 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
| essentials |
|
"Most of the
Ten Essentials are best left at home."
- Yvon Chouinard
Much has been written about the Ten Essentials
of backpacking and can be referenced elsewhere.
Our own list is a modified version of this,
tailored for technical canyoneering. Here's
what we bring on every trip.
Water Purification:
The fastest & lightest are iodine tablets,
transferred from their original glass bottle
into a tiny unbreakable nalgene container
of the same size (we're ounce-counters).
The best choice when using water bladders
is Aerobic
Oxygen, which is bacteria-killing oxygen
molecules suspended in a sodium chloride solution
(it leaves no stains in your Camelback). It
is odorless, tasteless, fast & effective.
We use 10 drops to treat a liter of good water,
and up to 20 drops/liter for questionable
water sources.
|
|
Aerobic Oxygen; Potable
Aqua Iodine tablets |
|
|
Headlamp:
We use a Petzl
Tikka Plus at the bare minimum. Smaller
lamps lack enough candlepower to climb, descend,
and boulder hop by.
Other good choices:
Petzl
Tikka XP
Petzl
Zipka
Black
Diamond Moonlight
Black Diamond Zenix IQ
|
|
Petzl Tikka Plus, Zipka; BD Moonlight, NightRay |
|
|
|
First Aid Kit:
Our minimalist first aid kit always contains
the following:
Ibuprofen - pain relief, reduces swelling
Stronger narcotic pain reliever (ultram, lortab,
percocet) - when only the best will do
Asprin - thins the blood, pain relief
Benadryl - anti-itch
Neosporin - Triple Antibiotic, for infection
Two small absorptive bandages - beats dressing
a sucking chest wound with your capilene t-shirt.
Duct Tape - wound closure, splints, you name
it, it does it.
Ace Bandage - sprained ankles, bone splints
Super Glue - wound closure, cracked fingers
Sewing needle and Dental floss (PTFE high-strength
thread) in a waterproof match case (with some
waterproof matches thrown in for flavor).
Most important of all: take a First Aid course
so you will know what to do. You cannot carry
enough stuff to handle all emergencies, so
it is important to know how to improvise.
Duct tape rules. Plastic bags can be used
for sucking chest wounds, etc.
Check out the ACA
Wilderness & Canyon First Aid course. |
|
Common First Aid Kit items |
|
|
|
Shelter:
The shiny faced space blanket is an old standby
that we sometimes still rely on. However,
I’ve lately taken to substituting both
a shelter and a raincoat by bringing a 5x8
SilPoncho made by Integral Designs. It’s
only slightly bulkier than a space blanket
though it lacks the radiant heat-reflective
properties.
Many canyoneers are now bringing a tube-shaped
space blanket. Look for these at your
local outdoor store.
If you're less of a minimalist or conditions
are likely to get nasty, consider the Black
Diamond Winter Bivy |
|
Space Blanket, Integral
Designs 5'x8' SilPoncho |
|
|
|
Firemaking:
Light a tealight with a Bic lighter to dry
out damp tinder (juniper or sage bark, pine
needles, leaves). Once your tinder catches,
you should be able to build your fire to the
next level with pencil-diameter sticks. The
lighter makes a handy spool for wrapping spare
duct tape as well. The tealight is idiot proof
to light and should last longer than storebought
firestarting gimmicks until you can get things
going.
Special
Tip:
In soaking wet conditions, try carving the
wet outer bark off of Magic Marker diameter
sticks until they are pencil-size.
When you're going fast & light overnight,
Esbit tablets can be
nice for cooking. |
|
Tealamp, lighter w/ duct tape, waterproof
matches |
|
|
|
Emergency Food:
You never know when you’ll have to run
for help. Have the fuel to get you there,
or to comfort an injured partner. Miso Soup
is lightweight, nutritious, and a real morale
booster. Caffeinated Clif
Bars and Clif Shots will give you that
extra zing you need to run 10 miles to the
trailhead or carry an extra pack.
Special Tip:
Replace one of your Nalgene with an aluminum
or titanium beverage bottle (non-coated interior,
of course) and you’ll be able to be
able to stick your water bottle in the fire
to boil water for soups; a heated water bottle
wrapped in a wool sock can be an excellent
heat source for a cold night's bivy. |
|
 |
|
|
|
Knife:
A lightning-fast webbing cutter is nice, but
at the very least carry a Imlay
Canyon Knife or similar micro knife. I
prefer a high-quality 3” blade, even
for the lightest trips. A quality knife in
the hands of a survival expert is the most
important tool, besides a positive mental
attitude. |
|
Imlay
Canyon Knife and Gerber
AirRanger |
|
|
|
The “optional” essentials:
Shake & Use Heat
Packs - good in cold weather, where frostbite
or hypothermia is a high risk.
20’ of 1-2mm parachute cord - convenient
for turning the SilTarp into a real two-man
shelter.
Stow it all in a Granite
Gear Air Bag and keep it handy for all
of your canyoneering adventures.
If you find yourself reluctant to bring this
stuff, take a few things out until your reluctance
disappears. If you need some inspiraton, read
"A Night to Remember" one more time.
Part
1
Part
2 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| All material © Cerberus
Canyons, LLP 2004-2005 | Disclaimer
| Contact
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
