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The snow’s back! Not a lot, but enough to turn everything white. That green lawn just didn’t look right this time of year. I think everyone likes those slow quiet snows that end up hanging in the trees. Went out with the camera to grab a few shots before the wind comes up and blows everything to the ground. Walked out to the orchard, found this bluebird house waiting for spring, and then went by the corral to see what the buffalo were up to.
Came up with this “emergency kit” you might be interested in. I wanted something I could take on the snowmobile, motorcycle, atv, leave in the truck, or carry on horseback. We got to talking about this after Hurricane Katrina. What left an impression on me was how badly people missed some of the simplest, smallest, everyday things like nail clippers or band-aids after they had left home in a hurry. I Made a couple of them up over the Holidays and took one along on the Grand Marais 500. Brian pointed out that not everything in there is for “emergency” use, but I wanted a little “pack” of items that I deemed necessary on every trip to be in one place.
In the woods I assume my first lines of defense are my cell phone and GPS. But anyone who’s spent much time “up North” can tell you how unreliable phone reception is. As for GPS, even that can succumb to dead/frozen batteries or poor reception due to weather or the forest canopy. I did a little research on some survival websites, and combined with my own experience here’s what I came up with…
More than one reference recommended TWO sources of fire and TWO sources of signaling as a high priority. Hence I carry a lighter, matches, coast guard approved whistle, and a few other items which can serve double-duty as a signal device.
For first-aid, I wanted to keep the list as simple (small) as possible, so I carry gauze, vet wrap, alcohol wipes, antiseptic wipes, a bandana, and tweezers. For mechanical problems, there’s a leatherman, a lock blade knife, and a mini-mag flashlite.
There’s a compass to back-up my GPS, some water purification tablets for “extended stays”, and in cold weather I carry a couple handwarmers. Then there’s a few items that are just plain handy to have. A nail clipper, some safety pins, a small sewing kit, and a carabineer.
Lastly, there’s a sharpie and a notepad, a 1 quart Ziploc bag, and some carmex. I found a small camera bag with several compartments that everything fits into. It’s about the size of 2 soda cans. Design your own, and get in the habit of taking it with you.
Ride safe!
Larry |
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January 31, 2006 |
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Ellisville Bison Dispatch |
