Sure, you might be armed to the teeth, ready to take on anything the undead hoards throw at you, but what if your plan calls for you to make your way into the wilderness? Are you prepared for the dangers of Mother Nature?
I’m an avid backpacker, and whenever I prepare for a trip away from civilization, my preparations always start with the Ten Essentials. The original version of this list appeared in the 1930’s with The Mountaineers, an outdoor adventure organization based out of Seattle. Since then, the list has been updated and streamlined to the one all outdoor recreation experts preach today. However, I’m going to take it one step further and apply the list to the post Z-day world. Used in conjunction with Don’s 7 Priorities, this list should be the basis of your packing list should your plans call for you to venture away from populated areas.
1. Navigation
If society collapses, you might as well throw that fancy GPS of yours at the nearest zombie (aim for the head, of course). Without regular orbit corrections and a timing signal from the ground, the constellation of satellites that make GPS work will quickly fall silent. That means back to basics. For this, you’ll need a map of your area and a compass. If you don’t know how to use them, I suggest you learn. I plan a future article on the basics of navigating with a map, but it wouldn’t hurt to have someone who already knows teach you.
2. Sun Protection
Though it may seem like a minor nuisance, sunburn can quickly become a huge problem, especially if you’re trekking through the desert or high altitude areas. Sunburn can sap morale, and, if it becomes too serious, can blister and become infected, all of which will severely hamper your ability to function in an extreme survival situation. Sunscreen should always be worn on exposed skin during the summer months. However, sunscreen runs out quickly so consider wearing a wide-brimmed hat and breathable, long sleeved shirts and pants, especially in the desert. It might seem like the extra clothing would make you too hot, but it keeps direct sunlight off your skin, actually making you feel cooler.
Sunglasses are also a must. In the zombie-infested world, nothing is more important than your eyesight, so do everything you can to protect your eyes from the debilitating effects of the sun. Plus, sunglasses will shield your eyes from flying debris during battles with the zeds. Consider a pair with good ballistics protection (Oakley and WileyX both make excellent models with this protection).
3. Insulation
Even in summer, never underestimate the threat of hypothermia. Always carry several pieces of protective clothing you can wear in layers, depending on the weather. At a minimum, carry an insulating base layer that’s worn next to the skin, a thicker insulating jacket such as a fleece, and a rainshell to repel the elements. Obviously, carry more, heavier clothing in winter.
A sleeping bag also makes a great source of emergency insulation. If the weather becomes severe, you can always crawl into your bag for extra warmth. Just remember that down sleeping bags lose their insulation properties when they get wet, but a synthetic bag will continue to insulate even when soaked. The trade off comes in the fact that down packs smaller and is much lighter than a comparably warm synthetic bag.
4. Illumination
If you need to travel at night, a flashlight is your best friend. Without it you can easily injure yourself falling over unseen obstacles or blunder into zombie you didn’t see lurking in your path. Flashlights also make excellent signaling devices, should the need arise. I recommend getting a headlamp because it shines wherever you look, and it keeps your hands free to operate weapons. Don’t forget spare batteries!
5. First Aid Supplies
This one is self explanatory, and there are a multitude of pre-packaged kits available from outdoor recreation suppliers. At a bare minimum, make sure it has bandages of all sizes, gauze pads, blister treatments, adhesive tape, disinfecting ointment, painkillers, and several pairs of latex gloves. Just make sure you know what everything in the kit is used for and know how to use it. Consider enrolling in a first aid class so you can be as effective as possible when the need arises.
6. Fire
Fire can be your best friend in a survival situation. You can use it to cook, stay warm, provide light, and improve your morale (just don’t try to fight zombies with it unless you want to catch fire too). That being said, fire is not at all the easiest thing to make, but with the proper tools you shouldn’t have any problems. First, carry a good lighter (or several). Beyond that, carry a flint and a piece of magnesium. When a spark hits magnesium shavings, it burns bright and hot. Also consider carrying pre-treated kindling which you can find at most outdoor equipment stores. It works far better than what you can find in the wild. Now, these are just what I carry and there are several other options available. However, always carry multiple fire-starting tools, just in case. Fire can be the difference between life and death and you always want to be sure you can start one should the need arise. As for how to actually start and build a fire, that is beyond of the scope of this article, but there are plenty of survival manuals and classes out there that can teach you.
7. Repair Kit and Tools
Stuff breaks, it always does. Don’t let the failure of a critical piece of equipment jeopardize your survival. Packing a repair kit tailored to your equipment will allow you to correct any problems and carry on. Multi-tools are an excellent, lightweight option that include most of the tools you might need. Also, if your weapons require any specific tools, don’t forget to pack them. A sewing kit is also extremely useful. It will allow you to repair fabrics including clothing, tents, etc., extending their usefulness. Finally, never underestimate the effectiveness of duct tape, and always carry some.
8. Nutrition
Food will give you the energy you need to keep traveling and fighting. Always stock up when you can so you have at least three days worth. However, once you enter the wilderness long term, you have to switch to a hunter-gatherer mindset. Read up on the edible plants in your local area, learn how to grow crops suitable for your climate, and learn to hunt. Otherwise, you’ll have to make regular trips into the nearest town, increasing your risk of contact with zombies.
9. Hydration
Without water, you won’t make it more than a few days. Bring as much as you can comfortably carry and top off whenever possible. Also, never drink untreated water collected from an outdoor source, no matter how pristine it might look. Doing so can make you severely ill, making you unable to properly fight off zombies or even attend to everyday tasks. Treat water with a filter, a UV light, or boil it. If you’re still in a built up area, don’t forget toilets. Obviously, don’t drink from the bowl, but the tanks contain tap water that is safe to drink and will store it even after the municipal water system shuts down.
10. Emergency Shelter
You never know when the weather might shift, bringing on the risk of hypothermia. An emergency shelter should be something like a tarp or a tent that you can set up quickly to escape the elements. Though a tent offers more protection, consider a tarp because it will still allow you to see outside. Should the undead come, a tarp is much easier to escape from and can be broken down quickly.
In Conclusion
Every single item on this list provides a critical foundation to successful wilderness travel and survival. Ensure you know how to work every piece of equipment so the first time you use it isn’t when your life is on the line. There’s nothing worse than trying to start a fire with an ignition source you don’t know how to use. Also, if you have cargo pants with those big pockets, use them! Place as many survival items as you can in your pockets and on your person. You don’t want to be out of luck should you lose your pack with all your survival gear in it.
However, this list should not be the only source you consult. There are many wilderness survival guides available. I recommend the one written by Les Stroud from the TV show Survivorman. It covers every aspect of wilderness survival and a small section on urban, although it’s geared towards eventually being rescued. Keep in mind, that’s not likely should the zombie apocalypse come. Even better would be to attend an actual class on wilderness survival and living. If it seems too tough for you, it might be time to reevaluate your plan and find another way of living should the dead rise.
