Wild Bound

Today was the first day in a few weeks that the temperature got above freezing. I took the opportunity to go out snowshoeing. I didn’t have a way to get out to a trail, so I went on the city bike path. From the looks of it, there wouldn’t be many bicyclists out today.

I am always surprised by how warm I get when I go out snowshoeing. I expect to be cold–after all it’s only 36 degrees out. I always end up sweating and wishing I had worn more thin layers.

Today I was just in blue jeans and a light cotton shirt with my snowsuit over that. I wish I knew more about winter clothing so I could wear the right sort of layers.

I guess knowledge comes with experience.

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After all the talk about putting together a survival kit, I decided to go spend some money to assembly one of my own. I spent about $40 purchasing the stuff I needed. Here is the rough list of what I bought:

Coghlans 46 piece survival kit ~$15

contents:

• Pencil
• notepad
• Needle
• emergency poncho
• Compass (this is a small cheap compass and I will replace it with a better one when I find mine in my camping gear)
• fish hooks
• 30 ft fishing line
• sinkers (fishing weights)
• 1 salt packet
• 2 fire sticks
• 1-5 hour candle
• 12 hour light stick
• signal mirror
• signal whistle
• 2 safety pins
• 2 razor blades
• small spool of thread
• 4 alcohol pads
• space blanket
• 3 ft snare wire
• 12 ft nylon rope
• book of Matches (non-waterproof, I will replace these with waterproof matches or strike anywhere matches in a waterproof case)
• 35 ft nylon cord
• 48 ft orange trail/surveyor’s tape
• 2-4″ adhesive strips
• 1- 3in X 3in gauze pad
• bandaids of various sizes
• waterproof pouch

To that kit, I added a few extra things:

• Leatherman Multitool (not sure of cost because I owned it before hand)
• a mini knife/fishhook sharpener ~$4
• Magnesium fire starter ~$7
• Moleskin (to put over hot spots and blisters) ~$3
• all purpose support wrap for knees, ankles, wrists, and elbows. (about a 24″ ace bandage with velcro on one end. Good for wrapping strains and sprains and achy knees) ~$4.50
• 1 roll 2″ gauze ~$1.50
• .35 oz of vaseline lip therapy (useful for chapped lips, dressing cuts, or starting fires) ~$1

Although I haven’t weighted it, this gear probably comes in at around 1 lb.

I still have a few things to add like a crank operated flashlight (don’t want to depend on batteries), sunscreen (travel size), water purifier, and a good topo map of the area. I almost forgot–FOOD!

Because it is winter, I will also carry a sleeping bag (0° F rated), a sleeping pad, a cooking pot (for melting snow to drink), and a small wood burning stove.

Have I forgotten anything?

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I planned on writing about assembling a survival kit today, but a migraine has me so twisted up that I can’t even think straight.  I’ll be back later this week with more bug out bag information.

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A Bug-Out-Bag (BOB) goes by many names:

• 72-hour kit
• survival kit
• go bag
• etc

The idea is to have 3 days worth of food and gear stowed in a backpack so you can grab it and go for a hike. I’m not talking about grabbing the BOB and heading out for a 3 day hike, and this kit isn’t intended to be a “camping in comfort” kit. The Bug-Out-Bag is designed for survival if you have to spend an unexpected night (or 3) outdoors.

Other applications for a survival kit might be disaster preparedness (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.), emergency car kit, or a quick prep overnight camping trip (with a few extras added).

I have been researching Bug Out Bags and survival kits in preparation of assembling my own, and have come up with some basic guidelines for deciding what to include.

• Your primary concerns are Food, Warmth, and First Aid.
• Every person will have different requirements for a survival kit.
• Every season and location has different gear requirements–pack for the worst.
• The BOB should not be so heavy that it gets left in the car.
• Make sure that perishable gear (i.e. food, batteries, medicines) is rotated out every 6 months or so

A winter BOB in northern climates might take up a hiking backpack once you include a sleeping pad, sleeping bag, extra clothes, and maybe even a tent. In the summer, a photographer’s vest (also known as a hunting or fishing vest) with lots of pockets, a fanny pack, or a small backpack may be sufficient for carrying your survival gear.

Now it’s time to make my list and check it twice.

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When you head out on the hiking trail for an afternoon or all day hike, you will need to pack some essential gear. The gear that you choose to carry will change depending on the climate, season, and location of your hike.

In the 1930’s, The Mountaineers, a hiking club based out of Seattle, created a gear list that is still referred to as the Ten Essentials. Here is their list:

1. Topographic Map
2. Compass
3. Flashlight
4. Extra food
5. Extra clothes
6. Sunglasses
7. First Aid Kit
8. Knife (multi-tool)
9. Waterproof matches
10. Fire starter material

There are a few extra things that I would add to The Mountaineers list like water and a way to purify it, sunscreen, rain gear, and a space blanket.

The basic idea of carrying this much stuff on a day hike is to be prepared to stay out all night in the worst weather the season can throw at you and survive it.

In the winter, you should carry gear to survive a night of snow and freezing temperatures. The temperature lows vary from location to location, and when you pack for a mountain hike, don’t forget to take altitude into consideration.

Summertime, your greatest threat is likely a cold thunderstorm. Actually, the chance of hypothermia is probably worse in the summer than in the winter because the average summer hiker is not prepared for it.

I’ve said it before, the most important thing to carry with you is knowledge, common sense, your brain. Unless you know how to read a map and use a compass, just carrying the items in your pack won’t do you any good.

I’m as bad as anyone–worse even–for wanting to just put on my shoes and head out to the trail, but a little pre-planning could save your life.

Next time, I’ll write about putting together a Bug-Out-Bag (BOB) with essential gear so that going on a day hike will involve putting on your boots and grabbing your BOB.

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The recent disappearance of hiker, Meredith Emerson on Blood Mountain in Georgia has gotten me thinking about personal safety on the trail.

There are so many risks when heading out to hike, and you need to take some measures to protect yourself.

Some possibilities that you should consider when you go hiking:

• unexpected weather changes
• injury
• being lost
• dangerous animals
• dangerous people

I certainly don’t recommend avoiding the great outdoors because of the risks involved. Even the most experience hiker needs to prepare for the dangers that surround you on the hiking trail.

The most important thing you can take with you on a hike is knowledge. Having a first aid kit isn’t enough if you don’t know how to use it.

Over the next few posts, I am going to explore some of the basics of personal protection for the outdoor adventurer.

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This past weekend, I spotted my first elk. We were driving on Sunday afternoon. The snow was falling and there was a 10″ blanket of snow covering the pastures on either side of the road.

We passed an old farm house and a red barn. As we drove past the barn, a pasture came into view, and I saw 5 shaggy-necked, scrawny-legged, horse-sized animals standing in the field. One of the animals had pencil sized spikes for antlers.

I scrunched up my forehead and cocked my head sideways in utter confusion.

They aren’t cows…

not horses…

what is that?

Just about the time that I had started to form the word “elk” in my mind, my husband said, “OH look there are elk out there!”

I have to say, elk don’t look nearly as majestic without trophy antlers hanging off the forehead. They look mis-matched.

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Outside magazine has a good article discussing the newest controversy surrounding the Gray wolves. (Click Here for Article–opens in new window).

Gray wolves are being taken off the endangered species list and many in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming are already preparing to reduce the population down to the federally mandated minimum of 100 animals per state.

Wyoming tried to pass a shoot-on-sight varmint rule for the gray wolves, the law was overruled by U.S. Fish and Game.

The animosity that nearly led to the extinction of the gray wolves began when the wolves developed a tasted for ranch-raised cattle. Among conservationists, there is an emotional mystique that surrounds the gray wolves.

In March, the state legislatures will have to struggle with the delicate balance of maintaining the wolf population and protection grazing animals (such as cattle, deer, and elk).

I heard an elk bugle for the first time while I was visiting Glacier National Park. When the wolf population grows too much, the elk will stop bugling because it would mean almost certain death. I want to be able to hear the elk bugle as well as hear the lonely howl of the wolf in the wild.

In the article linked above, the author points out that if the gray wolf can become a big game trophy animal, hunters will be the greatest proponent of the protection of the gray wolf.

The hunting of wilderness-dwelling gray wolves is probably the hardest concept for conservationists to stomach. And yet it’s the component of the states’ plans with the greatest potential to benefit the species in the long run. If the wolf can obtain the status of prized big-game trophy—and many think it can—it will have the most powerful ally of any animal in America: the hunter. As we’ve seen with elk and migratory waterfowl, having the support of high-caliber advocacy groups like Ducks Unlimited and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is the most effective way, by far, to get adequate protection from government game managers.

Not only have advocacy groups gotten behind the protection of animals such as elk and waterfowl, but hunters also pay for the protection of these animals through hunting licenses, fees, tags, and stamps.

The same way a boater has interest in protecting the lake, a hunter has interest in protecting his hobby by protecting animals.

The question of how wolves should be managed must be answered by logic not just emotion. Wolf hunts should be allowed because wolves will drastically reduce the number of deer, elk and other grazing animals, but the wolf population should not be reduced to the point of non-sustainability.

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Steve Sargent, voice of The WildeBeat podcasts and blogs has posted a good podcast intro into winter camping.  Take 10 minutes and listen to part one of Really Cool Camping to learn the basics of winter camping.

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Every new year begins with re-evaluating life, setting goals, and making plans. This year, and this blog is no different.

My plans for this year include at least one winter camping trip. Every time we have planned on taking our first winter camping trip, a road block has come up. I fully intend to go camping at least once before spring.

I finally bought snowshoes, and have been out a grand total of once! I’m blaming on the holiday craziness. My plan is to get out at least once every other week between now and when the snow melts.

When I look towards warmer weather, I am already getting excited about tackling the Idaho Centennial Trail one weekend at a time.

As I watch the snow falling outside my front door, my thoughts turn towards the kayak sitting in storage. June and July I hope to spend many afternoons on the lake and rivers near by my house.

When fall comes back around an the air gets crisp again, I want to have a harvest bonfire complete with roasting hot dogs and making s’mores.

We will squeeze in a few more camping trips, and then there will be snow on the ground again. After the snow falls, I will pull out my snowshoes and start dreaming about a new year.

What do you have planned for this new year?

Happy 2008 Y’all!

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