Know How Fire
Strike anywhere, stormproof matches are worth their weight in gold but you’ll also need some tinder to get your fire started. Fuel cubes, extra-fine steel wool or Tinder-Quik work well. Consider also packing magnesium flint, which allows for countless sparks.
Tools and Navigation
Bring a small roll of duct tape, surgical blade, a few safety pins and a needle and thread for repair and tool construction. Unless you know how to magnetize pine needles, pack a mini compass for getting your bearings.
Signaling
An ultra-thin signal mirror can help draw attention from rescuers while a LED micro-light with high lumen output will be useful at night and boost morale.
Medical
Only the basics will fit in this little kit: Moleskin for avoiding blisters, a couple Band Aids and antiseptic and/ or antibiotic ointment. A tablespoon of electrolyte powder can go a long way to combating dehydration.
Food
A lightweight coil of fishing line and a
half dozen fishing hooks,
M 18ini Survival Kit ESSENTIALS
Water
Repackaged chlorine tablets are the most compact and lightweight water treatment method available.
[ CAMPCRAFT ] Shelter
Close your kit and use parachute cord, helpful for shelter construction, to wrap a small emergency space blanket firmly in place against the lid, then tie the cord tight— this will ensure your kit stays closed.
DIY Survival
If you found yourself lost in the wilder- ness, separated from your paddling part- ner and without your portage pack, could you survive? Packing a beefy survival kit on your back-
country adventures can provide excellent piece of mind and be invaluable in a crisis. But it won’t help you if you take a wrong turn while doubling back on the portage trail, or if your kit is too heavy to bring on your day hike. To make sure you never find yourself up
the creek, carefully plan and construct a lightweight mini survival-safety kit that can be kept on your person. A small military mess can, Altoids tin or a mini-Pelican con- tainer—ideal because it’s waterproof and
26 | Canoeroots sinkers and
swivels are your best chance at
catching dinner. A length of
snare wire is an
excellent option, but only if you know how to
use it. A 12- by 24-inch piece
of heavy-duty tin foil folded can be used for
cooking as well as water gathering.
THE POCKET-SIZED KIT YOU NEED TO STAY ALIVE
buoyant—can be kept in a PFD or pant pock- et so you have the bare essentials at all times. For anyone who finds themselves lost in
the woods, the most important survival tool you have is a cool head. Don’t panic. Take into consideration the rule of three: You can survive three weeks without food, three days without water and just three hours if you are severely hypothermic. Because of this, shelter, fire and water should be your first priorities. In addition to this list, every canoeist
should have a high-quality blade and whistle on them at all times. It goes without saying that no paddler
would want this tiny kit to be all that stands between survival and death. Standard safety
items such as a dependable compass with topo maps and a satellite communication de- vice are invaluable in an emergency, but time spent customizing and learning how to use each piece of gear in a pocket-sized kit could save your life. David Arama is the founder and director of
WSC Survival School Inc. and has been teaching and leading outdoor programs for more than 30 years.
www.wscsurvivalschool.com.
PHOTOS: KAYDI PYETTE
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