❘ ❘.
knowhow
FIELDCRAFTspend an extra day or two in the woods. Whether you are lost
or spend an extra day field-dressing an elk, it’s always easier for
us to locate a healthy person as opposed to an unhealthy one.”
Basics include bandages for various sizes of injuries, butter-
fly closures, gauze, pain meds, antiseptic wipes, antibacterial
ointment, medical tape, liquid bandage, tweezers and a first-aid
manual. You may wish to add QuikClot hemostatic devices,
sunscreen, insect repellent, antihistamines or other personal
care items. An often overlooked area is foot care. When you
begin to feel a hot spot on your feet immediately stop and pad
it with moleskin secured with athletic tape.Water
You can live without food for perhaps a month or more, but
without water it’s a speedy end in three to five days. Remember,
approximately percent of the human body is water.
Your off-trail itinerary, temperature and length of stay will
dictate your hydration requirements. An oft-quoted requirement
is liters per day for each individual; liters minimum. You may
not have to pack water at all in a pristine wilderness with springs
and creeks that provide water on site. To avoid the risk of giardia,
treat or filter all water unless you are certain of its purity.
It pays to always pack along a mini filter like a LifeStraw. These
filters weigh virtually nothing yet are true lifesavers when you run
out of bottled water and must hydrate from questionable sources.
“If you’re day-hunting from camp, carry the water you need
for the day,” advises Sadler. “For backpack hunts, think aboutA
mix of big-game hunting opportunities plays out in the
backcountry before snow prohibits most traffic. Irre-
spective of your mountain timetable and whether you
partner or go solo beyond the road, being prepared for any
mishap diminishes your chances for trouble.
As a four-year veteran of the Routt County Search and
Rescue in Colorado, Harry Sandler is no stranger to mountain
mishaps. The organization conducts - missions annually;
hunting season is its busiest season.
“Regardless if you’re going on a short, quick hike or an
extended trip into the backcountry, you should always take
along the needed items to provide first-aid or comfort in case
of the unexpected,” says Sadler. “Your schedule could change—
say, if you shoot an elk at dark or the unforeseen occurs—so
tailoring your equipment to the activity and time frame can
make a huge difference in the mountains.”
Meet these primary needs of survival and your chances of
telling the tale increase dramatically.
First-Aid
Sadler recommends the easy route: Look to experts who have
assembled wilderness kits to tackle the most common injuries.
“There are several kits you can pick up at - or Cabela’s-
type stores. They are pre-packed in a waterproof kit for one to
two people for three or four days,” he says. “Start there and add
to it depending on your activity. Specifically, remember to add
your personal medications, and bring extras in case you need to
Surviving Mountain Mishaps
By Mark Kayser