Back Country Essentials

• Compass / Signal Mirror / Signal Device (Whistle) (Hand Held Smoke Flare)
• Extra Food / High Energy Bars
• First Aid Kit
• Flashlight w/ Extra Batteries
• Good Pocket Knife / Swiss Army or Multi-Tool
• Hatchet / Small Game Saw
• Map
• Shelter / Space Blanket / Water and Wind Barrier (Large Lawn or Leaf Bag)
• Water / Personal Medications
• Waterproof Matches / Fire Starter Kit

• Cell Phone
• Extra Clothes (Avoid Cotton) Hat, Cap, Gloves/ Rain Gear
• Fire Starter / Magnesium Fire Starter
• FRS Radio / Weather Radio Option
• Small Hand Saw
• Smoke Flare / Signaling
• Sun Screen and Sunglasses

• A blanket
• A extra pair of boots and dry socks
• A first aid kit
• A flashlight with a set of extra batteries
• A hammer
• A heavy duty ice scraper should be carried in the front of the car where they will be easy to get at
• A pocket knife and some other small tools
• A set of jumper cables
• A small bag of sand or cat litter (this can be used both for weight in a rear wheel drive car and to place on a slick roadway to give you more traction)
• A small broom for snow removal
• A small shovel.
• A small tool kit, with a pair of pliers, a Phillips and straight screwdriver
• Bottled water, and some food (it is a better idea to keep the food in the trunk so that you are not tempted to eat it while driving). The food recommendations are high energy nutrition bars, snack type foods, and anything else that will keep and not freeze.
• Matches in a airtight container
• Reading material
• Some extra dry clothes (toss in a few jackets, gloves and hats that you no longer wear)
• Something brightly colored that can be used for flagging
• Tire chains

Weather
Pay attention to the weather it can change in a matter of minutes in the mountains.