Survival and Safety Gear

After I read the story of the couple that went around the locked gate into Burnside Lake and the boyfriend lost his life trying to walk out I wonder how many of you carry survival and safety gear in your travels?
Just saw another story about a kayaking couple that almost died from exposure at Stampede, not much information on them yet.

After I read the story of the couple that went around the locked gate into Burnside Lake and the boyfriend lost his life trying to walk out I wonder how many of you carry survival and safety gear in your travels?
Just saw another story about a kayaking couple that almost died from exposure at Stampede, not much information on them yet.

I don't really carry much on my kayak for the everyday excursions... My closest experience in this kind of conversation is backcountry backpacking.  Have been on a few 7 day trips to nowhere, and you can bet your ass I pack everything I can think of for anything I can think of.  First aid, snake bite, mylar blankets that can double as tarps for shelter... pain meds, allergy meds, water filter with chemical backups, 3 different devices for starting fires... the list goes on.  Part of the reason for this is my wife tags along.  If I want that to continue, one: she must be comfortable, and two: I would hate myself if I ever let anything happen to her that I wasn't prepared for.

I haven't done a lot of snow 'wheeling, but my bronco always carried water, flares, emergency blankets, etc. I've been thinking about the story you mention, having been stuck in a snowdrift once before and shoveled out after 2 hours. We were wearing full on snow gear though, sorels & insulated stuff. And we had skis with us.

Personally, I probably would not have tried to walk out but rather set the jeep tires on fire first, if the weather was clear. I think the stranded couple were in whiteout conditions so maybe walking was the best option. At least one of them made it to be rescued, thanks to the family. The brother & friend who found the woman are real heroes. They had to use a front end loader to get into the area.

My truck has water and emergency blankets in it. If I was going off somewhere in a jeep in the snow you can bet I would have lots of other stuff with me.

 

  I have a first aid bag that's always in my truck, I also carry:
 real snow chains,
 a small shovel, (Not folding)
 magnesium fire starter,
 Multitool,
 hand warmers (left over from last trip to snow)
 a 2 qt. canteen of water,
 warm gloves and work/winch gloves,
 a couple of flash lights,
 rain coat,
 fishing pole with minimal tackle,
 my old metal gold pan, (Can be used for a fire pot)
 lenstatic compass,
 (All this stuff is all over my truck, small stuff is in my center console) fiber bars,
 5' of "Highway" chain for use with my 12K lb hydraulic winch,
 a few Highway flares,
 Ham radio capable of round the world communitaction on HF bands, (CB for local)
 What I don't carry all the time but have available is
  An axe.  My camping gear, contains a small hatchet for tent stakes etc..

Good post!

 I guess I carry a fair amount all the time, when I list the items out like this.

The most important piece of safety gear I carry is a human brain powered by common sense. I do not go around locked gates.

The most important piece of safety gear I carry is a human brain powered by common sense. I do not go around locked gates.

this is a good start... but not fool proof. lol

Kind of depends on the vehicle. On the harley no room for all of that, but I do care a very robust tool kit, and spare sparkplugs for JIC.  Truck has spare MRE's water, jumper cables, spark and flame producing items.  Knife, saw, first aid kit, flash mirror, a whistle, and fire starter.

Being in search/rescue, I have enough gear to last a long, long time in just about any conditions with my 4runner:
Tent/sleeping bag/thermarest
Hi Lift jack
Full length shovel
Hatchet/bow saw
Fishing gear
Food/water (Mountain House packets, assortment of bars)
Flares/tow strap/30' chain/jumper cables
Replacement belts/hoses, fluids (oil, power steering, brake)
Heavy duty rain gear, waterproof boots, extra clothes, extra jacket
Lights: 2 flashlights, head lamp, lots of glow sticks
Gloves.  Extra gloves.  Socks.  Extra socks.  Power inverter, tool kit, assortment of plastic bags, flagging tape, maps, matches & lighter, binoculars, first aid kit, tarp, space blanket, heavy wool blanket, rope/straps/webbing, lots of batteries, tie wire, zip ties, and duct tape.  And a flask. 

Electronics (GPS/radios/camera) only leave the house on planned trips out of fear of break in...the rest of the stuff can be replaced without too much financial hurt so I just leave it in the back.

On the yak I typically have a dry bag with a first aid kit, flashlight, glow sticks, paracord, poncho, waterproof matches, snacks, water, whistle, compass, sunscreen, bug dope, $5, AA batteries.

As we said in scouts, Be Prepared.

Wonder if a Spot locater would have gotten them out of that jam?