It is late in the afternoon and you realize you have no idea where you are. What can you do to help the searchers.
SAR teams around the country are made up of volunteers that are dedicated to finding and helping people lost and injured in the backcountry.
They spend hours in training. They participate in mock mission to tune their skills. They are called out during the middle of the night.
What most don't realize is that frequently teams are asked to support an effort outside of their area of responsibility.
Helping the searchers begins before for your trip afield. It starts by taking the right gear and providing a trip plan to that responsible person that will be your link to 911 should you be delayed due to an unfortunate circumstance.
To read more of what you can do check out my article here.
I really appreciate a helpful blog.
A great site on backcountry stoves is by Hikin Jim. I found Jim's blog on Doug Ritter's http://www.equipped.org/ some time ago.
If you are looking for info on the various types of fueled, packable stoves take a look at AdventuresInStoving here.
Lots of info, great photos and many reviews on the various types of stoves out there; old and new.
For many, their outdoor season is over until spring. But right now many stores and online sites have some very good prices on GPS receivers. Check Cabelas or Amazon.
The Garmin Map 60 series is probably no longer in production but you can find this excellent GPS for excellent prices.
Whether you buy an new one or keeping the old one, this is a great time to brush up on your GPS skills.
I'd suggest couple this with a short tune up on you map and compass skills too; they go hand in hand.
I wrote an article on getting up to speed here.
I sat in on Peter Kummerfedt's seminar yesterday. His topic was "Survival Myths and Misconceptions."
He goes after the hogwash published in our outdoor press and magazines about wilderness survival. He has been monitoring this for years.
Peter critiques the articles that have been published over the years that talk about shelters, fire starting and backwoods lore. These articles are supposedly providing the skills that an outdoorsman should learn to survive and get by in the outdoors in an emergency. One really has to wonder what these writers are thinking.
Example after example, Peter tears apart recommendations from these articles. I remember onearticle that discussed building an emergency shelter that looked like something our Northwest Native Americans would build. Oh really, a lost hiker would build that. Peter is more blunt.
It makes me think that the only survival situation that these writers have been in is when they lost power to their lap top.
Sadly, year after year, our outdoor magazines perpetuate these myths. This shines the light of truth on these magazines and highlights their lack of integrity. It causes me to question the validity of any of the articles.
This weekend Cathy and I are in Reno for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) convention. It is a smaller show but, still, it has been fun.
Its is encouraging to hear that in the 27 years since RMEF was founded, 5.9 million acres of habitat have been conserved. Just like the great work of Ducks Unlimited, when habitat is improved for the elk, habitat is improved for all wildlife.
The RMEF convention has many fundraising opportunities for attendees. A lot of money was raised for habitat. A young lab pub was auctioned for $10,500.00.
RMEF also has special opportunites for our wounded warriors coming back for Iraq, Afganistan and the Fort Hood shooting. This year a young soldier shot 4 times at Fort Hood was honored. RMEF has a special bond with these wonderful Americans.
The RMEF convention also has wonderful seminars hosted by many back country legends such as Jim Zumbo and Ron Dube.
Among the best are the presentations given by Peter Kummerfeldt. Peter is a retired USAF survival training technician. After retiring with 30 years of service in the mid 1990's, Peter has been a big game guide and the owner of his business, Outdoor Safe; visit http://www.outdoorsafe.com/.
Peter and his wife Mary travel the west each year hosting seminars and training for outdoor men and women as well as training US Coast Guard rescue swimmers and US Customs staff.
For the outdoor men and women, hikers, hunters, and backcountry travelers in general, Peter's seminars are first rate.
You aren't going to learn primitive skills. Primitive skills are fine but they take a lot of time to master. Peter's focus is to prepare you using modern skills and equipment to survive that unexpected night out or accident.
Generally at a Sportsman show he will host between two and three seminars a day. Price of admission into the show also gets you into the seminars.
Sure, bring a pad of paper and pen but I doubt if you can write fast enough. You will learn about emergency management, fire starting, shelter building, signaling and much more. Peter will also skewer those survival myths that have been perpetuated of the years. Once you take his seminar you will want to come back for more. Thankfully there is no quiz at the end.
But best of all, if you have more questions or want to learn about a particular skill, follow Peter back to his booth. He will put the gear in your hands and you'll learn by practical experience.
At the seminars this year at RMEF, Peter reported that 37 people have now attributed the information he presents to having saved their or that of a family member's life. They have put into practice the practical skills that Peter has taught them. Now that is a hallmark I'd be proud to own.
During the course of teaching GPS classes for over 12 years and now wilderness survival I have become attached (so to speak) to a phrase, "It has to work for you."
There is nothing magic here. Nothing novel. Nothing original.
People enjoy talking about new technology, equipment or skills that they have learned. They are justifiably proud of their new knowledge.
A good friend got me very interested in using an alcohol stove while backpacking. It is economical, takes up little space and weighs but a few ounces. The problem is, that I can't get mine going reliably. I need more time with it to learn the basics; how simple can that be. But still, it is not working for me.
In SAR training two years ago, one team member told me how a computer mouse pad is great as a stove platform, in the snow while winter camping. So I try it out. I accidentally spill come Coleman white gas fuel on the pad. When I light the stove, of course the pad catches on fire; just great. The spot fire on the pad quickly burned out and just singed the top surface of the pad other wise it was just fine. This works for me.
There are a lot of books out there on backcountry travel and survival. Survival has become very popular. I suggest reading these with a critcal eye. If there is a particular technique or skill set that you want to adopt, test it at home first. Though the author may be on the speaking/sportsman show circuit, has his own cable show or is repeatedly on network news be critical. Remember, when you are in a jam, you are repsonsible for you.
Become cautious when reading old and dated material. For example, in the late 1960's I was given a copy of Colin Fletcher's book, "The Complete Walker." This book got me hooked on backpacking. That said, the book is based on lessons and experiences from almost fifty years ago. Doing some research and review of current methodology may be best.
Interestingly, I am hearing from my students more often, "I heard this was used by the Special Forces," or "I read in a magazine that this is what Special Forces do." Well, OK, but is that really true or better yet, is that important for your needs. It gets down to research and experience.
Let's consider land navigation. It is a practiced yet perishable skill. You need to be on your game. If you are the team navigator, you skill and techniques have to work for everyone.
So my point would be, as you prepare for a trip or hike, as you put new gear into your pack, test it in advance. Make sure it works for you.
I enjoy reading about backcountry travel. I am also interested in what is the right gear to carry.
I came across the Norwegian Mountain Code last year.
It's pretty simple.
In 1967, Norway tragically lost 18 outdoors men during the Easter weekend. Later the Norwegian Red Cross and Norwegian Mountain Touring coordinated the development of the code; a common sense approach to back country winter travel.
The code compliments the Ten Essentials and builds on it. Read about the code here.
