Additional Content

• Doug Ritter, Extended Interview [MP3 format; length 34:10; 4,101,352 bytes]
  Doug Ritter, the Executive Director of the Equipped To Survive Foundation, explains his list of ten essentials in detail.
• The WildeBeat #37, Calling for Help
  Our show presenting an overview of some of the ways you can call for help from the wilderness.
• The WildeBeat #32, Mountain Rescuers
  Our profile of a volunteer search and rescue organization, the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit. This show includes quite a bit of advice for understanding rescuers and how to avoid needing them.
• The WildeBeat #67, Reprise: A Winter Storm Warning
  Another story of backcountry users who were unprepared for their situation, and needed to be rescued. Pay attention to what they didn't have in the way of the ten essentials.
• Lieutenant Phil Caporale, Extended Interview [MP3 format; length 5:19; 639,815 bytes]
  The leader of the Fresno County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Unit talk about how to make it easier for you to be rescued.

Featured Ten Essentials Lists

• The Mountaineer's list
  The current version of the Mountaineer's 10 Essentials follows what they call a systems approach. The idea is not to prescribe specific items, but to get you to think about the specific capabilities you'll need in a survival situation.
  1. Navigation (map and compass)
  2. Sun protection
  3. Insulation (extra clothing)
  4. Illumination (flashlight or headlamp)
  5. First aid supplies
  6. Fire
  7. Repair kit and tools
  8. Nutrition (extra food)
  9. Hydration (extra water)
  10. Emergency shelter
• Doug Ritter's list
  As listed in the show.
  1. Navigation: Preferably a mapping GPS, with a spare set of batteries, or a map and compass, and the knowledge on how to use those two together.
  2. Knife: Something that is well made, robust, one-hand opening, a locking blade.
  3. Fire starter and tinder
  4. Water: Container and means of purification.
  5. Whistle
  6. Signal mirror
  7. Duct tape
  8. Emergency shelter: A couple of large garbage bags, or something like Adventure Medical Kits Heat Sheets blanket.
  9. Flashlight or headlamp: LED, lithium battery, with a constant-on switch.
  10. Sunscreen or insect repellent: As appropriate to the environment.
  11. Personal Locator Beacon
• Amy Racina's lists
  This one is for day hiking.
  1. Small Knife
  2. Whistle, signal mirror
  3. Mylar Space blanket (emergency shelter)
  4. Compass/Map
  5. Flashlight (or headlamp)
  6. First aid kit
  7. Trail bar (extra food)
  8. Waterproof matches, lighter or firestarter
  9. Water bottle (with water) and water purifier
  10. 2 garbage bags (can be emergency rain gear)
  11. Rope (cord)
  12. Duct tape
  This one is for backpacking.
  1. Good, trail-tested, backpack and footwear
  2. Signaling devices (mirror, whistle, PLB)
  3. Navigation devices (compass and map)
  4. First Aid kit
  5. Fire (Stove, fuel, firestarter, matches)
  6. Sleeping Bag
  7. Shelter (5 x 8 sil-nylon tarp, two garbage bags)
  8. Water (Water purification system, extra water, depending on terrain & climate)
  9. Food (and a way to protect it if necessary, bear canister, rope, etc.)
  10. Extra clothing (appropriate to terrain & climate)
  11. Sack of mini-essentials, including knife, headlamp, extra batteries, moleskin, duct tape, sunscreen, bug repellent, rope (cord) dental necessities, skin cream, chapstick, TP, etc.
• What Steve Sergeant carries
  This is a backup kit, carried in a pocket. Most of these items are duplicated in larger and more functional items he also carries in his pack. For example, waterproof maps, a full-sized compass or GPS, ham radio, extra clothes, larger water bottle, butane lighter, adittional first aid supplies, etc.
  1. Silva Sportsman Tool (whistle, compass, thermometer, lens)
  2. LED light (coin battery, keychain type)
  3. Swiss-army classic knife (knife, scissors, file, tweezers, pick)
  4. Emergency blanket (silver mylar)
  5. Water bottle (Platypus)
  6. Water treatment tablets
  7. Fire-starting kit (wind-proof matches, small candle, wax-soaked cotton balls -or- pieces of Esbit solid stove fuel)
  8. First-aid kit (aspirin, ibuprofen, antihistamine, antiseptic pads, antibiotic ointment, assorted adhesive bandage strips, large gauze pad)
  9. Duct tape
  10. Carbohydrate gel pack

Listener-Contributed Ten Essentials Lists

• Phil Incikaya
  Phil is a boy scout leader in Southern California.