Guest CoastCacher Posted February 3, 2001 Share Posted February 3, 2001 I've noticed in some of the other threads tips for walking the boonies. Since this game (ain't it cool?) may well bring less-experienced outdoorspeople into situations that really require some survival (don't panic, that just means walking out as safe and healthy as you walked in) skills, I thought I'd offer some ideas for them. 1) The cache is in an urban area: just use your street smarts! 2) The cache is ANYWHERE off the road you drove to it on: a)OK, you have a GPS. You also need a compass and local map ( http://www.topozone.com/ is free). Really...you NEED these. Note yer starting point and yer route on the map. b)Water. At LEAST a quart day for each seeker plus one for the day you didn't plan on. Dehydration is a SERIOUS condition. c)First aid kit. Doesn't have to be fancy, but it should allow you to manage a severe penetrating wound. d)Clothing appropriate to the area you are in. Mountain and desert locales can get really cold very quickly after sundown. Expect to get caught like that. If it never happens, all it cost you was the exercise carrying the stuff a few times. e)Good shoes. Broken in. f)Fire. Butane lighter (near full) is fine. g)Knife. Looking forward to additions/revisions from more experienced outdoorspeople. Have fun, and if you find my cache (not set as I write this) hope you enjoy the goodies. Leave something neat for the next player! Quote Link to comment
Guest Ciemon Dunville Posted February 4, 2001 Share Posted February 4, 2001 Some wise words CC, To go with the fire lighting aspect I always carry some tinder in the form of a tampon. Why a tampon? Well they're only about an inch long, waterproofed and they are the best source of compressed cotton wool I've ever used. It makes fantastic tinder, and can be lit with a flint and steel (proving how easy it is) If you're gonna be dead smart, that little tin of petroleum jelly you carry to put on those sore bits you never knew existed, can be used within the cotton wool. The petroleum will guarantee under all but the most extreme conditions that your file will light. Happy Hunting.... Ciemon UK Quote Link to comment
Guest Nostromo Posted February 5, 2001 Share Posted February 5, 2001 A couple of items I might add: 1. For cold weather, Hot Hands (iron oxide that heats on exposure to air) and a space blanket. 2. A candle and butane lighter 3. A whistle 4. A cell phone 5. Make a map on topo.com and bring a compass 6. Spare batteries for your GPS 7. Flashlight 8. Spare socks (after getting soaked, nothing boosts morale better than a hot shower. The next best thing is a nice pair of dry socks, trust me). 9. Leatherman-like Multi-tool 10. Powerbars, granolabars, trail-mix, etc. 11. In that small first-aid kit, include a tube of Superglue. This sounds weird, but an EMT buddy of mine says it?s the best thing for quickly ?stitching? together an open wound. Don?t fill the wound, just put a little on the surface and push it together and hold for about a minute. WARNING: THIS IS FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY! USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! I have never personally used this, but I do carry that tube of glue. If you glue your hand to your butt, or something else goes wrong, please don?t come back and try to sue me for this. 12. Like said in a previous post - Water, at least a quart per day. All this doesn?t weigh much and will fit in a plastic bag inside a small daypack. I know this sounds extreme, but your motto should be ?S%#& Happens.? I hope you never need any of this stuff, but it?s better to err on the safe side. TWO FINAL SAFTY TIPS: 1. Don't go alone in a backwoods area that you have never been to before. 2. If you insist on going alone tell people where you are going, and give an approximate time when you are coming back. Have fun out there! Quote Link to comment
Guest CoastCacher Posted February 6, 2001 Share Posted February 6, 2001 quote:Originally posted by Ciemon Dunville:I always carry some tinder in the form of a tampon. Why a tampon? Well they're only about an inch long, waterproofed and they are the best source of compressed cotton wool I've ever used. It makes fantastic tinder, and can be lit with a flint and steel (proving how easy it is) UK[/b] I had never heard of this, but I tried it and it is dead on! Excellant. I DO have to wonder under what circumstances this was first discovered/tried! Quote Link to comment
Guest CoastCacher Posted February 6, 2001 Share Posted February 6, 2001 quote:Originally posted by Ciemon Dunville:I always carry some tinder in the form of a tampon. Why a tampon? Well they're only about an inch long, waterproofed and they are the best source of compressed cotton wool I've ever used. It makes fantastic tinder, and can be lit with a flint and steel (proving how easy it is) UK[/b] I had never heard of this, but I tried it and it is dead on! Excellant. I DO have to wonder under what circumstances this was first discovered/tried! Quote Link to comment
Guest auximage Posted February 6, 2001 Share Posted February 6, 2001 Originally posted by Nostromo:11. In that small first-aid kit, include a tube of Superglue. This sounds weird, but an EMT buddy of mine says it?s the best thing for quickly ?stitching? together an open wound. Don?t fill the wound, just put a little on the surface and push it together and hold for about a minute. WARNING: THIS IS FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY! USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! This actually does work. My father used to use superglue instead of bandaid's on cuts he would get when working in his 'shop'. I wouldn't recommend it on larger lacerations though.. o: Quote Link to comment
Guest shavings Posted February 6, 2001 Share Posted February 6, 2001 The addition of a Colt 10mm Delta Elite (or a Glock or SIG ) to the emergency pack may go a long way towards promoting "personal safety". Quote Link to comment
Guest Ciemon Dunville Posted February 7, 2001 Share Posted February 7, 2001 Hey CC, I could tell you why/when I first tried it...but then I'd have to kill you )) Actually it's in a book written by an SAS guy that is readily available here in the UK, I've loads of little tips like that one. The superglue idea works well, done that too... If you've tried the tampon, make it wet as if you were trying to light it in rain, then put some petroleum jelly (we call it vaseline) in with the cotton wool and the petroleum in the vaseline really helps when the cotton wool is wet. Lets face it, when you're in trouble, anything that can go wrong will, including pouring with rain when you really need a fire. Happy Hunting....Ciemon UK Quote Link to comment
Guest Ciemon Dunville Posted February 7, 2001 Share Posted February 7, 2001 Hey CC, I could tell you why/when I first tried it...but then I'd have to kill you )) Actually it's in a book written by an SAS guy that is readily available here in the UK, I've loads of little tips like that one. The superglue idea works well, done that too... If you've tried the tampon, make it wet as if you were trying to light it in rain, then put some petroleum jelly (we call it vaseline) in with the cotton wool and the petroleum in the vaseline really helps when the cotton wool is wet. Lets face it, when you're in trouble, anything that can go wrong will, including pouring with rain when you really need a fire. Happy Hunting....Ciemon UK Quote Link to comment
Guest CaptHawke Posted February 10, 2001 Share Posted February 10, 2001 Shavings, Wild guess: Youw work at Riley's. Quote Link to comment
Guest CaptHawke Posted February 10, 2001 Share Posted February 10, 2001 Shavings, Wild guess: Youw work at Riley's. Quote Link to comment
Guest Madtech Posted February 10, 2001 Share Posted February 10, 2001 I was just reading about GeoCaching.. Sounds fine.. now I need to buy a GPS unit.. What is a good working yet affordable unit to buy? Note: I do much camping and a plastic baggy with a steelwool inside, and another baggy with a 9 volt battery can not be beat for starting fires.. pull and stretch the wool to make it loose.. Cover with leaves, paper, or any tinder.. stick battery to the steelwool and it will "short" the fine wired wool and cause a fire! Works well in rain.. Quote Link to comment
Guest Madtech Posted February 10, 2001 Share Posted February 10, 2001 I was just reading about GeoCaching.. Sounds fine.. now I need to buy a GPS unit.. What is a good working yet affordable unit to buy? Note: I do much camping and a plastic baggy with a steelwool inside, and another baggy with a 9 volt battery can not be beat for starting fires.. pull and stretch the wool to make it loose.. Cover with leaves, paper, or any tinder.. stick battery to the steelwool and it will "short" the fine wired wool and cause a fire! Works well in rain.. Quote Link to comment
Guest robanna Posted February 10, 2001 Share Posted February 10, 2001 Holy Cow! Steel wool and a battery...now that's tech...And I've been using a lighter Quote Link to comment
Guest robanna Posted February 10, 2001 Share Posted February 10, 2001 Holy Cow! Steel wool and a battery...now that's tech...And I've been using a lighter Quote Link to comment
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