these items on a Greenways walk or urban hike but we strongly urge you to carry them with you on any backcountry outing. Consider the Ten Essentials as an insurance policy against the unexpected. You will not use these items on every trip but at some point during your hiking career you will be glad you have them along. 1. MAP
alpine scrambling or otherwise navigating cross-country consider the 7.5 minute USGS maps--they reveal considerable detail. For traveling on trails, the 15 minute series Green Trails is a good choice, among others. The point is to carry a map appropriate for the area you will be in and the activity you will be undertaking-- and know how to use it ! Buying good quality maps can be expensive, but it is always much cheaper than getting lost. 2. COMPASS
distances on maps;
responds to Magnetic North, whereas, maps are based upon True North. Therefore, the compass needs to be adjusted to compensate. An adjustable declination feature lets you turn a small screw to "permanently" adjust declination to match the geographic area you will be in, so that you don't need to calculate your bearing each time.
I have several different compasses that I use for various applications. 3. LIGHT
night or make that last mile or so after sunset. Here's some features to look for: lights which are water resistant--they function reliably in all weather.
accidentally be turned-on as it is jostled about in your pack.
several spare bulbs--they are light. It's a good idea to carry a small lightweight hand-held light in addition to a head lamp. In the hand held light use a regular bulb which
conserve batteries. In the headlamp, use a halogen (or other bright-beam bulb) and use this light when you are path finding or otherwise require a bright beam. 4. EXTRA FOOD & WATER
just get lost. The mountaineers suggest a one-day supply. At the very least, bring one good meal more than what you need. The food should require little or no cooking. If your extra food will require cooking, make sure you also carry extra fuel for your stove. Carry plenty of fresh water. If you are familiar with the area in which you are traveling, and can be sure that water sources are available, carry enough water to get you there. If you aren't bringing your water from home or a public source, treat the water you draw from the backcountry, regardless of the source. These days, everything is suspect. Use water filter, purifier, chemical tablets, or boiling to treat the water before consuming. For transporting inside your pack, use lightweight water bottles, such as Nalgene 16 oz and 32 oz lexan polycarbonate or high-density polyethylene wide-mouth bottles. Some folks use other containers such as old plastic pop bottles. That's okay too. Be careful they don't crack and/or leak, though. I usually carry a family size packaged dehydrated meal or a military MRE for food. I also take a high quailty (expensive) water filter or water purification tablets (moderate price) or a small squeeze bottle of bleach (dirt cheap) to make sure that my water is safe to drink. I once caught a a batch of Giardia while backpacking, and I'll never let that happen to me again. 5. EXTRA CLOTHING
through an unplanned bivouac through the worst conditions you might come up against. Extra clothing means a little extra beyond what you would normally carry, just in case of emergencies. When you need it there is nothing more valuable that a set of dry clothes. And if you want your feet to treat you right a spare pair of clean socks is a must. 6. RAIN GEAR
quicker out in the Wild than to be cold and wet. A simple poncho will protect you from wetnesss and can double as an emergency shelter as well. I always carry a good heavy duty military spec poncho and one of those light weight $1.50 pocket ponchos as well. Even though there may not be any rain in the forcast, this is not an item to skimp on. It might not be needed very often, but when you DO need it. Rain gear wil save your life. 7. FIRST AID KIT
because they can't be easily improvised in the woods. What to carry ? A good book to reference is "Mountaineering First Aid" 3rd edition, by Lentz, Macdonald, and Carline, published by The Mountaineers. This booklet was used as a text when I took the Mountaineers' MOFA (Mountaineering Oriented First Aid) course. I use it now to refresh my memory. It is easy reading, small ( 5 1/4 x 8 1/2 inches ), brief ( 95 pages ) and inexpensive ( $8.95 ). It identifies what items to carry, as well as what to do in emergency situations. Once you are familiar with the supplies you need, you can purchase a kit or make your own. If you purchase one, you'll most likely need to add to it ( items like CPR mask, rubber gloves, etc. ) since most commercially prepared kits are inadequate. If you have medical knowledge a set of sterile sutures is also a good idea. Probably will never need them, but I've had to sew myself up in a pinch before and was quite happy that I had the proper tools to do so. 8. KNIFE
Wenger "Master" Swiss Army Knife has a locking blade; "slip-joint" pliers/wire crimper/wire cutters; springless self- sharpening scissors; wood saw; nail file/cleaner; corkscrew; awl/reamer; can opener; cap lifter; tweezers; and toothpick--all at a weight of about 6 ounces. Swiss-Army knives are available with more and less features. At a minimum, knives are useful for first aid, food preparation, cutting moleskin strips, cutting rope and making repairs. However, scrutinize your needs before you go out and buy a honker like the Victorinox Swiss Champ which has many tools you probably don't need and weighs 1/2 pound ! If you don't actually use a feature, then you probably don't need to be carrying it around. I also carry a very nice hunting knife that my dad made for me. I rarely need a knife that large, but it is nice to have with me because of the sentimental value and comfort that it provides. 9. MATCHES
along with something to strike them on-- in a waterproof container. Keep these matches separate from your regular match or butane lighter supply. Keep them available for emergency situations. There are many commercially prepared waterproof/wind proof matches available on the market, e.g., "Hurricane" and "Cyclone" brands of wind & waterproof matches and Coghlan's waterproof safety matches. I typically carry strike any-where kitchen matches in a a water proof container. I also bring along a butane "cigarette lighter" and in a pinch I know how to start a fire with a bow drill, but since I am prepared, I have never had to use that particular skill in the wild. 10. FIRE STARTER
wet wood. There are several commercial fire starters available: magnesium blocks w/striking flint; chemically-treated fire sticks, etc. In addition, numerous home-made fire starters work just fine: plumber's candles (wax); compressed balls of dryer lint mixed with or covered with melted paraffin; small strips of waxed cardboard (from old produce boxes); small flammable containers--individual egg-carton cups filled with mixtures of wood shavings, wax, & lint; etc. I pay real close attention to my emergency tinder. I can produce flame, but if I can't get a hold of good dry tender then it is all in vain. I usually carry a couple of commercial fire starters in addition to my tinder. ++ PLUS ITEMS ++
and a deck of cards. |
| Campo del Oso |
Gear Review:
Ten Essentials
Ten Essentials
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