Author Topic: Survival Kits (Read 4537 times)

Daveinthebush · « **on:** November 24, 2002, 08:12:25 AM »

Sunday morning, full cup of coffee, rain on the tin roof, classical music on the speakers, might as well start a new topic.

Many of us up here carry a survival kit not only while hunting but boating and even in our vehicles. For hunting I carry the following:

1. Metal container, 2" x 4" x 6" with a rubber seal around the top.
2. Inside the lid I have scribed the emergency signals for aircraft.
3. About 50' of fishline with 2-3 small lures.
4. A stick of bug dope.
5. Bandaides & asprin.
6. Flagging tape.
7. Permanent marker.
8. A large sheet of tin foil folded up.
9. Two large plastic heavy duty trash bags.
10. An old Scout Masters pocket knife.
11. A candle.
12. Two fire starters. (newspaper wrapped up, tied w/string and dipped in wax).
13. A lighter and waterproof matches.
14. As much old 80 lb. fishing line that I can fit.
15. Small penlight flashlight.
16. Two packages of instant soup.

16. Contents wary with the seasons. I remove the bug dope in the winter and replace it with a spark plug gap tool, heat packs, ect.

Hope this helps. This is the small kit!
:-)

savageT · « **Reply #1 on:** November 24, 2002, 09:23:24 AM »

Daveinthebush,
That's a great idea! Can you expand a bit more on the firestarter? How do you make them...in more detail.

I am looking for a good list of items to carry in my "Possibles" shoulderbag that I carry w/me when hunting during early muzzle loader season and also rifle/shotgun season here in NY. Every year I seem to need a few more items and I think someone elses opinion would be appreciated. THANKS
savageT

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #2 on:** November 24, 2002, 09:42:12 AM »

First off savaget I am origanally from Jamesville, lived in Seneca Knolls, Syracuse, and taught in Watertown for nine years. Good to hear from someone back in the stomping grounds.

There is nothing dry to start a fire with in Prince Willaim Sound. We had 15+ inches of rain in Oct. alone!

I have used:

Newspapers cut into strips, rolled and tired together with string. Then dipped into hot wax until it is good and soaked.

Cardboard strips dipped into hot wax until it is good and soaked.

Table saw, sawdust,mixed in wax and formed in tinfoil packages.

On the boat I carry a quart of #2 fuel oil.

Duct tape works even if wet.

Fire starter paste.

If you carry a shotgun: Use an old shell casing and fill that with either the cardboard strips or paper strips and then pour hot way into them and seal. Film containers work also, you can leave a wick.

I am sure that there are more.

Warning: Do not carry fireproof matches made by Coleman or Coghlans. I had them on a recent trip out on the Sound and both of the products failed. Strike-any-where matches dipped in wax or nail polish are more reliable. When it is raining down ( up and sideways) and you are up all night bringing the boat back on anchor, the wind is holling and you need to light a fire it had better start.

savageT · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2002, 09:54:40 AM »

Damn! Small World ain't it? I come from Fairmount, next to the old Split-Rock Quarry, not very far down the Seneca Turnpike from Jamesville (they just had a bad accident in their quarry with explosives going off in a drilled hole. The victim is alive but...)

I appreciate the hints on firestarters. I'll try out your recipies and recommendations. Gracious! Keep in touch.
savageT/JimT

Dand · « **Reply #4 on:** November 24, 2002, 10:12:49 AM »

Looks good Dave. A lot of those butane pocket lighters don't work when wet or when real cold. I like to carry as many Power Bars as possible. Also a space blanket and small blue tarp, plenty of nylon cord. Seems like the few times I thought I'd be stranded, wild food was mighty sparse. I see some folks spend a lot of time and space on carrying a gun. In most cases I think the weight and space would be better used with food and water purification supplies. The one time I was seriously stranded the only things on the island were shrews and magpies. Was glad the boat was full of food and hadn't been damaged.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #5 on:** November 24, 2002, 11:17:23 AM »

You mean the old quarry at the intersection near the cider mill where the police used to have a shooting range back in there?

Been there, two uncles in Camillus.

savageT · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2002, 11:39:39 AM »

Dave,
That's the one...the cider mill's gone and so is the shootin' range.
savageT/JimT

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #7 on:** November 29, 2002, 06:22:12 PM »

Sparking fire starters - I have never used any except a sparkplug and a rag soaked in gas if that counts.

I don't distill sea water, I always carry 5 gallons in the sound. There is no lack of water here. I drove 350 miles today to refresh my memory on what the sun looks like! It was raining so hard this morning when I left that some of the rain drops got confused on the proper direction to fall so they went up and tried again!

I only carry gas lighters as a backup, in a dry survival kit. So I can't tell you which is best. It is just a option that I carry but seldon have ever had to rely on.

Sorry for no brilliant ideas here, as my hero says: No brag, just fact. :grin:

savageT · « **Reply #8 on:** November 30, 2002, 03:45:47 AM »

Hey Dave,

How long you been.......... "North to Alaska"? Were you part of the Great Pipeline Construction? Or did the Yukon call your name? I've got a young friend who left Solvay to attend college at the U of Fairbanks for a couple years....Loved it!
savageT

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #9 on:** November 30, 2002, 06:35:21 AM »

When in high school I hated reading what the English teacher wanted me to read. So finally in frustration she let me read anything! So I learned English reading about Fred Bear, Jack, and the other great hunters of the time. When under the care of Uncle Sam, he flew me over AK six times back and forth to south east Asia. I went back to college at 38, graduated, sold everything hoping to move then. My son whom I was raising, with the truck full, said; "Dad I don't want to go. I will miss mom and gram." So I stayed and taught in Watertown nine years. He went to college and moved on. I walked into school one day and resigned. They asked if I had another job and I said no, I am going to AK to teach. Flew up, got three offers and took a job teaching as an itenerate in Eskimo villages on the Bering coast. Sold everything that would not fit into the pickup, loaded the dog and the stuff in as soon as school let out and drove up.

This is my forth year and I know I sound like I have been here forever. I have taught in Elim, Shaktoolik, Aniak, Nulato, Valdez; been to Kotzebue, Nome, Golovin, Koyuk, Unakaleet, Kaltag, most otheres on the Bering coast, all the villages on the Yukon from Nenana down to Nulato, driven the haul road and all the other roads escept one. Lived in the truck prospectiing the Keani, below Denali and others. Ihave lived in seven places in my first three years up here. each has its own great stories. Like in Shaktoolik, one day it was -50 and the wind was blowing 50 mph, It was so cold that the dog would not even go out to pee for two days!

Had so great times, some times I almost quit teaching, but love Valdez excep the lack of hunting. I am working on that one though!

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #10 on:** November 30, 2002, 06:39:18 AM »

The girl friend back eat still hates me because there wasn't enough room for both her and the dog. But then she can't retrieve ducks, ptargiman and geese either.

Still a sore spot with her today! :roll:

savageT · « **Reply #11 on:** November 30, 2002, 07:19:26 AM »

Dave,
That's ahellava story. Thanks for sharing it with us. You and the dog sound like you're home. I guess the girlfriend didn't want to ride in the back of the truck!!?

?
savageT

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #12 on:** November 30, 2002, 07:42:57 AM »

You would not expect me to let a AKC registered, certified pedigre labrador suffer in the heat of the rear of the truck in midwest would you?

TraplineMusher · « **Reply #13 on:** December 22, 2002, 12:44:29 AM »

Have anyone tried KERODUST--it is fine sawdust put in a film canister, or pill bottle--with a few drops of Kerosene. I use it here in maine everyday during the winter( on my trapline as I have to heat water for my dogs). Never fails to start--even in sleet and freezing rain......John

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #14 on:** January 03, 2003, 02:24:02 PM »

As a wood shop teacher I might be able to find some sawdust and try this. It sounds really good. The mushers up here us Heet, a gas tank addative on the Iditrod trail. They all have their own cookers for heating the dogs food and water.

Here is a hint for you: When Swingly gets to Unakaleet he switches sleds. The snow is never very deep and he knows that he won't need his snow shoes. But he is required to have them. So he built them into the sled acting as the basket of the sled with wire ties, so they were removeable. His sled is so light it is amazing.

Also: When you reach Shacktoolik the snow changes consistantcey. It is hard, wind packed and squeaks like styrafoam. Everyone switches to the yellow plastic runner inserts. I helped one musher replace his plastics and we left one blue and one yellow in: The yellow was like butter, the blue one grabbed.

Lead pot · « **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2003, 03:28:27 PM »

Hi Dave>good post for survival kit.I find what works good even in rain is a old burned out pine tree or stump that is chard,it holds good pitch that will burn when the wood is wet.Just get under a poncho and whittle small slivers and it will light with a match or lighter.If all you have is a steal and flint take the under bark from the pine,cotton wood,birch is good if you have it,and take that soft under barkit lights eazy.and if your very hungry you can eat that brown under bark,HI.HI.Small clippings of tires is a good fire starter in rain.I like to carry fly line and mono line with jigs.a bottle iodine 3or 4 drops in a canteen will purefy water tasts awful but its better than disentary.for a bad bleading cut cobwebs stop the bleading.Just a thought.Lp.

RollTide · « **Reply #16 on:** June 21, 2003, 05:56:53 PM »

These two pages have some very interesting ideas on a great many subjects, some have to do with survival tips and equipment.

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tips/index.htm

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/index.htm

One thing I carry in my car and in my hunting pack is a carbide light. You drip water on 1 teaspoon of calcium carbide and you will generate acetelyne gas to light your trail for over an hour, boil a small cup of water, completely dry yourself and your damp clothes (with the aid of a large trash bag), burn green wood, write with the soot of the flame messages on rock faces, or simply warm your hands until they are nimble enough for other tasks. These lights work on a chemical reaction with water, so they are perfect in wet conditions. The little lights themselves can be as small as 2 1/2" x 2" X 4". One full charge in the lamp will usually run it for about 4 hours. A slighty larger, but thoroughly modern version called the MIKE LITE, is available at THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:

http://www.caves.org/imo/frames1.htm

Also at the bottom of the preceding page is a cross section image of a traditional brass lamp as well as a little tutorial on carbide lamps for those who may be interested. Calcium carbide fuel can also be found at the bottom of the same page. The MIKE LITES look very nice, but I have not brought myself to pay $100 for one yet. You can usually find plenty of the used brass miners carbide lamps on ebay in good working order for around $20 - $40 depending on condition. I would suggest the Justrite Streamline model with a 2 1/2" reflector as the most compact, reliable, and durable. These were still manufactured until the mid 1970's, so they are pretty easy to find in good shape if you just look a little on EBAY under a search for - justrite carbide (NOT in quotes).

works for me.

Stringer · « **Reply #17 on:** June 22, 2003, 12:35:23 PM »

A waxed 30min. road flare is a great fire starter.

BW · « **Reply #18 on:** June 22, 2003, 03:29:02 PM »

Rolltide,

Are you in Alaska?

Reading all the fine print (okay, it's not really fine

) on the website you referred to, it appears that nobody ship calcium carbide outside of the 'lower 48'.

Certainly not going to be easy to get in rural Alaska.

Hud · « **Reply #19 on:** June 22, 2003, 06:13:42 PM »

Something everyone should try with their survival kit is to live off of it, for a weekend camp out; two days and two nights. Due this during the season that you are usually out in the woods. This will open your eyes to what is important and what isn't; what works, and what doesn't. If things go real bad you can always go back to your car and warm up or go home. If you can't make it the two days it isn't really a survival kit. Mine fits in a tin Band-Aid box.

The most important part of your survival kit is in your head.

Hud

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #20 on:** June 22, 2003, 07:10:27 PM »

My teaching partner teaches Marine Technology. As part of the course the students have to create a survival kit that will fit into a coffee can. I know, pretty big. We then take them out in Prince William Sound and dump them off the boat in survival suits. They then swim to shore and have to spend the night by themselves.

The kids actually like it!

savageT · « **Reply #21 on:** June 23, 2003, 03:31:07 AM »

Quote from: Daveinthebush

My teaching partner teaches Marine Technology. As part of the course the students have to create a survival kit that will fit into a coffee can. I know, pretty big. We then take them out in Prince William Sound and dump them off the boat in survival suits. They then swim to shore and have to spend the night by themselves.

The kids actually like it!

Hey Dave! :shock:

You guys got some pretty tough h/s kids up there......I know a D.I. that went to your school!!!!!!!!!! Geeeeeez Archey got any Yucon Jack in that survival kit?

RollTide · « **Reply #22 on:** June 24, 2003, 03:11:26 AM »

Brian,
I am not in AK (although I have always dreamed of being since I was a teen.) Calcium carbide probably comes into AK by the train car load regularly. It is very dangerous to ship acetylene gas. Most welding suppliers like Post Air Gas who deal in acetylene gas for cutting torches usually ship carbide in and then use huge generators where the drip water on calcium carbide and then syphon off the acetylene generated. Anyway, the chunks of calcium carbide they use are a little too big for a lamp, but a hammer on your concrete drive will take care of that problem in short order. Find a big acetylene supplier and talk them out of a little carbide. They will store the stuff in huge water tight containers, but small quantities are usually stored in metal "paint" type cans with a pop off lid. The stuff is dirt cheap, so they are not loosing any money if they give you 10 or 20 pounds, you just have to talk them into letting you have some, or even turning a blind eye while you clean up around the area of their carbide facility (there is always enough spillage around those areas for lamp use). A one gallon paint can (about 10 pounds) would last you for months of everyday use of the lamp. This is the primary source of light for many isolated places in the third world because such a little carbide goes such a long way. There is no restriction on possessing or transporting it in any quantity for personal use.
There is however restriction for transporting over 15 pounds for commercial purposes. You have to have those little "Dangerous When Wet" signs on the vehicle for commercial transportation.

There are 2 main manufacturers of Carbide in the US:

Carbide Graphite in Louisville, KY 1-502-423-4400
ELKEM American (Kansas I think) 1-800-385-0973

These only sell by the trainload or truck load, but they might be able to tell you who they ship to in AK.

The best bet for getting some shipped to AK is the Harry Epstein Co. 1-800-821-5503, out of Kansas City. They are mainly interested in making money, so if you will pay, they will find a way. The Harry Epstein Co. is a national hardware store supplier. It may be that some hardware store in AK already orders from them. If so, you may be able to get the hardware store to order some carbide for you on their next shipment. These are the people I order from. They sell a 10 pound can (one gallon paint can) for $8.00 PLUS SHIPPING. The due to fed. reg. (thanks again Mr. Clinton) shipping is the catch since it must be shipped by motor freight and not a common carrier.

I hope this is helpful.

Roll Tide

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #23 on:** July 14, 2003, 12:47:36 PM »

I just pulled out my little pouch which I have carried for years in my pack. I find an Acme Thunderer whistle, some parachute cord, a match safe with kitchen matches, first aid kit, Coghlan's fire starter in a zip lock bag with a candle stub and lighter, Forest Service issue pocket first aid kit, mole skin, nylon repair tape for tents/sleeping bags, and a small eyeglass repair kit. This resides permanently in the side pocket of my pack with a Case 366 sheath knife, a diamond knife sharpener and a small sewing kit.

The back pouch of the pack has Minolta compact 7x21 binoculars, toilet paper in a ziplock bag, wash & dry packets, a compass and bug dope. Some other stuff too.

Inside the pack is my rain gear, leather work gloves and a space blanket, the red/silver reflective type, not the mylar packets. I had to replace the old one this year which wore out after carrying it 20 years or more. It was getting ripe anyway - I use it as tarp to lay meat on when boning deer. At times a Ruger .357 Blackhawk can be found there too.

The other side pocket has miscellaneous stuff I need for surveying. If I am out in the field I'll throw that inside the pack and a water bottle goes in the side.

The pack itself is from L.L. Bean, their Continental model. My Sweetie got it for me when my old pack wore out. I should have had her get red instead of green. I haven't missplaced it yet, but the potential is there!

Hope this helps someone.
-Kees-

S.B. · « **Reply #24 on:** August 06, 2006, 05:30:43 PM »

Quote from: savageT on November 24, 2002, 09:23:24 AM

Daveinthebush,
That's a great idea! Can you expand a bit more on the firestarter? How do you make them...in more detail.

I am looking for a good list of items to carry in my "Possibles" shoulderbag that I carry w/me when hunting during early muzzle loader season and also rifle/shotgun season here in NY. Every year I seem to need a few more items and I think someone elses opinion would be appreciated. THANKS
savageT

I use paper egg cartons, with dryer lint mixed with saw dust and wax, put a wick in them to make lighting them easier. Place in the egg carton , let cool, and cut indivigual cells off, stays lit for about 20 minutes?

Sourdough · « **Reply #25 on:** August 08, 2006, 08:42:59 PM »

Rolltide: Trains don't come to Alaska. Everything has to come by air, ship, or truck through Canada. The Alaska Rail Road runs from Seward to Fairbanks period. The Canadian rails only go as far as Ft St. John.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #26 on:** August 14, 2006, 05:51:43 PM »

Here are two items to add from a soldier friend of mine.

Tampons - great for bullet wounds, arrow punctures and knife stabbings. Just open it, place over the hole and pop in the tampon. It will expand and help stop the blood flow. Be sure to leave the string hanging out so the doctor can pull it out.

Superglue - for sealing up small wounds.

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #27 on:** August 22, 2006, 07:39:36 AM »

Speaking of feminine hygene items, the loggers carry the maxi pads in case of chainsaw wounds.

-WH- (Now in SE Ohio

)

Rascal · « **Reply #28 on:** November 03, 2006, 04:49:42 AM »

I enjoy reading about all the AK adventures and someday hope to move there too but Wow can't believe none of you guys have mentioned using cottonballs dipped in vaseline and stored in a film canister. These things work Great in all weather and another thing you might beinterested in is a small tin can of catfood 16 oz. I think? You poke some holes in it and pour in either heet gas treatment the yellow bottle, home used rubbing alcahol or denatured alcahol they make Great stoves for cooking on or warming up. The stoves are called SuperCat and you can learn all about them by following the link here.http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/HTML/Super_Cat7.htm

Also what happened to carrying some dry clothes and some extra boots, a stocking cap or hat and gloves along with the space blanket? It takes a wet cold body alot longer to regain the core temp then it does a body with fresh dry clothes. One book you guys could find Very interesting and useful is Collin Fletchers book, The Complete Walker... Hope this helps someone get warm if they need to in a hurry.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #29 on:** November 03, 2006, 08:03:52 AM »

It all depends on the type of trip. A day trip for deer may require only a small kit. A goat hunt on Prince William Sound in Alaska, then I take a shelter, sleeping bag, food for 2-3 days....... and so forth just for one day.