Outdoor Activities

There are all types of activities that intentionally take us into the outdoors like fishing, hunting, and hiking, just to name a few. Some activities take us to the local park or lake, and some take us on trails that meander through slightly more robust areas. But some activities take us deep into the wilderness. If you are INTENTIONALLY entering an environment that takes you away from a comfortable level of accessible man made resources, I suggest taking along some basic items with you.

The below is a minimal "Checklist" of items that may seem obvious but, are easily forgotten, especially if you haven't ventured out for a while. We will certainly discuss these Line Items in greater detail in future Subject Matter but, for now, lets simply get started with the basics;

1. First Aid Kit
2. Rain Poncho
3. Jacket (for the appropriate weather that you may experience)
4. Multi Tool
5. 6' Hank of cordage (even some simple Jute Twine could be sufficient)
6. Canteen
7. Cigarette Lighter
8. Compass and Map
9. Analog Watch
10. Flashlight (with extra batteries)
11. Cell Phone (yup, I can here some of you groan right now, but...)
12. Toilet Paper
13. Trowel
14. Granola Bar, Jerky, and/or Trail Mix
15. Wilderness Survival Kit (including your Fixed Blade Knife!!)
16. Carrying Device (like a backpack, etc.)

When you are INTENTIONALLY accessing an area like the one in the photo, carrying a few additional items with you could come in handy. If the weather were to change, you may very well need a Rain Poncho and/or a Jacket. If "Nature Calls", a Trowel and some Toilet Paper are worth their weight in gold! But if you ventured to the other side of this creek, and eventually needed to cross it again to return to your vehicle, you could find yourself stuck if the water had risen since your initial crossing due to a rainstorm upstream somewhere. This is an example of a "What If" that could leave you stranded and, force you to spend an unplanned (potentially uncomfortable) night in the woods. It's always a good idea to carry a little "Just in Case" with you!!

Again, most items seem obvious but, a "6' Hank of cordage?" and an "Analog Watch?" may seem odd to some people but, in some circumstances, these (often forgotten) items could assist you during and average outing and, could potentially save you if you were to experience an extreme change of events (You've heard me say many times in the past and, you will hear me say it again many more times in the future that, "most emergency situations occur due to a series of events, as opposed to one single event").
During the course of an average outing, the cordage may simply get used to secure items to your backpack, or even be used to temporarily replace a broken bootlace. Some people prefer Jute because it is a natural fiber that is biodegradable so, if a small piece were to be inadvertently left behind on the "trail" somewhere, it wouldn't necessarily be detrimental to the environment. Most (prepared) outdoor enthusiast carry a stronger type of cordage in their Wilderness Survival Kit such as 550 Paracord and #36 Bankline. These cordages are a far better choice for tasks and/or repairs that require a higher tensile strength. Another advantage to bringing along a small Hank of Jute (in addition to stronger cordages) is that, in an emergency, it can assist in fire starting and, is an excellent material to use as one of the components of a Piute Deadfall Trap.
A watch (of any type) is obviously used for telling time. It's amazing how fast time can slip away from you when you are enjoying the outdoors. I know that it has happened to me more times than I can count. It should be a mandatory habit that you check the time on a regular basis or else, you could find that you have not allotted enough of this precious commodity to accomplish a crucial task. As an example, if I am hiking along a trail and, there are only 12 hours of daylight during this particular time of year, if I left at daybreak and I have been traveling in one direction for 6 hours, I should be strongly considering turning around since, it will probably take me 6 hours to hike back to where I started or else, I'll be hiking part of the way back in the dark (hiking in the dark has a potential for being ONE of those events, in a SERIES of events, that could be your "What If"). But why is an "Analog" watch suggested by so many Bushcrafters and Survivalists? It's because, if you have the proper Skill Set, an Analog watch can be used for BASIC navigation in case your compass gets damaged. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere and, point the Hour Hand at the sun, you'll simply need to dissect the center between the Hour Hand and the 12:00 position on your Analog watch and...presto!!! now you know which way is south (therefore allowing you to determine north, east, and west). Having a secondary, reliable, means of determining General Direction may help you eliminate another potential "one of those events, in a series of events..." you get the point.

"Multiple Application(s)" is a concept of efficiency and, that concept is not exclusively limited to only the short Hank of cordage and Analog Watch. Every item on the list previously mentioned above has a "Primary" use, which is intended to be utilized during an average outing and, each item also has potential "Secondary" uses, for if an average outing turns into an emergency situation. In future Subject Matter we will discuss each item on the list, analyze their potential (both "Primary" and Secondary"), as well as contemplate certain designs that are suggested by professionals and have been field tested by outdoor enthusiasts for years. Please join us!!

In the photo, the example time is 3:00. Simply take the Hour Hand of your Analog Watch and aim it at the sun. Dissect the center between the Hour Hand and the 12:00 position. This will allow you to determine which way is south. From there, you can now find North, East, and West. This technique is applicable throughout the Northern Hemisphere and, it works regardless of what time it is, as long as the sun is visible and the Analog Watch is accurately keeping time.