The things they carried with them (Things you might consider)

Forest along Big South Fork Railroad, Southeastern, KY

The blogs in the list in the column on the right give suggestions on health and safety in the wild.

This is intended to supplement the very good information that can be found there.

Comfort and safety can be made better by learning from one’s mistakes. 

1.                    Do not take “light” bars into the wilderness.  Know your bars.  About half of the granola bars have enough food in them to keep you going.  Many are bad; do not carry them.  The good ones don’t weigh any more to speak of.  Take bars that will attenuate your hunger.  The “V-8” bar is one of many suggested that will help you feel satisfied.

2.                   Bring a panel.  You are going to need to sit in the wilderness.  There are ample seats if you have a piece of waterproof material to go between your body and the spot you have chosen to sit on.  Know your panels.   The wind in the wilderness will snatch your panel away from you before you can retrieve your panel.  You must know how to use your panel and keep it with you in the wind.

3.                   Leave your jeans for the city.  People with wilderness experience call jeans “dead man’s clothes.”  A storm comes and jeans are heavy with water.  You slip on a creek bank and immediately jeans are heavy with water. Know your pants; do not wear jeans in the wilderness. 

4.                   The more you get to know the wilderness the more you learn the appeal of wool.  You become less and less concerned about wool feeling scratchy.  Wool socks are your friend.

5.                   The ticks may get in almost every seam in your clothing.  Separating them from the knit of the fabric of your socks can be difficult. Forceps (tweezers) are very helpful even before a tick begins feeding.

6.                   Consider duct tape; it can bind a fractured extremity.  Consider office desk transparent tape. Office transparent tape weighs almost nothing and helps you immobilize ticks.

7.                     If you have taken the first aid class you know the triangular bandage and a lot of other small things that have many useful applications.  A package of these things weighs practically nothing.  The individual first aid kit can be ordered from an industrial first aid supply store.  The water resistant box is 5 ½ inches tall; a nylon case goes around the box and keeps the box secure.  The nylon case gives a way to attach the kit to a field pack or field bag.   

8.                 Bring a map, topographic map, compass, or portable GPS receiver.  Don’t cut corners on this concept; it could save you hours to say the least.

9.                  Bring a walking cane, stick or trekking poles.

10.              Consider acquiring an emergency locator beacon.

11.               Pay attention.  There is hearing and then there is hearing.  Learn to turn up your hearing.  You can’t do that in the city.  If you are aware you will know about people or animals far ahead of seeing them.