Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2008 14:46:18 GMT -5
So, it's a nice day out there and you've got sasquatch on your mind. Heck, you've decided to go looking again. You jump in the car/truck and head for your favorite area either to hike around or do a slow drive. So far so good.
What did you bring? Camera √ Phone √ ... that's it? Sure, you'll be ready to take some images and you could use your phone if you see something to tell someone or you could use the phone in an emergency situation; if you can connect while 'out there'.
Take the above scenario and consider you've begun a hike into an area after you parked the car/truck. You're well into your outing when you stumble awkwardly and twist your ankle, badly. You forgot your walking stick at home. Now what as you discover you can't use your phone where you are.
Did you bring your pocket knife, you know the one you could now use to cut some kind of stick to assist you to hobble back out if your able. Now you're thinking that perhaps it wasn't such a silly notion to leave a note of your 'intended direction of travel and return and number in party' in your vehicle.
I'll let you think that one out.
What follows is a basic common sense approach, I think, hehe:
I like to be prepared, if not for the worst, then for the second worst, hehe. My basic pack includes tensor bandages for strained joints and such, a small first aid box with bandaids for whatever scratches required them, needle and thread for more serious stitching.
Food is an important factor for me when I'm out there for a while. I like certain creature comforts and a hot drink is always comforting even when it's only the best damned cup of coffee 'out there'. I carry a small stove, fuel for a few days, pot, cup, water bottle, coffee fixins', teabags, sugar, a few power bars, hard candy, bullion cubes and a couple of no cook meals that seriously impress and suppress hunger (they taste pretty darned good if you don't eat them every week, hehe and they're reasonably priced for what you get). They also pack pretty flat.
I also carry backup food source in the form of an emergency bar. The biggest bar is called a 3600 cause it contains that many callories and can feed you for three days if that's all you have. Its like a big hard cookie you can break into nine equal pieces. Had to resort to that one lovely rain soaked evening when I realized I'd not prepared a 'dry' area to cook in; don't cook in a tent.
Ever gotten to where you wanted to go, set up camp and are about to boil up some water and you discover that you forgot to pack the matches or another fire source? I have experienced that thrill and it's not fun at all; lucky for me after a scrambled rummaging through every last pocket in my clothing and nook in my pack, I found a box of matches and saved the day. Note to self: pack enough fire starting stuff so you 'know' you're covered. Wooden matches in waterproof containers, magnesium sticks with striker and a lighter are small enough to pack enough of them
I always have my pocket knife handy, carry a big knife for whatever, two cans of bear spray (one for the bear, one for me. If the bear doesn't get the message and likes bear spray with fresh human, perhaps I'll nihilistically spray myself willynilly so as to be preoccupied during the bears advances- ok I jest)
I also carry an extra pair of cozy socks, gloves and a touque. You never know.
Last but not least are those shiny emergency blankets. I carry a few and they 'do' trap body heat and make great reflectors should you need to signal somebody using sunshine.
There you've had a look at some of the stuff in my pack. While I am prepared to take care of myself when I'm out there, I will share and help others where I can, however I expect anyone I'm out with to be able to take care of themselves as well.
All that and good footwear Happy and safe trails/roads/sightings people
Go ahead, take that walking stick too, three legs are better than two sometimes.
Now where the hell did I put that camera ...
What did you bring? Camera √ Phone √ ... that's it? Sure, you'll be ready to take some images and you could use your phone if you see something to tell someone or you could use the phone in an emergency situation; if you can connect while 'out there'.
Take the above scenario and consider you've begun a hike into an area after you parked the car/truck. You're well into your outing when you stumble awkwardly and twist your ankle, badly. You forgot your walking stick at home. Now what as you discover you can't use your phone where you are.
Did you bring your pocket knife, you know the one you could now use to cut some kind of stick to assist you to hobble back out if your able. Now you're thinking that perhaps it wasn't such a silly notion to leave a note of your 'intended direction of travel and return and number in party' in your vehicle.
I'll let you think that one out.
What follows is a basic common sense approach, I think, hehe:
I like to be prepared, if not for the worst, then for the second worst, hehe. My basic pack includes tensor bandages for strained joints and such, a small first aid box with bandaids for whatever scratches required them, needle and thread for more serious stitching.
Food is an important factor for me when I'm out there for a while. I like certain creature comforts and a hot drink is always comforting even when it's only the best damned cup of coffee 'out there'. I carry a small stove, fuel for a few days, pot, cup, water bottle, coffee fixins', teabags, sugar, a few power bars, hard candy, bullion cubes and a couple of no cook meals that seriously impress and suppress hunger (they taste pretty darned good if you don't eat them every week, hehe and they're reasonably priced for what you get). They also pack pretty flat.
I also carry backup food source in the form of an emergency bar. The biggest bar is called a 3600 cause it contains that many callories and can feed you for three days if that's all you have. Its like a big hard cookie you can break into nine equal pieces. Had to resort to that one lovely rain soaked evening when I realized I'd not prepared a 'dry' area to cook in; don't cook in a tent.
Ever gotten to where you wanted to go, set up camp and are about to boil up some water and you discover that you forgot to pack the matches or another fire source? I have experienced that thrill and it's not fun at all; lucky for me after a scrambled rummaging through every last pocket in my clothing and nook in my pack, I found a box of matches and saved the day. Note to self: pack enough fire starting stuff so you 'know' you're covered. Wooden matches in waterproof containers, magnesium sticks with striker and a lighter are small enough to pack enough of them
I always have my pocket knife handy, carry a big knife for whatever, two cans of bear spray (one for the bear, one for me. If the bear doesn't get the message and likes bear spray with fresh human, perhaps I'll nihilistically spray myself willynilly so as to be preoccupied during the bears advances- ok I jest)
I also carry an extra pair of cozy socks, gloves and a touque. You never know.
Last but not least are those shiny emergency blankets. I carry a few and they 'do' trap body heat and make great reflectors should you need to signal somebody using sunshine.
There you've had a look at some of the stuff in my pack. While I am prepared to take care of myself when I'm out there, I will share and help others where I can, however I expect anyone I'm out with to be able to take care of themselves as well.
All that and good footwear Happy and safe trails/roads/sightings people
Go ahead, take that walking stick too, three legs are better than two sometimes.
Now where the hell did I put that camera ...