Let’s start with the basics, the 10 Essentials: (then add, subtract, or substitute as needed)
- Knife / Multi-Tool
- Map & Compass (optionally supplemented with a GPS)
- Sun Protection (sunglasses, sunscreen, hat)
- Extra Food and Water
- Extra Clothes
- LED Headlamp / Flashlight (with extra batteries)
- First Aid Kit
- Matches & Fire Starters
- Water Bottle
- Rain Gear
Map & Compass: It goes without saying (or should) that the time to learn how to read a compass and orient a map is at home when you make mistakes and learn from them.
Sun Protection: It doesn’t take long for the sun to have an effect on your body through dehydration and burning, so always have some type of sunscreen (including lip balm), sunglasses (if possible), and a hat with a wide brim to cover your neck or a ball cap and bandanna. Under this essential I would also add insect repellent to protect you from those pesky little bites!
Extra Food & Water: Even if you are only going out for a few hours it is a good idea to take some type of trail snack to keep your energy up, if you get lost it could be life saving! Which takes us to water; I believe that the water bottle should be included in this section and a way to sanitize water before you drink it. If you are carrying a Nalgene style bottle you could add a GSI Glacier Cup/Pot to the bottom of it and take up no extra space, or substitute the Nalgene for a metal water bottle that could be placed in the fire to boil / sanitize the water you find.
Extra Clothes / Rain Gear – This is another set of items I would group together along with a small tarp or sheet of plastic (4-6 mils) and call the listed item Shelter! It should include something to make a shelter from (plastic or tarp), rain gear (or a jacket / sweater depending on weather conditions), extra socks, knit hat, and gloves.
LED Headlamp / Flashlight: if you are have to stay in the woods overnight it is not recommended to go wandering around with your flashlight, but instead it is meant to provide light for doing tasks around camp, finding things in your pack, food preparation, etc. If ambient light is needed you can build a fire to light up your camp (as long as it is contained and not a risk of starting a forest fire). Batteries being a man made device can fail so always carry an extra set.
First Aid Kit: first aid kits can be a bit confusing to some people and with dozens of varieties and prices to choose from it doesn’t make your choice any easier. A good place to start would be how many people are going to be with you, and are they all carrying a kit or is one group kit going to be used. By figuring this out you have eliminated a lot of the options. If by yourself or each member of your group has their own all you need is a small personal first aid kit. I would recommend the Adventure Medical Kits “Ultralight / Watertight .5” or something comparable. Then add any personnel medications, extra moleskin, and water purification tablets (if not included). Again, everyone’s skill level is different but I would recommend taking a basic first aid course, at the least, before heading out on the trail. The life you save could be your own.
Matches & Fire Starter: I always carry a waterproof match container in my first aid kit as a back up, but do not use it as a first choice. That said a Bic Lighter in your pocket is always a good companion to have as is a tried and trusted Fire Steel. A fire when needed could mean the difference between life and death. It provides warmth, a way to dry out if wet, a way to cook food, a means to sanitize water, and a way to boost your spirits on a cold night in the woods. But a means to start a fire do not help you at all without dry tinder to get your fire going. Many different products are on the market from compressed wood, chemically formulated paste, resin impregnated wood (natural & man made). You could choose to make your own such as cotton balls covered with petroleum jelly, pencil shavings / saw dust, jute twine, char cloth, or try to find what you need in nature like birch bark, tinder fungus, dry grass. The point here is that you need something dry to get it started and the best way to do that is to have it ready before it is needed.
OK, now that we have turned our 10 Essentials into 8 lets add a couple of things to round out our list.
Cordage / Rope: it could be made in the wild if needed but it is time consuming and time may be something you don’t have. From hanging you food bag or replacing your boot laces, to building a temporary shelter or tying a splint around a broken leg you can always find a use for rope when on the trail or in the woods. 50’ to 100’ of 550 Para Cord is like gold to those that need it but have forgotten it.
Cell Phone: it may seem out of place but if you are alone in the woods and injured being able to call for help could save your life.
Here I would add an 11th item, arguably it could be considered part of one of the items above I feel it needs to be addressed in a little more detail.
Emergency Bivy Bag / Space Blanket: though it could be added to the shelter section a good emergency bivy bag (around $30) or all weather space blanket could make the difference if you are unable to build a fire, your shelter fails in the middle of a storm, you are caught above the tree line, or if you or a member of your party is suffering from hypothermia. They don’t take up much space or add much weight but they do add a level of safety that is hard to match.
It’s always better to be prepared for an emergency and not have one than to have an emergency and not be ready for it. Contact your local Red Cross for some first aid training, brush up on (or learn and practice) fire building skills, hit your local library or the internet and learn how to build a primitive shelter and some traps to secure food if you are in a self reliance situation, and remember STOP!
Sit down – stop wandering around.
Think – how did you get to where you are?
Observe – can you see a definite landmark? What time is it? What is the weather like?
Plan – are you going to have to spend the night? What will you need? Fire wood, Shelter, Water!
Don’t panic, keep your wits and you will make it back with a great story for your friends, and remember, this is a starting point. Add what ever comfort items you would like to make your time in the woods more enjoyable.
No comments:
Post a Comment