For a list of the 10 essentials for a back country day pack CLICK HERE.
General Survival: Rule of 3’s
- 3 minutes without air
- 3 hours without shelter. This includes the clothes on your back. They are your immediate shelter from the environment and current and potential weather. Carry a quality emergency bivy bag or some other small shelter.
- 3 days without water. Find the cleanest water you can and drink it if you run out. Giardia can be treated later, and dehydration is typically more severe.
- 3 weeks without food. Always carry extra food. Don’t eat anything you aren’t educated on that grows naturally. Wyoming does have some wild plants that are deadly.
Hiking:
- Tell someone where you are going, when you expect to be back and a general area or trail you will be in. Or, leave a note in your car with your equipment, intentions, etc. that Law Enforcement could retrieve if necessary.
- Don’t expect cell phone reception. Your cell phone is not reliable in the backcountry.
- Carry overnight gear even if you don’t expect to spend the night. Matches, bivy bag, etc.
- Carry extra water and food. Carry a method to purify water. Don’t eat anything you aren’t educated about that grows in the wild.
- Wear proper clothing. This is your first defense from the environment and weather.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Wyoming is home to large predators and dangerous terrain.
- Hypothermia and Hyperthermia. You can become too cold to function as well as too hot. Get educated by a local group or a trusted online source.
- Carry a satellite communication device and know how to use it properly. Garmin, Zoleo, SPOT, etc.
Hunting:
- Tell someone where you are going, when you expect to be back and a general area or trail you will be in. Or, leave a note in your car with your equipment, intentions, etc. that Law Enforcement could retrieve if necessary.
- Buddy system. Avoid going hunting alone if possible.
- Attend a local Stop-the-Bleed course to learn valuable lifesaving skills.
- Wear proper clothing. This is your first defense from the environment and weather.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Wyoming is home to large predators and dangerous terrain.
- Carry extra water and food. Carry a method to purify water. Don’t eat anything you aren’t educated about that grows in the wild.
- Carry overnight gear even if you don’t expect to spend the night. Matches, bivy bag, etc.
- Don’t expect cell phone reception. Your cell phone is not reliable in the backcountry.
- Carry a satellite communication device and know how to use it properly. Garmin, Zoleo, SPOT, etc.
- Follow the basic rules of firearm safety.
Ice Fishing:
- Check Ice thickness. Get educated on how to “read the ice”. Know where you are going and identify any known hazards such as underwater springs, etc.
- Buddy system. Avoid going alone if possible.
- Wear a PFD. Ice sheets can separate or crack causing you to take an unexpected dip in the water.
- Carry emergency Ice awls draped over your neck to aid in getting out of the water.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Ice can be unpredictable and constantly moving due to currents or wind. Never cross ice over moving water.
- Wear proper clothing. This is your first defense from the environment and weather.
- Be aware of the signs and symptoms of hypothermia and how to treat it.
Swiftwater:
- Always wear a PFD (personal flotation device).
- Wear a helmet. Many injuries in this environment are caused by head trauma.
- Get training from the ACA (American Canoe Association), etc.
- Hypothermia and Hyperthermia. You can become too cold to function as well as too hot. Get educated by a local group or a trusted online source.
- Watch children very closely. Children are very curious and may wander off.
- The water environment is especially dangerous. The flow never stops and you don’t get a break. Get educated on what to do if you fall into the water.
- Listen to your guide if you are on a guided commercial trip.
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