What To Pack To Spend The Night

[Chaos]

I did a quick scan to see if I could find discussions addressing what some think might be the perfect collection of equipment to be comfortable for a night on the mountain if situations (mechanical/weather) forced you to spend the night, but did not find that discussion.

Most realize the value of the avy beacon, the shovel and probe in the mountains, but what else might you bring in order to be confident during a night out. Fire starters, extra socks, a headlamp, basic first aid kit, something to sustain your energy, some parachute cord, etc. Not all overnight situations have to be "survival" when we plan accordingly, but simply an inconvenience; or a chance to get away from things for an evening

What do you bring along on a routine basis?

Safe riding.

 

[Snowjunky]

http://www.snowest.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-123284.html
I WILL BRING IT TO THE TOP FOR YA

 

[Snowjunky]

its in mountain deep powder from the old forumn

 

[Chaos]

Thank you for the post. I looked through it and it does provide a good listing.

Safe riding.

Chaos

 

[theultrarider]

Check out the "what's in your pack" sticky thread in the Alaska section. Alot of good info in there. It is amazing just how much some of us pack on a day ride here.

 

[Rowboat]

I pack flags, couple of emergency blankets, an MRE, cell phone of course, couple packs of hand warmers, zippo, small mirror, compass, and a map of the area I'm in (Haven't gotten myself a gps, and even in the military we pack maps/compasses ontop of our GPS, electronics aren't a replacement for good old fashioned ways..) and I never ride alone.

I'm about 100% confident in my ability to survive a night... and confidence is huge factor in your survival... but you also have to take in consideration, what if your out longer than one night???

Glad you brought this up, because I would also like to know what everyone else packs just in case I'm forgetting some useful items.... thanks to those that posted links.

 

[Chaos]

Rowboat,

Thanks for your thoughts. How many do you think can really use a compass anymore? It does not have any batteries... It would be interesting to take a poll inquiry about it. Not sure why but my zippo is a piece of garbage in low temperatures; I would recommend a flare, or a pack of "storm proof" matches, or make yourself some cotton balls saturated with vaseline that you make by melting it on the stove. Store them in a sandwich bag and they last forever.

"What is in your pack" in the Alaska section is also good reference for what others feel is essential, thanks Theul...

Chaos

 

[Chaos]

Here is a neat little homemade stove. I'll have to make one and report on it later. The second link looks like a great solution to preheating. The only thing I wonder about is that the stove used "Heet". I wonder if white gas or alcohol is a viable substitute. I will be interested to see how long the stove operates on each.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/839102/cool_little_miniature_stove/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/843133/miniature_stove_pre_heater/

Chaos

 

[giddyup]

stove

great little stove, i will have to make one to see how well they work,

thanks
giddyup

 

[Chaos]

Giddy,

Let me know how it turns out and what fuel you used.

Chaos

 

[giddyup]

works

i made a couple of them last night , wow they work great , very easy to make, cutting the can is not as easy as the video but if you take your time it works good, 1in works good. i found that it is easy to sand the can if its full of pop, dont make to many burner holes, there is lots of flame and heat, easy to make a few, they weigh nothing empty, just pour a half ounce fuel. i just used some gas line anitfreeze i had open at home already. try it its suprising the heat from this thing. will play around with it tonight, great for emergency

giddyup

 

[PalousePoo]

I found an inexpensive Bivy sack at Cabellos for $14.00. In addition to all my basic stuff.

 

[Chaos]

Poo,

I went to their site but only saw one bivy sack for roughly $90. Can you provide a description or a link? Thanks...

Chaos

 

[Chaos]

Giddy,

Good on you, maybe we have stumbled onto something for everyone based on others efforts. Sounds great and your recommendation to sand before opening the can is spot on; why didn't I think of that! Still interested in other fuels and how they might perform. My standard packup includes an old Primus copper stove that I bought when I was a teenager; 35 years ago... Sweet piece of gear.

I might try to make one tonight. Without fiberglass I am at a loss though. Maybe I will go into the attic and rip some out!

Chaos

 

[The Fourth Wolf]

Gear is good, and good gear is great, but the best survival tool you can get weighs nothing and only costs time.

Knowledge.

Pack your head with as much as you can, but make two things your top priorities: Fire and shelter

Learn and practice firecraft...
Dipping a tampon in the gas tank works great but what if you become separated from your sled and all you've got is what's on your back and in your pockets?

Finding and gathering dry wood, prepping the site, arranging the tinder, kindling and fuel wood and getting it roaring hot in as little time as possible, takes a bit of study and hands-on practice.

What if you're hurt? Can you make a fire with only your non-dominant hand? Next time you're riding with friends and building a fire for, say, a midday lunch, try it one-handed to see how you do. Or, you could take your gloves off and let your hands get really, really cold and then try and build a fire. (of course don't do this alone) Practice building a fire for speed. From the moment you say GO! if it takes you longer than 5 minutes to go get the wood and have it burning to a knee high flame then you're running the risk of losing a friend to hypothermia if they ever get wet far from help.

Learn and practice sheltercraft...
If your plan is limited to "Dude, I'll just build a snowcave" and you never actually built a snowcave you're probably going to die if you NEED a snowcave. Also, even if you're a snowcave making machine, if snowcaves are the only shelters you know and you're stuck in a place where the snow isn't conducive to snowcaves....what are you going to build?

A thermal shelter? A hunter's trench? A quinzee?

Building fires and shelter under duress. Master just these two skills and your chances of survival increase exponentially.

 

[giddyup]

stove

it works great, i think we should try a few different sizes. i think if you put to much fuel in it could expand and spill. i will try and messure a few different fuels and see what burns the longest and cleanest.

giddyup

 

[EagleRiverDee]

Here is a neat little homemade stove. I'll have to make one and report on it later. The second link looks like a great solution to preheating. The only thing I wonder about is that the stove used "Heet". I wonder if white gas or alcohol is a viable substitute. I will be interested to see how long the stove operates on each.

I bought one online off ebay for cheap. The guy is already set up with the dies to build these fast, and it was worth it to me even though based on your video they don't look hard to make.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BACKPACKING-ALC...ltDomain_0?hash=item45eff03aba#ht_1163wt_1166

It does work fine. Haven't had to use it in a survival situation but I did light it up at home and it works as advertised. I put HEET (yellow bottle) in it for fuel as it is one of the recommended fuels and it lit fast and the jets got going quickly. The downside is that it's got a limited capacity so you're going to get a single boil out of it and then will have to let the stove die to refuel. Still, it's super light and easily fits in the pack and that's why it will get carried instead of left behind.<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

[giddyup]

must have's

i have played around with the stove , i see you can make the stove with the burners on the side, no need for a stand, great . i will try to make that next. question, looking to buy a new lighter, right now i use a welder lighter/torch. work great, i can lock it on and use it to solder electrial concetions . was just wondering if anyone has found a lighter that they would recomend. i like this one but i alway carry two, one in my jacket and one in the pack. anyone have the best lighter out there. advice

giddyup

 

[TIM]

spindrifter hit the nail on the head.

When getting a bivy sack. Don't get the space blanket type. They don't unroll very well. I have had my gortex bivy for about 15 years. still use it quite abit. I am not a big tent fan. but a bivy and a tarp and you can with stand quite abit.

tim

 

[modsledr]

spindrifter hit the nail on the head.

When getting a bivy sack. Don't get the space blanket type. They don't unroll very well. I have had my gortex bivy for about 15 years. still use it quite abit. I am not a big tent fan. but a bivy and a tarp and you can with stand quite abit.
tim

I agree...spindrifter is right on the money...

I have also used a pop can with the top cut off and filled with gas...burns like a candle.

Try building a fire with no dry tender...not impossible, but very difficult.

Like Tim, my pack includes both a bivy sack and a survival tarp. having shelter and getting off the snow are my priorities, building a fire will depend on how practical it is (I dont want to die of exposure while trying to build a fire).