What should I take?

Before we venture out, to ensure our comfort and safety there are a few considerations to make:

Let someone know where you are going. It sounds obvious, but tell someone where you are going and when to expect you back. Check in with them once you return, or if you’re going to stay out longer than you initially expected, let that person know too.

When we are in remote places, using sharp cutting tools, there is a degree of risk. We can help mitigate this risk by should something go wrong we can rest assured that help will eventually be on its way, even if we are unable to facilitate this our self.

Waterproof jacket. Even if its not forecast to rain, conditions can change unexpectedly. A waterproof jacket weighs little stuffed into a rucksack – and if you need it, there isn’t much else that can effectively replace it. Even if it’s not raining, it can keep the wind off, and provide an extra layer of insulation.

Warm layer and hat. In the same line of thinking, a spare warm layer and a warm hat will also serve you well. If we are out longer than expected, or want to stop for an extended period, having some extra clothes will make this a more comfortable experience. A warm hat will make a big difference, and if you want to improve this system even more a tube scarf (‘buff’) and a simple pair of gloves will make for a compact ‘cold kit’, which can live in your pack.

Spare food and water. In addition to our lunch, if out for a day, we should also take additional food and water. Cereal bars, jerky, nuts, dried fruit – something with a bit of sugar and some protein, will help keep you going. An absolute minimum of water would be one litre, and even better is two.

Personal First Aid Kit. A basic first aid kit that you know how to use should be on your person, especially when you are using cutting tools. A first aid kit should be able to deal with the types of injuries you might sustain, but equally you need to know how to deal with them, so along side this, training (especially that with an outdoor component), should a priority.