What would you recommend taking on a flight to the 'northland'?

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Plainsman

Joined
Apr 5, 1999
Messages
1,170
I get to fly back home for a week in March!
biggrin.gif
That is, I'm flying from Texas to North Dakota for a job interview. I've lived there most of my life and KNOW the weather is very UNpredictable.

So any input on what to carry for survival gear considering:
1) I'm flying on commercial flights.
2) I'm RENTING a car.
3) The weather is ??????.

I usually carry a small pack of items and weather related clothing whenever I fly, but any ideas would be appreciated.



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Plainsman :)
primitiveguy@hotmail.com

You use what you have on you, then you improvise! :)
 
When in Rome..... Wear a warm coat, mittens, a warm hat, and warm warterproof boots, carry some dry socks with you and maybe some candy bars. This is all real nice stuff if you break down or get stuck in a blizzard. Besides, you'll fit in with the locals!
 
As a minimum: SAK, butane lighter, 12'x10' plastic drop cloth, rescue blanket, dental floss or equiv cord. Always travel with a heavy coat on hand.
 
Make sure the rental agency you get your car from supplies the following, or bring them with you:

Tire chains
Ice Scraper
spare alternator belt
minimal tool kit

As well, bring your cold weather gear, fit to your preferences (I could care less for waterproof when it's cold and snowy, as long as it's warm and breathable). Bring minimal survival stuff (Fire making, water melting/purification, signalling) and road distress stuff (Flares, reflective triangles).

You said you grew up there, so you should know the area. Bring what you'd need to wander around in the extremes of the weather and be comfortable, and stuff to make sure other people can see you in all of it.


Stryver
 
Hi Plainsman,

Since you lived there, you probably know it better than most of us what to prepare for. Given the season and the location I would try to finetune my gear and clothing (!) toward dry-cold and wet-cold weather. Less toward wilderness survival, since -as I imagine- you are not going to venture into the woods but rather move with different vehicles on built roads or in the air. And I would hardly prepare for airplane crash or other major disaster (like coup d'etat
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).
Also, due to airline luggage restrictions (unless ready to pay more), you might want to limit your gear to two suitcases and a carry-on bag. Put, therefore, the essentials on your body and the carry-on (daypack?) except knife, gun, flammable and explosives. Suit and portfolio could go into bottom of suitcase. Let somebody know about schedule of trip and call that person from agreed checkpoint. If no call for 24 hrs, that person can check next checkpoints and can determine on what section you are stuck. Probably that is a case when a cell phone makes sense. Also some cash on you as discussed on earlier posts. Some extra gas in the trunk of the car and a working car radio for weather forecast and good music. Quick shopping in a supermarket for some high calory emergency food/drink when rental car is picked up (in "worst" case you munch them for few days as snacks). Check road conditions ahead before leave checkpoint.
With the "kit", I doubt I can come up with revolutionary new ideas that you or the others didn't think of.
Have a safe and enjoyable trip, and good luck with the interview!

HM
 
Plainsman,
I get NoDak's weather a day later. We have had a very weird winter. Bouts of below zero weather mixed with very little snow. Belive it or not, we just went through a week of rain and thunderstorms. Totally erased all of the snow cover. The last three winters have been very hard on snow based businesses but excellent for our deer herd. Our winter 4 years ago had record snowfall and low temps. -63 Farenheit. (That wasn't wind chill, that was actual air temp!) So to answer your question, you better pack for everything imagineable. You remember those NoDak winds, so make sure you have a stout wind shell to wear over your jacket. Good luck on the interview! It would be nice to have you back on the tundra.

Take care, (AND a big knife)
Jim
 
Stryver- when that snow turns to slush, a pair of rubber bottomed Sorels or the like sure are nice! That's why I mentioned waterproof in regards to footwear.
 
With all the above dont forget your multitool at the least, and maybe one of those new Craftsman Robojaws pliers. I just got one and dang do they work well. The small and medium handle some good sized bolts and are much better than any other type of plier for gripping. They might look gimicy at first but they do work. I am including them in my survival kits.

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Lee

LIfe is too important to be taken seriously. Oscar Wilde
 
Hi Plainsman
I think you may be being a bit dramatic -
about survival kits in North Dakota - sure the extra parka, boots, sox and a few other nice already mentioned items would be ok to have - One thing I didn't recall mentioned was a cell phone and charger/car lighter adapter... Up here they tell us STAY WITH THE VEHICLE! it becomes your shelter and locator... a phone gets you in touch - Sure a parka sak flashlight multitool boots sleeping bag are a good idea .. but what is realistically the idea that you'll need them for a short visit .. If you are going to move here - you probably will buy a car - then stock it with what you like -shovels are a good idea too along with a bag of cat litter and some candles.. but for an interview .. I don't think you need the whole kit.. but the phone and some extra cloths and a small kit - probably ! Good Luck with the interview !

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knife Knuts are sharp people

Jonesy!
 
well.,,,,,,today I forged 5 hours in the cold,,,,,I suggest that if anyone might wish to join me in the morning, to bring Peppermint Schnapps....
 
SAKs nor Multitools will make it on board and I'm not so sure about firestarting gear either. Take the usual tourist stuff, maybe include a lighter in your pocket. Hiding gear in tubes and other nifty places might be misunderstood by the expertly trained:rolleyes:security employees. Might be best to send a package off to a relative or friend that contains the items you can't take on the plane with you. Then just before you head back to Texas, ship your gear back.
 
what do you need to take with you to be able to make it in North Dakota?

well, right now its -28 below Zero,,with a wind chill that is in the "mars" range..

My advice for anyone who might fly to Grand Forks today is to make sure they bring a cell phone, and good set of long underwear,,,,and a return ticket to wherever in the world they came from....
 
Originally posted by Plainsman

So any input on what to carry for survival gear considering:
1) I'm flying on commercial flights.
Click to expand...

I flew over christmas. You can bring 2 regular butane lighters with you on the plane, but not in your checked baggage. I also brought a small DMT sharpener on board without complaint and a couple good lengths of paracord. plastic cutlery, a toothbrush, a hankercheif and a few other non-metallic things could come in handy.

I had warm clothes and regular personal items with me, in case my suitcase got sent to new zealand....
 
A friend of mine owes his life to a down parka. He was flying in a small commuter plane across the Rockies. Before he took off his wife insisted that he wear his new down parka. The plane crashed at night in the mountains. His back was broken and he was pinned in his seat until rescue parties found them in the morning. During the night he listened helplessly while people around him died of hypothermia. His jacket saved him.

PS. Note that when I recommended carrying a SAK in my earlier posting the date was before 9/11/01. Back then you were generally allowed to carry a SAK.
 
Oops, yeah I didn't bother checking the thread date. I think the times of being able to carry anything they can determine to be a weapon, are long gone. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if they up the ante and start checking vehicles traveling from one state to another.
 
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