My Survival Pack

          Many people attempt to make the quintessential survival pack.  The quest is never ending for a pack that includes an implement for every event that may arise.  My approach is to carry a few items that are going to have the biggest impact while lost or bored on the trail.

I usually carry a small fixed blade or more often my Swiss Army knife.  Also pictured is a magnifying glass multi-use key chain.

          First and foremost, you need a good pocket knife.  Yes, I am aware of how treacherous of a topic it is as to which knife to carry.  Lets not go there; simply, I always carry a small blade such as a Swiss army knife. This knife is used for small chores such as sharpening sticks, cutting cord, and generating sparks with a flint or fire steel.  A larger knife has it's advantages and should not be left off the list if you are preparing for extended trail stay.  Once again, you want to always be prepared, so a smaller pocket knife is easier to keep with you at all times.
         Carrying a lighter or matches at all times is handy, but water and cold temperatures can effect whether these items make fire.  A good alternative, is a small magnifying glass or fire steel.  Both of these have the advantage of being small enough to attach to a set of keys and will also work under wet or cold temperatures. 
          Lastly, I carry a "last ditch" container that is waterproof and contains matches, a length of fishing line, and two dry flies.  The container is small pill bottle that goes on your key ring and I bought it at Wal-mart for two dollars.  The dry flies are included just in case no bait is available.  Otherwise bait could be attached to the hooks.  The fishing line is 6 lb test tippet, used in making leaders for trout fishing.  A tippet has the advantage of being more invisible than most regular fishing lines.

        My idea is to carry items that are kept with me at all times and would be useful if needed.  Of course there are many variations and mine is simply one variation of a useful survival pack.  After writing all this, I realize it would be more appropriate to call the article survival pocket gear.  Either way, small, useful, and easy to carry is the take home message.

Disclaimer:  The above information is simply the authors opinion and should not be viewed as fully inclusive for survival skills.  Always seek professional advice or training when preparing for surviving any environment.  The author is not a professional source and assumes no responsibility.