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Nothing in this cache should be relied on to save your life if you experience an emergency. The cache is more informational than anything else and should serve as a reminder to be prepared for the environment you are hiking into.
Starting off the cache contained 1 LED Stanley Headlamp, Emergency Hooded Rain Poncho, Emergency Survival Sleeping Bag, Write in the Rain Log Book, 2 Trackables I found while Geocaching. Please bring your writing implement of choice.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
The Ten Essentials are survival items that hiking and scouting organizations recommend for safe travel in the backcountry.
Ten essentials list
According to the eighth edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills book there are ten essentials, which are now referred to as the "classic" essentials. While still valid and widely used they do not reflect modern outdoor sports and all of the new gadgets that now are common.
1.Map
2.Compass (optionally supplemented with a GPS receiver)
3.Sunglasses and sunscreen
4.Extra clothing
5.Headlamp (or flashlight)
6.First-aid supplies
7.Firestarter
8.Matches
9.Knife
10.Extra food
In 2003, the essential list was revised as part of the seventh edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills[4] to keep up with modern equipment. The current edition, 8th edition[3] continues with the new essentials list with no major revisions. The new list takes a "systems" or functional approach.
1.Navigation. Topographic map and assorted maps in waterproof container plus a magnetic compass, optional altimeter or GPS receiver.
2.Sun protection. Sunglasses, sunscreen for lips and skin, hat, clothing for sun protection.
3.Insulation. Hat, gloves, jacket, extra clothing for coldest possible weather during current season.
4.Illumination. Headlamp, flashlight, batteries. LED bulb is preferred to extend battery life.
5.First-aid supplies, plus insect repellent.
6.Fire. Butane lighter, matches in waterproof container.
7.Repair kit and tools. Knives, multi-tool, scissors, pliers, screwdriver, trowel/shovel, duct tape, cable ties.
8.Nutrition. Add extra food for one additional day (for emergency). Dry food is preferred to save weight and usually needs water.
9.Hydration. Add extra 2 liters of water for one additional day (for emergency).
10.Emergency shelter. Tarp, bivouac sack, space blanket, plastic tube tent, jumbo trash bags, insulated sleeping pad.
The textbook recommends supplementing the ten essentials with:
•Portable water purification and water bottles
•Ice axe for glacier or snowfield travel (if necessary)
•Signaling devices, such as a whistle, mobile phone, two-way radio, satellite phone, unbreakable signal mirror or flare, laser pointer.
Not every expedition will require the use of an essential item. Carrying these basic items improves the chances that one is prepared for an unexpected emergency in the outdoors. For instance, if a hiker experiences a sudden snow storm, fresh clothes and fire starter may be used to keep warm, or the map and compass and headlamp will allow them to exit the wilderness quickly; otherwise they might succumb to hypothermia and perhaps even death. In addition, what you carry on a short summer trip on a popular trail is much less than a snowshoe trip in winter where you do not expect to see other people because the chances of being benighted are higher and because the risk of suffering hypothermia are greater.
Some experts recommend having duplicates of the Essentials in different sized kits: in pockets, on key rings, in pocket kits, belt pouches, belt packs, day packs, and backpacks.[5]
A caution: The ten essentials are simply equipment. The skills necessary to use the equipment to your advantage only come with experience. For example, first aid training is more important than simply carrying a first aid kit. Matches are useless if you don’t have experience finding dry wood in wet conditions. Practicing map and compass skills is vital to being able to use them to navigate…and so on.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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