Leaving it behind.

Most of my outdoor trips are on a mountain bike, but lately I've added a dirt bike to mix. I'm forced to carry a fairly small kit of about a pound on long rides ranging from 30-50 miles. My biggest concern is an injury forcing an overnighter. So this time of year, with all the water I carry, extra clothes food, my survival stuff comes down to basic first aid, water purifier, fire kit, signaling and shelter. Of course, there's always a folder in my pocket and sometimes a fixed blade in the pack. I'm a pretty experienced biker and old enough to know my limits, but still crash on occasion. Lately there have been lots of crashes were newb's are getting life flighted of the hills, most are either concussions or collarbones. Breaking a collarbone is pretty common and it got me thinking whether I could start a fire with either matches or ferro rod like that. Hmm... may have to add to the kit.

I recently returned from a backpacking trip to Torres Del Paine in Chile. My pack with food was about 28lbs. We supplemented the food along the way and some of the clothes were for hanging in the refuges, but still carried too much clothes. Other than the ferro rod for lighting the stove and the swiss army knife for all the camp chores I left my extra survival kit at home. The tent, sleeping bag, etc was my survival kit.
 
suppertramp said:
If you have never done it check out the subway
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I'd love to at least do the dayhike from the bottom, but right now things are not looking good for me to get much time on my own this time around. I'm making the trip about Dad, and it's probably a one-time deal for him. After looking at all the places I want to show him, there's just not enough time. As it stands, I might get to do Orderville from the top(then up to Big Springs), if he decides not to do the Narrows with me. I want him to experience the Narrows, though, even if it takes all day, so it would seem I'm going to be in gawking tourist mode almost the whole time instead of backpacking or canyoneering.

btw, we won't just be at Zion. I'm taking him on the Kolob Canyons drive(and maybe Middle Fork of Taylor Creek to Double Arch Alcove), then Cedar Breaks National Monument, then viewpoints and a couple of rim trails at Bryce, then into Zion from the East side to see the slickrock, plus the Canyon Overlook trail, and the more "family hiking" dayhikes in the main canyon, like the Emerald Pools, Weeping Rock, and Observation Point(the back way from the East Mesa trail, don't know if he can make it from Weeping Rock), the Narrows if that works out, maybe sneaking through a resort that overlooks the West Rim so he can look into the canyons, then spending a day at Valley of Fire on the way back to Vegas, and the drive plus a short trail or two at Red Rock if we have time. We have 7 days+2 for flying in and out.
Not what I'd do on my own, but it should be a great week with my dad. He retires four days before we leave. The only time he's been out West was to CA for business meetings and on his way to Vietnam, so this will be a whole new experience for him, just like my first NV/UT trip was a couple years ago.
 
I carry almost no outdoor gear on my day hikes anymore. My first aid kit, some kind of knife, multi-tool in my pocket, and some water, how much depends on the day and where I'm going and a spare pair of socks or moccassins. Oh, and a few feet of TP; squishy underwear and a five mile walk is no way to spend a day.


Now camera gear, I usually carry about 30 pounds of that, but that's mainly because my big lens is all metal and very heavy, and my tripod's like 3000 years old, it's seriously made of flint. :p
 
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Kidding- it was for a weekend!

I'm a pocket stuffer, so I always have too much stuff with me. We haven't gone hiking too much since breaking my legs and with 2 kids (2 and 5) there isn't much time for me to do what I want alone, but still carry too much, partly so I can try a few things with new toys. Hunting 2 falls ago I really pared down, carrying only what would fit in a tactical vest. For me that was tough, but needed in case I got big game (saw a moose really close but got skunked). I may do some hiking solo in Banff in a couple of months during my Massage association conference, probably going pretty light for that one.
 
I only read the OP's message and not the 1 billion responses, so don't know if this is still relevant, but...

To the OP: I agree with you. When I read guys talking about a gas mask and ten knives in their pack, I just shake my head. If you are carrying more than 25 pounds (excluding food and water), you're doing it wrong, and 15 pounds is even better. That's my opinion.
 
Magnaminous_G said:
I only read the OP's message and not the 1 billion responses, so don't know if this is still relevant, but...

To the OP: I agree with you. When I read guys talking about a gas mask and ten knives in their pack, I just shake my head. If you are carrying more than 25 pounds (excluding food and water), you're doing it wrong, and 15 pounds is even better. That's my opinion.
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Hell 25lbs is what I try to limit myself to WITH water.
 
We have to distinguish survival from any other outdoor activity.
Survival has only so little to do with cool gear or cutting instruments. The word itself implies an abundance of unforeseen factors or disasters that could render any "cool toy" useless. For example having broken so many bones in your body that you cant move an inch, let alone split firewood. So lets agree that "survival" is a dirty little word, that in our days is used excessively by some clever folk to boost their business.

Moreover, I would expect that people that have been trained or at least considered a survival situation involving them, are less likely to find themselves in such a scenario, because they are aware of the dangers that are "out there". So logically, "survival gear" is actually less important to them.

But talking about living outdoors or outdoor activities, is a different think. There is room there for toys. It has always been there.
Surely you can make fire without having split nice fire wood. And you could just eat canned food, or nothing that needs cooking, like trail mixes. Or just walk all day and do nothing, apart from being warm and dry and well nourished. But this is not the point for me. By bringing a small axe and a crooked knife with you for example, you have the means to be creative and practice some serious whittling. By bringing a saw and some rope for example, you can make a nice camp. It will serve no "survival" purpose but I personally find it gratifying. By bringing a billy-pot, you can easily bring yourself to enjoy a proper stew at the end of a hard day. And you get the point. Everything becomes neat if you have the means to carry some tools.

The first time I went for bushcraft training, the instructor smiled when he looked at my gear. I even brought a small home-made hobbo stove with me, just to impress him a little :P.
But that is how it is. You firstly buy all the gear you can find, then try to use it, then you decide most of it is junk. And this is the natural progress. You eliminate items, through experience and gaining of knowledge.
 
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