The Ten Essentials of Wilderness Survival

The Alaskan wilderness is a dynamic environment, full of hazards, both known and unforeseeable. Emerald Air Service guides are experienced backcountry travelers and have the skills to avoid the obvious dangers and mitigate the risks of the unknown as well as handle emergency situations. One way they do this is to always carry The Ten Essentials. 

The Ten Essentials are ten groupings of items that will aid in every kind of backcountry emergency. The Ten Essentials could be simply a knife and a lighter, or it could be as robust as a 100-liter backpack and a sled full of additional gear. It all depends on the environment. Let’s take a look at what’s in the pack of the Emerald Air Service naturalist guides on the Katmai Bush Guided Expedition:

1. Navigation: 

If the cloud ceiling drops or the group gets disoriented on the vast and treeless tundra, it could be difficult to navigate back to safety. Your guides always carry a Spot GPS (which doubles as a communication device), and they may carry a map and compass as well (if they’re old-school) to orient to the area. They might have a watch with an altimeter, barometer, and GPS for a complete orientation to the current conditions and terrain. Even without all the gizmos though, your guides know how to navigate with the sun, the terrain, and if it gets dark, the stars. 

2. Communication: 

You’re not lost if someone else knows where you are. Your guides carry a Spot GPS to communicate to Emerald base and rescue teams, and two-way radios to talk to pilots and rangers. Additionally, they carry handheld signal flares, which are primarily used for bear deterrent, but could be used to signal to a rescue team as well. Your guide might carry a whistle and an air horn and probably has some sort of signal mirror (like a compass or a survival blanket) to flash to passing planes. 

3. Hydration: 

Thirst will ruin your day faster than hunger. But clear-flowing mountain streams may contain giardia or other harmful viruses or bacteria (or just a bunch of rotting salmon carcasses) so you don’t want to drink straight from them. Every Emerald Air Service guest should be carrying a full water bottle and additionally, your guide probably has a thermos full of tea or soup. Your guide also has a tiny bottle of water purification, like AquaMira or Iodine in their pack, in case the group is benighted and they need to sterilize additional water.

4. Nutrition: 

Every Emerald Air Service guest should have a lunch in their pack, but what if you get stranded out in the wilderness for longer than you intended? We carry emergency supplies in the airplane and your guide carries extra calorically-dense snacks at all times, and in case of multi-day emergency, your guide likely carries a fishing hook and line, as well as a knowledge of the edible (and poisonous!) plants in the area. 

5. Shelter: 

Weather can turn fast in Alaska and when it rains, it pours. Becoming soaking wet compounds all other emergency situations so Emerald Air Service guides carry a lightweight tarp that’s big enough for the group to huddle under, as well as guyline to string it out. They also carry heat-reflective emergency bivvy bags, which double as a reflective signaling device. 

6. Weather: 

Rain isn’t the only kind of weather we get in Alaska (although we certainly get a lot of it). Cold, wind, heat, sun, snow and lightning are all possible and so, to be prepared for any kind of weather, Emerald Air Service guests wear or bring hip waders or comfortable hiking boots, warm wool or synthetic layers (not cotton!), rain gear, sunscreen, hats, gloves and sunglasses. Guides and pilots have a daily safety and weather briefing before flying, and are prepared for the weather that they anticipate, but additionally, guides bring along extra layers, extra sunscreen and know procedures for hunkering out a cold or wet or electrical storm. 

7. Protection: 

Whether it's from bears, bugs, weather or other wild animals, it is critical to think ahead and be prepared to protect yourself. Emerald Air Service guides will conduct a safety briefing with all guests prior to embarking on the flight to Katmai, and once out there, your guide will carry multiple handheld flares, which are the most effective bear deterrent. Additionally, your guide will carry bear spray and an air horn. All guests bring rain gear, even if rain is not anticipated because on sunny days, Gore-Tex and rubber protects from mosquitos, which can ruin a mood just as easily as rain. A campfire is another source of protection from wild animals, who are naturally fearful of fire and stay away if the group is benighted, so your guide always carries a fire-starting kit.  

8. First Aid: 

Emerald Air Service guides are all certified wilderness first responders and they carry a CPR mask and first aid kit that is robust enough to treat most common backcountry injuries and illnesses. Additionally, they carry a toilet kit, for other types of emergencies. Click here to read about how to poop in the sub-arctic tundra. Guests of Emerald Air Service are responsible for bringing two days of their personal medications with them in the unlikely event that the group is benighted in the backcountry. Guests who have severe allergies or other medical needs should carry their own Epi-pens and emergency medication and inform their guide where they keep it and how to administer it, if necessary.

9. Tools: 

The one item that your guide always has in their pocket is a knife. This tool aids all other nine essentials. Additionally, your guide may be carrying a multi-tool, duct tape, cordolette or a solar battery charger, any of which can fix broken gear or aid in a rescue. 

10. Wits: 

People have survived in the wilderness since the beginning of time, so although modern technical gear can make things easier, the most important element of wilderness survival is bringing along your brain. Be prepared, pack what you need to survive, know the area, know your team’s limits, trust your instincts, remain calm at all times, and most of all, enjoy the journey! 

The author of this post, Libby B Bushell is a naturalist guide for Emerald Air Service. She is the founder of HoWL, Homer Wilderness Leaders, and she has worked with the Kenai Peninsula School District to teach thousands of Alaskan kids about the Ten Essentials of wilderness survival. Libby lives in Homer, Alaska year-round, except when she’s visiting friends and family or skiing in the backcountry near Haines, AK, like she’s doing today.