Mountain Survival Kit

mikol

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I am wondering if someone can point me in the direction of a good mountain survival kit in a reasonable size package. I've been riding in the mountains for a few years, always have avy gear and first aid kit but last year had some friends spend the night on the hill and they were rather unprepared. Looking for something with a heat blanket, fire starters, signaling devices, etc. Also very open to input on sat devices. Thanks in advance.
 

slededjr

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I couldn't find a kit either so made my own with all the necessities. As far as sat devices go, I use the InReach Explorer. Can text anytime, any where, send simple notifications as well. Tracks, etc.
 

imdoo'n

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look up how to build a Quincy, maybe the best chance of survival with a few candles and a small tarp to stay warm overnight. a few hard candies, or a couple of cliff bars, a metal cup or a muff pot to melt snow for a drink should get you through the night.
you will be hard pressed to keep a fire going, you will sweat and freeze trying to gather enough firewood, better to gather green boughs for a signal fire so rescue can find you in the AM. stay out of avalanche chutes while waiting.

we stayed overnight in mc murdo cabin and you could hear avalanche boomers through the night. was interesting.
 

AGGRESIVEZEBRA

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Last year went and found some kit from survive outdoors longer. I got the Hybrid 3 kit and it has just about everything you would need to stay a night. i just added a few more dressings to the kit.
 

Bnorth

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Last year went and found some kit from survive outdoors longer. I got the Hybrid 3 kit and it has just about everything you would need to stay a night. i just added a few more dressings to the kit.
I use this kit as well as a base kit and have made many additions such as proper petzl headlamp, tea light candles, flares, waxed cardboard for fire starter, dehydrated meal, spork, spare batteries, big survival blanket/tarp, bivvy sack, SAM splint, tensor bandage and a lot more I can't think of without the kit in front of me.
 

imdoo'n

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Yup, u could put one together yourself for about $15, as all the first aid stuff should already be on your-person or sled, Matches, half dozen t candles, 3-4 cliff bars, 5x7 tarp, maybe 6 ft of fuel line, to get gas, should be already on sled, u would be set, plus some quinsy and survival practice would be lucky to be $15. You could also look into a survival palmer furnace kit, cheap , lite, not comfortable, but will keep u alive

If you do go the sol route, try it out overnight at home, before your life is ion the line, using a summer kit,
Just my opinion,
 

imdoo'n

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Check your riding buds, see if they have anything also, but i would suggest you be prepared for yourself, i don’t share,
 

Bnorth

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look up how to build a Quincy, maybe the best chance of survival with a few candles and a small tarp to stay warm overnight. a few hard candies, or a couple of cliff bars, a metal cup or a muff pot to melt snow for a drink should get you through the night.
you will be hard pressed to keep a fire going, you will sweat and freeze trying to gather enough firewood, better to gather green boughs for a signal fire so rescue can find you in the AM. stay out of avalanche chutes while waiting.

we stayed overnight in mc murdo cabin and you could hear avalanche boomers through the night. was interesting.

Yup, u could put one together yourself for about $15, as all the first aid stuff should already be on your-person or sled, Matches, half dozen t candles, 3-4 cliff bars, 5x7 tarp, maybe 6 ft of fuel line, to get gas, should be already on sled, u would be set, plus some quinsy and survival practice would be lucky to be $15. You could also look into a survival palmer furnace kit, cheap , lite, not comfortable, but will keep u alive

If you do go the sol route, try it out overnight at home, before your life is ion the line, using a summer kit,
Just my opinion,
*Quinzhee/Quinzee if anyone is looking to research them
 

imdoo'n

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I have looked into both of these and think they would be our best chance of making it overnight.
I have talked to a couple guys who have overnighted it and there biggest problem has been gathering enough firewood to keep the fire going,
 

skegpro

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I have looked into both of these and think they would be our best chance of making it overnight.
I have talked to a couple guys who have overnighted it and there biggest problem has been gathering enough firewood to keep the fire going,
I agree, dig a snow hut and use candles to heat it. Have space blankets to sit on or a bivy sack to sleep in.

Go for the sat phone and carry a good phone list. 911 doesn't work worth a **** on a sat phone.

Spot and inreach are a distant 2nd but better than nothing.
Press the button and it's a waiting game.
Texting with emergency services..... Good luck.
 
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LID

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Cut spruce boughs to make a pile a few inches thick to sit/lay on. Insulation between you and snow, thicker the better, then use the space blanket. The snow below you will suck the heat out of you if you don’t have something insulating. You can cut more to make a kind of blanket too. I’ve slept outside like this
 

L8rGator

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100% agree with the spruce bows as an insulating layer. I did arctic survival in Baffin Island several years ago and built many igloos and other snow shelters. No tress up there but have used spruce bows other places. Couple of tips...for snow shelters. 1. Don't dig to the ground you want to be able to have a low section for cold air to settle and your candle, stove in the low section that way you are sitting in the heat layer and the cold layer is below you. Warm air rises, cold settles.
2.If you can heat it for a bit and shut the heat off shelter will ice / freeze over and seal itself for wind stoppage.
3. Put everypuce of gear you have in the snow and cover (ex. Backpacks) its less to dig to make a mound of snow and less to dig out to get in. Save energy, pace yourself and try not to sweat.
 

tex78

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I use this kit as well as a base kit and have made many additions such as proper petzl headlamp, tea light candles, flares, waxed cardboard for fire starter, dehydrated meal, spork, spare batteries, big survival blanket/tarp, bivvy sack, SAM splint, tensor bandage and a lot more I can't think of without the kit in front of me.
Good old Sam splint saved my day lol
 
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