In the nuclear industry we use STAR (stop, think, act, review or the more colloquial version being “shit, that ain’t right). One of my favorites is “poor prior planning produces piss poor performance.” A little bit of thinking and planning goes on a long way when doing outdoor activities! Enjoyed the post!
A lot of the same would apply from this article. Highly recommend a long sleeve very thin merino shirt, with a hood and quarter zip to vent. Water requirements would certainly be higher too. Also to add to this article, always keep a headlamp with spare batteries on you. Nothing worse than being stuck in the pitch black with no light.
I've seen that most are free, but if you need airlifted out it can be $5k-$60k or more. If you have a Garmin, you can buy search and rescue insurance through them for $40/year that will cover up to $100k. There are other coverages that cost more if you're doing riskier things.
I live in a temperate part of Australia, so my essential list looks a bit different
1. Emergency heat blanket. It's going to give me the warmth I need if I do get caught out overnight, but also going to give me the shade I need if I end up overheating on the trail
2. Lifestraw. I always pack more water than I need, but I still don't head out without the lifestraw if I'm planning anything in unfamiliar areas
3. Snake bite bandage. Any snake I encounter is venomous, and most could kill me. If I get bitten, the bandage is my only hope of making it until help arrives
Great suggestions. A lot of these things are small to bring and easy to pack. Headlamp or flashlight is a great addition. I would always add a whistle too. Much easier way to get attention if you have a problem.
One question: in articles like these, nobody really talks about how to deal with wild animals. I know the chance of an encounter is small (most animals avoid humans) but they do happen. What are some things people carry or do to protect themselves? I carry bear spray in bear country. What else? Thanks!
Good stuff. I was also taught the rule of 3's. 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. Shelter needs are dependent on the environment but I did start to carry a tarp with me on 95% of my outings. I also carry extra water in my ruck. It's never been for me but there have been more than a few fellow hikers that were grateful that I brought it.
Is Barklow suggesting that stopping every hour and changing out of layers to dry off and switching to a puffy or putting it over the layers you're wearing when he said "... put on a puffy jacket to dry out your layers..."
In the nuclear industry we use STAR (stop, think, act, review or the more colloquial version being “shit, that ain’t right). One of my favorites is “poor prior planning produces piss poor performance.” A little bit of thinking and planning goes on a long way when doing outdoor activities! Enjoyed the post!
Great ideas for being in the cold and wet regions. Any thoughts on being extreme heat/humid regions? Clothing options? What to have with you? Etc.
A lot of the same would apply from this article. Highly recommend a long sleeve very thin merino shirt, with a hood and quarter zip to vent. Water requirements would certainly be higher too. Also to add to this article, always keep a headlamp with spare batteries on you. Nothing worse than being stuck in the pitch black with no light.
This is super helpful! I saw it referenced a couple times - What is the typical cost to get rescued?
I've seen that most are free, but if you need airlifted out it can be $5k-$60k or more. If you have a Garmin, you can buy search and rescue insurance through them for $40/year that will cover up to $100k. There are other coverages that cost more if you're doing riskier things.
I live in a temperate part of Australia, so my essential list looks a bit different
1. Emergency heat blanket. It's going to give me the warmth I need if I do get caught out overnight, but also going to give me the shade I need if I end up overheating on the trail
2. Lifestraw. I always pack more water than I need, but I still don't head out without the lifestraw if I'm planning anything in unfamiliar areas
3. Snake bite bandage. Any snake I encounter is venomous, and most could kill me. If I get bitten, the bandage is my only hope of making it until help arrives
Great suggestions. A lot of these things are small to bring and easy to pack. Headlamp or flashlight is a great addition. I would always add a whistle too. Much easier way to get attention if you have a problem.
One question: in articles like these, nobody really talks about how to deal with wild animals. I know the chance of an encounter is small (most animals avoid humans) but they do happen. What are some things people carry or do to protect themselves? I carry bear spray in bear country. What else? Thanks!
Good stuff. I was also taught the rule of 3's. 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. Shelter needs are dependent on the environment but I did start to carry a tarp with me on 95% of my outings. I also carry extra water in my ruck. It's never been for me but there have been more than a few fellow hikers that were grateful that I brought it.
Is Barklow suggesting that stopping every hour and changing out of layers to dry off and switching to a puffy or putting it over the layers you're wearing when he said "... put on a puffy jacket to dry out your layers..."
If you're wet (either from rain/snow or sweat) it's actually a really good idea