Overland Primer

  This is part two of a two part series. You can find part one here .  The National Park Service (NPS) has compiled a  list of ten essentials  which are items that should be carried with you on every adventure. In this post I will cover items 6-10. 6. Fire Campfires are an iconic aspect of camping that forms a link between us and our ancient ancestors. In addition to it's primal ambiance, it can serve life-saving aid through a variety of means. The heat generated from a fire can help stave off hypothermia. The light cast from its flame can provide illumination rather than relying entirely upon your headlamp or flashlight. The smoke generated can create a signal in the sky for rescuers to be able to find you. It's fiery coals can be used to cook your food if need be. In order to start a fire, you need a flame source such as matches and/or a lighter. If matches, make sure to have a waterproof container to carry them in and waterproof matches are ideal. Pocket lighters...

While it may seem typical for an overland blog to focus on outfitting your rig as a first step, instead you should focus on outfitting yourself. Whenever you are heading into the backcountry, you should be prepared for emergencies and a variety of weather conditions.  The National Park Service (NPS) has compiled a list of ten essentials  which are items that should be carried with you on every adventure. This list is just as relevant for overland adventures as you may leave the vehicle for hikes, or in extreme examples you may need to abandon the vehicle entirely. Additionally, if you are a passenger in somebody else's vehicle, you can rest assured that you have yourself covered rather than having to rely on their preparation.  For this reasons stated above, I like to carry my ten essentials in a daypack  that I always throw into my rig during overland trips. I prefer a daypack because I can easily carry it with me on hikes and if I had to abandon my vehicle, I would...