The ten essentials
- Navigation. A paper map of the area and a compass, and the skill to use them. A phone or GPS is a help, not a replacement.
- Light. A headlamp or flashlight, with spare batteries.
- Sun protection. Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and clothing that covers.
- First aid. A kit you have opened and know, plus any medicine you depend on.
- Knife and repair. A knife or multi-tool, some cord and some tape.
- Fire. A lighter or matches kept dry, and tinder that will catch when wet.
- Shelter. An emergency blanket, bivy sack or light tarp. Something between you and wind and rain.
- Extra food. More than the day needs, in a form that needs no cooking.
- Extra water. More than the day needs, and a way to treat more.
- Extra clothes. An insulating layer and a rain shell beyond what you start in. Dress for the coldest hour you could be out, not the hour you leave.
Before you leave: the plan you leave behind
Going to by way of . Vehicle: parked at . Back by . If you have not heard from me by , call .
Give it to someone who will act on it, and tell them when you are back.
If the day goes wrong
- Stop. Sit down, drink some water, and do nothing for five minutes. Most bad decisions are made in the first rush.
- Think. Where were you last sure of your position? How much daylight is left?
- Stay found. If you are unsure, stay where you are. A person who stays put is found sooner than one who keeps moving.
- Get out of the weather before dark. Shelter and warmth first, then signal, then water. Food can wait.
The list above is the “Ten Essentials” as the National Park Service publishes it. For more, see the wilderness navigation guide and the rest of Self-Reliance.