Emergency Kit

The ten essential items come and go, but the emergency kit is a good place to store many of those essentials. We keep emergency kits with us at all times and just store them in the bottom of the pack along with the first aid kit. The basic idea is to include items which you would need to help you survive a couple of nights out alone. REI suggests the following:

 

• Navigation
• Sun protection
• Insulation (extra clothing)
• Illumination
• First-aid supplies
• Fire
• Repair kit and tools
• Nutrition (extra food)
• Hydration (extra water)
• Emergency shelter

Packing Comments

Compass

Being a navigation addict, I carry a map and compass with me all the time. It's not because I get lost, just misplaced from time to time! We both carry maps and compasses and know how to use them.

Whistle

We picked up a whistle that is part of a plastic buckle from REI a few years back. The buckle is for repairs but it includes the whistle.

Matches

REI has waterproof, windproof matches. The matches are bomber as long as you have the striker (which is included). Don't carry matches that there would be any doubt as to whether they would light or not.

Hand Warmers

Instant warmth with the shake of an envelope. I have never actually gotten cold enough that I have ever had to use one, but we both keep them in our kits.

e lite

We both own the handy Petzoldt emergency light. Take it out of the case and it saves an ounce.

Batteries

Spares for our headlamps. We carry rechargeable batteries in our headlamps, but carry real batteries as spares.

Iodine

A water purifier to use when al else fails. We both carry a few tablets.

Duct Tape

The repair kit fix it all. I carry the repair things in my pack. A little duct tape goes a long way.

Seam Grip

The other must have in emergency repairs. It fixes most leaks, rips, and tears.

Food

We store a couple of Hammer Gel packets in our kits for the just in case. I have left snacks by mistake and had to rely on the emergency stash before.

Emergency Blanket

There are some questions about the warmth of an emergency blanket. Amy carries one all of the time, I carry one when I am not carrying waterproof rain gear. For overnight trips we do not carry an emergency blanket, because we carry sleeping bags and a tent.

Note: Our emergency kit does not include everything from REI's Ten Essential Systems List, but all the items are somewhere in our packs.

Post-Trip Comments

We carried an Emergency Kit on all of the climbs, but never used it. In fact I carried the same Hammer Gel packet as back up food and came close a few times, but never ate it. On Mount Wilson we almost brought out the emergency blankets for extra protection.