Advice on Snowshoeing Survival Kit

[Mentor]

Ooh, this is a topic close to my heart! I wait all year for the snowshoeing season to start, and spend as much time in the powder and off the trails as possible.

Most of the things I would suggest have already been covered, but I'll add a few thoughts:

Brightly-coloured survey tape is an absolute must, in my opinion. If your friend wanders off-trail or gets turned around in bad weather, it can be surprisingly difficult to backtrack (even after leaving big snowshoe-shaped tracks). The winter can make it difficult to establish landmarks in some areas. In my regular stomping grounds, high winds and blowing snow can easily erase tracks after a few hours. Being able to mark your way in a survival situation (should you decide to press on rather than shelter in place) can make a big difference when it comes to being found.

Bright lanyards for everything!

+1 to the recommendation of a fixed blade for snowshoeing, though a small hatchet might be even better. Manual Dexterity can take a serious hit in cold weather survival situations, especially if your friend gets wet (which is likely), and having a means to cut and split wood without dealing with moving parts can be important.

Extra gloves and socks are important. Many winter survival tasks (fire prep, shelter building, or even dealing with an injury) will probably cause even the best pair of gloves to get thoroughly soaked, and being able to swap cold gloves for a fresh pair can make a big difference in terms of comfort and frostbite prevention. I would make the backup pair mittens instead of gloves, for extra warmth.

I always throw a few extra plastic bags in my pack when I'm out on a longer snowshoeing trip, especially towards the beginning and end of the season. These are to act as boot liners in case I punch through the snow and hit a creek, stream, or pocket of water and get a soaker. It has happened before! Usually, I'm not in too much trouble when I go through, as I wear gaiters and waterproof boots, but I have had a few real soakers in the past. Being able to throw on a replacement thermal sock, stuff my foot into a few plastic bags, and rush back to civilization as fast as possible is usually preferable to waiting for my gear to dry over a fire.

All for now, and all the best,

- Mike

 

[DWK2]

Many years ago I procured for the snowshoer's mother a bunch of GB axes to give away as gifts. She might still have a mini belt hatchet that could be used for a survival kit. I often carry one because they are useful for butchering big game as well as wood prep. However, at 12.8 oz. (mine) a mini hatchet would start to weigh down the kit a lot. I'm struggling with the task of coming up with a good kit that would be carried all the time versus a great kit that would be left at home a lot.

The survey tape is a good idea. Light, too.

I have sometimes carried some SealSkinz socks that are highly water resistant. If you get your entire foot/boot soaked, you can change socks and use them to protect your foot and dry replacement sock from the wet boots. However, your plastic bags are a lot cheaper solution.

I appreciate your experience and insight!

DancesWithKnives

 

[fnc]

She already has ski goggles so she could consider including them if the total pack weight/bulk doesn't get out of hand.

When hunting in below zero weather I carry a surplus military face protector. Otherwise, I figure I can wrap my light wool scarf around my face. I'll address this with her.

A light wool scarf is a good piece of kit, but I quit using one when I started skiing; the
scarf can catch in bushes and trees; and it was not part of ski-culture when I started.

She has a Denali grade Icefall parka from Feathered Friends so if it's really cold she can bring a state-of-the-art parka.

Ironically, I never took my warmest parkas on trips because they were heavy and
I would rather have a layered approach. It is a judgment call, for each person and
situation. Sometimes everyday items work; for her, and example could be: an
extra pair of double knit pants.

Note that she'll never be snowshoeing solo.

Amen to that.

Although that's generally a positive thing, if you go with four other people and none has any survival gear, it can seriously compromise the effectiveness of your kit.

Especially in winter, your entire kit is your survival kit, I would ask that fellow trippers
bring extra clothing. I have loaned out clothing, more than once, in one case the lady
would have died.

She mentioned to me that she was "feeling cold". I said zip up your vest (from 3/4 to full).
She moved to do it, but her hands did not work!!. I zipped up her vest and I stayed
facing her. I asked another guy to fetch my down jacket out of my pack and he put it on
her. Then I had him fetch my plastic thermos of hot chocolate and he fed her.

She started warming. I put her hands on my stomach and they warmed quickly.
She could manage , so we went on and her body generated more heat. It turned out OK.
That was a day with no wind, and slightly warmer than average temperature about
25F, in a rolling hill forest near Tennessee Pass.

She had got cold in these mild temps, because lunch lasted longer than usual.
Also, she had not moved, to generate heat, during long lunch break.

 

[DWK2]

Good points and a great story.

I carry as a backup a Western Mountaineering Flight Jacket. Very lofty down and only 12 oz. in my XL size. The Icefall parka is heavier but maybe Santa will bring her a Flight Jacket or the Feathered Friends equivalent, which is also very light and warm.

When I'm out in AK or the Yukon I always try to make sure my companions have adequate survival kits. One time I took a hike from a spot a few days down the Nisutlin River in the Yukon (not a very remote river by Yukon standards, but still....). It started to rain fairly hard so I suggested we get out our ponchos. My partner explained that he had left his survival pack in camp because he didn't want to carry the extra weight and because I had one. After an extended ass chewing I told him that in the future I would insist that he show me the survival gear at the start of each hike or he wasn't going. You just never know what people will pull.

DancesWithKnives

 

[TreeChopper]

Those chemical warmers come in a larger, body size that can be placed on the torso. I got some last year at Walmart.

Yes on the zip ties... they are holding one snowshoe together at the moment. Very tough and handy. Get bright-colored ones, not clear/white.

Dark-colored paracord for winter.

Garrish-colored bandana - mine is hunter orange/lime green/yellow striped. :barf: Can't miss it. Go to the fabric store and pick your color.

Orange duct tape

Reflectix might also work for a seat. Can also make a pot cozy/hat/mitten/bowl with it and duct tape if needed.

Heightened awareness of environment and self. She needs to be aware of her own body -- it's quirks and limitations, what she can and cannot do, what might need to be done differently than others in the group.

Decision-making skills.

Trust - in her intuition -- if she senses something is amiss, explore it further. Could be something, could be nothing.

As she gains experience, she'll trust herself....that she knows how to avoid getting into a situation and if crap happens anyway, she can help herself. It's a nice place to be when one can say, "yes this is bad but I know what to do and have the gear to do it."

Self-monitoring is important.. fatigue, hunger, thirst, sweating, pain, etc. Over-confidence can get athletic types into trouble too.

Because I do venture out alone I am extra-mindful of what's underfoot and where I place my feet. I remind myself -- Don't step on what you can step over, don't step over what you can step around. Lower back spasms caused by a fall aren't fun.

Don't forget a camera.

Didn't mean to ramble on.

EDIT: prescription meds if they haven't been mentioned already. Been there, forgot those.

 

[Random04]

If she uses the water filter, she'll need to keep it warm after she uses it. In her coat or vest, otherwise it will freeze and shatter. Doesn't work good as a filter then - experience.

I've had some luck keeping my water bottles upside down. The lids still freeze but I usually have liquid water available to drink since it freezes from the top down.

+1 on the titanium cup. I have one of these http://www.rei.com/product/708071 and love having a cover. Just make sure there is water/snow/ice on the bottom of the pot while heating otherwise the bottom can burn out.

Another +1 on the chemical hand warmers. I give them out like candy before going out into the snow.

 

[DWK2]

I haven't seen the really large chemical warmers----thanks for the info!

That covered cup looks like a better choice than my uncovered 600 ml---especially for cold weather use.

Muchas gracias!

DancesWithKnives

 

[mtwarden]

That covered cup looks like a better choice than my uncovered 600 ml---especially for cold weather use.



DancesWithKnives

never fear this guy offers a lid for the 600, I've got one- fits perfect, it's light and the little knob allows you to hang off the edge of the mug- it also allows you to grab it w/o worrying about burning your fingers

http://snowpeak600lid.webs.com/

 

[RickJ]

the large Rucksack to carry on this kit in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RickJ

 

[DWK2]

Next to putting together an adequate kit, that's my biggest concern. I can't expect a young college student out with friends for a brief, local snowshoe outing to carry as much emergency/survival gear as I carry for wilderness elk hunting in the mountains of Montana. I know that it is better to have more gear and not need it than too little to get the job done. However, the struggle I mentioned before is between a great kit that rarely gets carried versus a merely adequate kit that gets carried every time.

If anyone has any suggestions on items that could be deleted, those suggestions would also be helpful.

As always, everyone's advice is deeply appreciated.

DancesWithKnives

 

[Oregon Knife Guy]

Sorry if someone already said it, I didn't read all f the responses, but extra socks.

 

[fujita yuji]

If there's a risk of avalanche, beacons should be added.
In that case, a pair of shovels also.

Shovel is great in snowy land. We can build anything we want with shovels.

 

[mtwarden]

I carry a small axe, Gerber/Fiskars 14" weight is about 18 oz w/ sheath- if your carrying one, personally I'd probably nix her carrying one

instead of a scarf I'd suggest a merino Buff or the like- can wear it in several configs and be used for a lot of other things besides a nack/head covering, they are very light

for packs I use a Golite Ion, no frills, pretty tough pack that weighs in at a whopping 10 oz (size large)- I use a Gossamer Gear SitLight pad as a "frame", it makes a nice warm sit pad too weighs 1.5 oz

including water, extra clothing, food and survival gear you should be able to get everything in the 6-8 lb range- that's a pretty comfortable, unobtrusive load for skiing or snowshoeing

 

[TreeChopper]

I haven't seen the really large chemical warmers----thanks for the info!
DancesWithKnives

Welcome.

Prevention note: Not sure others need to do this but I remove metal jewelry from my earlobes. I usually wear several earrings on each lobe and they can get cold if I forget or my hat doesn't cover my ears entirely. If she has other piercings exposed to the cold air.... lose the metal.

 

[TreeChopper]

The person who will be carrying the kit is a female

DancesWithKnives

I'll bring this up. Feminine hygiene products in the FAK and adequate amounts of Motrin, Midol or whatever is used for cramps/backaches/headaches, if anything is used for this. Where's the TP/Kleenex in it's waterproof case?

 

[DWK2]

I was focusing on the emergency/survival kit aspect rather than stuff a young woman would normally carry. But thanks for the reminders.

The point about the piercings is a good one. I believe she has only earrings but I'll mention it.

I use a GoLite Gust for multi-day backpacking. Good gear. I'm not sure what her present daypack is but purchasing something appropriate would not be a problem.

She won't be in avalanche country, but I appreciate the reminder of that hazard and the gear necessary to address it.

Thanks!

DancesWithknives

 

[TreeChopper]

I was focusing on the emergency/survival kit aspect rather than stuff a young woman would normally carry. But thanks for the reminders.

DancesWithknives

OK. She may not normally carry anything when not needed though. They are dual-duty items too, and depending on what items are carried they can be used for their intended purpose plus nosebleeds, bleeding from lacerations, eye cover, etc, ..... and starting fires. I've read about the fire thing... haven't tried it. Just thought I'd mention it.

Thanks for the thread... it got me thinking about what's in my own pack. :thumbup:

I hope she has fun!

 

[DWK2]

Thank YOU! I'm even thinking of making a couple changes in my hunting pack.

DancesWithknives

 

[acropolis5]

I'm assuming that she will also want to use adjustable poles, So, she should make 2 "pole splints". Cut the ends off a soda can and slice open (in one cut) the resulting cylinder. Roll -up the result. Along with duct tape and/or zip ties, it makes a great, almost weightless, repair item.

 

[DWK2]

Good suggestion!

As with many really thorough survival kits, this one now appears like it would weigh around 7-9 lbs. My Montana hunting pack weighs more but the snowshoer for whom this is being built is smaller than I am. I need to take all the excellent recommendations and try to lighten the pack up a bit.

Everyone's help is much appreciated,

DancesWithKnives