You’re all set to go out into the wilderness and enjoy a few days, but do you have all that it takes to be safe and ready for any challenges in your outdoor experience? The items you carry depend largely on the environment you go to, your skill level, and the time of year that you choose to go out in.
Here are the 10 top items you absolutely need to make it through a few days in the wilderness. Remember not to leave home without them.
#1:Compass and map: You may have superb navigation skills, but it helps to have a compass and map to show you the right direction. It also could suddenly turn rainy, making movement difficult, so again a compass can show you the way accurately. Don’t rely entirely on your GPS but keep a topographical map of the area and a road map too.
#2:Knife: You never know what kind of animals might confront you in the wilderness, so keeping a knife handy is the most practical. You’ll need it to make a fire, gather material for shelter, and cut edibles from trees. Choose a folding knife. It could be used as a weapon as well which could save your life.
#3:Food: Make a list of all the edible foods you can get in the wild, such as flowers and berries. Another way is to take your supply of food with you, such as spirulina, wheat grass, and maca powder. To survive in the wild, you should explore all food sources in the habitat, such as plants, edible insects, fish, and bird eggs.
If you know how to cook, get out your camping stove and cook your food easily and quickly.
#4:Water Purification System: When you’re out in the wilderness, you’re going to need to drink water periodically. You can filter it by using a pump, filter or use a piece of cloth or a plastic bag to collect and filter water.
#5: Clothing: Remember to carry warm clothing with you, no matter the kind of wilderness trip you’re making and what the weather reports say. If you’re going in either fall or spring, assume the weather to be cold and take synthetic, silk, or woolen clothing for extra warmth. Rule out cotton as it will give you the chills if the weather turns damp or humid. Have a change handy of non-cotton clothes.
#7:First Aid Supplies: Out in the wilderness, anything can happen. You could fall sick, injure yourself, have breathing difficulties, have a ligament tear, be concussed, or suffer from heat exhaustion. Before you set out, take as much medication for these conditions, believing you’re out there on your own. Sunstroke, sun blindness, frost bites, headaches, and blisters should also be expected, so go armed with medication for these too.
#8:Rope: Get yourself a parachute cord that’s strong, occupies little space and is lightweight. You can have several uses for rope on your expedition, such as creating a shelter or tent, drying clothes, making a splint for broken bones, making grips on your walking sticks, using as traps for hunting, etc.
#9:Equipment for signaling: If you’re caught in a situation in the wilderness where you have no means of getting in touch with people, obviously you depended entirely on your mobile phone and GPS system which have only proved their limitations to you. Obviously, you should have brought alternate and more sophisticated means of communication, often known as signaling equipment.
For instance, if you flash your signal mirror into the sky, it will be seen for miles and decoded as someone needing help. By flashing it in the sky in a kind of pattern like SOS, the pilot of a plane will realize that you’re in danger and come for your rescue or let others know you need some help.
You can also resort to using whistles. A specially created whistle for calling help, can serve as just the right thing when you’re in the wilderness. Even if you get to a road, cars may be few and far between. If you’re approaching a road when you find a car passing, whistle loudly to catch their attention. And finally, by whistling in the wilderness, you may just get a return whistle from other campers or hikers near you.
#10: Flashlight: When you’re out in the wild, night could fall before you can complete making a shelter or collecting sufficient firewood. That’s when you need a flashlight which can also be used for signaling for help.
These 10 items are just right for having a wonderful outdoor experience. Of course, there are many equally essential items that you should take along, if only to be safe.