For what it is worth:
Graywolf's minimal walking in the mountains kit (Assumes you are not more than a day from help--for some strange reason many such lists seem to think you are going to be stuck out in the Amazon Jungle a 100 miles from the nearest help).
1. Common sense. The first thing this will tell you is, if you do not know your way around in the woods, stay on the path. That includes camping in the middle of it if you are stuck out overnight. It is nice if someone looking for you, or maybe just someone who happens by, can just stumble over you.
2. Water bottle. I like the US Army canteen with the steel cup you can cook in. Yes you can go one day without water (unless you are in the desert somewhere), but it is not fun.
3. Bic lighter. If you have to overnight, you will find a fire comforting and it will help anyone looking for you notice your camp. Hum...? It would be good to learn how to build a small fire with damp tinder before you need to do it in a real situation. True woodsmen always use the smallest fire that will get the job done. You can cook a whole meal over a tiny fire maybe 5 inchs in diameter made with sticks no bigger than your little finger. Heat requires a bigger fire. Drying out, a big fire. However, remember that modern backpackers almost never need to build a fire even on a 2 week long trip, but they are properly equipped for it. REMEMBER, I would rather die of exposure than burn down 10,000 acres of forest, so be very careful with any fire you build.
4. Compass. Play with it a bit, read the instructions, so you will know how to use it, when and if. It will help you keep from going around in circles. I just replaced the one I bought in 1977, the fluid had started to leak out. Spend $10 bucks on a Silva Polaris and skip the $2 toys.
5. Pocket knife. Nice to have for many reasons. If you are buying one for this particular use I suggest one of the smaller Swiss Army Knifes. The tiny sissors are the most useful addition. All those other tools on the bigger models just add unwanted weight. I believe mine is called the Climber model.
6. Bandanna. Serves as a bandage, splint holder, sunshade, towel, and has 1000 other uses.
7. Windbreaker jacket. Nice if it is also weatherproof. Hypothermia is the most dangerous threat to someone lost in the mountains.
8. And for us old folks: Daily meds. If you are stuck out overnight, no reason to maybe die because your meds are back home in the medicine cabinet.
9. Foil packed disinfectant handi-wipes, a couple. (Just added this in because they are so nice to have with you. Use as TP, to clean wounds, etc.)
Notice the lack of a flashlight. Two reasons: 1. If you need it to navigate by, you are far better off sitting out the night. 2. The batteries will not last long enough to do you much good. That said I have a Maglite Solitare on my key chain anyway. I also always have a couple of Bandaids in my wallet.
Nice additions, a snack or two, and a couple of tea bags. (The British SAS Survival Manual says, the first thing to do when you find yourself lost is stop, and brew a cup of tea. I say it beats panicking by a long shot.)
Except for the windbreaker, and the water bottle all the above will fit in my pockets. Interestingly enough, for an intended overnight, I only have to add a pack, tarp, sleeping bag, mini-stove, and food.
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Mark Cassino wrote:
At 08:27 PM 4/23/2004 -0400, you wrote:
Very basic survival gear include matches, water and compass. The matches
should be waterproof (easy to do - buy a box of wooden strike anywhere
matches and paint them with fingernail polish). In a pinch, the green ink in
US currency has chlorophyll in it and paper matches will light if you zip
the matches across the money just right. (In my survival training course the
instructor called it legal tinder...). You can survive a long time if you
have water and warmth.
My days of having money to burn are long behind me... but fire would be handy. Why not use a zip-lock bag instead of the nail polish?
The other thing you should always do when going out in the woods is to tell
someone where you're going and when you'll be back. They'll know when you're
actually missing and where they should start to look for you.
Good point... I should of quizzed my wife to see if she paid any attention when I told her where I was going (probably not...)
- MCC
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Mark Cassino Photography
Kalamazoo, MI
http://www.markcassino.com
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-- graywolf http://graywolfphoto.com/graywolf.html
