Winter survival Kit! Suggestions

Skidoox600 · Nov 24, 2012

Hey all,

Got to thinking before this winter starts, and we all go out into the deep back country for some deep pow and goin big how about a good winter survival pack.

We all know how easy it is to get into a situation that you cant get out easily or lost or any situation that may lead to you out in the woods over night.

Anyone have a good survival kit they have bought that they keep with them? Or a good one they have made? Thinking like fire sources, food, warming blankets, first aid, etc...

Please share your info on this as we could all use peoples ideas to build or buy a good kit. Never know your idea might save a fellow sledders life.

THANKS!

m002928 · Nov 29, 2012

I’ve worked with mountain rescue for a number of years and we respond to sledding 911 and mountain rescue calls anywhere between Mt Rainier to the Canadian border and out to Chelan County.

I am not going to describe all of the items in my medical and survival kits. Instead I’m sharing what I believe are some very effective (relative to their cost, size, and weight) items and the reasons why they may be a valuable choice for your survival kits.

1. Trip Plan. Approximately half of all mountain rescues are initiated by a 911 call from a lost or injured party. I recommend always having a contingency plan in place when cell coverage disappears or your phone is dead or unusable. The remaining mountain rescue calls are typically initiated by a family member or coworker calling 911 and reporting someone as overdue. A Trip Plan is a document you fill out before you go sledding and leave it with the person who will call 911 when you’re overdue. That Trip Plan contains all of the critical data that a mountain rescue team will want in order to find you quickly so that we can efficiently render assistance. This Trip Plan document has saved lives and I fill one out before every trip. You can download a Trip Plan template at:

www.everettmountainrescue.org -> Mountain Safety Resources -> Trip Plan

You can fill the Trip Plan out electronically and use a program like CutePDF (free software) to “print” it into a PDF file that can easily be emailed. The Trip Plan admittedly becomes less critical when you’re traveling with large groups in the backcountry and more critical when you’re traveling with only one or two others. The cost of this “item” in your kit is free, other than the few minutes of your time it takes to fill out, and will probably statistically provide the most “bang-for-your-buck” in terms of things you can do to ensure your return home.

2. SOL Escape Bivy. There are lots of bivy options and most of the cheap foil blankets simply shred when you need to use them. I like the SOL Escape because it’s durable. They can be purchased on Amazon for ~$36.

3. Headlamp/Light Source. From my viewpoint, this is less critical for your own desires to set up camp and/or attempt to navigate to the trailhead and more critical so that others can see you! First off, STAY WHERE YOU ARE if you’re in a 911-type situation in the backcountry and you’ve been able to reach 911 or you left a Trip Plan with someone responsible. Focus on survival in your current location and do not attempt to navigate your way home. If rescue teams are coming in on foot or sled, a light source (headlamp, fire, headlight, etc) will make you significantly easier to find. If rescue teams are coming in by helicopter, it’s dark (it almost always is by the time a rescue team will reach you), and there’s decent visibility, then there’s a high probability that aircrew members are using nightvision and your light source will stand out like a beacon amongst the dark backcountry surroundings making you easy to locate. If you hear a helicopter searching for you at night, even a spark from a small handheld lighter will stand out like a strobe light if the aircrew is wearing nightvision.

4. Map/compass. I know we all carry fancy GPS units and iPhone apps, but I always have a backup plan that allows me to get home safely if (when?) technology fails me in the backcountry. I recommend carrying a compass and map of your riding area and knowing how to use it to navigate your way home in less-than-ideal visibility. I have an altimeter on my watch that will aid my navigation so long as my watch doesn’t fail me too. I prefer the National Geographic TOPO mapping software but there are many similar mapping programs available. I cover any maps I’m carrying in the backcountry with clear laminating sheets that can be found for a few bucks at any office supply store. You’ll understand the value if you’ve ever had a paper map disintegrate in your hands while using it in wet or snowy conditions.

5. Folding Saw. There’s a lot I can do with a saw, but in a survival situation it will help with shelter, insulation from the ground, fire building, etc.

6. Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). I carry a PLB because I feel it’s a more reliable item and fits my needs better than the SPOT devices. I am NOT saying that SPOT devices are not valuable. Both PLBs and SPOTs are saving lives. If providing “I’m okay” and text messages to your loved ones is a priority, the SPOT is a better device for you. Each device has its merits and limitations and the differences between them are beyond the scope of this thread. I suggest that it would be an intelligent choice for anyone traveling in the backcountry to carry a PLB or SPOT. DeLorme makes a similar product called InReach that allows two way texting and SPOT has a Connect device that allows real-time-editable one way texting. These technologies will continue to evolve.

7. QuikClot. I carry my own custom medical kit, which is cheaper and easier to create than you probably imagine, because I have yet to find a quality (my subjective definition) kit available on the market. I carry a medical kit anytime I’m in the backcountry but QuikClot is an item I specifically carry only when I’m sledding or dirtbiking. Quick Clot is an advanced clotting sponge that will help control and stop bleeding. I carry it when I sled or dirtbike because of the increased likelihood for major injuries while traveling at speed. I specifically carry the QuikClot Silver over the regular QuikClot because it has additional agents to prevent the growth of bacteria which is more important when you’re in the backcountry and definitive medical care (hospital, etc) may be hours to days away. The QuikClot Silver is more expensive, at approximately $25 for a 25gram sponge, than the regular QuikClot. In my opinion, a few extra bucks are insignificant compared to the potential life-saving value it may provide if and when I ever need it. As with all medical items, do not carry items if you don’t have the training to use them or are not comfortable using them. It would be ideal if everyone traveling in the backcountry had some minimal up-to-date medical training. I recommend that at least one or two people in your group are comfortable providing backcountry medical care if it becomes necessary. Great sources for this training are companies like Remote Medical International here in Seattle who provides, amongst other more advanced classes, a two day Wilderness First Aid class for ~$200. There are many other companies that provide similar classes.

8. Lighters. I carry two small lighters. I want redundancy because my ability to start a fire in the backcountry may be critical in an emergency situation. A lighter is also valuable for reasons mentioned earlier about light sources.

9. Firestarter. There are lots of firestarters on the market. I dip cotton balls in Vaseline and then seal them in small packages with a FoodSaver kitchen sealer. This is a very cheap and effective way to start fires in almost any condition. In a pinch, your sled fuel is also useful for creating heat generating solutions.

10. Avalanche Airbag. I own the ABS Vario with an SB5 and Ultra Light 40 pack. It’s not pictured here because I’m having a few of the straps modified this week, but any brand of airbag is an intelligent choice for any person traveling in avalanche terrain. I will not discuss airbags further here because it’s beyond the scope of this thread and you can view my comments on the airbag thread if you’re interested.

DELAY. Every situation is different but the following are a few items to keep in mind if you’re in an emergency situation in the backcountry. There may be a significant amount of time (hours to days) between 911 being notified that an emergency exists and rescue crews being able to reach your location by air or ground. If weather is clear and supports flight, it’s possible that a county helicopter, or potentially a military helicopter from Whidbey if you’re near Baker, may be searching for you within a few hours following a 911 call. Many rescue organizations aim to avoid flight operations in darkness, even with clear weather, unless it’s a life-saving situation. If weather does not support flight operations, then you can expect that personnel will be coming in on foot and that will probably take significantly longer. Depending on weather and avalanche conditions, ground teams may be delayed to limit risk to the rescue team. It’s possible in the winter months that an afternoon 911 call may result in ground teams not being deployed until dawn the following morning.

Again, there are many factors that make each situation unique. I’ve shared my thoughts above to provide some understanding and initiate some critical thinking. Some of the thoughts I’ve shared will not be applicable in every situation. The most important tool you can carry in the backcountry is your own brain and you’ll have to use it to decide what makes the most sense given the exact situation you happen to find yourself in. The bottom line here is that it’s very possible that you’ll have to care for yourself and any injured parties in the backcountry until help arrives. Are you prepared to do that? Traveling with larger groups can help mitigate some of these risks but large groups come with their disadvantages too. I applaud you if you’ve read this far and are thinking about how you can better prepare yourself for any number of unexpected backcountry issues . . . you’re thinking critically in a way that may someday result in saving your own life or the life of a buddy or loved one!
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joel97mustang · Nov 29, 2012

Survival Gear

They are going to be a tonne of great ideas I am sure from this thread. Here are three things that I always bring no matter what. These items come from an experience I had with crashing my sled down a steep gulley, deep snow and lot's of trees. I couldn't self-extricate and had to walk out 8 miles in knee deep snow.

Water 2 Liter hydration pack, this is my emergency supply in addition to water/drink that I ride with
Aztek Compound Pulley System. I could have easily got my sled out with this
A change of dry clothes, socks, shirt, pants, balaclava, mittens

The sled was wedge in between two trees on a steep ledge, the pulley would have made it so easy to winch myself out of trouble. I have used it many times since for so many situations I cannot count.

Believe it or not when my sled crashed my water bottle broke inside the seat and spilled all my water everywhere. I would have sacrificed everything for a drink of water on that hike out.

Lastly the dry clothes after my long walk out I was super hot and thirsty but walking on the highway back to my cabin in the dark it got VERY cold. A change of dry clothes means everything, especially after a day of hard riding if something goes wrong.

Here is a a link for the pulley I use. It all fits in my seat

http://www.rockexotica.com/products/pulleys/aztek_pulleys.html

WARY · Nov 30, 2012

A serious knife and some shades.....

PalousePoo · Nov 30, 2012

I have all the common survival stuff, but mostly I put my trust in my SPOT messenger and my riding buddies, dont go alone and you wont have to walk 8 miles.

greeneman · Dec 1, 2012

One thing I have always had in my kit is a bunch of cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly. I stuff an old 35mm film canister full of them. They work great for starting fires quick.

SecureUrFamily · Oct 30, 2013

Thanks for providing such a thorough list. Very helpful

WMac · Nov 10, 2013

As a member of Pacific Northwest Search & Rescue, M002928 provided a great post. I would add to that a good full tang knife, a 8x8 blue tarp to build a simple shelter, 100ft of parachord, and dont forget some electrolytes like shot bloks. I aslo carry three freezedried dinner packs, starbucks via freeze dried coffee as well as a jetboil. And a pair of msr ascent snowshoes without the tails. There short, lite and easily fit in my tunnel bag.

Winter survival Kit! Suggestions

Skidoox600

Well-known member

m002928

Free Member

joel97mustang

Free Member

WARY

Well-known member

PalousePoo

Well-known member

greeneman

Well-known member

SecureUrFamily

Free Member

WMac

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