the meal re-hydrates. Then you can sit back and enjoy your meal content in the knowledge that you have little to no clean up after you’re done eating. As long as you don’t mind eating from the zip lock bag, you do not have a pan to clean (all you did was boil water in it), you have no plate or bowl to wash (you only have an empty bag to add to your trash), that only leaves your Spork and cup to clean. Watch the video's below for directions on making and using a bag cozy.

For those of you that like to sew (or know someone that can sew) the possibilities for DIY gear are almost endless. You have the potential to make your own tarps, tents, hammocks, packs, sleeping bags, quilts, and clothing. You are limited only by your imagination and skill. Dozens of gear manufacturers (Kelty, Snow Peak, Appy Trails, Golite, to name a few) started out making gear for family and friends in their spare time and ended up making it a full time career.

Don’t be afraid to try making your own gear; just test your homemade gear fully before you hit the trail so you do not have any unexpected surprises when you are 20 miles into the back country. For those that would like some more information before trying to make gear, try the websites and Youtube channels listed below.

Youtube Channels:
~ Ggreenvideos
~ jasonklass
~ minibulldesign
~ shugemery
~ mblackford100

Websites:
www.geartalkwithjasonklass.com
www.hammockforums.net
www.thru-hiker.com

www.zenstoves.net

Solo Hiking, Going It Alone:

For those that love the wild places around us and have always dreamt of going on a solo backpacking trip there are a few things to keep in mind. I must admit, the idea of setting beside a still mountain lake in the early hours of the morning drinking my coffee, while the last remnants of a late night fog still hang above the tree tops stirs my soul. Besides the picturesque moments, hiking solo can be an amazing time to get to know yourself and what you are capable of, but safety should always be your top priority.

1. Planning: Research the area you want to hike and read everything you can find on that area, go to the hiking forums on the internet and talk to those that have hiked your chosen trail before. Know what weather conditions you may encounter and be prepared for them. Plan on bringing an up to date map of the area even if you are bringing a GPS. Always make someone aware of your plans.
2. Making A Trip Plan: Make a written plan of your trip including a complete list of the gear you are taking, a map of the area you are hiking with the trails marked that you will be on, and estimate how many miles you plan to cover per day and where you are planning to camp. It also helps to list the contact numbers for emergency response for the area you will be in. Leave a copy with someone before you leave and a second copy in your vehicle at the trail head with any last minute changes that may have been made. Do not deviate from your plan, if you get lost or injured, that plan will be what rescuers follow while looking for you!
3. Bring Adequate Supplies: Stock your first aid kit with anything you may need, bring a cell phone (you don’t have to turn it on unless you need it), and plan to bring extra food to rely on in case of an emergency. Energy / Protein bars, trail mix, and hard candies are ideal for this purpose.
4. Take Only The Essentials: Make a list of the gear you will need (including extra food and medical supplies) and leave some of the comfort items at home. An over loaded pack at the start of the hike could be the cause of an injury somewhere along the trail.
5. Bear Country: If you are hiking in bear country, never take your safety for granted. Carry a can of bear deterrent spray (pepper spray), and some bear bangers (a small handheld launcher with whistling and exploding cartridges that attach to it) they can be purchased from: http://truflareusa.com/productcatalog.htm                                                                                 Arial flares can also be purchased to use with the launcher.
6. Always Be Aware Of Your Surroundings: If you are alone, or in a group, the best way to avoid dangerous animals, slippery rocks, loose gravel, or muddy slopes that can lead to injury is to pay attention to what is going on around you.

Solo hiking can be the trip of a lifetime, or the trip that takes a lifetime to forget. Make a check list of the gear you need and mark off the gear as you pack it, leave a good clear plan of your trip behind in case you don’t return on time, hike with a partner and gain some experience before trying it alone, and remember to bring your common sense it could save your life.      



Picture from Yahoo images.

When Fire Devastates

Two nights ago a tragedy struck close to my home. Several buildings in the small town I live in caught on fire and burned beyond repair. It took 15 fire companies about 7-8 hours to extinguish the blaze. Thank God in Heaven that no one lost their life.

 It was a nightmarish scene as plumbs of black smoke billowed up into the evening sky chased by flames, at times, reaching 30 to 40 feet above the buildings, and the smell of burning tar from the roofs reaching for miles down wind. I thank the brave men and women of the fire departments that bravely fought the blaze. Who knows how much worse it could have been without their hard work.

As I write this I am reminded about a couple of posts I made in January and February about having some emergency supplies together in your home that could get you through if a disaster were to strike. They were written with the idea in mind that you never know when something is going to happen that could leave you fending for yourself until rescue crews can arrive to help, or utilities could be restored. This disaster was of another sort: What do you do when every thing you prepared is no longer there?

It’s difficult and unpleasant, to think that something like this could happen to you but it can, and it does, everyday. You owe it to yourself and your family to be ready when it does. The nice part about getting prepared is that it’s not as hard to do as you might think, and a little creative thinking and effort before hand can reduce the time and cost it would normally take to get ready.

To start, make a plan! A written plan that is discussed and practiced with your family, that teaches them what to do and where to go if a tragedy hits your home. Include escape routes for each area of your home, a “safe zone” at least 100 yards away from the home to meet at. This can be a tree, park bench, a mail box, anything that gets everyone back together out of harms way.

Put together a “grab and go” bag (also called a bug out bag) for each person. At a minimum it should contain a change of clothes (appropriate for the season), a jacket or sweater (even in the summer months), a first aid kit (with any medications you need), a flash light, pencil/pen and paper, rain poncho, 25-50 feet of utility or Para cord, a pair of gloves (work gloves or glove liners are fine), a knit hat or ball cap, and some basic hygiene supplies. The adults in the home should also have a copy of any important papers such as insurance papers, birth certificates, wills, or any other papers you may want or need, $20 to $50 to purchase a meal or other item, and a family Bible. Place them into a plastic zip lock bag to protect them and keep them together.

If you have kids in the home you may want to include some comfort items for them such as some type of snack food (trail mix, crackers, hard candies), a blanket, stuffed animal, or favorite toy. If you decide to go with a favorite toy, hit you local garage sales and flea markets to find a duplicate of a toy they are already playing with a lot. Something familiar helps them to deal with difficult situations.

You can hit the “back to school” sales at your local department stores, garage or estate sales, flea markets, or EBay to pick up a small day or school style backpack for each person to store their stuff in and a multi pack of LED flashlights are a great way to save money when supplying each person with a light (just remember to keep spare batteries with them). Most communities have a Red Cross chapter that will offer assistance to families but it may take a few hours to a few days for that assistance to arrive, having something already together gives you and your family something to fall back on until then.

Before You Go:

Are you planning any adventures to the backcountry this summer? If so, you may want to follow these simple guidelines to help make your trip more enjoyable and safer.

• Plan Ahead: Know where you are going, when you plan to leave, when you plan to be back, and write it down. Estimate how far you plan to travel in a day (know your limits), add a complete list of your gear and supplies, include it with your trip plan, then make a few copies to leave behind when you hit the trail.
• Leave Your Trip Plan: Choose 1 or 2 people to leave your trip plan with. This will allow them to contact the authorities if you do not return on time from your adventure. It also helps to leave a copy in your vehicle with any last minute changes that had to be made before starting out.
• Stick To Your Plan: Nature is unpredictable, and there will be times when you have to alter your plan after you start your trip, but try to stick as close to your plan as possible and return to your trip plan if you have to detour for some reason.
• Learn Some Basic Survival Skills: Take a basic First Aid class or a Wilderness First Aid class before you go and add it to some self reliance training in fire building, how to signal for help, and basic shelter building. You may never need it on the trail but it will fun to learn and builds your confidence about the outdoors.
• Test Your Gear: Know how to use your gear before you go, and get an idea of its limitations. Before any trip you should also inspect your gear to see if any piece needs to be repaired or replaced prior to leaving.
• Leave No Trace: Take a few minutes to read and learn the Leave No Trace backcountry guidelines. Your goal is to set out on an adventure to remember in the wild places around us, make sure they are there for future generations to use as well.

Most importantly HAVE FUN! That’s what it’s all about. Whether it’s a day hike at a local park, an overnight campout with your family, a weekend stay in a State campground, or a multi-day solo backpacking trip in a remote wilderness. Proper planning, combined with the right gear, and a sense of adventure and you’ll have memories to share for a lifetime.

*Clip art is from Yahoo Images.

It's All About The Gear!

While watching a recent episode of Discovery Channels Dual Survival, our favorite duo of Dave Canterbury and Cody Lundin found themselves lost on the Minnesota prairie in the middle of winter, with ice encrusted snow drifts that varied from knee deep to crotch deep, and wind chills in the minus 20's. As always Dave was wearing his customary cargo pants and boots, and Cody his shorts and wool socks instead of shoes. Now I know that it is as much for entertainment as it is for education, but what really stood out to me was the fact that Dave made repeated statements about the fact that Cody's lack of clothing was not only a hindrance to the group but a potential hazard to Cody's well being.

I don't believe, at least I don't want to believe, that anyone would willing go out into that type of environment without dressing for the weather but everyday we walk around unprepared for what lies ahead in the day. After all do you think the people of Joplin, Missouri expected a tornado to tare a 6 mile path through their city damaging or destroying 30% of the city including the Hospital and leaving 89 dead, at least as of the time this was written? Many of them now left with nothing more than what they were wearing when the tornado hit. Situations like this make you reevaluate what is really important and what is just pomp materialism. Houses can be rebuilt, cars and clothing can be repurchased but a life cut short can not be replaced. Neither can a life cut short by lacking what you need to make it through a situation like that, but how do you prepare for a disaster without getting too crazy or going overboard and ending up with a 10 year supply of food, packed in radiation proof containers, tucked away in a secret corner of your basement? It's easy!

If you are reading this than it would be a fair assumption that you hike, camp, hunt, etc and most likely have what you need or most of it on hand already. The key is just keeping it in a container that can easily be grabbed on the way out the door if a natural disaster were to happen. For example, a used backpack purchased on EBay or at your local military surplus is an ideal container, just add the gear you need. The gear you choose should cover the basic needs you will have then can be supplemented with a few comfort items. I would suggest:

Fire Starter - More than one like a ferro rod, weather proof matches (in a match safe) and a disposable lighter with a dry tinder source.

Light - A flashlight and/or an LED style headlamp and extra batteries for each.

First Aid - A comprehensive first aid kit that will cover all the members in your group or household.

Knife - I have always liked the Swiss Army knife and the Mora Frost knives, both of which can be put to multiple uses and still are budget friendly. Don't forget a way to sharpen it.

Sunscreen and/or Sunglasses & Insect Repellent - Even in the winter months and on cloudy days your skin can be damaged by the sun and if the biting insects are out you could really be miserable.

Clothing - It is a good idea to have at least one change of clothes in your pack to change or supplement the clothes you are wearing. In the cooler months you should add a warm hat and gloves, jacket or coat (appropriate for the weather), rain protection, extra wool socks (even in the summer), and a pair of boots.

Compass - When faced with the reality of a disaster it is easy to become disoriented. Having a good compass could help you regain your bearings and guide you to safety. Make sure you practice with it before you need it.

Water - You should have something to carry water in and some way to purify water if a safe source is not at hand. Some people like to carry a stainless steel container that can be used as a means to carry water and put into a fire to disinfect it by boiling. But you may choose to carry a separate cooking pot, water purification tabs, or a commercial pump style filter and a water container.

Shelter - Whether you choose one of the many styles of tents on the market or a basic 10x10 tarp you need something to shelter you from the elements.

Food - Even department stores are carrying dehydrated backpacking meals that can be stored for long periods of time. You want enough to hold you over for at least 3 days while waiting for help to arrive, some type of drink packet like coffee, tea, or cocoa, and some salt & pepper.

Misc. - I would suggest a decent pair of work gloves, a sewing / repair kit (complete with duct tape, wire, zip ties, and a multi tool), a folding saw or hatchet, pencil and small note pad, a meal kit with utinsils and bowl (at least), and 50ft to 100ft of rope or Paracord.

If you still have room in your pack (and I am guessing that you do) you can add some "comfort" items to help you pass the down times you are bound to have. I have always been in favor of a small pocket sized Bible. If you find yourself in need of your kit, you may also find yourself looking for the strength to face the uncertainty of what lies ahead but if you don't subscribe to a particular religion, cards or a paperback book are always a nice distraction. So is candy, a handful of hard candies in your pack can lift your spirits and give you energy. What you choose is up to you, and the Internet is filled with helpful resources. Hopefully you will never have to face a life threatening disaster, but if you do try to be ready! Good luck.

Are You Fit For The Outdoors?

Summer is almost upon us and many of us are itching to hit the trail for some long awaited backcountry hiking. Trails have been chosen, gear has been purchased, maps have been memorized in anticipation, but that does not mean you are ready to go. Have you taken the time to prepare the most important piece of gear you have….. Your body!

The Wilderness Medical Society reports that hiking is the number 3 reason for outdoor related emergency room visits each year only preceded by Snowboarding (#1) and Sledding (#2). Wilderness injury prevention begins with planning and preparation, maintaining your levels of fitness, knowing your skill level and experience, and not exceeding your limits. So now we know where to start, but the big question is HOW to start?

It’s easier than you might think, like any other part an outdoor adventure you start with “Problem Anticipation”:

By now you have a trip plan written out and you know who you are going to leave it with, you have checked your gear and made any repairs or replacements needed, you restocked your first aid kit, you remembered to put in a vacation request at work (and made sure it was approved), and you have been on every hiking website out there getting psyched up for your trip. That only leaves getting in shape for the trail left on your to do list.

If you do not exercise on a normal basis you should talk to your family doctor to decide on the best program for you to use, but an easy way to get started and remain trail ready all year is to do some basics every day.

• Take a few minutes to stretch and warm up your muscles.
• Make sure you are stretching your torso and back muscles with some gentle twisting to the left and right.
• Stretch the Hamstring and Calves then do 20 or 30 minutes of squats, lunges, running in place, or a combination of all three. The more you do the better off you will be in the wild.
• Go for a walk. Gradual at first then building up the distance you are walking. This is also a great time to see how that new pack is going to ride and gives you a chance to fine tune the fit.
• Before hitting the trail for a multi day trip, go on a few day hikes. It helps get you ready to hike over those hills and streams without having 20 or more pounds on your back trying to pull you down.

Remember the old adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!” if you have taken a small amount of time to get in shape and stay in shape now there is less of a chance that you will need a large amount of time to recover from an injury later. If you are new to hiking take someone along that has more experience. Remember to hydrate as much as possible, if you start feeling thirsty you are already starting to get dehydrated which can lead to several life threatening conditions on the trail. Know your limits; don’t try to push yourself too long or too hard in the heat. Take your time; after all you’re out there to enjoy the wild not run through it!

Get out there and have fun, just be careful when you do it!