"I think a more elaborate ditch kit is something that is more important to a solo paddler than someone in a group or even just tandem situation."

Absolutely right - I always carry a ditch kit when solo (except for day trips on local lakes) but I never carry one when I'm out with my brother, or with a group.

My ditch kit stays in my pfd pocket which I wear 99% of the time.  It has a lighter, fire starter sticks, and a combination compass, whistle, flashlight.  I also bought a very cool very small high powered flashlight.  It's 3 inches long and takes one triple A battery and is waterproof.  That stays in my vest also.

My ditch kit is a butane lighter and three or four werthers caramels in my pocket. I generally travel solo and am unconcerned about my lack of preparedness. I put most of my energy into strategies that minimize the chance that I get separated from my gear.

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I think everyone can agree with that.
The more varied opinions people have the better choices they can make for their personal comfort level.

There is no correct or best answer that will apply to everyone in every situation. Wilderness travel involves inherent risks and risk assessments and mitigations are part of the equation.

The response I gave above is the solution I am comfortable with and should in no way be interpreted as the best solution or advice.

I do not like having a lot of stuff on my person. If I were to paddle solo, I might have more stuff. When I travel, I am with a small group that can be counted on to come to my aid, just as I would respond to a fellow paddler in need of assistance.

Sharing ideas like this is a big part of what makes QJ an awesome site.

Some additional rambling thoughts here. 

I normally carry a couple of military foil packed trioxane bars, some waterproof matches and a waterproof/windproof  butane lighter that you can actually light tinder with, most will not. This just goes in my PFD pocket because it is all waterproof.
I agree with ST that solo travel comes with additional concern and to that end I like Magic’s idea of attaching it to the PFD as well.  Trying to remember where my emergency gear is during an emergency does not seem like a good plan.  Based on the suggestions of others here, I will be adding to what I carry, in or on, my PFD.

My only other comment is about medications.  During my yearly physical I ask my doctor for a script of broad spectrum antibiotics for infections from cuts or other internal bacterial issues and also a script for some high powered pain meds.  Our group has never taken a single tablet except at home prior to the very first trip to make sure there will be no allergic reactions in the woods.  The next year I give them back to the doctor for disposal as proof they are not being used inappropriately.  After a year the antibiotics are losing potency anyway.  Neosporin and Band-Aids works well for blisters, but if someone in the group has a broken bone or a raging bacterial sinus infection, some meds would help manage an un-happy camper.

I fully expect some dissenting opinions, which is great because the forums have been too quiet lately anyway.

Kind Regards,

Mossback

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  I think a more elaborate ditch kit is something that is more important to a solo paddler than someone in a group or even just tandem situation.

In a group assuming their not all stranded, people will come looking for you.
In a tandem situation unless both parties are incapacitated one person can help the other.

When your all alone and in a remote area, having more than a few basic items could make all the difference in the world.

I have a pretty extensive first aid kit along with a military-grade special forces field medicine guide.
I hope I never have to use it BUT I like that its there if I do.

I did a little research and found that you can do a DIY over-the-counter pain treatment combination that is almost as strong as an opioid prescription med.

The Special Forces guys carry it for injuries that regular pain meds are not strong enough for.

You can combine Aleve and Tylenol for extra strength pain relief because are eliminated by different organs. GOOGLE the info.

I plan on adding them to my first aid kit if I ever need some serious pain relief that Aleve or Tylenol alone won't help with.

Lot's of people take electronic items to call for help whether in groups or solo.

Other's have the old school mentality of saving themselves. My ditch kit is set-up with the idea that NO-ONE is coming for me.

Of course, I'd signal for help and be glad if someone responded, but I don't count on it.

Hope for the best, be prepared for the worst. That's the way I approach my solo trips. Other's do as they feel necessary.

I’ll join the minority report. I don’t carry anything special for a ditch kit. I have a Gerber multitool on my belt and a butane lighter, lockback knife, and an extra dose of prescription meds in my pocket. I keep my water bottle close, but not attached to me. That’s it. My nylon pants don’t generate much pocket lint, but I’ve never had much trouble finding natural materials to start fire.

I may be in the minority but I don't carry a ditch kit at all in the Q or BWCA in the summer when I'm travelling with a group. I do pay a lot of attention to making sure my most essential survival gear is in peak form though, and I know it's always going to be on hand no matter the situation:  my brain.

Other than that, I have a lighter, swiss army knife, water tabs and some hand sanitizer in my pocket (along with lint, most likely). I can survive for days with just that stuff. Probably not as comfortably as some of you with the ditch kits, but I'll manage. Water's all around and I've spent 50+ years slowly accumulating an emergency store of calories around my midsection, but there's usually lots to eat in the woods/water also if you know what you're looking for. As long as I can make fire and construct a crude windbreak, I'm pretty bulletproof. Several planes fly over on a daily basis and there's plenty of bare ledge-rock to construct a crude SOS out of rocks. A signal mirror is good but a fire, and/or running around like a fool in front of my SOS is almost as good.

Not trying to steer you away from anything, but it's easy to get caught up in hypotheticals that have almost a zero% chance of occurring and end up with a lot of crap dangling off your person that you'll just never need. I guess I figure if I'm hurt bad enough for a lot of that survival stuff to be essential then there's a pretty good chance I am too hurt to deploy it effectively.

MuleLars wrote on Jan 26^th, 2018 at 3:21am:


Thanks for posting the link.  Good info.