Ten Essentials Plus

Navigate Boldy and Safely Anywhere in the Backcountry!

The Ten Essentials Plus system was developed to help outdoor enthusiasts explore with confidence while staying safe and alive in the backcountry. The Ten Essentials are the items you want to bring on every adventure, whether for an hour or multi-day. The Plus portion takes it a quantum step forward by ensuring your emergency contacts know your location, down to a ten foot circle, throughout your adventure. This eliminates the Search in Search and Rescue. There is no need to find you, but simply reach you. Your odds of surviving just went up exponentially.

Start with these life-savers.

Satellite Messenger - SPOT Gen4 Device

For $12.00 per month, using a satellite messenger with the tracking turned on, your location can be known every ten minutes, from the time you leave your house until you return. If Search and Rescue gets a call, they don’t have to find you but rather simply reach you.

Survive Outdoors Longer (SOL) Bivvy XL

This Bivvy weighs 6.6 ounces and is smaller than a pop can. It is large enough for two people. This will save you from hypothermia, the number one killer in the backcountry. Over 85% of backcountry deaths are directly tied to hypothermia, something that is completely preventable. The bivvy can also be used as a shelter from thunderstorms. I’ve used it several times and it kept me completely dry and warm, including my dog.

THE PLUS PART: THREE CRITICAL QUESTIONS

Strive to answer these three questions at any point in your adventure:

  1. Who knows my current location?

    Who knows my current location at ANY point in my adventure, from the time I leave my house or whatever the starting point is, until I return. The only way to answer this question successfully is by using satellite messenger AND making sure the tracking feature is turned on, updating your location every five minutes without having to push a button. I prefer the SPOT (www.findmespot.com) unit based on cost, ease of use and battery life.

  2. When do they expect me to return? (date and time)

    Identify a minimum of two people as your emergency contacts. They should know your medical and physical background. Share your route, itinerary and the date and time you will return before you leave on your adventure, whether for an hour, a half day, full day or longer.

  3. What is the agreed upon plan of action if I don’t return by that date and time?

    This is critical and typically doesn’t change much for each adventure. I share this in the profile of my SPOT login. My emergency contacts also have a copy of this via email. It includes the names and phone numbers of the people to contact and the sequential steps to take on my behalf. Because my location is known, search and rescue will reach me much sooner and provide the help I need.

TEN ESSENTIALS

If you are just getting started, watch this video, Essential Wilderness Survival Items. The number one Ten Essential item in my pack is the SOL Bivvy XL. This will keep you and a second person from getting hypothermia. As many as 85% of outdoor recreation deaths are tied to hypothermia.

All of the products listed below are products I’ve tested and used. Any comments made about a product are based on my actual use.

NAVIGATION AND NOTIFICATION

Start by learning how to use a map and compass. Learn how to find yourself on the map and from there, navigate to a known point. From there, learn how to create a route using Google Earth and import that route into GaiaGPS.

Buy a satellite messenger to ensure your location is always known.

Navigation

Notification

  • SPOT Gen4 Satellite Messenger (I prefer this over the Garmin InReach because of battery life, initial cost and monthly cost.)

  • Storm Whistle (This is by far the best and loudest whistle available. Avoid using cheap whistles that come free with other products.)

  • Signaling Mirror (notify a plane or helicopter of your location and use it for first aid for an injury to your face or to get something out of your eye)

Illumination

Sun protection

  • Sunscreen and lip balm (50+ SPF)

  • Bandana or neck gaiter

  • Hat

  • Sunglasses

First aid

  • Adventure Medical Kits .7 (perfect for four day hikers or two backpackers)

  • Leukotape (much better than moleskin)

  • Ibuprofen, aspirin, three days of any personal medications

  • Local adjustments (mosquito net, snake gaiters, bee sting kit)

Knife and Repair Kit

Fire

Shelter

Extra food

  • Energy bars

  • Avocados (my favorite)

  • peanut butter or almond butter rollups

  • bananas

  • left overs

Hydration

Extra Clothes

  • merino wool baselayers, socks, merino wool hat, wool gloves or mittens

  • put extra clothes in a heavy duty ziploc bag or dry bag

Pro Tips:

  • Keep the Ten Essentials and extra clothing in a waterproof bag or dry bag.

  • Consider bringing a small canister stove and pot for emergency cooking and fire building

  • Test your emergency gear by spending the night out with just that gear. Customize as needed.

  • Invest in a Satellite Messenger: I prefer the SPOT unit (www.findmespot.com).

  • Extra Batteries: Use Energizer Lithium batteries or Hixon Rechargeable Lithium batteries.

  • USB Battery Powerbank: Portable Charger 38800mAh,LCD Display Power Bank (This will recharge an iPhone 8 times in the field)

FINAL THOUGHTS

We owe it to friends, family and Search and Rescue teams to make our location known throughout our trip using a satellite messenger like the SPOT Gen4 Satellite Messenger. Make sure to leave the tracking on during your entire hike or multi-day trip. This way, if you are unconscious, your location will still be shared every ten minutes or whatever interval you set. Have the ten essentials with you and practice using them. Become confident that you can survive multiple nights out, if needed, waiting for emergency help.

I highly recommend testing your skills by spending the night out with just what you have in your ten essentials kit. I’ve done this several times and made adjustments based on personal preference. There are a few things I’ve added to my list, including a down vest and two balaclavas, a heavy one for daytime use and a lightweight one for sleeping. Testing your gear without the comfort of a tent, sleeping bag and pad will give you the confidence necessary to navigate more boldly and safely wherever you want to go in the back country. In the end, being prepared helps me more fully enjoy the backcountry and that’s why I’m out there in the first place.