I transferred as a sophomore to the University of Arizona after growing up in various parts of the flat midwest. I became quite fascinated with climbing mountains and the great outdoors of Arizona. As I read about climbing, i realized that nearly everyone spent an unplanned night out and that certain key items made the experience much more endurable.

As my trips grew longer, in due course, I had some unplanned overnight adventures. During my senior year in college, I experienced my first mountain rescue, a life changing experience. During a career in the National Park Service, I came to realize how important it was to practice preparedness at all levels. I and my family were sometimes one hundred miles from the nearest decent grocery store, and we had to be prepared to take care not just ourselves, but others as well.

There were several times when I realized that if you didn't have the required item on your person, you effectively didn't have it at all. I have tweaked my EDC for years.