One of interesting parts of being a guide that folks know is being asked for your opinion on a variety of outdoor topics. One of the recent requests was from the Bangor Daily News asking what things I keep in my vehicle in the winter. I drafted the response below and was surprised this week to see it as a full page in the winter 2015 BDN Outdoors magazine. I keep many of these items in my vehicle or in the waterproof box I carry on each trip year round.
Here is the article.
As we head into winter, particularly in Maine, it becomes imperative to keep emergency supplies in our cars and trucks, for those just-in-case moments. Even for short trips, but especially for a journey into the woods, I recommend keeping the following in your vehicle with any luck at all you will never need any of this: an extra blanket (or sleeping bag); hats and mittens for each passenger; a shovel; flashlight with extra batteries; water; high-calorie, good quality non-perishable food, such as protein bars, or candy bars. Candy bars have the added advantage of needing to be eaten before next summer’s heat arrives always a springtime treat at my house. A first aid kit; lighter and waterproof matches; compass; rain coat and spare clothes (a pair of dry socks are worth their weight in gold on a cold wet day) ; booster cables; tow strap; adjustable wrench: screw drivers; a knife; duct tape, which fixes most everything temporarily; and of course, your cell phone with charger. I always travel in the woods with an axe and a folding saw mostly to provide wood for a lunch cookout but more than once they have gotten me out of a jam from clearing the road of a blow down to making a lever to lift the truck.
Some handy items you don’t always think of are: baby wipes or hand sanitizing wipes; hand/foot warmers; zip-lock style bags for trash or just keeping something handy and dry; and importantly, toilet paper. Be sure to have enough of any essential medications to last a few days if you need them.
Get out, enjoy the outdoors this winter, and be safe out there!
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