Wilderness Basics Course

The Ten Essentials

The Ten Essentials are items which can help you live through an emergency. They may not keep you comfortable, they may not let you sleep through the night, but they can keep you alive. They are mandatory for all WBC outings. Once you assemble them, you may just want to keep them in the trunk of your car, for when the big one hits. The ten essentials are:

1. The two basic navigation tools are a map, a compass, and the skill to use them.  I guess that's three tools.  The map can be a topo map, a forest service map, a copy of one from a book, whatever. But it won't do you any good on the desk at home. Don't trust your memory - bring it. Putting it inside a plastic bag is a good idea to protect against external moisture (rain, snow, falling into the creek), and internal moisture (sweat, involuntary loss of muscle control when you see a mountain lion).  As for a compass, the one you get in class is fine. But you need to know how to use it to orient your map, and then figure out where you are, and how to get where you want to be.  WBC will teach you all of that!

2. Sun protection: sun screen, lip protection, a hat and probably sun glasses. Your eyes can get sunburned, especially at high altitudes, and with a lot of reflective surfaces (like sand and snow). Sounds painful?  It is. This essential means protection from the sun in general. Sunscreen and lip protection are very important, as is a hat with a broad rim. You can make a baseball cap work in a pinch, IF you also have a bandana (see list of IMPORTANTS).

3. Insulation.  Typically, this means extra clothing but things like a sleeping bag, tent, survival sack, and insulating pad can all help shield you from the elements. What you bring can vary depending on the severity of your trip. But the idea is to carry something that will let you live through the night in case you get caught out. I use to carry a space blanket all the time. It's about the size of a small fist, and will do a good job of reflecting your own body heat back at you (assuming you still have some). A better bet, I think, is a space bag. It's the same size and weight as a space blanket, but it's shaped like a sleeping bag and does a better job keeping the heat in since it's closed.  But probably the best is the simplest: more clothes than you think you'll need.

4. Illumination (fancy word for a flashlight). Also carry an extra set of batteries and an extra bulb. This is really invaluable when you are trying to cook after dark. It gets really dark in the desert. The best thing to get is a headlamp (Petzl makes several, the cheapest is fine for most people) to leave your hands free to cook, set up the tent, hold your book, whatever.  The new LED versions are fantastic. You can also get a strap that goes around your head like a sweat band, that has a pocket to hold a regular mini-mag light. Yes, you will look foolish. But you won't be trying to hold it in your mouth, or drop it in your pasta.

5. First aid kit and personal supplies. Try not to go insane with your first aid kit.  Small, lightweight and simple is fine.  You'll get a lot of instruction about these, but make sure you include any personal medications.  Also bring along things you'll need for hygiene (like toilet paper).

6.  Fire.  Yes, you need the ability to make fire.  This comes down to two things.  First, fool proof ignition. The easiest is waterproof matches. Beyond what you normally use. You can buy fancy waterproof matches, or dip regular ones in paraffin. Waterproof containers are a cheap way of keeping them protected. Also protect the striker for your matches, since a wet one won't work.  However, make sure the striker can not come into contact with the match heads - explosive devices are not allowed on Sierra Club hikes!  Water also kills butane lighters, so don't rely on them to save your life.

Second, something you can use to get a fire started even in wet conditions, such as a candle or fuel tablet. Typically this means a candle, which can ignite even wet wood, and maybe something flammable to use as tinder. You can saturate cotton balls or lint from your clothes dryer with Vasoline and stuff them in an old film canister to use as tinder.

7.  Repair kit.  The basic tool is a pocket knife.  You can MacGyver it up as much as you want from there.

8. Extra food. Pick something that isn't tasty so you won't be tempted to eat it (and then not have it when you really need it). Broccoli and Power Bars do it for me.

9. Hydration.  Extra water is water beyond what you think you'll need for the hike. If you're planning on drinking two liters, stash a third in your pack. You might also want to bring along some purification tablets. The water may taste yucky, but it will keep you alive.

10. Emergency shelter.  You may wish for your tent, but do you really want to add 6 pounds for a day hike?  If not, make sure you do take rain gear, a poncho, or a really big trash bag (really).

11. Communication. This one is unofficial, but you should consider it.  There are lots of options, from inexpensive whistles and signal mirrors, up to 2 way radios, cell phones, satellite radios, and personal locator beacons.