jaywalke,

You've put together a well thoughtout and simple kit. If fact I was surprised to see you hit almost all the basic survival gear we require each member of my SAR team to carry in their pack.

I had some suggestions:

• Some hand/toe/body heat packs
• Add a few chemical light sticks
• Increase the nylon cord to 50' or more
• Pack an old CD as a signalling device
• Perhaps increasing your food to include some jerky or other food product with a long shelf life.
• A small flashlight
• Depending on your pack size, you might consider some sort of shelter, such as a lightweight siltarp or similar product. I've got a 10'x10' siltarp in my SAR pack that weights 13 oz and folds up quite small.

I also like to pack some Lifesaver candy rolls for those times when I crave sugar.

To help keep your kit dry in your pack first line the pack with a contractor type black garbage bag. Pack your kit inside, twist the contractor bag several times and tuck the loose end down the side of your pack towards the bottom. Your kit will stay dry even during a downpour. During an unplanned river crossing, must SAR kit stayed dry by doing the above.

Here's an improvised shelter we built during winter survival training. It got down to about 15 deg that night with light winds. We filled our contractor and trash bags with dry leaves so that we weren't lying directly on the cold ground; passed out a bunch of the chemical hand/toe/body warmers I suggested above; spread my down Marmot sleeping bag across our chests for added warmth; and built a small fire. The shelter was bult against a large boulder which along with the silver tarp lining, both reflected heat into the shelter. It was still cold inside the shelter, esp around our legs, but nowhere near as miserable as it could have been.