Let's build a mountain emergency kit.
Being in the mountains is a thing of beauty, but the ugly sides of it are the potential dangers it may bring and can be life-threatening if we are not prepared.
Emergency preparedness comes in many forms but today I just want to go over one aspect of it. In this blog, I'll talk about building a well-equipped 13 item emergency kit that you should consider having so you are prepared for any situation.
The goal is to keep the items practical, affordable, and not too cumbersome to carry.
#1: First aid kit.
Before I say anything else you need to know two things:
1. A good first aid kit should always be supplemented with good first aid training. So while you’re reading this blog, please schedule a time to acquire or update your First Aid & CPR certification by clicking HERE
2. First aid kits are not made equal. Make sure they are specific to your needs and setting because having a hiking backpack that’s more fully stocked than the ER isn’t always practical either, keep it lightweight and pack just enough.
My recommendation: Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight and Watertight .5 First Aid Kit
It comes readily available in a waterproof bag
Convenient, lightweight, packed neatly, and doesn't take up too much backpack space.
The kit covers the essentials for basic wound care, burns, blisters, cuts, scrapes, bandaging, sanitization, and PPE. The inventory ratios that are packaged in this kit are perfect as well.
The price is great. The other brands are ridiculous in terms of the overall cost (you could honestly buy individual pieces at a grocery store and it will still be cheaper). This one here is fair and justified.
2: Extra personal medication.
Don’t be afraid to bring a few extra doses of your personal medication, a good rule of thumb would be to have enough to get you through 24 hours. I would even include insect aftercare and for things like ticks, the adventure medical kit includes a set of tweezers as well.
Add this to the shopping list as well: After Bite Outdoor Insect Bite & Sting Treatment, Skin Protectant, Portable Instant Relief, Stop Itching Fast, 0.7-Ounce
#3 : C Splint
Here’s an item that is extremely underrated: Adventure Medical Kits C-Splint
The C splint is an extremely lightweight aluminum foam-padded splint that can be shaped in many ways to stabilize and support any injury, all you have to do is to shape/fold it into a “C” so it increases rigidity. Did I also mention how lightweight it is? Honestly it’s about as dense and heavy as a magazine you buy from waiting in line at the grocery store.
You would use this for major sprains, broken limbs, dislocations, etc, and the cool thing is that it’s reusable! I used the C splint many times for my patients (back when I was a medic) and I was so impressed with it I made sure that I’d purchase my own.
Trust me, it’s 100x more comfortable and easier to use than duct taping a branch to a broken arm.
#4: Emergency Blanket
Also known as a Space blanket, Shiny thing that keeps you warm or on amazon they call it the: S.O.L. Survive Outdoors Longer 90 Percent Heat Reflective Emergency Blanket
An unexpected turn of events can leave you waiting for hours until emergency crews can arrive. These emergency blankets are made of vacuum-metalized polyethylene heat sheets that are designed to reflect 90% of your body heat.
What I love most about SOL’s emergency blanket is that it doesn't rip and can be repacked into the packaging it came from. I’ve used the cheaper ones before and a small tear ends up ripping through the whole blanket… SOL emergency blanket stretches, it’s waterproof, windproof, and is actually warm!
#5: Bear Deterrent
Unless you want to be a tasty lunch, Don’t be like these ill-prepared photographers.
The Alberta government recommends that we use two bear deterrents.
Bear spray for emergency close encounters and a loud sound deterrent for long-distance precautions (like making lots of noise, loud conversations, or the use of an air horn).
For more please read what the Alberta government provided on everything you need to know about bear Deterrents here.
Bear Spray: You won’t be able to buy bear spray online but I do recommend you stopping into MEC to purchase your canister or at any sporting goods store (avoid Canadian Tire). I have purchased over 10 canisters from MEC without any issues and I have also purchased 2 canisters from Canadian Tire and both have been faulty, I have also heard lots of stories from friends with the same issues and they vowed to never buy bear spray from there again.
Air Horns: I’ve used air horns from dollar stores with a fraction of the cost and I can tell you even that dollar store horns won’t wake up a half-sleeping cat. However, this Frontiersman Bear Horn has the power to blast a shockwave that can reach the pacific ocean. The difference is worth the price.
You can purchase it ”hear”
#6: Micro Spikes
Of all the brands that I’ve used, Kahtoola MICROspikes does it best.
Kahtoola Microspikes do not point up towards the boot and tear the soles like many other brands especially the ones that use a coil system or a chain spike (pictures below).
Another issue with most brands is that they have too small of spikes. There is nothing wrong with small spikes for short walks in city walking, but when you’re out in the mountains you always have to expect snow and you need something dependable. These tiny spikes are too small and can be rendered useless with any depth of snow. I also found another flaw with the smaller spikes is that they come in a casing that takes up more surface area of the sole. The casing that houses and keeps the small spikes in place usually creates a very awkward and uncomfortable step since it alters the flexibility and feel of the boot (people with chronic ankle injuries beware).
Coils break way too easily and destroy the bottoms of your sole, the second photo rips the sole more than it provides traction, the third pair is ok as long as you don’t mind the awkward block that holds the spikes and the last one is great for smaller easier trails that don’t have too much snow.
Even though Kahtoola uses chains the spikes sit on a steel guard that ensures comfort for the boot, it is also designed so that the spike always points downward towards the ice where you need the most traction.
The Kahtoola Microspikes are thick enough and big enough to dig through ice and snow combined, they’re comfortable, easy to put on, take-off, and very durable. I’ve been using Kahtoola Microspikes consistently for the last 8 years without any issues and have resorted to using them in the summer for mud/ slippery steep dirt hills.
Purchase your pair and make sure you get the right size here
#7: Safe disposal of waste and toilet paper.
Once and a while I love to pick up some greasy pizza, fried chicken, and ice cream… I do my best to not have it all at once before the hike but sometimes there are days where I splurge a little too much and then regret it the next day on the mountain top…
My main concern for the #2 emergency is making sure we reduce our footprint when we’re out in the wild. With increasing hiking popularity in Alberta, we need to pick up after ourselves without damaging the delicate environment all of us love and want to enjoy. It is important that we pack out the toilet paper that we use and pack out or waste so we do not contaminate what's around us, especially nearby bodies of water.
I recommended packing toilet paper with a sealable bag (i have a couple of extra Ziploc bags) and having Restop II Disposable Bag ready to go. You can purchase these safely sealed bags here
For more please visit the Alberta government website on their quick article on human waste management.
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/human-waste-backcountry.aspx
#8: Rescue Avalanche Beacon
A winter must-have especially for those hiking during the winter. Always expect an increased risk of avalanches with snow. Obviously don’t go to high-risk areas, pay attention to trail conditions, forecast, and make sure to update your avalanche safety training asap!
I currently own the BCA Tracker 2 Avalanche Transceiver Backcountry Safety Touring, I lucked out when I took advantage of a clearance sale for a fraction of the regular price. The price is a bit hefty for these guys but they are the best of the best and will be a very good investment.
Amazon link here
My second choice is the BCA Tracker S much cheaper but still gets the job done.
Amazon link here
#9: Water treatment and purification
It’s important to pack enough water but what happens if we run out and we are hiking longer than we expected? Find a nearby water source and use these water purifiers as safe insurance so you don’t get sick from contaminated water.
I’ve used Aquatabs - Water Purification Tablets on many hikes before and I used these when I traveled as well.
Get them on Amazon here
#10: Power Bank
Many of us may not have a satellite phone but most of us all have cellphones, having a cellphone with you is already better than not having anything to communicate with at all. I mainly use this power bank as an emergency to charge my phone in case my phone dies and I need to use it.
I bought a power bank a while back from Costco and I tried to find the one I owned but the battery technology seems to have upgraded the recent years, the power bank I linked is decently priced and has twice the charging power that my older model has.
Purchase the Power Bank 26800mAh by Foeb on Amazon here
#11: Utility Knife and fire starter
Having a knife because provides the versatility of the numerous tools accessible at my fingertips for any situation. Make sure that when you’re picking a knife it’s mainly for utility rather than an option as a weapon.
You don’t need a machete to protect yourself even though protecting yourself is important, it’s also important to protect everyone else as well as other animals too.
The product I linked from Amazon is great because all of the functions are camping/hiking related, the cool thing too is that there is a fire starter that comes with this knife so you don’t have to buy a separate tool or lighter.
Purchase the ROXON CM1349 Spark Survival Multitool Plier, 14-in-1 Multitools on Amazon here
#12: Headlamp
Petzl Actik is the best bang for your buck, see links below.
If you’re waiting for rescue or even hiking during an early sunrise having a headlamp is a must. Reduce the risk of injury from falling and make sure where you’re going is well lit with this convenient device.
There are lots of options when buying headlamps, 3 main categories are going to be cost-related, how strong the light is, and durability. I’ll let you decide.
Cheaper models like the Black Diamond Astro Headlamp and the PETZL TIKKINA 250 Lumens Headlamp are great options but don’t have the versatility and durability like their upgraded counterparts.
These beginner headlamps are roughly 150-250 lumens, which means it illuminates maybe a dim 40m in pitch black which is ok, they’re not fully weatherproof, and limited with minimal light options like 1 bright, medium, and low setting without any strobe function. Not bad for something that is around $30-50.
These are the upgraded versions that will be higher on the price tag but you’ll be paying more for the functions.
expect full weather + waterproofing, high power (more lumens = more illuminated distances), and light options (high-med-low-strobe, power saving).
Black Diamond Storm 400Lumens Headlamp
This one will be full weatherproofing and very bright
Petzl Actik 350 Lumens
Very Bright, cheaper, not that great of weatherproofing.
#13: Hand and toe warmers
A winter must-have! I’m assuming you already dressed for the weather but the temperature may have caught you off guard. These toe and hand warmers are not just a nice luxury but they can honestly save the day and save your cold digits!
You can pick up a pack of Grabber Hand Warmers - Long Lasting Safe Natural Odorless Air Activated Warmers - Up to 7 Hours of Heat - 10 Pairs here
and a pack of Toe Warmers (Pack of 2)(Total 16 Warmers) here
And thats it! 13 things you should pack in your kit that hopefully could save your day, if there’s anything i missed, shoot me a message on Instagram @mr.mountainman or comment bellow.
See you all next time <3