Surviving the Wilderness: How to be Prepared for an

Surviving the Wilderness: How to be Prepared for an Emergency Situation Story & Photos by Kyle Wilkinson | Design by Krista Kok

Have you ever been stuck in the backcountry with no way out? Junior Law and Justice major Bryant Ecklund knew exactly what it was like to be in that situation when his snowmobile broke down three miles from the nearest road.Luckily, he had all of the materials required to spend a night outdoors and theknowledge of what to do next. He was prepared and had a plan on how to get help and get back safely.

According to the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office website, the local Search and Rescue responds to over 60 incidents each year. “We get a lot of injuries in the backcountry,” says Deputy Sheriff and Search and Rescue Program Coordinator Ellis Nale. “Second to that would be lost people.” Don’t be a statistic this year. Follow along and learn how to plan, prepare and communicate for your next adventure outdoors.

Planning One of the first steps you can take if you’re planning for an outdoor adventure is doing research. Outdoor Pursuits and Rentals (OPR) guide and gear shop employee and junior Nursing major, Jackson Bourne suggests doing research on the area and activity you plan to do. “You can avoid a lot of risk with proper planning and knowledge of the area.”

Knowing what conditions to expect will usually tell you what to pack. “OPR has an updated board every day that gives not only the resort snow conditions, but we post the [NWAC] report,” says Bourne. This “is the Northwest Avalanche Center’s daily report on the likelihood and the type of avalanches.” Bourne also suggests looking at the forecast before leaving for your trip. This will tell you what clothing you should be wearing for the adventure ahead. Tami Walton, president of Mountain High Sports in downtown Ellensburg suggests layering clothing during the colder months.

A base layer close to your skin like dry-fit clothing can help wick away moisture. An insulated layer will keep you warm and an outer shell of windproof and waterproof material will protect you from a variety of elements, explains Walton and Bourne.

One crucial tip that they both stress is to never wear cotton. “Avoid cotton, avoid cotton, avoid cotton,” says Bourne. “Once cotton’s wet, you’re wet. It’ll stay wet and it’ll be miserable.”

People that require special medication should also plan to have their medications with them, says Walton. Plan to have these with you in case you won’t have immediate access to them.

Preparation Walton tells people to prepare for the outdoors by packing the necessary materials for the situation. “I think anybody going anywhere should always have the 10 essentials,” says Walton.

Those 10 essentials vary depending on the activity and the time of year. For most situations, those essentials will include, but are not limited to: a fire starter, sun-protectant, a lightsource, a compass and map, extra clothing, a whistle, extra water, extra

food, a first-aid kit and a knife, according to REI Expert Advice.

Ecklund packs his version of the 10 essentials every time he goes outdoors. He has pieced his together from various sporting goods stores and through ordering online. You can purchase gear from Mountain High Sports or rent materials straight from OPR.

If you don’t think that you need to pack it, Ecklund believes you should reconsider. “I think it is very easy to overlook and minimize situations that present a reasonable risk,” says Ecklund. “It is better to be over prepared than be underprepared.”

Once you have all the materials that you think you need, it’s time to pack them. “I like to lay [my materials] out on the floor,” says Bourne. “So I have a good visualization of everything that I have.” He also suggests making a list and checking off items as you pack them.

Having a repair kit for any gear that you carry with you is crucial, according to Walton. When you are relying on your gear to get back to the vehicle or to stay overnight, it can’t fail you.

Don’t pack what you don’t know how to use, explains Walton. “If you have a map and you don’t know how to read a map it does you no good whatsoever,” he adds. “If you have a compass and you don’t know about declination, you can get yourself in trouble.” OPR hosts programs that teach about outdoor safety and first aid. Bourne suggests that students and outdoor enthusiasts take these courses to prepare themselves for serious situations. “That gives you a really strong foundation for wilderness medicine and being in the backcountry,” says Bourne.

Another route that you can take to learn about emergency situations includes doing research on the computer. “I always say the internet is your best friend,” says Bourne.

Talking to others with experience is another way to gain this knowledge. That could be as simple as asking a family member, or even reaching out to trained professionals with Search and Rescue. “You can stop by the sheriff ’s office and you can ask to talk to somebody,” says Nale. “We can put you in touch with somebody from Search and Rescue that can give somebody some one-on-one advice for their specific outdoor activity.”

“We encourage people to call and ask the sheriff ’s office,” says Nale. “Because we’re out everywhere in this county every day.”

Communication Before leaving on your next outdoor adventure, Bourne suggests telling people where you’re going. “Have someone that’s not on the trip know so that in case something does happen they have an idea on where you are and can get ahold of you.”

Even avid outdoor enthusiasts and professionals in the field let others know where they plan to be. “People that I know and trust know where I’m going and when I’ll be back,” says Nale. “Even though I do this stuff for a living and I’m outdoors all the time, my bones break just as easy as anybody else’s.”

Nale also suggests that you need a way to find help while out in the field. “You [have to] be able to communicate to people,” says Nale. “That’s why I always recommend a whistle. A whistle is a great device that anybody can carry. It doesn’t weigh anything.”

Emergency beacons and satellite phones are also good tools according to Nale. These provide contact with others while in the outdoors. If you ever find yourself or someone close to you in a serious outdoor emergency, Nale has one straightforward answer. To get ahold of Search and Rescue.

“Call 911,” says Nale. “The dispatchers will put you in touch with the sheriff ’s office.”

Practicing these strategies can make you more confident and secure the next time you find yourself reaching for the skis or loading up your kayak. Should you ever find yourself in an emergency situation, you’ll know what to do and others will know where to find you.

Are you prepared to survive a night in the wilderness? Take this quiz to find out!

You open your closet and pick through your clothes before going on the hike. Do you:

Decide to layer with breathable and quick-drying clothes. You throw in an extra wool sweatshirt and a rain jacket, even though rain isn’t in the forecast. a

Pack one quick-drying base layer and a cotton sweatshirt. It’s not supposed to rain so you don’t think you need a rain jacket. b

Figure you will be constantly on the move. You pick out a cotton t-shirt and sweatshirt. You are only going to be out for a few hours. c

You’re packing food and water in your backpack for the day’s hike. Do you:

Pack enough meals and bottled water to last an extra couple of days if you needed it. a

Throw in an extra granola bar. You might be walking out after dark. b

Pack a single candy bar and a small bottle of water so that you will be carrying less weight. That way you can hike faster and get back earlier. c

What are some of the ‘10 Essentials’ you should carry with you in preparation for an emergency situation?

Extra water, a fire starter, a head lamp, extra food, emergency shelter. a

A single match, emergency shelter, a bandana, a piece of candy, a single extra sock. Spare keys, matches, a pencil, a laptop charger, an empty bottle of water. b c

You are driving to the trailhead where you will be hiking. Right before you leave cell phone service, you remember that you forgot to tell someone where you are going. Do you:

Call your roommate and leave a message on their phone with the location you plan to be in. a

Figure you will get reception when you gain some elevation and you will let someone know where you are later. Disregard the urge to call. It’s only a three mile hike. b c

You’ve been walking down the trail for an hour and feel a hotspot on your heel. You take off your boot and sock and realize you have the start of a blister. Do you:

Immediately clean the area and apply some sort of bandage and protective material to the area to lessen the effects of the blister later. a

Put on an extra pair of socks on and keep walking up the trail. You’ll tend to it on top of the mountain. Completely ignore the pain and trudge on. b c

The views are gorgeous and you aren’t paying attention to the time of day. Darkness is setting and you find you’ve ventured off the trail. You turn around and realize that you don’t know how to get back. What do you do?

Stay put and prepare for a long night, you can figure it out in the morning. a

Begin walking in the direction you think you should go. PANIC! YOU ARE LOST! b c

You trip on a tree root as you assess the situation and fall and break your ankle. This is the last thing you do before staying the night outside. Do you:

Remain calm and begin assembling your emergency materials. a

Lay there and do nothing. You will get out your materials later as you need them. b

Pick yourself up and stumble around in the dark. You think you know where you are going. c

Flip to page 19 to find out if you survived the wilderness!