I know….I know…every backpacking or wilderness treking class pounds it into your head. Never leave your camp without having those 10 essentials on your body. We all fudge and truth be told I have been more than lucky on a couple occasions having forgot an item or two that I really could have used.

With the advent of GPS technology – lots of people forego bringing a map. Big mistake! How often have you run out of juice? Or the darn thing seems to suddenly have Chinese figures all over the screen? A map and compass are two items you just can’t afford to be without no matter how cool your new GPS looks.

Check out a great article on a some experts suggestions on the 10 essentials:

http://thegearjunkie.com/survival-gear-10-items…

Carol -

Great post that brings up a whole new topic – backcountry safety and survival. We know that a map and compass are essential, but how about those other items that could save your life in a pinch? I think it’s important enough that we should start a new forum topic about it. Another great site on tips for backcountry survival: http://www.gregdavenport.com/survivalcorner.php I’ve met and seen Greg’s presentations on several occasions and have adopted several of his suggestions for my “never leave home without it” pack.

I was just out on a great conditioning hike and ran into (expected) snow for a lengthy portion of the trail. The GPS made it easy to stay on course, but I certainly had (and know how to use, which is at least as important as having) a good map (thank you, TOPO) and compass. I also had plenty of warm and extra gear, which, when a 12 mile hike ended up taking us 9 hours, was a blessing. We easily could’ve ended up having to spend the night, and we all should remember that spending the night out is something that could happen to any of us at any time, and we should be prepared!

Great Point. Having a map and compass and knowing how to use it are two different things. Learning the theory is nice but practice is the only way to master the skill. A fun way to learn and train is with an orienteering race. There are local clubs that hold events and are will to teach basic map and compass. A day on trail serching for the checkpoints can be fun and educational.

Hi kids,

lots of misconceptions when it comes to hiking and the “Ten Essentials” in particular. As GregG mentions …. knowing how to use your gear is what matters most. Unfortunately the best teacher is experience. And essentials are wholly subjective. E.g. what I took for my latest 6 day hike on the RR Trail is completely different from what I took for a ten day hike in SoCal summer desert conditions. So my experience on my hikes, under my conditions, may not apply to you, right? ;-)

IMHO, the main reason why folks stress the Ten Essentials is due to unreasonable fear. Fear based on inexperience. Fear fed by the usual “Hucksters,” (present company excepted, of course since I don’t know you all) who place full page, full color ads, like the infamous “Hydrate or Die” crud. And fear perpetuated by the media which seldom (if ever) report how unusual it is for a hiker to be seriously injured!

Allow me to give you an example of what, so called, “essentials” I carried last week. In no particular order:
1) A small 10 gram folding razor. I didn’t anticipate having to cut off an arm during that hike. Yes a cutting tool is useful but not really necessary. I have teeth. And a lighter. And sharp rocks, etc, etc.
2) A tiny 12 gram Bic lighter as a back-up to my large Bic because I expected to deal w/rain and sand which kill lighters. Not really necessary. But nice to have if one likes warm meals.
3) Meds in no particular order; four Imodium, two Vicodin, one Valium, five Omeprazole (required for GERD sufferers), four Tylenol and four antacids. Except for the Omeprazole none were truly essential.
4) Two large band aids and two medium burn pads. Also not truly essential.
5) Six self printed custom maps of the area; 24K scale. Again; not essential on the RR Trail.
6) One compass. Same as #5. Beginning to get the picture boys and girls.
6a) One Foretrex 101 w/brand new lithium AAAs (optional, but fun). Not essential.
7) Two one liter Platypus. NOT essential on the RR Trail in the spring.
8) One GoLite Wisp and one GoLite Whim for inclement weather in excess of what was forecasted. This one I call essential only because Lying Lon always gets the weather wrong. It really isn’t essential gear.
9) One tiny but loud whistle absolutely useless I can shout loud enough.
10) A microlight. Also useless. I can see well enough in the dark to keep from peeing on my feet. ;-)

With the exception of prescribed medication all of the rest is mostly a matter of convenience. Which pretty much describes why I bring lots of non-essential gear. Only about 22 ounces worth of stuff but why carry what one does not need …. and call it essential gear? Gear which we are taught is essential. But usually isn’t!

So what is essential gear? What one needs to survive under expected conditions.

And now we hear the “But what ifs,” and the “Be prepareds,” hollering in tandem. No offense folks but even the inexperienced will do just fine if they exercise common sense. And even the (supposedly) highly experienced will fail if they do something stupid. For example the couple recently rescued in the Grand Canyon who got freakin lost for several days.

As I told a pro guide I met during my last trip …. The Rogue Wilderness Trail isn’t a wilderness. :-)

And to paraphrase a good friend of mine …. No amount of gear and/or training/experience can “fix stupid.”

Have fun out there and don’t give in to BS fear.

Peace,

Rallen.

Tragedy Strikes: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hiker11…

I quote a portion of the LA Times article. “They did all the right things. In this particular case, I think they did everything they reasonably could have done,” Lovell said. “Medical emergencies can happen to anyone in the back country. This is one of those tragic events that just happen.”

FIrst let’s not get into armchair quarterbacking on this thread; so as not to stray OT. You are welcome to start a new one. I’ll meet you there. TIA for your consideration.

I disagree w/Lovell. It’s clear that they did the wrong things. And it appears they had the right equipment to do otherwise. IOW; the, so called, “Ten Essentials” were of no practical use.

Please keep in mind that I do not seek to minimize the fact that Murphy does strike. Nor am I trying to diminish the effects of such a horrible tragedy. I only post it here because this is the kind of thing I see all too often when someone gets hurt. Ie; an unforeseen circumstance leads to nonsensical errors.

PS; sorry if I sound harsh. I’m just a upset that we lost two more persons needlessly.

Peace,

Richard.