Inside the Daypack
Where am I going...
I keep an ever-changing selection of maps. My favorite ones are ‘free’
from AAA, but I do go out and buy the plastic covered ones for when I am actually
going to be hiking. They do not melt in the rain and I can mark them up with
'china' or grease pens without it being permanent. I do try to know where
I am going, but sometimes I don’t know until I get there... There are
many uses for maps.
Some people use a case or folding cover to put all of their maps into, but
I have found that this can make me assume that I have the right maps along,
which has gotten me into trouble. If they work for you, do it. Otherwise,
go to AAA or another map vendor EVERY time you go into the wilderness. Check
in with tourist and ranger offices for local maps, too.
There are many free online map services that can help, but are not a substitute for a good in-hand map. Try Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps as a good starting place.
Leave it better than you found it...
I carry at least one garbage bag with me in my pack. Not only do they make
great ways of keeping our beautiful land that way, you can have rain protection,
a ground water still, or even a way to gather food at the flip of a bag. I
recommend having a garbage bag with you whenever possible. It can also help
you get drinking water, in a pinch.
Is it chilly in here?
I have a balaclava in my pack, but I try to have a scarf, bandanna or something in my
pack for sun, cold and bug protection. Even for using a campfire, it can be
a good idea to have something to go over your nose and mouth, or to be used
as a pot holder. Go for natural fibers as they are less likely to melt, and
dry pretty quickly.
Dear Diary,
Well, I am pretty lost, but I think I saw a river thru the trees as I was
gathering wood tonight. I will clean up camp and head out tomorrow. The last
land mark I saw was the bluff above the lake. I think it was NE and looked
about 5 miles off. We’ll see!
Try to keep a journal in yur pack to keep notes, observations, and for another type of fire starter.
Book ‘em
When you are out there in the wilderness, you can get tired of looking at
all that nature. Here are a few *books* I would suggest you look for to take
along on your next survival session. And a few to read before heading out.
Projects
It seems that no matter what I finish, there are more than enough projects
to take it’s place. Beading and small needlework that can fit into the
day pack are often found in mine. When camping by my self, I tend to take
some quiet handcraft that I can do while enjoying nature. And being alone.
Without interruptions.
Cleanliness is next to... the maps
I keep my toiletries in my daypack in a cheep plastic zippered pouch, including
a small bar of soap, a wash-cloth in a ‘one-zip’ bag, and a disposable
razor. Depending on how long I know I am going to be away from ‘civilization’,
I either keep up with the feminine defoliation regimen, or I let things go
so I have more time to Survive out in the wilderness. Also, with being female
I tend to have a few ‘feminine hygene’ products along, even if I
am not having my period. You never know who may need some and for what.
I D
I keep an old Identification card in my day pack, partially so that the pack
knows who it belongs to, and also so that if anything untowards happens to
me, others know who the pack belongs to. I would suggest doing some thing
similar. I also have copies of my current business card in every removable
part of the pack, just in case I drop something.
You can have many things in a daypack - many Accessories and emergency Mini-Pacs.