The Ten Essentials - Part 2

 

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 are a good alternative that light easy and are compact. With matches or lighters, it is critical to keep a form of kindling like shavings to help get the fire started. This is necessary because you may be in a wet environment where the flame alone may not be enough.

Another option that I personally prefer is using a ferro rod and striker to create a spark to light a fire. The rod will last forever and it's a fun way to get a fire going. You'll want a special starter to catch the spark however. A cheap DIY solution is to use Vaseline and cotton balls. There are also pre-made options that have fire plugs which can sustain a burn for over five minutes, providing you plenty of time to feed the beginnings of your fire.

Whichever option you choose, if you use your fire starting supplies for you regular campfires, make sure you always have extra inventory for emergencies. Generally I never touch the fire starters in my daypack and leave those as emergency only items. Also, be aware of the conditions before you create a fire. If it is an especially dry time of year and you are in a forest, its best to avoid creating a fire that could result in a wildfire.

7. Repair Kit and Tools

From an emergency standpoint, your gear in this list could be critical for keeping yourself alive. As such, you should be prepared for failures by having mitigation plans in place. Carrying tools to repair your clothing, pack, shelter, and other gear will help ensure you can withstand unfortunate setbacks. 

If you have ever watched an episode of McGuyver, a television show from the 1980's, there's a good chance you witnessed the eponymous character use a swiss army knife and duct tape to get himself out of a sticky situation (pun absolutely intended). Truth be told, I'm more MacGruber than McGuyver when it comes to my survival skills. However, with a knife and duct tape alone, you can quickly repair any tear and it should last you until you are back to civilization. If you're handy with a needle, a small sewing kit is the perfect addition to make more sophisticated repairs than simple duct tape.

You may opt for a multi-tool instead of or in addition to a simple knife. They are typically bulkier and less comfortable to use, but the versatility is unmatched. A multi-tool is a great option for overlanding as a backup to your regular hand tools as well. I personally pack just a multi-tool in my daypack, but I keep a regular pocket knife on my person at camp. 

8. Nutrition

This is another category that is specific to your diet and tastes. The NPS recommends that you carry an extra day's worth of food with you. Because these are emergency rations that you will want to keep in your kit for potentially multiple months, you'll want something that does not require refrigeration, has a long shelf life, and is dense with nutrients in order to save space.  Nuts or trailmix are a great option that you can mix to your preferences. I tend to find these options too tempting and generally end up eating them on my trips. 

For my emergency food, I carry energy bars. I prefer to keep a variety of flavors to both help my caloric needs and help with mental stress. I once did a somewhat unplanned 10 hour hike and only had a few granola bars stashed in my daypack. By the end of the hike, I was salivating over eating a regular sandwich when I returned to camp. Small things like food variety can really help when in a stressful situation.

9. Hydration

Water is important to prevent dehydration. This condition can sap your energy, causing you to become fatigued.  On a more critical level, it helps maintain your internal temperature and keeps your cells alive. Most people can only survive to around 3 days without water. You'll have to balance hydration requirements against what can be reasonably carried.

If you're carrying a daypack, a water bladder is an obvious choice. For amount, it is recommended that you have 1 liter of water for every 2 hours of activity like hiking. The US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommend 3.7 liters of water per day for men and 2.7 liters of water for women. I recommend carrying a water bladder that is 3-4 liters in volume and a portable water purifier so that you can refill the bladder if need be. 

10. Emergency Shelter

Shelter provides you escape from the elements and the opportunity to rest. It may not be the most comfortable sleep you experience, but anything you can do to fight off fatigue could potentially save your life. Our vehicles provide us shelter, sure, but in the scenario where are separated from the vehicle, you need to be prepared. 

You want something portable that you can always keep in your kit and only deploy in the case of an emergency. The options suggested by the NPS are tent, tarp, bivy sack, or emergency space blanket. A tent is a good choice for a backpacker, but it's too large to carry regularly in a daypack. A tarp does a good job protecting from the elements above, but does not protect from the ground if it is wet. An emergency space blanket is a good idea for insulation and should already be included in your kit (see #5). That leaves the bivy sack. This makes the most sense because they are designed to cover your entire body, waterproof, provide warmth, and pack down to a small size. 

That completes the ten essentials as recommended by the National Park Service! Do you have any essentials that you carry with you that the NPS missed? Let me know in the comments below!