CHAPTER SEVEN
DAY HIKE KIT

THE SURVIVAL SCENARIO

You decide to go on a basic day hike alone in the local national forest close to where you live. You have been to this location many times before for simple one-day excursions. You start your hike at 8:00 a.m., following your normal trail. Right away, you notice things are very green and parts of the trail are overgrown. After a while you realize the trail is getting harder to follow. You know you are walking up and the gradient seems to be increasing, so you are pretty sure you will be up to your normal picture point soon. You look at your watch and realize it is almost 11:00 a.m., much later than your anticipated arrival time. You try to get a signal on your smartphone to get a fix on your location, but you don’t have a signal. You turn around, but all you see is dense vegetation and you can’t make out any trail at all.

Dark clouds are rolling in and you can feel the temperature has dropped at least 10 degrees. You remain calm and come up with some sort of plan to get yourself back to your car. You see what you think to be an open, higher area through the trees and begin to move to that location so you can get a better vantage point and get your phone to work. As you are moving you encounter a small creek that you are going to try and jump. You are moving faster now and getting worried because you begin to hear thunder in the distance and the temperature keeps getting cooler. You make your jump at the bank, but the near side is soft and you lose your footing. You not only fall into the creek, but you roll your ankle. You get up and try to gain your composure but find it is very hard to put weight on your ankle. Then you realize your phone was in your back pocket when you jumped and it was in the water for a while. Pretty soon you find yourself shivering a bit. You can still see what you think is an open area on the higher ground. You realize you are lost, cold, hear a storm rolling in, have no means of communication, and you are injured. What do you do now?

DAY HIKE KIT GEAR LIST

• Pack
• Emergency water
• Water bottle
• Emergency drinking straw or water purification tablets/drops
• Poncho
• Emergency bivy sack
• Space blanket
• Cordage or 550 paracord
• Duct tape
• Fire starters, lighter, stormproof matches, WetFire tinder cubes, cotton balls, or homemade kindling (egg crate and lint as discussed in chapter six)
• Phone
• Compass
• Signal mirror
• Whistle
• Flashlight/headlamp
• Basic first aid kit and personal hygiene kit
• Insect repellant and insect head net
• Bear spray/pepper spray
• Emergency food
• Compact fishing kit
• Animal snare kit
• Knife
• Maps of the area
• Survival cards
• Survival manual if not too heavy

THE ANALYSIS

None of us wants to find ourselves in the situation of the lone hiker above. What are some of the things she did wrong? What gear should she have brought with her on what she thought was a normal day hike? Did she tell anyone where she was going? Did she bring any gear to protect herself from the elements or to communicate and navigate? Did she have anything for shelter or to construct a shelter? What about basic first aid supplies?

THE TAKEAWAY

Don’t be caught out in the woods unprepared and let Mother Nature get the best of you. Make sure you have a basic day hike kit with you at all times, even if you are going to the same place you’ve been one hundred times. What should your day hike kit consist of? This chapter will cover the basic items you need to get yourself out of a potentially hazardous situation.

THE DAY HIKE KIT

When putting together your basic day hike kit, think about the basic necessities in a survival situation: shelter, water, fire, food, and security. Your day hike kit should go in a basic backpack, over-the-shoulder bag, or fanny pack. Remember, this is a day hike kit. You are not preparing for a long hunting or camping expedition. Your day hike kit could be on the outside of your ultimate bug out bag or your expedition pack. If you are in a base campsite and need to go out to hunt or gather food and water, you can detach your day hike kit and take it with you. Your kit will still have all of the necessary supplies to get you through a tough situation.

Much of this kit has been discussed and covered in previous chapters. Rather than reiterate those items of the kit, this chapter will focus on the relevance of these items in your day hiking kit.

Pack

The day pack should be smaller than your normal large backpack. It should be comfortable, tough, have a spot for a water bladder, and be large enough to accommodate all of the recommended items for a day hike. If our lost hiker would have had a pack with the appropriate gear, she might not have wound up in such a poor predicament. As discussed before, your pack needs to be the right one for you. Try out several and get the pack that is comfortable and the most functional and appropriate to what you are doing.

Day Pack

Emergency Drinking Straw

Water

If your pack has a pouch for a water bladder, get a bladder that fits your pack that also allows you to comfortably carry the largest amount of water possible. This is very important in more arid climates and during the summer months. In addition to having the water you brought along in your bladder, also bring water purification tablets or drops, a water purification straw, and a water bottle. A bottle with a built-in filter would work well here. The hiker above could have filled her bottle(s) or bladder at the creek and either filtered it or used purification tablets or droplets. Remember to stay ahead of dehydration. If you get injured, you are going to need even more water. Like other survival gear, you want to be redundant and have many options to gather, filter, and purify water.

Shelter

The hiker needed to have some form of shelter with her. She could have used a poncho when it started to rain and if she did not make it back to her vehicle she could have used a space blanket or bivy sack to get through the night. Not only would these items help keep her dry, but they would also help reflect body heat back inward. It was getting colder, she was wet from the fall in the creek, and it was starting to rain. It is one thing to be cold and one thing to be wet, but worse to be cold and wet.

Space Blanket

Some cordage, rope, or 550 paracord can help secure any shelter material you have. Duct tape can also prove useful to repair ripped or torn gear or clothes and it can be used as a first aid item to cover wounds, apply pressure, and construct splints.

Fire Starters

Fire-starting devices and fire-making tools are mission-essential pieces of gear. Don’t leave home without them and don’t forget to have them in your pack. A basic lighter, stormproof matches, magnesium stone, and some kindling material are all key items to have as fire starters. The bottom line is you need have something that can create a spark or flame and something that can burn easily to help you get a fire going, especially in the worst conditions imaginable. Getting a fire going will help you stay warm and dry out (with an adequate shelter). A fire can also give peace of mind and comfort.

550 Paracord

Communication and Navigation Devices

You need to be able to move, communicate, and shoot if necessary. More importantly, you need to be able to move deliberately, i.e., get to where you want to go without getting lost. You’ll need to have an understanding of land navigation, map reading, studying the terrain for the best route, and using these skills to get where you need to go with minimal effort. If you don’t know how to navigate without the use of your phone or GPS, get additional training so you can. A phone and GPS are luxuries at best in a survival situation. You want to be a master of the basics when it comes to many survival skills, especially land navigation.

Communication is going to be necessary with your family, loved ones, friends, and the people you are working with or going to. You can communicate with smoke, fire, whistle blasts, fireworks, light during the day and night, and other things. Make sure that your communication plan is understood by everyone you are working with, and rehearse your communication plan.

• Phone. A cell phone can be your most valuable piece of gear if you have a signal and you can let someone know where you are so they can help you if you are lost or injured. If there is a grid-down scenario or you are simply in an area that has no coverage, you are out of luck. Do not rely on your phone as the only means of communication. You may have to get creative, so make sure your alternate communication signals are easy to understand. Always make sure you let someone know where you are going and what you are doing if you go out in the woods alone and give them your tentative time of return.
• Compass and Map of the Area. Learn how to read a map and use a lensatic compass. Don’t rely on technology because your phone or GPS device might not work in a survival situation. In fact, count on it not to work and be ready to use a map and compass. Master the basics of map reading, orienteering, and land navigation. Don’t assume you know the terrain like the back of your hand. Use a map, compass, terrain features, and land navigation aids to confirm what you are doing in terms of your route and movement.
• Signal Mirror. A signal mirror needs to be in your day hike kit. The signal mirror flash can be seen for miles and can attract attention to your location if you can’t get a fire going.
• Whistle. The whistle can be used for signaling and to fix your position. The hiker could have used a whistle to call for help and to draw rescuers to her location if she was seriously injured.
• Flashlight or Headlamp. If you are out during the hours of darkness and plan on being able to move, some form of light is necessary. A flashlight or, preferably, headlamp is a must in this situation. A headlamp frees your hands for other things. A headlamp is a lightweight, affordable, easy-to-use piece of gear that needs to be in your day hike kit.

Small Flashlight

Basic First Aid Kit and Personal Hygiene Kit

A basic first aid kit with an ACE bandage or two, gauze, adhesive bandages, antibiotic cream, aspirin, Benadryl, sunscreen, and bandages is a good place to start. There are many affordable first aid kits on the market that can be a good addition to your day hike kit. Don’t forget basic hygiene supplies as well. These have been mentioned in chapters five and six.

Insect Repellant and Insect Head Net

A good insect repellant can keep the bugs away and can keep you more comfortable if you are out for a day in the woods. Look for some of the repellants that have sunscreen as this can save you some weight in your pack.

Bug Spray/Insect Repellant

Bear Spray/Pepper Spray

These personal defense items can be used to ward off a bear or mountain lion attack. Keep this on the outside of your day hike kit so you can access it immediately, if necessary. Make sure you are familiar with the operation of the type of spray you choose to carry.

Food

You want to make sure you have some food with you and you have the means to get food. You want to stay fresh and keep your mind sharp in a survival situation. The only way you can do this is by keeping good fuel in your tank. Nutrient-dense foods are key—nuts, seeds, and energy bars that have a balance of protein, fats, and carbohydrates. Make sure you include some food in your kit so you can refuel and keep going. Glucose is what powers the brain. If you are hungry and have not had any sugar (carbohydrates) for days, you are not going to be able to make the best decisions and problem solve. Making decisions, problem solving, and thinking clearly can save your life. Don’t forget to pack some food!

• Emergency Food. Make sure you have some type of compact, calorie-rich food in your kit. Typically the best option is energy bars. See chapter five for more on emergency food.
• Basic Fishing Kit. If you find yourself in the woods longer than you expect, you can put your kit to use for fishing or catching crawfish. A compact fishing kit should have line, hooks, a bobber, and weights.
• Animal Snare Kit. Just like the fishing kit, an animal snare kit is a compact kit that can be used to snare small animals. Make sure you practice making snares and ensure you can find a good anchor point for your snare. Look for game trails, animal signs, and places where small animals are likely to move. You can set out some bait using some of your emergency food bars, then lay your snares around the bait, covering all likely areas of approach. Set out multiple snares to increase your chances of snaring an animal.

  BASIC FISHING KIT

  • Two rolls of fishing line

  • Three bobbers

  • Five lead weights

  • Ten hooks, various sizes

  • Emmrod Pack-Rod casting fishing pole,

  

  Compact Fishing Kit

• Knife. Make sure you choose a full-tang blade when you purchase your knife. You can certainly have more than one type of knife in your day kit. See chapter five for more on full-tang blades.

Reference Materials

Have a map of the area and the surrounding areas you will be operating, moving, and hiking in. Make sure you know how to read the maps.

Survival cards are waterproof plastic cards that usually come bound together. They can help you with knots, how to start a fire, how to construct a shelter, how to find water, and many other important survival topics. These cards are valuable quick-reference guides that provide many helpful survival tips.

SURVIVAL TIP #7: TAKE A BASIC LAND NAVIGATION COURSE

The ability to land navigate is a skill everyone should have. You don’t have to be a Boy Scout or member of the military to take a land navigation course. Some of these courses are held for free at outdoor stores. Also, check your area state and national parks for weekend programs on navigation. Such courses often cover how to use a compass, read a map, navigate with a map from point to point, find your position, shoot a magnetic azimuth, and gain familiarity with adjusting for magnetic deviation when navigating. The best courses offer classroom instruction and include some form of practical application so you can get outside and practice your skills. As you learn the basics, use your map and compass as your primary means to navigate, then use electronic devices to confirm your location. These skills and the right kit will help you be more confident in the outdoors and can help you rescue yourself and others when the unexpected happens.

Reference Materials

SUMMARY

This list is not exhaustive for the day hike kit. These items are recommended and have been field tested time and time again in the civilian and military worlds. Add to or take away from the gear list, but you always need to think about water, shelter, fire, food, security, communication, land navigation, and first aid.