Equipped To Survive Equipped To Survive® Presents
The Survival Forum
Where do you want to go on ETS?

Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Topic Options
#23223 - 01/12/04 05:55 AM double up, or depend on your PSK?
Anonymous
Unregistered


Hi all,

About a week ago a good friend of mine calls me up and tells me he and some other friend planned a small camping trip on an island in a nearby river. Only being about 30 mins. from my house I said I'd go and hang out for a bit, but I didn't want to stay overnight. I'd just been on a hiking trip the past weekend and was just planning to have a nice relaxing day off the next day.

So I drive down to were everyone was parked and called up my friend to come pick me up with the boat. I had my PSK, water and food for a meal, other fire and survival items, but not actual "camping" gear such as a tent or sleeping bag/roll.

Everything was going fine until another friend showed up and called us to come pick him up. A couple guys got in the boat, motored over and dry docked on the bank. They loaded up some "essentials" and tried to come back. -- The motor wouldn't crank. -- I realized I was going to have to spend the night on the island. It would be a bit uncomfortable, but all the essentials were taken care of. We had food and water, I had my PSK (with a shiny new space blanket I would be sleeping in under a field constructed lean-to) and a even remembered my small FAK.

The night was pretty much uneventful and no where near a "survival" situation. We had several people that we knew could pick us up first thing in the morning and I'd be home to have breakfast. It was no one's fault and to the guys on the banks' credit, they were working as hard as they could to remedey the problem to get back out to us. (Keep in mind the water was moving too fast to try to safely cross any way but by boat. Our best option, with what we had available, was to just sleep it out.)

My question to all is do you guys double up on gear such as a space blanket and other small items on short trips like that just in case you might have to be "Equipped To Stay"? Or, do you simply have the "I'm taken care of with my PSK" mindset on short outings that could potentially turn longer? As I was lying by the fire, fairly comfortable and with a good peace of mind thanks in part to what I've learned here, I had a lot of time to think about this.

--Luke

some assembly required

Top
#23224 - 01/12/04 03:10 PM Re: double up, or depend on your PSK?
Anonymous
Unregistered


Someone on this board has a sig line that says it all:

"Two is one and one is none."

Better to have a few options if you have the time to gather it.

~W

Top
#23225 - 01/12/04 03:36 PM Re: double up, or depend on your PSK?
Tjin Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 04/08/02
Posts: 1821
"one is none, two is one" is one of murpy's law.

i personally haven't had experianses with those kind of situations, but i have planned to use a vulcan sidepocket with sholders straps, as a pack which i will carry away from camp and for short trips. Haven't filled the sidepocket yet, since i haven't received the mainpack ( sabre 45 ) yet, should come this week. I want to find the ideal balanece of gear on the main and the sidepockets first before making a "kit" out of it.
_________________________


Top
#23226 - 01/12/04 06:25 PM Re: double up, or depend on your PSK?
Hutch66 Offline
new member

Registered: 10/12/02
Posts: 148
Loc: Virginia, USA
It depends on the weather. How's the water in LA this time of year? During the summer I probably wouldn't have done anything differently, except maybe carry a blanket to sit on at the campsite / just in case. In the winter I'd be a little more careful because of the cold swift water. I have a warm set of clothes in a space bag in my jeep which I probably would have thrown in the boat for a winter trip.

The most important piece of advise though would be a PFD, especially if the water's cold. I have no way of verifying this, but the line that I've heard is that unless a person is conditioned to swimming in cold water, he would not be able to swim 50 yards in 50 degree (10 C) water.

So, I can't say I would have done anything drastically differently. It sounds to me like your EDC did exactly what it was supposed to do.

Chris.

Top
#23227 - 01/13/04 06:03 AM Re: double up, or depend on your PSK?
Anonymous
Unregistered


The water's not too cold. Nothing down here really is for that matter. I would guess mid 60's. Definately cold enough to cause hypothermia, but not frigid.

We had (and used!) PFDs, but they stayed in the boat. Is there anything besides blades and fire that some of you normally double up on? I'd like to know if there's anything i'm missing here, other that just having 2 of everything. I'll need bigger pockets! <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

--Luke

That sinking feeling means get out of the boat. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Top
#23228 - 01/13/04 06:47 AM Re: double up, or depend on your PSK?
Anonymous
Unregistered


Double up your shelter if you are going into a situation where there is the remotest chance of being stranded. It is simple to add a larger Contractors garbage bag to a coat pocket. I always (I mean true EDC) a 5'X8' poncho / Tarp in the back pocket of my vest, a space blanket and a plastic rain poncho in one of the front pockets and a trash bag in my PSK. For much less $$ you might consider the lowly tube tent I would also not go somewhere "remote" (by that I mean somewhere that I might not be able to WALK out of on my OWN) without my cell phone and Ham Radio. But I guess you were able to communicate well enough that night. Just wouldn't want to be in a situation such as Chris K found himself in when he got stuck on an island. I also would probably put my belly pack on when going out like that - it contains some power bars, an esbit stove and titanium mug, some GORP, 1 liter of water,extra Potable Aqua Iodine tablets and an extended FAK

Top
#23229 - 01/13/04 07:15 PM Re: double up, or depend on your PSK?
Anonymous
Unregistered


Sounds like fun to me <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. I like being in situations with limited gear like that. I think that a cell phone would have ruined the experience, but obviously, if it was life threatening or at all dangerous it would be a godsend. I personally double up on a few things: fire, blades, shelter, compasses, cordage etc. and when out in the countryside without a pack, a small (Opinel) folding saw. For EDC I carry a space blanket and 'disposable' poncho for shelter and warm, practical clothing as well as gloves and a fleece hat. If I'm going with a rucksack, I'll add an orange survival bag and/or a space blanket rigged as a tarp or a sil-nylon tarp, and often a fleece sleeping bag liner and/or wool blanket.

Top
#23230 - 01/14/04 12:59 AM Re: double up, or depend on your PSK?
Hutch66 Offline
new member

Registered: 10/12/02
Posts: 148
Loc: Virginia, USA
Since I don't think I've ever dropped a flashlight when it was light out or when the light was on, I like having two lights. I keep a Princeton Tec pulsar on my keychain (which I hope to upgrade to an ARC AAA when my Christmas debts are paid off) and a PT Attitude . The Attitude is a much more useful light and I use it 90% of the time. The keychain light has more or less be relegated to finding keyholes and looking for my other lights if I drop them.

FWIW

Chris.

Top
#23231 - 01/14/04 01:12 AM Re: double up, or depend on your PSK?
aardwolfe Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 08/22/01
Posts: 924
Loc: St. John's, Newfoundland
I hate to admit it, but even after everything that's happened, my EDC still consists pretty much of what's on my keychain and in my wallet. <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I do carry some extra stuff in my car - an old parka, fur hat, gloves, wool socks, insulated boots, a wool blanket and at least one Space Blanket. If I'm going out of town, I usually carry a survival kit as well.

My take, though, is that the PSK should be for your own personal use - others should be able to fend for themselves. However, if I'm in a position of responsibility, or simply if I'm concerned about others' safety, I would make sure there was enough "stuff" to keep everyone comfortable.

To me, it's a question of risk management. I'm not going to carry 60 pounds of hardware just to walk to the corner store to post a letter. If I have too much stuff on my keychain, I find I have a tendency to "forget" to put it back in my pocket. (For example, I took the Fox40 off my keychain and replaced it with a "Boy Scout" whistle that isn't as loud, but is more compact and has a water-tight compartment into which I crammed a couple of cotton balls, because I find it makes the keyring less bulky.)

Others may insist on carrying a complete set of maps, a tarpaulin, a full-blown survival kit every time they go to the corner store, but for me personally, I know I'd just get tired of it after a couple of days. This way, I know I will (almost) always have a whistle for signalling, a Fresnel credit-card lens, flints, a SAK to strike a spark with, and two separate caches of waterproof tinder. All I need now is more practice. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

FWIW:

Keychain -
- keys
- Saint John Ambulance keychain pocket mask
- SAK Classic
- whistle with cotton balls in watertight compartment
- Photon MicroLight
- key blank with 5 Ronson flints Krazy-glued to it, sealed in clear plastic shrink tubing
- International Orange breakaway lanyard (shortened using a chain stitch)

Wallet
- money
- credit cards with holographic reflectors (for signalling)
- bank cards, etc.
- ID
- bank machine receipts (and other fire-starter) <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
- P38 (?) can-opener
- Fresnel credit-card lens
- Wilderness First Aid wallet card (with one cotton ball stretched thin and laminated to the back of it - this is my backup waterproof tinder)

I'm thinking I could maybe take some sewing needles, fish-hooks, dental floss or fishing line, and maybe even a scalpel blade and laminate those to the back of a business card.
_________________________
"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."
-Plutarch

Top
#23232 - 01/14/04 03:12 AM Re: double up, or depend on your PSK?
11BINF Offline
Member

Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 115
Loc: phx. az. u.s.a
hi citizen : when i go on trips were i might find myself on a unplanned overnight. i carry a little more than just my survival tin . i carry my suvival pouch with contents which mirror the s.a.s survival book along with 1liter or more of water and maybe some light sleeping gear and extra chow. by the way i find the survival bag is a lot better to sleep in, than wrapping a survival blanket around yourself as you are t-totaly covered in the bag. also if its not raining or the winds not bad i don't waste my time on a overhead shelter i just sleep under the stars <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Top
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >



Moderator:  Alan_Romania, Blast, cliff, Hikin_Jim 
March
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Who's Online
1 registered (SRMC), 332 Guests and 70 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
GallenR, Jeebo, NicholasMarshall, Yadav, BenFoakes
5367 Registered Users
Newest Posts
What did you do today to prepare?
by dougwalkabout
Yesterday at 11:21 PM
Zippo Butane Inserts
by dougwalkabout
Yesterday at 11:11 PM
Question about a "Backyard Mutitool"
by Ren
03/17/24 01:00 AM
Problem in my WhatsApp configuration
by Chisel
03/09/24 01:55 PM
New Madrid Seismic Zone
by Jeanette_Isabelle
03/04/24 02:44 PM
EDC Reduction
by EchoingLaugh
03/02/24 04:12 PM
Using a Compass Without a Map
by KenK
02/28/24 12:22 AM
Newest Images
Tiny knife / wrench
Handmade knives
2"x2" Glass Signal Mirror, Retroreflective Mesh
Trade School Tool Kit
My Pocket Kit
Glossary
Test

WARNING & DISCLAIMER: SELECT AND USE OUTDOORS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Information posted on this forum is not reviewed for accuracy and may not be reliable, use at your own risk. Please review the full WARNING & DISCLAIMER about information on this site.