mckrob
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2007
- Messages
- 2,018
I just returned last night from Mali, West Africa. I was there for a couple of weeks getting a job started in a pretty remote area of the country.
The view from the hotel rooftop in the capital city of Bamako
Doing some shopping at one of the local markets before heading out of the city.
a crowded Bamako city street
a five hour drive from the city, quite a luxurious camp with air conditioning and running water!
We are working sometimes quite far from camp so I made sure that we were well equipped with survival gear, first aid kits, machetes, water, etc.
Before leaving I removed my RC-5 and substituted my RC-4, a little lighter to carry, and having a machete a larger knife was not really necessary.
Contents of RAT pack and other items carried on person:
-Suunto MC2G global compass
-Suunto clinometer
-waterproof field book
-sunglasses
-Izula
-SPOT II Messenger
-signal mirror
-RAT fire starter
-DMT compact sharpener
-Adventure Medical Pocket Survival Pack
-Petzl TakTikka headlamp
-Leatherman Wave (on belt)
-Spyderco Manix II
my guys at work, it doesn't look like it but it's 43deg C (110f) in the shade; stinking hot. We are walking 16km per day, drinking 8-10 litres of water per day.
local kids wondering what we are up to...
a very captive audience everywhere we went...
Overall I was quite impressed with the RAT PACK, so much so that I am going to make sure it's a standard piece of kit for my guys. It's built like a tank, and has more than enough room for a basic survival kit. I personally prefer it with the lighter weight RC-4, but I can see if one was not carrying a machete or axe, an RC-5 or RC-6 would possibly be a better alternative.
.
The view from the hotel rooftop in the capital city of Bamako
Doing some shopping at one of the local markets before heading out of the city.
a crowded Bamako city street
a five hour drive from the city, quite a luxurious camp with air conditioning and running water!
We are working sometimes quite far from camp so I made sure that we were well equipped with survival gear, first aid kits, machetes, water, etc.
Before leaving I removed my RC-5 and substituted my RC-4, a little lighter to carry, and having a machete a larger knife was not really necessary.
Contents of RAT pack and other items carried on person:
-Suunto MC2G global compass
-Suunto clinometer
-waterproof field book
-sunglasses
-Izula
-SPOT II Messenger
-signal mirror
-RAT fire starter
-DMT compact sharpener
-Adventure Medical Pocket Survival Pack
-Petzl TakTikka headlamp
-Leatherman Wave (on belt)
-Spyderco Manix II
my guys at work, it doesn't look like it but it's 43deg C (110f) in the shade; stinking hot. We are walking 16km per day, drinking 8-10 litres of water per day.
local kids wondering what we are up to...
a very captive audience everywhere we went...
Overall I was quite impressed with the RAT PACK, so much so that I am going to make sure it's a standard piece of kit for my guys. It's built like a tank, and has more than enough room for a basic survival kit. I personally prefer it with the lighter weight RC-4, but I can see if one was not carrying a machete or axe, an RC-5 or RC-6 would possibly be a better alternative.
.
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, kinda Africa for dummies tutorial 
