james huffaker
Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2011
- Messages
- 29
I don't know where to put this, but think it important enough to post. If misplaced or deemed inappropriate, please relocate or remove.
One of my mentors, doesn't even get out of his vehicle to pee, without shouldering his ruck.
We, mostly without exception, go about our day to day, in our "uniform" formal or otherwise. We go from one temperature controlled environment to the next, and we can get into trouble when there's a glitch. From the 132 mile closure of the NYS thruway by Buffalo a few years ago, due to lake effect snow, 8-10' in 12 hours, took them a week to clear it with front end loaders, and there were body recoveries, corpcicles, to the ongoing all year round, treatment of environmental hypothermia in our ED in the Bronx.
I contend, if possible to view our choices in what we wear from the perspective of PPE (personal protective equipment). If that's not possible then a bag with more appropriate options. Clothing as totally independent shelter, from head to toes, selected not based on current conditions, not on the forecast, but having searched the historical record as to the conditions that have occurred where you are/going, with the understanding that they can and likely will recur, and records are made to be broken.
Past that, a ruck with a sleeping bag (never less then 0 degree, and nothing but Wiggys), a really good pad, shelter (tarp/tent), stove with enough fuel for 3 days unsupported, pot, at least 3L water, and the majority of the food non cook high calorie, fat, protein, easy to digest and tastes good. Any set volume of water is finite. In an environment of snow, eastern snow (high water content) is about 10:1 water, so a pot (or black plastic bag) to melt snow to back fill stores is an ongoing process. Without snow filter available water sources. The no cook food saves the available water for hydration. Rule of 3's 3 minutes without air, 3 hours in an exposed environment without shelter and fire, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food, but the most efficient insulator (Wiggys Antarctic bag on his deluxe pad) only contains the heat produced by our bodies, the furnace needs to be fed.
Next is tools that allow for exploitation of the available options.
There was an expedition to an island off of Alaska, and the forecast got it wrong. While in their tents at night, a wind came up, sufficient to shred their tents. They had to survive for 3 days, in their sleeping bags prior to rescue. If they had not been in their tents, they would have lost everything.
Clothing as totally independent shelter, and a personal ruck with the rest.
A sleeping bag and pad are the single most important part of any "survival" kit (better be a Wiggys).
A jar of peanut butter is the near perfect survival food.
Regards, Jim
One of my mentors, doesn't even get out of his vehicle to pee, without shouldering his ruck.
We, mostly without exception, go about our day to day, in our "uniform" formal or otherwise. We go from one temperature controlled environment to the next, and we can get into trouble when there's a glitch. From the 132 mile closure of the NYS thruway by Buffalo a few years ago, due to lake effect snow, 8-10' in 12 hours, took them a week to clear it with front end loaders, and there were body recoveries, corpcicles, to the ongoing all year round, treatment of environmental hypothermia in our ED in the Bronx.
I contend, if possible to view our choices in what we wear from the perspective of PPE (personal protective equipment). If that's not possible then a bag with more appropriate options. Clothing as totally independent shelter, from head to toes, selected not based on current conditions, not on the forecast, but having searched the historical record as to the conditions that have occurred where you are/going, with the understanding that they can and likely will recur, and records are made to be broken.
Past that, a ruck with a sleeping bag (never less then 0 degree, and nothing but Wiggys), a really good pad, shelter (tarp/tent), stove with enough fuel for 3 days unsupported, pot, at least 3L water, and the majority of the food non cook high calorie, fat, protein, easy to digest and tastes good. Any set volume of water is finite. In an environment of snow, eastern snow (high water content) is about 10:1 water, so a pot (or black plastic bag) to melt snow to back fill stores is an ongoing process. Without snow filter available water sources. The no cook food saves the available water for hydration. Rule of 3's 3 minutes without air, 3 hours in an exposed environment without shelter and fire, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food, but the most efficient insulator (Wiggys Antarctic bag on his deluxe pad) only contains the heat produced by our bodies, the furnace needs to be fed.
Next is tools that allow for exploitation of the available options.
There was an expedition to an island off of Alaska, and the forecast got it wrong. While in their tents at night, a wind came up, sufficient to shred their tents. They had to survive for 3 days, in their sleeping bags prior to rescue. If they had not been in their tents, they would have lost everything.
Clothing as totally independent shelter, and a personal ruck with the rest.
A sleeping bag and pad are the single most important part of any "survival" kit (better be a Wiggys).
A jar of peanut butter is the near perfect survival food.
Regards, Jim
