Advice for Trail Emergencies requiring help ?

[roaniecowpony]

Thank you sir.

”Mission readiness” is multifaceted. If you are going alone into a remote area, do a map recon. Mark along your route water sources/trees and distance to inhabited locations all along your route. Know at any time where you are on your route.

Know your environment. What edible plants and easily acquired animals and insects are in the area (for consumption)? Again, what water sources, and are they safe? Be able to identify edibles. Know how to eat animals raw as safely as possible (only muscle tissue, no organs, etc.), but carry a way to make fire for cooking and to endure colder temps, even in summer. A survival blanket is excellent for this. It’s lightweight and very small when packed. Carry a small water filtration device.

In the desert, travel when the sun is low and at night. Ensure you have batteries and a light source. Carry a compass in case electronics fail you. Carry a map for land navigation/orienteering.

Take PLENTY of water on your trip, and have a way to carry water if you become stranded and have to go on foot. Pre plan your maximum load to carry for an extended hike. Go heavy on the water; one can live weeks without food, but only days without water. Water is the priority in your kit, food secondary.

Commo has already been covered. Mindset is vitally important in survival situations I would research that.

Carry as many batteries as reasonable for your electronics. Include a signal mirror in your kit.

I‘ve only covered the bare basics, my friend.

Jeff,
Thanks for all the advice/education. The nav part sounds very familiar to my piloting days...always know where you are and your options.

I've never been much of a "snake eater". But I suppose I've never had a reason either.

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[jaardappel]

I have a buddy in S&R who I consult before each trip where there is little/no comms. Invaluable advice if you know anyone in that field. Also--one thing I learned from SERE school a long time ago: make a plan, tell someone your plan. That way S&R/others will know where you entered, how many days you were out, how many people, etc. Not exactly a "this will save you" answer, but it's what the experts in personnel recovery use and it's a good starting point. Also, for gear/trip planning, you can do a technique called "Post Mortem-Analysis" where you pretend you are done with your trip but that it failed...and work through the "why did it fail?" where you say things like "My compressor broke" or, "we got lost", or "battery died" etc. That technique is pretty good and can help you decide what you need, what you need to get checked before you go, and what you likely will need to buy/equip ahead of time.

It's a good question (your thread)! Good luck! Planning can be fun. It also makes the trip more enjoyable. I'm a 100% behind planning and likely over-equipping, but that's not for everyone.

Cheers--John

 

[Wabujitsu]

Jeff,
Thanks for all the advice/education. The nav part sounds very familiar to my piloting days...always know where you are and your options.

I've never been much of a "snake eater". But I suppose I've never had a reason either.

You’re welcome sir. I suspect you probably already know those things. But, one important thing I left out. Carry a good knife/multi tool, and a firearm if legal to do so.

 

[Heimkehr]

Since we've willingly segued into discussion regarding preparedness postures (even if you didn't know that's what it's called ), here's an M.O. of mine that has served me very well through the years: Test your gear.

In advance of a proper, planned solo trip, I'll carve out some time to perform a small(er) scale version of it, using the exact same stuff that I'll be taking with me for the Main Event.

This approach has been invaluable as it concerned sussing out the quality of my gear, as well as identifying what I didn't pack but should have done. I travel comparatively lightly, so it's rare for me to shed stuff from an already high speed/low drag loadout.

Maybe some of you default to packing too much stuff and need to trim the fat. Here's your opportunity to do so, sans the inconvenience of being far from home. ?

Done right, a shakedown exercise can be fun. That's certainly been my experience.

 

[houstonstroker]

We have a Zoleo device for traveling when there is no cell coverage. It has the SOS function. Through the app you can text or email. You can hit one button which sends an I'm OK text and your coordinates, When we are not traveling the plan is only $4 a month. Several plans to choose from when traveling.

 

[roaniecowpony]

We have a Zoleo device for traveling when there is no cell coverage. It has the SOS function. Through the app you can text or email. You can hit one button which sends an I'm OK text and your coordinates, When we are not traveling the plan is only $4 a month. Several plans to choose from when traveling.

Does it have a message that says i crashed and im nearly dead and sends coordinates? That would be the only one I'd really want.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Since we've willingly segued into discussion regarding preparedness postures (even if you didn't know that's what it's called ), here's an M.O. of mine that has served me very well through the years: Test your gear.

In advance of a proper, planned solo trip, I'll carve out some time to perform a small(er) scale version of it, using the exact same stuff that I'll be taking with me for the Main Event.

This approach has been invaluable as it concerned sussing out the quality of my gear, as well as identifying what I didn't pack but should have done. I travel comparatively lightly, so it's rare for me to shed stuff from an already high speed/low drag loadout.

Maybe some of you default to packing too much stuff and need to trim the fat. Here's your opportunity to do so, sans the inconvenience of being far from home. ?

Done right, a shakedown exercise can be fun. That's certainly been my experience.

James, Thanks for that input. For me, being new to "jeeping", I probably am over thinking this. I'm very comfortable in the wilderness, but I also realize I'm no longer bulletproof. I'll try to keep in mind your "dry run" process. I suppose I do that type of mental review on all my activities. I appreciate everyone's input, especially those of you with professional training.

 

[wibornz]

"Ride Till I Can't" seems like an appropriately named channel.

I wonder what his bill was for getting flown out of there

I carry emergency rescue insurance. I use a Garmin mini inreach for off grid communications.

So the emergency rescue insurance is pretty straight forward. It is about $460 a year for a family. Basically if you need to be rescued. You summon help via 911 if your normal insurance does not cover the bill, you turn in the bill to the company and they pay it. Helicopter rescue can be very expensive. They will also ship your vehicle home for you, cover the cost of shipping you home dead or alive, fly a family member out to assist you if you are injured and cover all transportation cost. This covers me anywhere in the US, Mexico or Canada and can be expanded to the whole world if you make a call before you leave.

I researched this before going with this company.

ww.masamts.com


We do a lot of off roading and we are often out of cell coverage. We also hike. There are times that we are hiking and climbing in remote places and an injury could easily be life threatening. I can call or request help and then they pick the bill up for what my insurance does not cover. click the link and explore the site for yourself.

 

[houstonstroker]

Does it have a message that says i crashed and im nearly dead and sends coordinates? That would be the only one I'd really want. As long as you have some finger strength left, you should be able to press the SOS button. Then you can pass out and wait for SAR.​

 

[RudeJeepin]

I carry emergency rescue insurance. I use a Garmin mini inreach for off grid communications.

So the emergency rescue insurance is pretty straight forward. It is about $460 a year for a family. Basically if you need to be rescued. You summon help via 911 if your normal insurance does not cover the bill, you turn in the bill to the company and they pay it. Helicopter rescue can be very expensive. They will also ship your vehicle home for you, cover the cost of shipping you home dead or alive, fly a family member out to assist you if you are injured and cover all transportation cost. This covers me anywhere in the US, Mexico or Canada and can be expanded to the whole world if you make a call before you leave.

I researched this before going with this company.

ww.masamts.com


We do a lot of off roading and we are often out of cell coverage. We also hike. There are times that we are hiking and climbing in remote places and an injury could easily be life threatening. I can call or request help and then they pick the bill up for what my insurance does not cover. click the link and explore the site for yourself.

I know a few people in the RV world that have that insurance. They all say it is a great policy, atleast on paper. None have had to use it yet.

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