Safety gear is important

The weather is rapidly transitioning from summer/fall into our usual dark, cold and snowy winter. Some look forward to this transformation because they enjoy the winter sports of skiing, snowshoeing, snowmachining, and the related pastimes of icefishing, trapping, and possibly a late season hunt for either big or small game, depending on the circumstances. Others don’t appreciate what the winter season can offer us for activities.

I’ll readily admit that I’m not a big fan of the intense cold anymore. Ten to 20 below is about the limit of what I will tolerate. Anything colder you can keep! On the other hand, up to a point, I still enjoy the snow. Being retired means I don’t have to get out if the weather is bad enough and that helps make the winter season palatable if not even enjoyable most of the time.

Alaskan weather is generally harsher and more intense that the rest of the country and, as a result, can quickly kill you if you are unprepared for whatever conditions you find yourself facing. From my remote living days, I learned to anticipate what could go wrong and to have the equipment and/or clothing available to deal with the situation.

I carry a survival bag in my truck in case I break down somewhere and help isn’t readily available. I have warm socks; a pair of winter snow boots; a set of insulated coveralls; a warm hat and gloves; signaling devices like flares and reflectors; a shovel and ax; material to throw under the tires for traction; a portable winch; and other equipment that, short of being involved in a collision, will usually allow me to get myself out of most situations, assuming the truck engine in still running.

I have survival gear on my snowmachine. I have a GPS and the SPOT satellite signaling system; a tow strap designed for the snowmachine; a come-along and tow strap; fire starting systems; a compass and maps showing the trail systems where I usually ride; snowshoes and walking poles; emergency blankets and line for building a shelter; a short machete and small ax for cutting branches to create a trail or build a fire; a snow shovel; extra gloves; and other items I figure will be usable for that particular trip. I have similar survival setups for my ATV and riverboat with items tailored to the season and particular circumstances of the trip: road, water, snow, or land.

However I travel, whether truck, boat, snowmachine, or ATV, I have a cell phone, knife, multi-use tool, usually some fire starting implement like matches or a butane lighter and other gear actually on my person. I also carry my medications for a day’s worth of activity. Having all the survival gear in the world is great as long as you have it available when needed and that means carrying gear on your person. Boats sink, land vehicles can burn, or some other loss of your primary survival bag can happen unexpectedly. Think ahead and carry some minimal gear!

Occasionally, I’ll take along an FAA handheld radio with a list of the appropriate aviation channels used in the area. There’s usually a commercial jet overhead 24/7 in Alaska. Broadcasting for help and passing along GPS coordinates can summon aid in the event of a life-or-death emergency. I’ll happily take the ticket for illegal FAA radio operation under those circumstances – that means I’m alive to be cited!

Satellite phones are becoming more available and the initial cost of the phone plus the per-minute charges are dropping into the range where everyone who frequents the backcountry can afford to have one in their gear. They’re even cheaper if you choose to rent one for the duration of your trip. I’ve been looking at some of the units and checking out usage costs in the event I get to wander off in the wilderness in the future.

I’ve been made fun of by folks who think I’ve gone overboard with bringing survival gear as itemized above whenever I go off on an “adventure.” However, one friend who liked to tease me about this paid me the ultimate compliment during a boating safety instructors’ class we took together several years ago. When asked who he would want to be with in a survival situation and why, he mentioned me and said I would have enough gear to see both of us comfortably through until rescue arrived. I appreciated his heartfelt statement!

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by emailing sports@frontiersman.com.