Be prepared - Survival Overnight on the Mountain

[plumnuts]

Carry extra and wear wool socks now.. learned that the hard way of getting your feet wet and the crappy blend socks would not keep you warm when wet.

We carry several of the cheap space blankets, but also the better grade ones (like 9 bucks) as well as a disposable sleeping bags ($19)... and SPOT. Our feeling is we will wrap up and save our energy for the rescue... looking for firewood in deep snow burns up too much of your energy.

We have fire starting capabilities but look at it as a second place option... the plan is to build a shelter (snow cave or tree well), wrap up, hit the help button on SPOT (knowing any rescue will probably be by buddies) and wait.

I have also thought of having a blow up doll to keep me company but decided against it as it would take a lot of energy to blow her up, and the "skin to skin" thing might cause my parts to freeze to her... and then people would think I am and people would

 

[stihlhead82]

Not really the easiest saw to pack because it doesn't fold, but silky makes a pruning saw that comes with a plastic sheath for about $80. Expensive I know, but you won't bend or break this blade and it'll cut through 6" limbs in no timeat all. I own a tree service and this is what all climbers carry. Doesn't really answer any of your questions, but since you mentioned having the best gear

 

[MT boondocker]

Here's another option for a saw to carry with you.
http://www.svensaw.com/

 

[James T Kirk]

Not really the easiest saw to pack because it doesn't fold, but silky makes a pruning saw that comes with a plastic sheath for about $80. Expensive I know, but you won't bend or break this blade and it'll cut through 6" limbs in no timeat all. I own a tree service and this is what all climbers carry. Doesn't really answer any of your questions, but since you mentioned having the best gear

Silky Gomboy (300mm) or Bigboy (340mm) folding saws are amazing. Probably the same blade as the saw mentioned above. I have had a gomboy for 3 years and use it constantly clearing dirtbike trails in summer and its always in my pack in winter. Still cuts like new. these are pull saws and are razor sharp so you really dont need to use much force to cut. Since the main force is applied when pulling the blade never really gets stressed. never broken a blade and I have cut literally hundreds of trees with mine, mostly in the 6" and under range but occasionally up to 12" when there is only one big tree down on a trail and I dont want to haul the chainsaw a long way to cut just one.

These things make pretty much any other portable saw look pretty silly. If I needed firewood in a hurry I wouldnt want much else. You can also reach a lot higher to cut dead branches then with one of those hand chainsaw setups.

 

[stihlhead82]

Silky Gomboy (300mm) or Bigboy (340mm) folding saws are amazing. Probably the same blade as the saw mentioned above. I have had a gomboy for 3 years and use it constantly clearing dirtbike trails in summer and its always in my pack in winter. Still cuts like new. these are pull saws and are razor sharp so you really dont need to use much force to cut. Since the main force is applied when pulling the blade never really gets stressed. never broken a blade and I have cut literally hundreds of trees with mine, mostly in the 6" and under range but occasionally up to 12" when there is only one big tree down on a trail and I dont want to haul the chainsaw a long way to cut just one.

These things make pretty much any other portable saw look pretty silly. If I needed firewood in a hurry I wouldnt want much else. You can also reach a lot higher to cut dead branches then with one of those hand chainsaw setups.

X2 on this, I didn't know they made a folding saw! Might have to pick one up. I've cut thousands of limbs with mine and still just as sharp as ever. They're worth the money

 

[Bigrock33]

Silky Gomboy (300mm) or Bigboy (340mm) folding saws are amazing. Probably the same blade as the saw mentioned above. I have had a gomboy for 3 years and use it constantly clearing dirtbike trails in summer and its always in my pack in winter. Still cuts like new. these are pull saws and are razor sharp so you really dont need to use much force to cut. Since the main force is applied when pulling the blade never really gets stressed. never broken a blade and I have cut literally hundreds of trees with mine, mostly in the 6" and under range but occasionally up to 12" when there is only one big tree down on a trail and I dont want to haul the chainsaw a long way to cut just one.

These things make pretty much any other portable saw look pretty silly. If I needed firewood in a hurry I wouldnt want much else. You can also reach a lot higher to cut dead branches then with one of those hand chainsaw setups.

Medium teeth or large teeth?

 

[stihlhead82]

My sagoi (sp) is XL teeth

 

[Bigrock33]

Silky Gomboy (300mm) or Bigboy (340mm) folding saws are amazing. Probably the same blade as the saw mentioned above. I have had a gomboy for 3 years and use it constantly clearing dirtbike trails in summer and its always in my pack in winter. Still cuts like new. these are pull saws and are razor sharp so you really dont need to use much force to cut. Since the main force is applied when pulling the blade never really gets stressed. never broken a blade and I have cut literally hundreds of trees with mine, mostly in the 6" and under range but occasionally up to 12" when there is only one big tree down on a trail and I dont want to haul the chainsaw a long way to cut just one.

These things make pretty much any other portable saw look pretty silly. If I needed firewood in a hurry I wouldnt want much else. You can also reach a lot higher to cut dead branches then with one of those hand chainsaw setups.

Which blade - large teeth or medium teeth?

 

[NUSS]

Which blade - large teeth or medium teeth?

Get the Large tooth version. It will cut quicker and is perfect for pine trees. The smaller tooth ones cut smoother which you shouldn't care about when trying to cut firewood or get your sled unstuck.

from their website:
Large/Coarse (pruning, green wood), 8.5 tpi - Medium (soft wood) and 12 tpi - Fine (hard wood).

I have the Silky Gomboy 270 with large teeth. It is an awesome tool. If I were to purchase one again I'd probably go with the 240cm or even 210cm version for slightly more control and less of a chance to bend the blade and break it. I did break one blade on this but it was 100% my fault. Was trying to cut the branch too fast with too much pressure. If you use it as it is supposed to be used you will never run into this problem.

 

[James T Kirk]

Ive found the medium teeth on my saw seem to cut faster then the large on my friends when we are each cutting on the same log to remove a section across a trail. We race sometimes... these things seem to clear themselves quite well. Probably depends a bit on what kind of trees you are cutting as well.

 

[Mike McNasty]

Great info here!!! We actually carry road flares. Those things will start a Fire!!!

 

[mikesnick]

THESE SAWS ARE THE BEST! Everyone in our group carries one. We have used them to cut our way out dozens of times. On extra gear I carry 600 heavy "Wool Power" top, bottoms, mittens + gortex shell, socks and hat all wrapped small and tight in packing plastic wrap plus the standard extra items. Also a very thin nylon back pack sack to carry my gear if I have to walk out (weights ounces). Total package is less than 5 lbs. I'm in S&R and have brought out too many very cold people. A SPOT is about the best signal device as satalite phones don't always get reception.

 

[frntflp]

Awesome thread ! And great info.

I'm learning, so please be patient as I get better educated.

What makes the Gomboy saws "better" than the 8" folding saws made by Gerber or Buck ? I have one of each, and both seam to work well. And one of them is always in my pack. But if there is a more reliable (less likely to break, assuming used correctly) - "I'm all ears".

Also, I bought one of the small Gerber hatchets this fall for hunting, like shown at the top of this tread. Never occurred to me to bring on my sled. Makes perfect sense - it's on the list now !

Finally - a SPOT, great device. I have one and recommend to all.

 

[IdahoCrystal]

http://www.biolitestove.com/campstove/camp-overview/features/

This right here! I LOVE this thing! Took it camping and ended up using it for morning coffee because it was faster than the stove or campfire.
About the size of a 1L nalgene water bottle - weighs just under 2 lbs - uses sticks and twigs and will boil water in under 5 min. PLUS it'll charge your phone enough to make emergency calls!

 

[Butta]

http://www.biolitestove.com/campstove/camp-overview/features/

This right here! I LOVE this thing! Took it camping and ended up using it for morning coffee because it was faster than the stove or campfire.
About the size of a 1L nalgene water bottle - weighs just under 2 lbs - uses sticks and twigs and will boil water in under 5 min. PLUS it'll charge your phone enough to make emergency calls!

That's pretty cool!!

 

[nuggetau]

http://www.biolitestove.com/campstove/camp-overview/features/

This right here! I LOVE this thing! Took it camping and ended up using it for morning coffee because it was faster than the stove or campfire.
About the size of a 1L nalgene water bottle - weighs just under 2 lbs - uses sticks and twigs and will boil water in under 5 min. PLUS it'll charge your phone enough to make emergency calls!

That is an interesting product. Some thoughts come to mind.

It keeps the fire out of the snow(which stated above is a big issue).

Needs only a small amount of wood (wood gathering takes energy/water).

The downside is the small amount of heat, when it is very cold and the wind is blowing I don't think you could get close enough to it to keep you from freezing to death in exposed conditions, nor could you take it into the snow cave due to the fumes. Even so you could build a snow cave and use this product to warm hands and feet and make water (outside).

Even though it is small, it still takes up a lot of pack space.

Does it provide enough heat on the sides to dry socks and gloves?

 

[Coldfinger]

That stove looks great. Has anyone used it? You could be having warm drinks all night if needed.

 

[esm]

One of the earlier posts asked about how to prevent the fire from making a deep hole. We always pack a few big sheets of tinfoil. If you pack an area for the fire and line the bottom with the tinfoil then the fire will not make a hole. Works great, costs nothing and weighs nothing.

 

[snowmed221]

Question:

This might be a stupid question, but I'm gonna ask anyway.
Is it necessary to build a fire if you have a way to make shelter and get some insulation between your body and the snow? I'm thinking, worst case, a shelter half or tarp and sleeping pad or hammock. Maybe dig a trench to block the wind, tarp to block falling snow...
My thinking here is to have a decent sleeping bag, good gear, (Klim or whatever) ect. instead of going to the effort of building a fire?

Thoughts?

 

[NUSS]

Awesome thread ! And great info.


What makes the Gomboy saws "better" than the 8" folding saws made by Gerber or Buck ? I have one of each, and both seam to work well. And one of them is always in my pack. But if there is a more reliable (less likely to break, assuming used correctly) - "I'm all ears".

.

Comparing the Gomboy to a Gerber saw is like comparing Craftsman to Snapon wrenches. The Silky saws are made with better steel and are overall a higher quality product.

Other things that I keep on me in case I get stuck out there are: Extra socks, base layer, hat, gloves, water/windproof matches, lighter, food, and a bivvy sack.