The ten essentials survey

[zippetydude]

Okay, so I was curious about the 10 essentials. Here's what Wiki listed:

1. Map
2. Compass (optionally supplemented with a GPS receiver)
3. Sunglasses and sunscreen
4. Extra food and water
5. Extra clothes
6. Headlamp (outdoor)/flashlight
7. First aid kit
8. Fire starter
9. Matches
10. Knife

I just love number 8. Is that some kind of sherpa? You hand him the matches (# 9) and say, "Firestarter, start my fire!" That may be important, but is it really essential?

Anyway, I know there are some very good outdoorspeople who assiduously carry each item every time. I respect them. Then, there are lazy slugs like me who carry 1/2 of item 4 (the water) and that's it. I'm curious, though, about how many of these things most people carry - 1? 5? 8? all 10?

So, how many do you carry? And can anyone recommend a really good firestarter who works cheap?

z

[Nick-SJM]

I don't think that I have ever gone through the list in order to decide what to carry, but I have to admit that I have all of these things in my pack. Look me up if you are in need out on the trail.

A fire starter can be VERY important. A fire starter is generally some burnable item that has been chemically treated to help provide a good strong hot flame for a short period of time. It can be very hard to start a fire if all you have is green, large or wet wood. We used a firestarter last weekend to get the fire going for the two stranded hikers on Skyline. A fire starter will give you a good opportunity to get a fire up to a nice warm blaze. Many of these are small and light. Check them out the next time you are at REI or some similar outdoor store.

[Vladislav]

Nick, I saw this small fire pit in the snow next to the trail on skyline. I was wondering about it.
About essentials, I carry most but not all. I have never carried a firestarter. Seeing that nice little fire pit on Skyline, I might consider taking it along as well. For me it would have been very hard to start a fire there (it would have required burning a map ).
I don't carry a map and a compass if I know the place very well. For the new place I always carry those. I don't have a full first aid kit but I admit it's a good idea to have it. About extra clothes, water, food, etc., it greatly depends on how long I plan to be out. If it is only a few hours, I do not carry extra items. If I have a long day in front of me, like yesterday on SJ,
I carry quite a bit f extra staff.
Vlad.

[lilbitmo]

Zip, in case you cannot find any takers here's another choice

From November's Nat Geo Adventure Magazine page # 26 and Page # 29.

Last part of Aritcle


Article here http://ngadventure.typepad.com/blog/deep_survival/ Second article down.

Just being of service here, so I don't have to be your "Fire Starter" out there

[Blooty]

I carry all but the firestarter (?) and sometimes even more. I think I worry more about those in need, who I may encounter along the way, than I worry for myself....

[bluerail]

I usually have:

2 lighters and magnesium

headlamp and extra batteries

in the winter, all the layers i own ( usually theres extra, imagine some of them would burn good if i needed to start a really big fire )

just enough food to get by ( extra gels incase i run out of food and begin to starve)

TP (thats not an essential ? ) ( usually for other people )

big trash bag is always there

knife

some parachute cord

duct tape

and.....enough vicodin incase i'm really screwed

[zippetydude]

Fire Pistons! Okay, I'm in! I wonder if they make a Mega Fire Piston? I'll be checking on ebay tonight.

Also, I'm with bluerail, TP is definitely an essential.

Thanks Nick for the intelligent explanation, I was lost on that one, although I think it might have been more fun the other way.

Vladislav, you must have been thinking that was an odd place for a campfire.

I do think I'll add a lighter to my pack. Not heavy, and could really make a huge difference in a bad situation. I think a PLB or SPOT might be a good thing to add to the list nowadays. I do carry one of those anytime I'm in a more risky situation or an unfamiliar area.

Vicodin? In case you get a tooth ache? You think you're going to throw out your back hiking?

z

[Good News]

Some good firestarters are Q tips dipped in vasoline and also a duralog..just cut off pieces as needed..
10 essentials..just depends on the length of the hike, the terrain and weather forecast..usually if I am just around here hiking in the mountains I will just have some water and my GPSr.

[bluerail]

zip, you know those times when your running and jumping down the trail like a scared goat on caffiene ?( picture maybe coming down from SJ peak ), and you have one of those bad scares and you actually can picture snapping your leg ? Or the idea that a rattler nails you and you have no cell reception....

those kinda things are why i carry the vicodin.

[phydeux]

I'd change the list to categories:
1. Map & Compass
2. Sun protection
3. Extra Food & water
4. Extra clothes
5. Lighting
6. Repair kit (first aid and equipment repair)
7. Fire Kit
8. Knife



2. Sun protection would include glasses, suncream, and a hat
3. Extra Food also includes a small metal cup (about 8 oz capacity). I used it once to melt snow when stuck out overnight - nothing worse than being dehydrated, and when combine with #4 can make an unplanned bivy a tolerable inconvenience. Extra water would also be some water treatment device/chemical.
4. Extra clothes can be clothes, but I've also substituted a light sleeping bag for a jacket on a long dayhike when I thought I might not get back in time (better than a jacket, and actually used it once). I also take a very light silnylon poncho.
6. Includes first aid and 'first aid' for equipment - duct tape, dental floss (strong stuff, great for repairs on clothing or as emergency lacing), a big sewing needle, and a trash bag ('fabric', waterproof sack).
7. Fire kit - lighter, candle, & tinder. maybe a dab of fire paste or Vasaline.
8. Knife - a simple one with a few blades and scissors.

How many of these I take depends on where I'm going, who I'm with, and the season. I wouldn't take them all on a short 1/2 day hike in the SB Mtns