It really makes sence to camp with what you expect to use in your Personal Survival Kit. It helps to keep things fresh!

Mmmm! Survival Fresh PSK!

Rena

The thread has inspired me to change things a little for this trip. What I am going to do for this weekend is duplicate my kit and go with that. The only difference between the real kit and the practice kit is:

1. In the practice kit some pieces of equippment are slightly less expensive versions of what is in the real kit. For example I have better tinder in the real kit than in the practice kit.

2. I am not duplicating signalling and food procurring equipment since neither is used in a 2 night practice session. Before you say it.... yes I keep the real kit with me incase my practice session turns in to a real situation. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

3. The practice kit is packed loosely in a larger container. The real kit is currently (as of yesterday) packed VERY tightly in to the quintesential Altoids tin while the practice kit is the same items (minus signalling and food procurring equipment) packed quite loosely in a Maxpedition M2 belt pouch along with the real kit which will remain sealed.

4. I am bringing some HD foil to practice with. Although I don't keep it in my real kit, it is something I will be adding if I ever get any good with it... which is why I need to practice.

5. If I have time to stop at the store I am going to get a couple pie tins and try what Brenton suggested about using a small piece of folded pie tin in place of foil.

At this point the only things I plan to add that is not in the real kit is a Mainstay food ration and a cell phone. If I wimp out before I leave and throw in anything extra (I tend to do that sometimes) I will let ya know Sunday night or Monday morning when I return to civilization.

If you're learning something and still making it back home, it's not a failure <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />.

Troy

Good point!

Well, I made it back yet again so that's good. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> It rained the entire time I was out there so that made it more fun. I did (of course) "cheat" a little. I brought three extra "comfort" items. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

1. CountyComm pocket-size AM/FM radio. No excuse for this one.
2. Bio Degradable toilet paper. I have wiped with leaves plenty of times. Don't need any more practice with this one. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
3. Laborador Retriever. I brought her for fun and companionship but I would be lieing if I didn't admit that she benefits in other ways as well. She's proven herself as an effective racoon deterant (which is good since I camped at the same spot where a couple of those little masked bandits tried to steal some gear a couple weeks ago) and she also makes for a nice, soft, fur-lined, heated (doesn't even need batteries although I did share a Mainstay ration with her) pillow. Of course on second thought maybe bringing her wasn't such a cheat. I could almost consider her part of my wilderness PSK since she is always with me when I'm out in the woods! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'd make her EDC if they would just let me bring her to work with me. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Bringing a dog isn't cheating. The worst thing you can do to a dog is to leave it at home. Particularly when you go camping!

I agree completely. That's why she would be EDC if I could convince the boss to let me bring her to work. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I dread the fact that soon she may be too old to go camping anymore. So far so good but she is getting up there in years so there's no telling how much longer she'll be able to handle the hikes w/ the rough terrain.

During my trips I used to take a Australian Sheepdog with my who respondent to the name of Bonnie (sometimes). As I was all alone she was great company walking off when lunch was brewing. Then just as I began sitting comforable I would feel her wet nose in my neck. Ambusing me from behind with her tail moving frantically <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The one sad thing was though that she would never come near a fire...her natural instinct was victorious over her desire to be with me <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

My Lab always puts me between herself and the fire. I use to have a German Shepherd that did the exact opposite but I believe that was the protectiveness that was bread in to him.

Another option, if you camp in the same area, is to leave yourself a buried cache. It's always there if you need it. However you won't be tempted to use it because you have to dig it up. For your purposes you could probably keep it simple with fresh water, more rations, space blanket/shelter materials, and matches. You can get more info from this link I got here a while back. Or Paladin Press has more info on caches.


Robert

That's a really interesting idea!