A Large Survival Kit

Izzy at the blog The Florida Steampunker offers an alternative about what should go in a survival kit.

Preparedness: Large Survival Kit.

For a couple months now I've been meaning to totally restructure and replace my large survival kit. Now it's not exactly very large. But as my kits and needs go, it's considered large. Thanks to Best Glide/Adventure Survival Equipment having a lot of great products, I was able to accomplish the task.

One of the main problems I had with my old kit was the container. I didn't like it very much. When I ordered it I wasn't aware of how poorly made it was. Or how it really was far more round and limiting than it appeared. Fortunately the "Adventurer Survival Kit Box" works quite well. Basically a stepped up and rounded version of the old BCB Mess Tin. It's not rated as being capable of cooking or boiling water. But it does boast being fire proof and water resistant. I'm fairly confident that it's extremely water resistant.

 

Do take a list of what material go into this kit here.

Gloves

Gloves are indispensable. 

  Do you wear gloves in the backcountry or on the trail?

I am finding that more often I am wearing gloves. 

At last year's Washington State Search and Rescue (SAR) conference one of the survival instructors commented that a serious cut to the hand can be very debilitating. 

 Nothing can ruin a hike quicker than a gash on the palm of one's hand. 

For spring, summer, and fall hikes I like doe skin gloves.  As the weather cools polyester liners are very helpful.  Goat skin gloves around camp are wonderful.

Ranger Bands

Click here to read my post on Ranger Bands at Seattle Back Packers Magazine.

The Contours of a Topographic Map

 Contours are the thin brown lines that snake across a topographic (topo) map.  Contour lines connect equal points of elevation such that every point on a specific line will be at that elevation above sea level. 

 

 

 

Contour lines are distinct and separate from lines for roads, coordinate systems (e.g., latitude and longitude) and trails.  Man made features like roads and buildings are black.  Contour lines are brown.  By adding elevation data to the map contour lines provide a three dimensional view of the terrain. 

To read the rest of the post go here.

GPS Reception Problems

The following is an older post by Rich Owings from his blog, GPStracklog.com.

What to do about GPS reception problems

January 17, 2012 By Rich Owings 12 Comments

Is your GPS not locking onto satellites? There’s usually a simple solution that works for both auto and handheld GPS units, but first, let’s look at why this is happening.


To read the rest of his post go here.

89 Year Old Trail Angel Retires

A Pacific Crest Trail Angel retires after many years of helping hikers on the trail.

The following article is from the Bendbulletin.

If a backpacker doesn't know what a Trail Angel is read this article.

From the Bendbulletin by Alandra Johnson:

Lloyd Gust fell in love with the Cascade Range the first time he saw it.

He was a teenager driving a beat-up truck full of tomatoes from Eugene to Bend in the 1930s. Gust got to McKenzie Pass and was so struck by the beauty of the mountains that he decided to explore and never made it all the way to Bend. “I really fell in love with The Sisters," said Gust.

That passion for nature — and the Three Sisters in particular — has never wavered in Gust, now 89. He and his late wife, Barbara, hiked the entire Pacific Crest Trail, from the Mexican border to the Canadian border.

It's more than 2,600 miles of beautiful — and sometimes brutal — trail that winds through the Mojave Desert, the high Sierras and the Cascade Range, including the Three Sisters.
“I hiked it almost all my life," said Gust, who settled in Bend.

When he could no longer backpack and hike, Gust started volunteering to help other hikers who were passing through the area along the PCT.

Gust helped about 300 hikers a year, driving some to get medical attention and helping others find a good local pub. He was what is known as a trail angel, one of the most well known on the PCT.

To read the rest of Alandra's article go here.

Map Reading - All About Benchmarks

Topographic Map Benchmarks.  Read my post at Seattlebackpackersmagazine.com.
 

 When looking at a US Geologic Survey (USGS) map the hiker will find benchmark symbols sprinkled across the topo; these and the many other symbols provide the details of a map. Such symbols represent features such as mines, bridges, dams and many more items. To see a complete look at symbols visit the USGS site for more information.
 

To read the rest of the post go here.