in pack and on person

[sadiejane]

was watching this little vid from forum member rescue riley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f8dp5qYHqY&feature=channel

which got me to thinking bout my gear
the stuff i carry in my pack versus the stuff i carry on my person

of course it seems reasonable and wise to carry some basic survival stuff
on yr person
just in case ya get separated from yr pack

just wondering about yr thoughts?
what you do to ensure you have some basic stuff on yr person?
any pix or vids ya might have of yr setup would be great
thanks

 

[sicily02]

sadiejane,
Carrying a some pocket gear is just like having some extra insurance in case things go wrong for what ever reason.
I carry a small firstaid/compass pouch with these items in it every day.

It goes on my belt and is right beside my belt knife

on my right hip.

In my pockets I carry these items.

Left front pocket 12 feet of 550 cord and then a tin of ointment.
Right front pocket. a spycapsule with cotton and pj mix with a firesteel rod in there also. then a tin with a roll of dental floss and a small SAK pocket knife.
Left back pocket my wallet and right back pocket a bandana, DMT duafold
corse and fine knife sharpener and my comb.

Having some extra pocket and small pouch gear in case you loose or get seperated from your pack is just using a good thing to do.

I like your set up there RR, Cool video.

Bryan

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Well, it sounds like a good idea.
One of the reasons I like cargo pants/BDUs is I carry a FAK in one thigh pocket and a survival kit in the other. Since I tend to carry small rucksacks, I wear my canteens and knives on my belt along with a pouch for poncho and fire kit.

One thing I'm unclear on, though, is a lot of people seem to worry about being separated from their pack. Other than those who basecamp hike -- leaving their heavy equipment behind, how do you envision being easily separated from your pack?

 

[MustardMan]

Honestly, I rarely have much of anything on my person. Folder and a flashlight in a pocket are usually about as far as I go. I do keep a few small things on my keychain, which is usually in a pocket, so I would at least have those - a mini p-nut lighter and small pry bar, but not much else.

 

[sicily02]

Cpl. P. All it take is to set your pack down and have a zombe, bear or a squirl lol) jump out at you from behind a tree and then in your frightened state of mind.
You take off running and do not have your pack. Pocket gear can be a life saver.

Ok Ok I will tell you a little story that happened to me many years ago.
I was camping out one night by my self. Well earlyer in that day. A cousin of mine had come by the house and asked if I wanted to go into town with him. He had to get so me suplies. As we were riding into town we crossed a bridge and small creek next to a set of rail road tracks which was not to far from the little blue river .
That is when my cousin said blood creek and then shuddered and shook his shoulders like he was scared. I asked him what are you talking about. Blood creek what is that.
He tells me a story. Back in 1939 there was a group of high school kids that were camping near that creek, sometime in the night a train had gone by and a deranged killing hobo had gotton off and killed all the kids with a axed and they never cought him. and so from that time on that creek was called Blood creek. I was like WOW I did not know that. About a minute later when all was quite in the car he starts to giggle and then told me he was just fooling with me. I was like you dirty rat.

Later that night when I was camping by myself and the darkness set in. I was sitting next to my fire and carving a hot dog stick when my imagination started to get the best of me. I heard a twig snap behind me and I shot out of camp running for my life down the trail and through our timber lol.
It took about 10 seconds to regain my composere and settle down, but by that time I was about 50 yards from my campsite. I had left pack and even dropped my knife. I was kicking myelf for being a scaried cat but because that happened I have carried pocket gear and even a extra knife on my belt from time to time too.

There are to many things that can happen to lose your pack to mention but you get the idea.

Bryan

 

[Todd A]

On my person... I have a knife (or two ), means to make fire, fix Boo Boos, collect and purify water (oven bag/iodine tablets), cordage,light, and a whistle.

My bag holds much more...

 

[canadiantrailman]

registered user

 

[sadiejane]

One thing I'm unclear on, though, is a lot of people seem to worry about being separated from their pack. Other than those who basecamp hike -- leaving their heavy equipment behind, how do you envision being easily separated from your pack?

well, it doesnt seem likely to me either actually. but reckon it could happen. sorta like you, i typically wear pants that have numerous closable pockets and have always carried some basic stuff there. there have been a few hikes/bushwhacking ive done where i removed pack and lowered with cordage as i didnt wanna scramble down with pack on. and also climbed without pack on and hauled up with cordage. not my typically backpacking but have done it at times. reckon a thoughtless move here(like somehow letting go of cordage, poor knotting etc) could end up without pack. usually when im doing that sorta climbing im with others tho. so....hopefully even if i lost my pack, things would be fine.

just food fer thought thats all.
it seems thats when the typically outting can become a survival situation. when things happen we are not expecting.

 

[wildmike]

I always carry my knife and several other items onmy person. Not just a small knife either, it is either my kukri or one of my 10" blades. I carry a pouch with several other surtvival items as well, plus other stuff in my pockets.

I got this habit DRILLED into me over several years in the military, as well as a few decades of time in the woods.

IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO BECOME SEPERATED FROM YOUR PACK. It happens very frequently due to accident (rolling down hills, dropping the pack to save your ass after falling while fording a river etc); Wildlife encounters (giving that bear something to sniff at other than you). Or having to drop rucks and run for whatever reason.

That is why all my level one gear remains on my person including a large knife and a stout folder at the very least.

When I'm carrying my pack I have a seperate bag which carries only survival gear which acn be detached in a hurry so that if I'm in a dicey situation I can continue on without the full pack and still be able to keep myself alive and fed etc.

 

[TheGame]

Well, it sounds like a good idea.
One of the reasons I like cargo pants/BDUs is I carry a FAK in one thigh pocket and a survival kit in the other.

+1 to that :thumbup:

I always have cargo pants on and have them on my person at all times. Although I have to use the First aid more at work than I believe I will ever have to in the woods at any time.

 

[ROCK6]

One thing I'm unclear on, though, is a lot of people seem to worry about being separated from their pack. Other than those who basecamp hike -- leaving their heavy equipment behind, how do you envision being easily separated from your pack?

I think it's a valid concern even in not probable. There is always the possibility of the canoe turned over, falling in a deep, fast moving river (needing to jettison the pack); I've done some bouldering and climbed to some decent heights with a lot of deep crevices...if you took you pack off for a break and it fell, chance are you'd never retrieve it. I've done backpacking and hiking in deep ravines where flash floods could catch you by surprise; if your pack isn't on you (i.e. taking a break, etc.), you could easily loose it if not given enough time to grab. Lastly, there's always the possibility of your tent catching on fire (if you store your pack in it) or the chance your kids left pogey bait in your pack and it's ravaged by critters. As soon as you ignore Mr. Murphy and give him the finger...you often get an unscheduled, forced prostate exam from Dr. Murphy

ROCK6

 

[hiwa]

I always keep my EDC light, because if it's too much stuff it'll be a pain to carry around EVERY DAY. But I absolutely always have three things: a knife , flashlight , and lighter. I do keep survival kits/FAK's stashed everywhere though. Just don't like a lot of stuff in my pockets.

 

[Shotgun]

Basic edc although I dont know why my SAK farmer isn't in the pic. When hiking I have a belt knife on me as well.

 

[udtjim]

Bryan. I know what you mean about the stories. When I was a kid we would listen to those scarey stories on the radio, ( No TV in those days ) Then would come those long trips out to the out house in the dark. I would set in that little house and hear all kinds of sounds out in the dark. I would get all ready then bust out the door and run like hell for the house with whatever it was right on my tail. Lucky, whatever it was never caught me.

 

[ROCK6]

Bryan. I know what you mean about the stories. When I was a kid we would listen to those scarey stories on the radio, ( No TV in those days ) Then would come those long trips out to the out house in the dark. I would set in that little house and hear all kinds of sounds out in the dark. I would get all ready then bust out the door and run like hell for the house with whatever it was right on my tail. Lucky, whatever it was never caught me.

OMG! I'm MUCH younger than you udtjim, but my father built an outhouse when our home was under construction. I had a few late-night scares during some Mother Nature calls...and I soooo remember getting so scared and busting open the door and racing back to the house!

Bryan also reminded me of those "Bear Grylls" moments when you lose your common sense and run off willy nilly. My good college friend and I were bow hunting for elk. After a bunch of stalking, we took a break and he took a seat on a downed tree. After a few minutes of BSing, he started twitching...almost like having a seizure, except quite colorful language. I was laughing my butt off and he up and jumped and took off running down the hill through the timber. He left his pack and bow! Of course him screaming yellow jackets sunk into my humored mind and I too received a healthy stinging (about 30-40 stings) and did the same idiotic race down the side of the mountain. About 300 yards down the hill, we caught our breath between curses and heavy breathing realizing we had to climb back up to our packs and the yellow jackets. Needless to say, it took a while to find our gear and stealthily get our gear and head home with our tails between our legs. Can you get separate from your pack? Yeah, it can happen...again, not probable, but possible.

Oh, the memories...

 

[beef]

I sometimes carry my opinel and firesteel in my pocket while walking. Anything more than that becomes a pain on serious walks for me. Particularly offtrack walking. When you're just plowing through the scrub, it's easy for things in pockets/ belt/ strapped to the pack to come loose.

So I try to minimise that problem by having everything in the pack, so i know it'll be there when I hit camp.

I think losing your pack is only really an issue for those walking alone and/ or those who basecamp and walk far from their setup.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

well, it doesnt seem likely to me either actually. but reckon it could happen. sorta like you, i typically wear pants that have numerous closable pockets and have always carried some basic stuff there. there have been a few hikes/bushwhacking ive done where i removed pack and lowered with cordage as i didnt wanna scramble down with pack on. and also climbed without pack on and hauled up with cordage. not my typically backpacking but have done it at times. reckon a thoughtless move here(like somehow letting go of cordage, poor knotting etc) could end up without pack. usually when im doing that sorta climbing im with others tho. so....hopefully even if i lost my pack, things would be fine.

You sure you're a chick?? :foot:

OK, you and quite a few others brought up mountaineering. I never really got to go into terrain that was very sharp with a lot of crevices and such, and what rope climbing I did was when I was younger, stronger, and dumber, and I just wore my pack. I can definitely buy those scenarios.

Falling into a river -- maybe, but I was always taught to pack your ruck right, and it'll act as a flotation device, and actually be something you want to hang on to, not ditch. Of course, you don't keep it on your back when doing this, so it could get away from you.


As for running, I dunno, but since we're sharing stories. . .
It was a dark, lonely night back in my Army days. OK, not so lonely, it was a live fire FTX. So there we are sneaking through the woods when one joker decided it'd be fun to scare the pig gunner. So he comes up behind me, and grunts "HEY!" just as he slaps me on the shoulder. So I of course pull a Predator, you know, hold the trigger down and wave the damn thing around. After shooting my load (the whole 200 round belt) I looked back and smiled. All of a sudden, it wasn't funny anymore. <sigh>

 

[mtwarden]

I've given this subject quite a bit of thought, getting separated from your pack in the backcountry wouldn't be a lot of fun, but it's definitely something that happens (fortunately not a lot).

I carry my small fixed blade neck style and setup it up as a kit- along w/ the knife is ~ 15' of 170 # Spectra cord, LMF Scout steel/striker, Fox whistle, Photon light, 16 oz MRE hot beverage bag, two Microput water tabs, two tinderquick tabs, heavy needle w/ ~ 30' of 30# spectra fishing line, ranger band

in my pocket (tethered to a belt loop) I keep a K&M matchsafe w/ UCO storm matches/striker, has a Suunto compass in the head, hacksaw blade knife/striker, small steel, firestraws

as all of my hiking pants/shorts have small cargo pockets- I keep a small FAK in one and a one person AMK heatsheet in the other

if I were to get separated from my pack I've got enough kit to get a fire going, put up a debris shelter, procure/purify water, navigate, signal and treat wounds

 

[sicily02]

UDT JIM, Rocks 6, Cpl. P., great stories guys.
Getting seperated from your pack would be no fun. But NOT having any pocket gear could mean the difference between having a ok time out or a really rough time out.
Heck you could be just on the trail and have some hold you up and take your pack. It does not have to be dropping while running from a bear or crossing a stream and lose your footing, set your pack down for a break and step a way from it to look at plant and then have some thing get between you and your pack and then you are running for your life while being chased by what ever( bear, wild dogs, crazy person etc.

Mt warden, I like your set up.

Take care all,

Bryan

 

[carspidey]

interesting thread... I really need to get a camera to share with you guys (not the camera, but the pictures )