Snow Survival Gear

[Diesel]

Ok guys so what's in your packs and on your sled for overnight snow survival, let's get the full break down, and pics if u can - this is an important topic

[Ty]

flashlight, matches, survival blanket, chocolate bar, compass, knife, first aid kit, and hand warmers. I'm sure I'm forgetting something , but Its not right in front of me right now.

[FastFreddy]

I'll post mine in a little bit there's a TON of gear.. might take pics too...

But one thing iw as going to mention is everyone needs 2-3 ways to start a fire, matches dont cut it especially with cold hands..

Anyone have experience with a knife and flint & magnesium?

[justbrockinit]

extra gloves, winter hat, granola bars, flashlight, shovel, avy probe, lighter, water, i'm probabably missing stuff.

i have used a flint n steel before, used to be a boy scout. what about using your sled n spark plugs/wire to start a fire?

[cowboysedge]

Avy probe, shovel, gps, cell phone, area map, first aid kit, 1600* lighter torch, water proof matches, flash light, energy bar, space blanket, 50' rope, winter survival guide, 2' of 1/4 hose, extra tools, knife, saw, and extra gloves.

My wife claims I need a aluminum cup to melt water in. I'll add that to the list this winter.

Add a lunch and that is all I want on my back! I am looking into a light weight back pack. Seems the pack is almost as heavy as whats in it!

[Sledd'n Daddy]

OOOHHH, You'll love this!

Being a Search and Rescue member that has been on WAYYY too many rescues AND recoveries, here is what I carry with me in either the Pack or on the Sled:

(Remember, my normal riding is in the worst friggen weather mother nature can throw out. People can't seem to figure out that it's much better for Search and Rescue if they'd start getting lost and stuck on a nice Sunny-Blue Sky Powder day! So my list may seem extensive to some, BUT I can promise you I have used EVERYTHING in my list on the trail AT LEAST ONCE!)

Let me know if you have any comments on my list... I'm always open to suggestions.

**AVY BEACON - first and formost
**AVY PROBE and SHOVEL - ON the Pack not in the sled. if your in an avalanche and the sled is covered but you are not, what are you going to do?
**GPS
**FRS Radio
**Cellphone (I know it sounds crazy, but cell companies are getting farther and farther all the time)
**Glowsticks
**Flashlight
**Water proof matches and fire starter - any army surplus store has good waxy ones in a waterproof container
**Small aluminum mess kit bowl - it's better to melt snow and drink the warm water than it is to eat cold snow... your body has to burn too much caloric energy to melt the snow in your mouth)
**Protein Bars - better than chocolate bars, you can eat less of them and they fill you up better with better energy than sugar
**Extra Socks
**Extra bottled water (usually carry this in the sled trunk).
**Compass & Map of area
**Space Blankets (I usually have 3 or 4 of these in my windshield bag and 1-2 in my backpack)
**Leatherman multitool (any type, doesn't have to be Leatherman)
**Tools for sled (i.e. tow rope, wrenches, extra plugs, extra belt)
**Extra Gloves
**Small first aid Kit
**Beanie hat (you don't want your head to get cold from sweating in your helmet)

Some misc. stuff I have in mine that are kind of a personal choice are: Extra batteries, regular bic lighter, rubber gloves, granola bars, hard candy.

I'll get some pics, I carry an HMK backpack and I LOVE IT! I can carry a ton of stuff and not even know it... it carries really high on my back, but is shallow enough to allow movement.

Let me know if you have any comments on my list... I'm always open to suggestions.

Whew. The end.

[Diesel]

Hey awesome post let's see some pics of your gear too!

Here's a topic that has come up quite a bit in regards to your gear list.. (and i'll critique more when i have time)

But GLOW STICKS - while ingenious and awesome indestructible sources of light and marking.. the problem with them for our use is.. what do you do when you want to save a glow stick or extend it's life and reduce it's output... Put it in the freezer right? They don't work very well at all in the cold, it actually makes their chemicals inactive...

feedback?

[Sledd'n Daddy]

You know Diesel, I think you are right...

I must recind a remark I made in my post that I have used everything in my pack at least once... I have NOT used the glowsticks in the snow before.

But, yeah, you're right, we are in one great big freezer when in the snow. They may not work too well.

Anyone else have any thoughts? Anyone tried glowsticks in the winter?
Thanks Diesel, I didn't think of that one.

[TripleXtreme]

I am with Sleddin' Daddy on this one.....
I also carry an extra Avy probe in mine. That snow sets up like cement after it has settled and you are bound to break a probe pole. In the sled, under the hood I have a "snow claw" shovel that moves alot of soft snow if'n I get stuck.

I carry mine in a Black Diamond Frenzy Pack and it actually does not weigh much at all. Plus with the HMK and B.D. packs, the Avy tools are really easy to get to.

That is how we ride everytime we go out so we are used to the little extra weight. even with all that crap we carry, it maybe weighs 5 pounds.

Add to that an MP3 player(gotta have riding tunes!), shades, and sunscreen(yea, I have been burnt pretty good on the face), and you maybe brought the weight to 5.2 pounds. I'd rather pack a little extra and not need it than to pack it and freeze my a$$ off!

I'll set mine up this weekend and get a pic or 2 of it. Right now it's all set up for sumer hiking.

Ciao.......

[TripleXtreme]

OK, had some time while the kids are in school.....

Another thing i forgot to mention that is in my pack is a second set of Under Armour Coldgear bottoms, about 50' of bright yellow caution/safety tape, and a 2nd set of goggles.

The Lifelink lexan shovel stays in the truck

And, Yes, this is all in this pack..... minus helmet, avy beacon and some food. that goes in the coat. along with spare batteries and the camera. electronics do not work good when they are frozen...