Backcountry Safety

The Kootenays are a beautiful and amazing place to explore! But how prepared are you when you’re out there enjoying everything nature has to offer? The mountains are a fantastic place to explore but there are things to consider that you may not normally think of. 

Poor or no cell service

In this day and age, the ability to communicate at any time is almost a given. But it doesn’t take much distance away from major centres to be cut off, you know, where all the really good places are! So don’t assume your phone can get you out of trouble. And depending on how long you are out there, a way to charge electronics is a good idea. Using your phone as a camera and GPS unit drains it faster than you think. I carry a larger battery bank to make sure I always have enough power.

Satellite Communications

One way to have emergency communication when out of cell service is a satellite communicator like a Garmin Inreach. I don’t go anywhere without mine and it’s gotten me out of trouble more than once. It can be used in two main ways, as an SOS device, or for simple communication. Part of the service you pay for is emergency medical and evacuation support. Push the little button, and they come save you. Now that is reassuring! I’ve never needed that, but regularly use it to text updates to somebody else, or ask for non-emergency aid. Highly recommended if you travel out of service regularly. 

Maps

Maps are pretty much a must when in the backcountry, need to know where you’re going! Paper maps are always a good idea to have as a backup, but these days, you have a very sophisticated GPS device right in your pocket. Google maps works great when you have service, but what if you don’t? Always download a map of where you are going and have it usable offline. I’m a huge fan of Gaia GPS, it has a fantastic free basemap, downloadable for offline use, and you always get that little blue dot telling you where you are. There really isn’t any reason to get lost anymore!

 If you want to learn more about Gaia and GPS mapping, you can go here for more information.

Gaia Tutorial on using files

First Aid Kits

First aid kits are are a no-brainer. But do you know what’s in your kit? And how to use it? Off the shelf ones come in every size and style you can think of, but may or may not do the job for you. Be sure to add anything extra you may need like medication, more band-aids, tick tweezers, or whatever else is appropriate. Build the kit, but be sure to actually carry the kit! It’s tempting to cut weight and leave it behind thinking I never use it, why carry it? Well, that’s just when you’ll end up needing it…

Tools

No matter where you go in the backcountry, you need to be relatively self-sufficient. You carry a first aid kit to fix the body, what about fixing everything else? Doesn’t matter if you’re hiking, on a motorcycle or ATV, or in a vehicle. If something breaks, you need to at least have a chance at fixing it. Carry what’s appropriate for you and practice using the tool kit before you go.

Food and Water

Your body needs fuel, and you better feed it! Seems obvious, of course you’ll have food and water with you. But what about if you get stuck somewhere longer than planned? Do you have a little bit of emergency food tucked away? What about water? Carrying a small filter or purification tablets/liquid is a simple thing, and could just save you.

Clothing

Well, of course you’ll have clothing! Looked like a nice day when you left, but weather can be very unpredictable in the mountains. A warm hat, and light gloves can really help you stay warm. And if you are away from shelter, raingear sure is a good idea. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, it just has to keep you dry. And a light insulation layer like long johns or a sweater/jacket can make all the difference.

Emergency Kit ideas

Flashlight/headlampFirestarterKnife / SawBear spraySpace blanketDuct tape & zip tiesMulti-tool

Bonus Linkage