What do you carry that others may not have thought about?

[The Kickass One]

But what about all the extra weight...lol

 

[C of Red]

Much of the stuff people have already mentioned.

Also a medium box full of glow sticks and a tube tent. My inReach account also has my radio channel.

 

[lilduke]

Good friends, common sense ext. If it is 30-, socked right in, or bottomless pow maybe save the mission for a different day?
Stick to some stuff you can handle and places you know? Doesnt hurt to be prepared, but who wants to sleep in a snow cave? Not me.


I pack alot of stuff it seems, not much camping gear though.


Sat phone and GPS is key if someone gets hurt.

 

[b_doornenbal]

I have spent quite a fair bit of time in the bush, taken multiple survival courses I can comfortably say in am good for 3 days with a knife, lighter, 4 cliff bars and my muff pot and of course a compass. That said I have much more gear than most, actually very similar to Rowdy but that’s for comfort as much as necessity.

And I have been forced to spend a couple nights left in the forest over the years the thing you can’t prep for is the mental side of things, that takes practice. People should go try spend the night outside at -10 even prepared outside there nice warm house .... it’s a long night, being stressed out, scared alone. That’s what you need to pack with you.

 

[Joholio]

I pack pretty much all the same as what you peeps have added here but one thing extra I pack on my sled in my under seat bag is a 100' of climbing rope rolled up tight with black gorilla tape around it, came in handy one trip years back when a guy fell 15' into a tree well. Also like one guy does here also is pack a light weight hatchet zipped tied under my hood in the front , also came in handy a few times getting cats outta the trees lol...

Good thread to bring back up so peeps can double check after the recent events this season already ...

I also keep a small hatchet in my tunnel bag. My bear banger kit has bangers flares etc, cames in a kit. My first aid kit could use some attention as it pretty much consists of tape and rags. Haha

 

[Radical Rider]

Can of pork beens hot dogs and buns nothing like been dogs on a fire at end of day

 

[c_nelson99]

Awesome.. are you an operator? We think the same....

operated for 9.5yrs, took sales gig in july..lol

 

[catinthehat]

One thing I don't see any mention of that our group all carry strapped to the tunnel is snowshoes. They come in handy when someone is stuck in deep powder and if you had to walk any distance could be a life saver.

 

[1200]

All good idea s . It scares me to see or hear people dont pack gas or spark plugs or head lamp . Ive pulled up on people with none of these things items . I feel like yelling at them. I tell them nice that they r stupid haha just joking but come on

 

[Mckinney Creek Adventures]

I am surprised a hatchet was only mentioned once. This is a survival tool essential invented by cave men!!

 

[Team Pigeon]

Chunks of mtn bike tire tube to start fires. Stays dry all day long.
Comprehensive tool kit- stashed under the seat of my XM. If you cut foam, there’s lots of space under there.
Pocket guide backcountry first aid.
Safeway bags.
15” fiskars pruning saw.
A second triangular saw zip tied in the engine compartment.
Hatchet.
Powder keg tunnel box.
Pocket guide outdoor survival.

And practice your skills- try light a fire and see how hard it can be to do when there ain’t much dead standing. Or when the bows are covered in snow. See how long it takes to cut wood with your little 8” inch fold out saw. Or a flexi blade shovel handle saw.

Good book to read that used to be on the book stands at IGA called “northern bushcraft” by Mors Kohanski. Used to be my bible as a kid growing up camping and in JFW group. Lots of shelter ideas- which is a pretty important topic to be effective and efficient when you’re forced to overnight.

 

[pano-dude]

My bca snow saw will cut a tree waaay faster than a hatchet. 12" tree takes maybe 5 minutes.
Agree it is not easy getting a fire going in the alpine without some tricks.
Good info here.

 

[Bnorth]

My bca snow saw will cut a tree waaay faster than a hatchet. 12" tree takes maybe 5 minutes.
Agree it is not easy getting a fire going in the alpine without some tricks.
Good info here.

The hatchet isn't for cutting wood, it's for splitting it. Much easier to buck some decent sized wood and split it for a fire than to try and gather sticks/twigs all night.

Personally I think keeping a fire going for more than to cook a meal is a waste of energy and carry a couple emergency tarps to turn into ponchos and keep a tea light candle burning inside for heat.

 

[kanedog]

I carry some common sense with me. I don't see a lot of sledders carrying common sense these days.

 

[X-it]

A handful of large zip ties a stretch rope and a tablet.

 

[Team Pigeon]

The hatchet isn't for cutting wood, it's for splitting it. Much easier to buck some decent sized wood and split it for a fire than to try and gather sticks/twigs all night.

Personally I think keeping a fire going for more than to cook a meal is a waste of energy and carry a couple emergency tarps to turn into ponchos and keep a tea light candle burning inside for heat.

Typically when it goes all wrong, you’re already wet and cold. From experience, a well planned and built fire will get you warm and dry. It also keeps your spirit and confidence up instead of having a dismal outlook.

And then perhaps revert to your thought of space blanket and tea candle when you’re outta wood. You’’d have to try & see if you like it first.

 

[Rotax_Kid]

sounds odd, but I always carry a rear spare idler wheel. I've had to use it twice. With two wheel rear axles being the norm, one goes South you are going nowhere.

sounds obvious...but wrenches to fit your machine. New Doo's have Torx bolts. I bet not many actually carry torx wrenches

Assortment of nuts/bolts/washers...never know..drop something in the snow and you're done.

I put all of my tools in a fair size orange bag I acquired from somewhere. Figure this is pretty visable if I ever needed to spread it out for a chopper or otherwise.

Sounds stupid - but my contact information is laminated in the glove box of my sled as well as in my jacket pockets. If someone ever needed to contact for some reason, info is always there. When we ride in a group, I always have a list of names in my jacket pocket too. Figure if something ever happened to me, they would know who or how many others were with me.

 

[Team Pigeon]

 

[Summitric]

i carry some common sense with me. I don't see a lot of sledders carrying common sense these days.

i was actually going to say common sense... Now that we're quite a bit older than when we started serious mountain sledding in the '90's, we use a lot more common sense now, than we did back then.... And some common sense comes with experience. Have lost a few friends in avys, and have been in some precarious predicaments in the past, that i'd rather not be in again.

 

[pano-dude]

The hatchet isn't for cutting wood, it's for splitting it. Much easier to buck some decent sized wood and split it for a fire than to try and gather sticks/twigs all night.

Personally I think keeping a fire going for more than to cook a meal is a waste of energy and carry a couple emergency tarps to turn into ponchos and keep a tea light candle burning inside for heat.

Hatchets suck for splitting imo. I would carry an axe if that's the purpose. I use a mawl for splitting, axe for chopping and a hatchet for kindling.

I burn 6+ cord of wood a year so I've split a few logs over the years. Lol