Do your "survival" priorities change with the seasons?

S

SouthernCross

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Jun 25, 2008
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I'm interested to see if others have changes in survival priorities that come about with changes in the season?

For example here in Australia, the cooler seasons don't see much in the way of snake activity when compared to the warmer months. Another difference is the increased requirement for water in the higher temps of our summers, compared to the lower temps of winter.

I'm interested in hearing if others have a change in focus, driven by local differences in the seasons :thumbup:



Kind regards
Mick
 
I always plan on getting the "wrong" weather for the season, as the rockies have a major impact on what weather Alberta gets. during the summer though I plan more especially for a major cold snap as I'm less acclimatized to the temp, and will be less likely to have cold weather clothing. I think that this is were something like a heat-sheet is very useful. anyone who's lived here for any length of time knows how fast and far the temp can change. I've seen from +25c to -15c with snow in under 12 hours, which could be a nasty surprise.
so really, my priorities don't change much, still warmth, water and food.
 
Here in central Texas, water typically is the highest priority during late spring through summer. It does get pretty chilly with severe thunderstorms and high winds over the cooler/transitional months, so shelter and appropriate clothing is edging near the top of the list. Need for fire isn't an issue unless it's really cold and it truly is a survival situation...there are burn bans all over down here most of the time and all through summer:mad:

I've lived in all but the northeast of the continental US, but I've also spent some time in South America, Korea and the Middle East. Every location, elevation and season will adjust your top priorities a little...but your "essentials" will still remain. There is a "ridge to river" relay race in Wenatchee, Washington...you start out in the mountains in the upper 20 to lower 30 degrees for cross country skiing, transition to a bike and then foot race and finally to a kayak race in the Columbia river where the temperatures are in the upper 80's to lower 90's (Fahrenheit). All this is done in a 4-6 hour period...quite a shift in temps and conditions!

I think clothing will remain a constant priority but I adjust according to the season; whether it's protection from the sun or protection from rain or snow or sleet or wind. You may have to add more bulk for insulation during the winter, but it's always a top priority for me. It may be wool or gore-tex in the winter, but I like the fast-drying synthetics for the summer.

Shelter is also in the same boat, but some seasons will dictate the necessity more than others. Water is always at the top, but in some places you just need a lot more!

I know you can go a while without food, but if it's extremely cold caloric intake is essential for your body to generate heat.

Insect repellant is nice to have at times and mandatory during some seasons at some locations.

Good topic as I think we all adjust our priorities slightly depending on the season and activities.

ROCK6
 
Rock has it right. In Texas I worry a LOT more about getting out of the sun and getting water in the summer than I would in the winter. I would consider not traveling in the day and would not worry about shelter at night.

TF
 
Hydration is a definate priority in all seasons, just moreso in winter. Got to start worryin bout heat exaustion too. Also priority for the warmer times is plants. More to explore.
 
My priorities don't change all that much. In Northern Michigan(where I do most of my outdoor's type activities), while it is much warmer in the summer, nightime temperatures can still drop into the 40's and 30's at night, even in the summer. While camping around the fourth of July last summer we had nightime temps in the low 40's so shelter and warmth are obviously still an important part of my preparation. Granted it is MUCH warmer than the below 0 temps in the winter. While I focus a bit less on having appropriate warm clothes and shelter making material in the summer, it is still an important priority.

Hydration is not much of a problem either season, ton's of small streams and lakes everywhere, so plenty of fresh water is around, of course a means to purify is still important. The daytime temperatures are rarely very high, but if I'm hanging out in a more southern part of MI, then I do have to make sure to keep up on hydration as it can get quite hot.

My EDC does change quite in the summer though. I carry my spyderco salt folders as my primary EDC folder as I'm often in and around water more in the summer (mostly because of my job), and it's nice to not have to worry about your knives. Being able to leave my folder clipped IWB while I'm in the water is also nice as I don't need to worry about it being stolen, etc. I also don't tend to include a flashlight unless I know I will be out after dark, and because this means about 5 PM in the winter and as late as 10PM in the summer, I often don't have a flashlight with me during my day in the summer.

Sunscreen and bug spray do get added to my load in the summer, the blackflies can be brutal, and I'm rather fair skinned so it's important to keep the sunscreen on until I build up a base tan. Plus there's really nothing worse than a sunburn, and I do have quite a history of skin cancer in my family. Goldbond powder and a hydrocorizone cream are also important additions to my summer load out, nothing helps the chafing better than these two things. I love the extra-strength goldbond in the green bottle.

So I guess my main priorities don't change all that much, proper clothing and shelter are always at the top (just much more intense in the winter). Hydration is rarely an issue for me, and I do like to add a couple of specific items in the summer (sunscreen, bug spray, goldbond)
 
Pretty much as others have said. In the summer I would be more concerned with my supply of water. In the winter you just don't go through it as quickly here. I guess that would be through our whole month of winter.
 
In central Brazil we only have two distinct seasons.

During rainy season we expect rain all day every day. The temps range from very warm if it stops raining to pretty chilly with possible hail when it rains alot. Water is not a factor during the rainy season, even the mountain tops are saturated. Fire is a major problem at times and we do have to make special preparations to get a fire going quickly.

In dry season it may go five or six months without a drop of rain. The night temps can get below freezing in the mountains on rare occasions but close enough to it on a regular basis to make hypothermia a threat. The higher elevations will be bone dry by the middle of dry season. Seasonal streams all turn into a series of muddy pools, then just muddy patches. Ticks and chiggers are out in force in the dry season. Fire conditions will get very, very dangerous. Mac
 
Also in Australia. Some seasonal issues that change for me:

1) Fire prep - huge fire risk mid summer frequently means no open fires but, if you do set up an open fire during the Australian summer, then a large clear space is required and that = time in set up.

2) Fluid management - for me this makes the biggest difference to pack weight above all other factors.

3) Mosquitoes and flies - very seasonal - ranging from 'no problem' to 'eaten alive'. Means tent v's swag for the wifey's sake...

(ok, the tent is for me :D)
 
My PSK's change depending on the season. I carry a much larger and more extensive kit in the winter when I am out and about in "no man's land" in the snow. I place more emphasis on shelter, fire, and signaling equipment than I do in my summer psk which is not much more than an altoids.
 
Where I live water is king a few weeks in summer. 100 during the day and about 60-70 at night so you're not going to freeze. I've decided to hike with my little maxpedition water bottle kit on day hikes during this time. Most of the time though we were worry about moisture. Then the day pack comes out with tarp and extra layers. I just monitor the temps and add or subtract layers accordingly. For instance right now I'd probably take just a rain shell but in winter I'll have a shell, a fleece, and a pair of long johns. This is on top of my wool/poly cap and extra pair of socks that are always in my day pack.
 
Fire, Shelter, Water, Food ... in that order, in any season.

Fire even in the summer as the mosquito/black fly/horse fly population is so thick during the summer you need a smudge going just to drive them back in order to accomplish any other tasks.

Fall/winter/spring - temps can range from at or above freezing during the day to -30's at night. Even the best shelters can only do so much, and take time to construct. I can build a shelter all night if I had to by a warm fire, but it's tough to do much if your hands freeze first.
 
I know it does for me, not hugely, but it does. Here in the summer, we have light untill 12Am, and the sun is back up at 7, so Its only a couple hours without light, But it can get nasty cold in winter, like minus -40, -50 Celcius so clothing is a big part of gear change, but most usual things stay the same, knife, light, compass, that style of gear.
 
Here in North Dakota we can have temperature and weather changes that can kill you in one day if you are fully prepared! So if you are in a multi-day survival situation you can be guaranteed to be doomed.

We see extremes of 100+ F on hot July/August days with no precipitation for months to -40 F PLUS 50mph winds taking windchills down to lifethreatening in minutes.

During one winter day you could see a balmy +20F plummet with a north wind down to -20F. This means you have to have plenty of gear on you to survive that type of cold. Dressing for 20 above could mean you are dead if caught in 20 below and a wind.

During the summer, that 100+ day could see a severe thunderstorm roll in with tornadoes and a drenching rain with a temperature drop of almost 50 degrees. That t-shirt and shorts could mean you have hypothermia in the extreme on that day. So having enough of the right clothes/protection is first priority.

During the summer in the heat and dry conditions, one must have enough water along. During the winter, with all the snow, one must be able to MELT that snow to have water. So hydration is important, but getting it may mean two entirely different things depending upon the season.

And that is just the beginning and two extreme examples to support my "Yes!" I change my gear and my vehicle components almost quarterly here.
 
It is much more tropical here in Jamestown:D. We don't need to change equipment for long. Spring, summer and fall last about 90 days followed by another nine months of winter.:grumpy: Where else can you be out laying sandbags for flooding during a blizzard? 50 degrees one day and zero the next day, at least the ice plugs leaks in the dikes.
 
Plainsman said:
..."YES!" I change my gear and my vehicle components almost quarterly here.
Click to expand...


Same here.

I find the gear I carry varies quite a bit from season to season.

The basics stay the same, but the focus of my kit does change.

Avoiding hypothermia is a prime concern during frigid winter weather, yet in hot try conditions things like staying hydrated, insect bites and skin abrasions are higher priorities.




"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike
 
The priorities of hydration and maintenance of body temperature never change, the methods and gear required to accomplish these goals does, and what I schlep along with me reflects that according to the season.
 
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