Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Surviving a cold wet night

This post is intended to help others survive a cold wet night or at least think about being prepared for the the worst.
Salish had a good post on emergency nite out. It made me realize that even though I carry at all times survival gear in my day pack I really don't know how long I can survive.
I was hoping that if others don't read Salish's post on emergency night out that they might take the time to participate on this post.
I'm hoping that this post lasts a while and can maybe help save a life.

If at all possible if members could take pic's of their survival kits/gear that they carry in day packs and list suggestions for surviving a night or two or three in wet cold conditions that would be great.
Even if you get some time this summer or spring or whenever to actually set up a shelter made from survival tarps blankets etc and post a pic that would be great.
I think this backpacking/hunting forum here at the fire is my favorite forum of all. I have myself alot to learn about survival/surviving a cold wet nite and really look forward to seeing pics of day/packs and survival kits/gear. I have two boys I'm trying to teach as much about the outdoors and I have alot to learn. I'm very busy hunting/working and will myself try to post pics soon of what I carry for survival in my day pack. Thanks for participating Chuck

Here is my day pack. A Kifaru E&E.



I keep this in my truck too when not in the field just incase bad things happen. I pack the stuff inside a near water proof little homemade Go-bag. Sil nylon body and gym bag strap. 3.4 oz. A extra bag is good for tons of stuff. It makes a nice daypack liner.



I included a red stuff sack so my critical gear will be easy to find after the bag is taken out of Daypack. 0.7 oz. This makes the bag more water proof for critical gear and a small bag is always good for forage and water storage etc.



A. Medical kit. It is a Daypack but I still wanted a semi good medical kit.



First Aid total 5.4oz

1. 6 Qtips
2. 1 ½ x2.5 yards tape
3. 3 3x3 sterile gauze pads
4. 5 Wound Closures Strips
5. 6 1’x3 Adhesive strips
6. 2 knuckle bandage
7. 6 Ibuprofen
8. 2 Antihistamine
9. 2 Antibiotic Ointment
10. 1 Povidone-iodine Ointment
11. 2 Sting Relief pads
12. 9. Antiseptic Towelettes
13. Ticture of Benzoin
14. 1 Splinter Grabber
15. 2 Safety pins
16. 1 eye pad
17. 1 2x2 Gauze pad
18. 1 small Butterfly wound closures/one large
19. 1 2x4 Adhesive bandage
20. 1 5x9 Abdominal pad
21. 1 medicated Chapstick
22. 10 assorted Adhesive bandages
23. ½ oz Four paws VBS antiseptic Quick Blood Stopper
24. Imodium AD 6 tablets

B. Light. The Aurora will give about 100 hours of usable light per set of batteries. I have two sets. The Web site says the light works 160 hours on low but I don’t know what they call usable light. In reality it is 100 hours.



1. Princeton Aurora Headlight including batteries. 2.8 oz
2. Small key LED light. 0.2 oz
3. Extra three AAA batteries. 1.2 oz

C. knives



1. Swiss army knife. This is one of their smaller models but it has all the stuff I use and none of the worthless junk than is never used by anyone. 2.1 oz
2. Gerber 600 larger Folder 4 oz

D. Fishing Gear. I know. It is silly but what the heck.

[img]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/minibobfishing.jpg[/img]

1. Drop line system. It has 30 yards of 6 lb test and 15 feet of near unbreakable Kevlar Line. The Kevlar line is for snagging fish and it makes some good snares. A drop line works by tossing the line out and winding it back to reel in. Total for drop line and tackle box is 1.5 oz

2 . Pill box Tackle kit. I like using small pill boxes to hold small gear like fishing hooks etc. They are made to be resistant to opening if dropped and sliding on flat surfaces. I have some small sinkers, a silver lure and assorted sized hooks including a treble hook for snagging and sizes down to #14. Why such a small hook? Most streams or small ponds have tinny dace or minnows. Being lower on the food chain their numbers are much greater than bass or trout. The only way to catch such tinny fish is with a fish trap or very small hook. It takes a good number for a meal but their numbers tend to be great

E. Sanitation needs. Total 4.6oz

[img]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/minibobclean.jpg[/img]

1. Travel sized tooth brush
2. Travel sized shampoo
3. Travel sized dental floss
4. 2 packets of MRE T.P
5. 2 MRE hand wipes
6. Travel sized toothpaste

F. Bug protection.

[img]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/minibobbug.jpg[/img]

1. 100% Deet replant small pack size. 1.2 oz
2. Cheap camo face net. Anyone that thinks these cheap face nets will provide any protection on their own against Mosquitoes when asleep is dead wrong. But spraying the face net with Deet makes it very effective. In fact it is far more effective than spraying the Deet directly on your face as it remains on the bug netting longer and you don’t have that crap in your eyes. 0.7 oz

I am going to post a photo of the next 4 items. No real point in making separate photos of items most people have seen.

[img]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/minibob4.jpg[/img]

G. Repair items

1. Mini roll of duct tape. 1.2 oz

H. Cordage.

1. 50 feet camo cord. I got this more for the holder that makes a good drop line. But the cord is ok. I guess anyone could include the fishing line and Kevlar Line in the cordage list too. 1.9 oz

I. Navigation. I packed a small compass/thermometer combo 0.5 oz However I will upgrade this. Have a much better one in my main pack.

J. Signaling. If lost and need help I included a plastic signaling mirror. 0.6 oz. My headlight can flash for a night visual signal. I don’t care much for audio type signals.

K. Shelter System/Rain gear combo. Here is what I have come up with. You don’t get to see a heated poncho tarp every day. Shelter is 1 lb 3.3 oz for Poncho, Bivy, 4 Ti stakes and Thermal Blanket.

[img]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/minibobshelter.jpg[/img]
1. A Golite Poncho tarp in sage green. Looks like a good natural color that will not stand out. 11.3 oz with stuff sack. I took 4 Ti tent stakes with my home made covers to protect the rest of my gear from the sharp ends. Just use fish tank air tubing. 1.6 oz
2. DWR Bivy/Bag liner. I can fill it up with grass etc for a sleeping pad and not worry so much about getting damp. Or if I could make a grass bed and fill the bivy with leaves or grass to make a blanket. If the bugs are heavy I can crawl into the bivy and put my Deet covered face net on. I have had to do this in Maine. It worked but there must have been a million mosquitoes so they kept me up anyways with the buzzing however I would have been sucked dry. No joke. 4.4 oz with stuff sack. Emergency thermal blanket. 1.9 oz.

L. Stove system.

[img]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/minibobstove.jpg[/img]

Stove assembled:

[img]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/minibobstove1.jpg[/img]

1. Freezing to death is what scares me. I like to have a fire even in rain or snow without getting wet. Yea this is a Daypack but have no plains on dying of exposure if lost so I wanted a warmer shelter. The stove is made out of Ti foil and the pipe is made out of Stainless Foil. Everything is held together by Stainless wire. The heat output is totally insane. The stove body is about 12 inches long by 8 wide. I have an inline spark screen and a Ti damper. Total weight for Stove, 4-foot pipe, Wire rings, Ti Damper and spark arrestor is only 1 lb 10.7 oz plus the stove has an extra sil stuff sack that could be used for something else.

How does it all come together? I set up the Poncho as an A frame with the long length as the A frame’s width. This way I could lower the A frame to the ground and have room to sit up if the outside temp is very cold. I would need to sleep at an angle but could still stretch. In the photos I raised the A frame up some as the weather is warm. If there was lots of snow I would kick snow around the side and pile snow and brush to block one end. The stove would then be fired up. During cold nights a stove under a tarp will take the chill out of the air and dry a person off even in snow or rain. All I need do is tie the poncho’s head section closed to fully water proof the shelter.

[img]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/minibobs1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/minbobs.jpg[/img]


M. Fire starters.

[img]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/minibobfire.jpg[/img]

1. 3 packs of MRE matches. 0.3 oz
2. Bic lighter sealed 0.8 oz
3. 25 cotton balls soaked in Vaseline w/ zip lock bag. 3.5 oz
4. Small Magnesium fire block with flint and striker. I am really more interested in the flint and sparker to ignite the cotton balls when the lighter fails.

N. Water purification and storage.

[img]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/minbobwater.jpg[/img]

1. Frontier Emergency Water Filter system. Will filter up to 20 gallons 0.8 oz. Just in case I need to drink and run.
2. Potable Aqua Tabs. Not the best tasting tabs and I didn’t have the neutralizer tabs but heck better than nothing and I could always used charcoal to sweeten the water. 1.2 oz
3. Platypus Water 80 oz water bag. 1.2 oz

O. Cook pot.

[img]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/minbobbowl.jpg[/img]

1. Ti bowl 1.8 oz. It is large and works well for about everything.
2. MRE Spoon. Why not for only 0.2 oz

All this stuff comes in around 6.5 lbs. If it is summer the stove is not packed. If winter the Bug stuff is not packed but I do put a little sleeping hat inside the Daypack. I carry a canteen on my belt and toss in some trail mix before a hike. However starvation does not seem like a real risk but a little food can't hurt. Honestly I don't expect to catch and eat fish. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Well heres what I pack for what I think I might need just to make it through a cold wet night. I never leave the truck without my pack. And as I think it was Kute that said "not even to take a crap" I actually take my pack to "crap" cuz the toilet paper is in my pack!
I started carrying a survival kit after a friend of mine jumped out of his truck to try to get a shot at a big buck. We didn't see him for 3 more days. he ended up losing a couple toes on each foot and fought for his life in the hospital for the next couple weeks. He isn't the same man he used to be and never has set foot in the woods again. And that was 11 yrs ago. I have never since that day left the truck without my day pack.
I still have alot to learn about shelters and lightweight clothing and bivy/sleeping bags that are light enough to take in my day pack.

I keep in my pack at all times:
stockingcap
woolsocks/gloves
survival tarp
100ft rope/cord
saw
waterfilter and purifier drops
matches/lighter/newspaper/wax-woodchip discs
flint,wood, magnesium scraper survival tool
asprin/aleeve
bursh trimmers with duct tape wrapprd on each handle
gause
trail marking tape
hand held raido
flashlight
headlamp
extra batteries for all three above
compass
My day pack is a Blacks Creek Alaskan 3200cbi


I'm hoping that with others suggestions I can learn more!!
thanks Chuck

woodswalker, awesome you got some great stuff that I need to add to my kit. Really like the stove and cotton balls. I have heard that steel wool will burn easy also. The sil-poncho is also something I've been thinking about. Thanks for the pics..CD

The cotton balls soaked in Vaseline are by far the best. Each one will burn for 5 minutes even when wet. They don't need a match or lighter to start. Just a spark will do. I pull them apart before lighting. They work well for chapped lips too when the Chapstick turns up missing. Only down side is they stick to my fingers when very cold. Kinda something to think about when lighting the stove. I put one on a twig first.

Oh nice set up you have. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I would toss in a homemade med kit. Mine has helped with tons of cuts, stings and other less dangerous but more common things that happen on a day hike. The Imodium AD inside my kit is a must have.

That TI bowl is good for melting snow. Nothing sucks more than eating snow for water. It just helps drop your core temp faster. Warm water is a big help.

I did see some socks in your pack. I have room for some wool gloves that I add with the sleeping hat in winter but need to toss some socks in the thing. I forgot all about them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

woodswalker
How does the front door function on the TiG stove? How do you rate the output compared to a small Kifaru?

Mine is by no means lightweight, but this is what my pack is carrying this year.

My pack is an LLBean Hunters Pack: http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/...mp;feat=8884-tn


8x8 tarp (soon to be hex3 type shetler without the pole)
2 yards of fleece material that is 54" wide - compacts nicely and pretty light.
coleman peak stove, gas and 1 dehydrated meal
water
rain jacket
extra warmth layer (torso)
winter hat
extra gloves, socks
dragging rope and smaller rope for tarp if need be
logging tape, leatherman, extra compass, flashlight and extra batteries, knife sharpener, first aid kit, bag balm, matches, emergency blanket.

I also use an old camping mat, cut into 3rds that rolls up and gets strapped to the outside of my pack for a seat when on stand. Should I need to stay in the woods it will provide better insulation than the ground alone at least for my torso.

NH Hunter

Good thread topic and good lists of equipment.

Once you get wet, especially in freezing weather, the most important things are lots of high-energy food, and the will power to keep moving to burn calories. I have known several hunters and outdoorsmen since 1972 who were very experienced, but died of hypothermia in the mountains or after falling overboard in the winter.

When you are cold, the tendency is to curl up and hunker down, and if the situation is not appropriate for that, you will die right there. A few years ago, several US Special Forces died in Florida in weather that was damp and in the 50 degree range.

I always carry 10,000 calories and 200 gram of protein in nuts, sunflower seeds, roasted soybeans, protein bars like Cliff. I also carry some dried soup, rice mix or Kraft macaroni and cheese that I can cook up for at least one hot meal in my 20 oz cup with handle or mess kit. My light mess kit is aluminum, old Swedish military, with stand, alcohol stove, fuel bottle and two pots all nested together. It also works as a twig stove.

Just my thoughts, but I would trade the matches for a second see-thru lighter, use Wet Tinder (tm) as a fire starter (absolute best I've used yet even in hard rain), and ditch both the saw and pruner, altogether.

I'd probably lose the metal-match thingy too and go with a 3rd see-thru lighter in a totally separate pocket if I was feeling truly paranoid. I had a ton of redundant fire-building gear for awhile too. Now that I've been into this more, it's all frivolous over-thinking, to me at least.

If 2 decent butane lighter go south at the same time, your luck already ran out before you stepped foot into the woods.

OK, this is just my opinion, so here goes.
First, I adjust the contents of my pack to fit the area where I'm going. There is a big difference between surviving a night in the low desert where it is very dry, only gets down to the low 50's, and fire wood is abundant and doing same in an above timber line area with a storm coming in.
Second, I leave everything out that I'm not sure I'll need. Why ? Because if you get into this "I'll take it just in case" attitude, you are going to be packing all sorts of stuff. That can lead to an attitude of leaving the whole pack behind instead of just taking a few things you must have.
Lastly, I like to take stuff that will do double duty. Clothing is a good example. A warm cap or baclava. Gloves even though you may not need them. A extra warm fleece top. Synthetic, fast drying base layers that stay dry by allowing moisture to pass through it. And, above all, a first class shell.
Lastly, be aware of where you are, what the weather is doing and what you need to do to stay safe. You can do much better if you get down into the timber rather than let nightfall find you on an exposed ridge with the wind kicking up. Start preparing to spend the night, or simply add clothing before you chill or get wet from the rain. And before it gets dark.
I'm indebted to guys like Okanagan for showing me a few simple tricks. A thin foam pad, like a cut down, 5/16th's inch ensolite pad isn't a 2-3 inch mattress, but it is far lighter and more compact. It will keep the cold out. A nylon tarp or a light bivy sack in a semi sheltered grove of trees, or rocks, can be alot more comfortable than you'd think. Put all of your extra clothing on, and use his secret weapon - 7 hr., tear open chemical hand warmers. If you brought some extra food and have a water supply, you will be fine. If you can build a fire, so much the better. Make it 5-6 feet long and stock lots of wood before you turn in.
My last suggestion, is try all of this out when the weather is nice and see how well it works for you. You may want to adjust the basics a bit.
The bottom line is, you don't need much. If you plan well, pick stuff that can do double duty, and use your head, it works.
Heck, just going to the trouble of finding a thick grove of trees, in lee of some natural feature and you are a long way to spending the night dry and warm. E

I have been through that experience at Eglan Florida and can tell you that staying dry and fed is the key. We were so wet and cold that we just shook for 10 days even though it was only 45 degrees. I was more comfortable at 10 degrees when I served on the DMZ in Korea. I routinely hump the following if I'm going to be any distance from our camp. I figure worst case is either an injury or a down elk that requires an overnight stay. Rather hump it than be without. You just get used to humpn the ruck and consider it part of the gig.

One Green Arc Teryx Ruck with 2 quart bladder.

Army Goretex set

Extra set of seal skin socks

Polypro Balaklava and extra glove inserts

Army goretex sleeping bag cover

One ultra light 3/4 length therma rest

One poncho liner

550 cord

one or two MRE

usual crap like knife, lighter, compass, GPS, topo map, folding saw, pogie bait, handi wipes, trihex heat tabs, 10 -12 rounds of ammo, steiner 8x30 binos, one laser RF, one weapon

Bud.

The TIG stove burns longer and puts out more heat. The Kifaru stove is faster to set up and more durable. Also easier to cook on. For camping I use the Kifaru or my homemade stove. But the TIG is the only stove made that can fit in my little E&E and would be a life saver. I am looking at building a front annex for the ponch and a closed off back out of Sil tarp material. This would make me 100% cold proof. All I need do is keep the stove running and it would be clear over 100 inside the shelter at any temp. Or maybe a paratarp and annex butI don't have the money. For maybe 40 bucks in materials and a helping hand from my family I could have a total heated poncho A-frame.

Edit.

The door just slides on the top. I am going to drill some holes inside the door to make it take in air without screwing around with it. My TIG is a test stove so maybe the production model door is a bit better. Bare bones is what this stove is all about. Once I make a way to close off both sides of my poncho and put the pipe though my TIG stove jack the bigger risk would be over heating.

WW
Looks like a scookum stove..I'm putting together the Sierra Designs Origami 4 with an added stove port. The TiG might be the stove to fit the intended use of this fast and light tipi. It's about the size of a six man Kifaru... Thanks for the pics....Bud

Stillhunter, The meat/bone saw can double as a tool for making shelter. I always carry the brush shears cuz I hunt in the blackberry devils club capital of the world. I just put duct tape on it to help adhere the gause if injured. But I hear ya and appreciate your input. I also carry an extra fleece coat. but now you all got me thinking about a small lightweight ground pad and also I'll be thinking about some sort of stove. to cook some rice or broth. My pack has a platypus 3 litre bladder. I also carry some meal replacement bars. I'm looking into some sort of sil shelter/poncho.

if you all have stove suggestions I'm all ears. someone mentioned a stove that will also burn wood?? Would a Pocket rocket and small canister be a good Idea? Whats the smallest type of pot or kettle I should get. I'd really like to keep it light. I never hunt without my day pack. Period. I also like the TI stakes. I hear ya on the match books. But I always grab a few at the quickstop in case. I keep em' in a dry container. But I'll add another lighter. I look forward to many more suggestions and pics!! Thanks

Bud.

I have looked at that Tarp before. I think when set up as an enclosed tipi type tent it is much smaller than my old 6-man. But I can't get a fix on size for the best stove set up. Get the TIG stove jack. Worth the 35 bucks. I still like the Box type stoves for general camp life but thing the rounded ones are better for heat.

I'm glad to see that my daypack is similar to others. I have people tell me all the time that I am carrying too much stuff. As for head lamps, I have started using on that clips onto the brim of a cap. It is a LED that weighs 1.24 oz with 4 lithium batteries in it. Distributed by www.trailblazerproducts.com
No way to attach it to a toque but I wear a ball cap even in winter and wear the toque over top. Brim helps protect my eyes from branches etc. And now holds my light.

Yeah I was just out in the garage looking at the 4 dogs and I think I'll start with that first trial. What's the turn around on the stove jack from TIG?

STILLHUNTER 73 - "If 2 decent butane lighter go south at the same time, your luck already ran out before you stepped foot into the woods."


Nahhh. That's when you pull out your old handy-dandy, works-every-time, won't-blow-out ZIPPO and fire it up, lighting your firestarting tender. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

To me, BICs are okay, so long as there isn't any wind to blow out the little flame before you can catch your tender. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

SUGGESTION : If you want a never-fail lighter which will save your bacon in the most extreme lighting conditions, stick a road flare in your pack. They'll light wet wood, etc., in a snowstorm.

Don't want to carry the weight?? Just cut one in half, seal the cut end with Krazy Glue, or like, opposite the striker fuse, tape over that glued end with a bit of electrical tape and then you're in business.

I've been in two situations where I desperately needed a fire RIGHT NOW!! and the only way I could get a fire started with the very damp/wet wood around was with my road flare.

I'm not sure but I think there are some road or boat flares out there now that are smaller. (?????)

FWIW.

L.W.

One of the most interesting additions to a survival pack I have seen is a common or garden spring rat trap...The guy who showed it me was ex Rhodesian Light Infantry soldier & reckoned it had fed him often while operating in the bush...Depending on how where he set it and what he baited it with, he caught all manner of small critters...He also prefered to use his fishing kit for catching birds...very cruel indeed, but understandable in some of the situations he was in....