Why You Should Take Survival Kit on a Wilderness Canoe Trip
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by: PaulKirtley | Total views: 11 | Word Count: 484
When travelling in the wilderness in a canoe you are exposed to a selection of risks that you are not exposed to when hiking. While your canoe is both the means into, and out of, the wilderness, you are entirely dependent on your canoe as a mode of transport. If you lose your canoe for some reason and find yourself landed up on an isolated shore, you will then have to fall back on your bushcraft and survival skills in combination any kit you may have with you.
Compared to other modes of self-propelled wilderness travel, the risks of losing your most important camping hardware and other supplies are higher. When you hike there are times when there is the chance you could lose your backpack - river crossings are the most clear circumstance - there is however more of a risk you can become separated from your camping kit when travelling by canoe.
When you are hiking, you have got the option of re-tracing your steps. If you're castaway after being separated from your canoe nevertheless , there are likely to be no trails from where you are. There might not be trails anywhere close by. There could be tens of miles of dense forest between you and the closest hunters trail or ATV track, never mind a road.
Do not get lulled into a fake sense of security by thinking there are probably going to be folks around to spot you or sound the alarm. Assume responsibility for yourself. Even in popular canoe camping areas, there are times of year when there is scarcely anyone around. You can go literally days without seeing another paddler.
If you are taking only a short break from a wilderness cottage or cabin, you can still travel many miles in a morning. You can be a great distance away from any person even in half a day. In this circumstance you will probably be travelling light, potentially without camping hardware. You are then more dependent on what small amount of equipment you have with you.
Hence the kit you keep about your person while making a wilderness canoeing trip bears some significant consideration.
You will not be able to hire a lot of this gear from a canoe outfitter and it's not likely you'll be able to get all the equipment you require in any single wilderness outfitter. It's recommended that you assemble your wilderness canoeing survival items before your trip.
So what do you need? You should choose equipment so that you will be able to supply the basics you need to survive: Shelter, Fire, Food and Water. You also need to be able to signal and you will likely need some tools so as to be in a position to provide your fundamental needs, or at a minimum make some tasks faster, safer or simpler. And remember - this kit should be compact enough so it is always about your person.
About the Author
Paul Kirtley is an enthusiastic paddler who teaches bushcraft and survival skills. He's dedicated to nature, the great outdoors and remote travel. This is something that comes across exceedingly clearly on his bushcraft courses.
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