Survival in the Back Country: Be Prepared

 back up to the mountain pass from which you had previously been enjoying the view, so add another hour (based on Naismith’s rule of travel for humans at a walking speed of four km per hour, add one hour for every 1000 feet elevation gain). Except the problem is that you can hardly walk, and now that the adrenaline is settling down you realize your mouth is pasted shut from thirst. Of course, you’ll double check your cell phone for service bars, which aren’t there. You grab yourself a stick and slowly start heading back to safety. 

There are a million variables. Your horse comes back and you manage to limp your way out. Another rider-hiker-mountain biker finds you. You stumble upon a crystal clear mountain creek. Or it could get worse and start raining or snowing – yes, I’ve been snowed on in July – but that’s not the point. I’m not saying you need to have everything with you, but you need to think: What if? With some basic survival items most of the life-draining scenarios can be avoided.

You need to have, at a minimum, a knife or multi-tool and a lighter or waterproof matches on your person in case you get separated from your horse. In the summer I also use a hydration camel water pack with water purification tablets in a pouch on my back. At a minimum, with these items I can build a fire, make a shelter if needed, and collect and purify water for hydration.

In my small saddle horn bags I always carry a small equine first aid kit with one side containing two rolls of Vetrap™, cotton padded wrap, a hoof pick, and duct tape (which doubles as something to help keep your shelter together). On the other side the survival kit contains two survival blanket wraps, a fire starter kit, water purification tablets, toilet paper, triangular bandage, high absorbency trauma dressing, and a small human first aid kit. In one of the outside pockets with easy access I carry a pen flare kit with bear bangers and multi coloured flares