Appalachian Mountain Club reports spotty compliance with 10 essential wisdom here.

I have limited experience in NH, but the White Mountains seem much more challenging than the Greens or Adirondacks. I guess the doomsday prepper/zombie apocalypse/ survival TV initiatives have not performed well in educating the young folks.

I think you would get similar results out here in the far West. The results might also vary with the type of trips taken from the trail head - those giving access to longer trips might find users more fully equipped.

Actually, 20% more or less fully equipped isn't too bad. I have seen victims miles back along a trail with absolutely nothing.

One thing that i find helps is keeping a day pack packed with equipment -- just add water.

Teacher

Aslo, classes help...

oddly the least important (extra food) seems to be the most commonly carried item.

personally, I have never been completely sold on the ten best type lists.

Bob,

Although I agree with you on "BEST" lists, the 10 essentials (especially in the latest, groupings instead of items version) is the distillation of many years of group thought. Although you may not agree with all the choices specifically, as a whole, the availability of these ten AND the knowledge of how to use them, they will see you through the night. They are IMHO also an excellent marker of the preparedness of a hiker and the attitude they carry with them. Particularly if you count them with some acceptance of differences in approach, which this study did.

What I think they were looking for was an indication of the approach of the "average" hiker toward preparedness, not the presence or absence of any specific item. I agree with you food is the least important.

Respectfully,

Jerry

I would agree that food is the least important physiologically, at least. Psychologically, in terms of an individual's comfort level, food is pretty important.At least, I don't believe I have ever found a victim who did not accept food gratefully, no matter what length of time they had been out. There is probably a social aspect as well - "the breaking of bread together" thing.

It is most important to emphasize that one needs the knowledge, as well as the gadgets - good point.

On the way up mount marcy, in the adirondacks, a forest ranger used to hang out to quiz hikers on the trail on their preps for the trip. Marcy can change from sunny 80's to rainy 40's any month of the year. rangers are friendly folk, but impressive, and the ranger was usually successful in preventing summit attempts by the guys in t-shirts and flip-flops. Maybe the state should sell or rent rucks with the essentials for the trip up, and discount the rescue service charges for purchasers.

In cold weather, when hypothermia is an issue, I would argue that food can be rather important. Sugar and other simple carbs are best for a quick warm up.

have a hunch that the reason that food was carried more commonly than other essentials was that a sixpack of beer and a bag of cheetoes counts as 'food'.

+1 on food being an important part of the hypothermia arsenal. Also, a great way to stay warm on a cold night, is to eat a carb + fat snack or small meal before bed and stoke the internal furnace.

I often wound about the wisdom of adding a compass to this essential ten. If you know how to use one and know how to use to the good map you carry with it, it makes perfect sense.

The problem I see with the common wisdom is that many people simply don't know how to use them. Whenever I see compass on a recommended list, I always wish it said "Take an orienteering class and learn how to use it. Otherwise, use only well marked trails and stay on the trail so you don't get lost."

Carrying a compass might encourage inexperienced people more likely to give into Getthereitis when in the possession of one. I'm not advocating more more people waiting for rescue, but I'll bet that in most cases, the average hiker would benefit more from sitting down for a brew up then trying to press on navigate their way out when they're lost.

You are absolutely correct in your remarks about the compass and the ability to use it. This extends to other equipment items as well. Used improperly or thoughtlessly, they can just get you in deeper and deeper. Knowledge and attitude are far more important than the gadgets you may have available.

I just finished reading a copy of [/b]Deep Survival[b] by Laurence Gonzales; it was an impressive and useful read.

From my perspective map,compass, & GPS is as essential as any other system in the pack.

I teach a Land Navigation class to Natural Resource students at my local community college. With the exception of the military vets, most don't have a clue about navigation.

It is rare that my SAR team locates a lost person carrying the 10 essentials.

I agree about Gonzales book, it's a great read.

Super thread, thank you.

Blake

www.outdoorquest.blogspot.com
www.outdoorquest.biz

+1 The upper compartment of the camera bag is mostly full with a modified set of Doug's PSP, a steel mug, and the new Escape Bivvy.

I'm surprised that some of these '10' lists don't include cordage, and while I agree with Bacpacjac and others about compasses, I think there is some value to including at least a button compass in a kit. In nearly every part of the country, there is a road somewhere within walking distance. If you take a quick look at a map before you leave your vehicle and know there is, for example, a long east-west road behind you as you start out heading North, you can use the button compass to track back South to that road, even on a cloudy day. Not a preferred nav method to be sure, but better than circling around in the woods.

I've mentioned before that we're heading out to the canyon lands and high plains for nearly three weeks of trail hiking and camping in our Aliner Classic. The day is finally here, and we leave this Saturday at 4:00AM.

The reason I mention it in this post is that I have resolved to whittle my backpack and/or lumbar pack load down to a more manageable size and weight. I'm going to use this series of outings over the next three weeks to analyze what I carry, eliminate non-critical redundancies, and sideline the stuff I really don't need. I'm even (shudder) leaving my Becker BK7 and my Wave at home, with a Mora Clipper and a SAK (or Juice S2) in their place. One reason is that I will have to carry a lot more water than I am accustomed to.

My wife laughed when I finally removed the tiny frog gig that I have carried around for years. Would it be useful in a true survival situation in my home biome? Certainly! Have I ever actually needed it? No! It weighs almost nothing, but it's removal is symbolic of my new resolution. My name is Byrd_Huntr and I am a pack-a-holic.

I plan to return home on the 4th of July holiday, sunburned, snakebit, and with boots full of thorns and crushed scorpions with the stories and pictures to prove it all. I will also work on my own personal 10 essentials (or 9, or 11).

If it is any help, I have never needed a frog gig while hiking in the country you are visiting. I can see how one would be useful in Lake Country. Full canteens will definitely be handy.

Sounds like a fun trip, btw! Enjoy yourself.

13 essentials for zombie apocalypse

rei wades in with a list expansion to include a dynamo radio, cast iron skillet (contact Benjammin for seasoning methods)and cordage.

I never thought of the 10 essentials as emergency gear exactly. That's why I think they include a map and compass to keep people from getting lost not to help them get found. I agree are mostly better off stopping for a brew up when they do get lost though. The pause to collect your thoughts is invaluable even if they do end up hiking out.

Exactly my point. I totally agree about the importance of staying found with strong navigation skills. I'm just not sure that encouraging one without the other (Map & compass / Basic navigation skills) is the best strategy. Might be encouraging trouble. Whenever I see those lists, I'd like to see either a "Stick to marked trails unless you've taken a basic map and compass course!" warning or accompanying tutorials on basic land nav, fire, shelter...

I guess it comes down to what AROTC says:



I'm not against it, mind you. Not encouraging navigation skills, could also encourage more SAR excursions. Heard one the other day about a SAR helicopter rescue in an urban park where there were no medical complications involved. How many times do we get up in arms around here about people calling for SAR when some basic (to us) common (to us) sense might have avoided it?

IDK. I guess that if you're smart enough to think about what you need to bring (and even that you need to bring stuff) I should give you more credit.

I think this is basically it. If you can get people to plan just a little and think ahead about things that might go wrong you prevent a huge proportion emergencies and "emergencies". Its that combination of agency and forethought that people really need, and carrying or not carrying the ten-essentials is a good indicator whether that's happening or not.