What to Pack in a Wilderness Backcountry Survival Kit

Living in Wyoming, it seems like I read a different news story every week about a stranded motorist, lost hiker, missing hunter or snowmobiler who’s unaccounted for. Although mishaps occur across the country, the unforgiving landscape of the West sets the stage for more remote, serious events.

As a primarily solo venturer into the backcountry, I take these threats to heart while hunting or scouting and never leave home without providing a detailed note of my intended destination, where I will park and when I intend to return. In addition to donating annually to our search-and-rescue fund, I carry my own wilderness survival kit. Typically, search and rescue waits 24 hours before launching a full-scale effort. Before the cavalry arrives, you might need immediate aid to curtail the effects of major trauma, and you always need to consider the possibility that your communications will fail. Get out alive with a tailored wilderness survival kit.

FIRST AID

First-aid kits vary in size and contents depending on their intended purpose. For wilderness adventures, be sure to choose one that can handle major injuries. A review of a military IFAK (individual first-aid kit) provides a window into required items.

You can customize as needed but start with a handful of bandages of varying sizes, gauze and butterfly closures. Medical and duct tape help secure any dressings, and antiseptic wipes help ward off initial infections. For the possibility of more severe wounds, include a packet of QuikClot, hemostatic devices and a tourniquet. I always keep a baggy of pain relievers in my pouch for achy joints and emergencies, plus a length of moleskin for breakout blisters.

Beyond that, include items like antihistamines, insect bite medication and sunscreen as needed. Add a small first-aid manual for refresher information during the panic of an injury.

COMMUNICATION and NAVIGATION

Your smartphone works as a primary communication tool. Keep it off until needed to preserve the battery and carry a spare power source. Also, invest in a satellite communication device if possible. None compare to the affordability of the Garmin inReach Mini 2. These small units give you texting ability, tracking, navigation and will even send out SOS if needed. Keep this powered down to conserve battery life, too.

Not only does the inReach Mini 2 provide you with emergency messaging, but the GPS side of the device also helps you with navigation. Back up all your navigation. When I use my HuntStand app, I download all maps to my phone so I do not have to rely on having cell service. Take that a step further and carry an old-school map and compass in case your digital world dies due to battery exhaustion. Finally, if you do become hopelessly disoriented, stay put. This allows searchers to zero in on your last known location and not have to expand the search area.

WARMTH

It is amazing what a roaring fire can do for your confidence. As such, always carry fire-making tools, tinder and backup ignition. My fire-starting kit includes matches in a waterproof container, a lighter, ferrocerium or magnesium rods for striking and simple tinder. Dryer lint or petroleum jelly-soaked cotton balls work wonders to guarantee flames.

Keep all the above in a waterproof bag or container. When you build a fire ring, place it near a rock wall, if possible, for a windbreak and to reflect heat to you. Fire keeps you warm if an overnight is required or in inclement weather. Plus, fire serves as a beacon for location with its brightness at night and smoke during the day. Add in the sound of an emergency whistle (I wear one on a paracord wrist band) and rescuers can easily home to your exact location.

SHELTER

With a fire roaring and wood stacked, it’s time to focus on shelter. Options include a tarp, bivy, tent, space blanket, raingear, lightweight survival blanket or specialized emergency bivy sack/sleeping bag. I keep an emergency lightweight sleeping bag stowed in my pack. The Delmera emergency sleeping bag protects me from rain and wind, weighs less than 5 ounces and retains 90 percent of my body heat. Combine that with a stoked fire, and it makes an uncomfortable night in the woods more tolerable.

You could become disabled from an injury and need to make camp at the site of the injury. If able, hwoever, find a better shelter, like the previously mentioned rock wall or cave. You can also create an impromptu lean-to with downed logs and branches. A length of paracord becomes invaluable when lashing natural items into a shelter.

ENERGY

Food plus water equals energy. Energy equals a sound mind and able body. You can live for a week or more without food, but you require water daily. When your water bottles go dry, be cognitive of all water sources. Purify every fill to avoid even more harm than you might experience. At a minimum, I carry a mini filter called a LifeStraw. I can suck water through it anywhere and it filters on the spot. Another lightweight option is purification tablets to make water safe. You could also pack a standard water filter, but it adds weight. Stashing a metal cup in your kit also adds weight, but it gives you the option to melt snow or boil water for purification over your cozy fire.

You may not need food, but I generally stash several extra energy bars in my pack in case of an unexpected event. You can also consider high-energy packaged snacks like beef jerky, Honey Stingers, trail mix or even a Snickers bar for consolation. Round out your kit with a multitool and a flashlight with extra batteries as well. With this kit you should withstand a night or two in the backcountry as you wait for the rescue troops to arrive.

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• This article was featured in the October 2024 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe.

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