The Essentials (Or, What’s in My Day Pack)
“The 10 Essentials” begin appearing in literature in the 50s and 60s. Now, doing a search more than likely is going to turn up a list of at least 14 items. The following is a fairly common list.
1. Map
2. Compass (and of course we will have a GPS receiver)
3. Extra clothing
4. Food and water
5. First aid kit
6. Headlamp or flashlight
7. Matches
8. Fire starter
9. Knife (multi tool)
10. Sunglasses
11. Sunscreen
12. Water Filter
13. Whistle.
14. Shelter
Covering each item and what’s in my Day Pack.
1. Map - I own more mapping software than I really need. The advantage to this is that I can print off a page of the area that I’m going to be hiking in on “Rite in the Rain Paper” and now I have a fairly cheap water resistant map.
2. Compass (and the know-how to use it) - Most importantly are extra batteries for the GPS. The type of GPS is important. One of the most important features of a GPS is the ability to upload maps. Without maps in the GPS you will know where you are at but have no idea of how to get where you want to be.
3. Extra clothing - I always carry a set of lightweight long johns and a rain jacket. Staying warm and dry will be the most important parts of a survival situation.
4. Food and water - A couple of energy bars or packets of energy gel don’t weight much and do a lot to help maintain your energy level. The rule of thumb for food is bringing enough for the hike plus one extra meal. Water is a given you can never carry to much water. My Day Packs have always had water reservoirs; my current one has a 3 liter reservoir.
5. First aid kit - A standard backpacking first aid kit is fine. Unless you’re an EMT, you’re not going to be able to do any more in the backcountry than what is covered by the standard first aid kit.
6. Headlamp - A better choice than a flashlight. If you have to move during darkness, the headlamp will leave you hands free.
7. Matches - Actually I prefer a lighter since it will still light a fire if it gets damp.
8. Fire starter - What I carry is a mixture of sawdust and wax that actually has a striker built in so it should be self-igniting. I don’t take the chance that this will work so that’s why I carry the lighter. The biggest mistake that most people make when trying to make a fire is to add too large a piece of wood too early. The best bet is to keep the wood small until there is a large flame.
9. Knife - A multi tool is always the best bet. It has an ok knife but the pliers and other tools may come in handy.
10. Sunglasses - In a snow environment these can mean life or death. Snow blindness can total ly incapacitate a person. In other environments, it helps to be able to see the terrain and avoid the dangerous areas.
11. Sunscreen - Prevents sunburn and dehydration. Your body requires more water to heal sunburned skin, so to compensate you have to drink more water. In a cold environment it is even more critical, since sunburned skin is more susceptible to frostbite.
12. Water filter - No excuses for not carrying one. There are cheap versions on the market that can be used in an emergency for less than 10 bucks. The absolute minimum is to carry iodine tablets. If you do a lot of hiking a good filter adds a little weight but makes any water source drinkable.
13. Whistle - I carry a metal tube whistle: metal so it can take a beating and still work, and tube whistles don’t have a ball that can swell up and keep it from working.
One of the things that I have been looking into recently is a PLB (personal locator beacon) that, in an emergency, will transmit a radio signal to a satellite network. It will save your life.
The other option is a satellite phone. The price and size has come down in recent years and a used one can be picked up for a couple hundred dollars. The one advantage of the phone over the beacon would be in a situation that's other than life threatening, such as talking to someone and explaining what help you need without setting off the whole rescue process. It could also be used to be able to give updates on the progress of a hike and give someone peace of mind that you are doing ok. The disadvantage of the phone is the annual cost, where the PLB is a one-time cost.
14. Shelter - I carry an emergency bivy sack. It’s lightweight and will help to protect me from the elements and provide critical warmth. I also carry several thick black plastic bags, which can be used to help waterproof a shelter and can be used to gather water by placing over a bush or tree limb.
I have seen far too many people on the trails carrying nothing more than a hiking staff and a water bottle. They are ill-prepared to spend just one night in the wilderness. It just takes one missed step and even a small injury can become life threatening if you aren’t prepared.
Here in the Northwest the snow has just started coming down so some reading might be in order waiting for the short hiking season.
Wilderness Basics - The one I have is the second edition from 1993 there might be even a new edition out by now.
Northwestern Wild Berries - I bought this book over ten years ago and it has been the most important book I own the descriptions and pictures are critical to identify the edible and poisonous berries in the Northwest.
Lastly is the National Audubon Society Field Guide to
North American Mushrooms. I’ve only eaten one kind of wild mushroom
one of the all most fool proof to identify. It’s more of an interesting
book to look at and try to identify the mushrooms on the trail, because
who knows what will happen on the trail.