This morning is the first to feel like spring. Warm, robins singing and no frost. My thoughts are turning to getting back to the things that fill my summers and fall. All outdoor activities of course and I am one of those lucky folks that has a job that he would do even on a day off! As a working guide I am truly fortunate to spend most of my summer and fall outdoors.
All of that fun takes more than a little preparation to pull off safely and make if fun for clients every day. There are a few items that I am sure to have with me at all times and while you may not need quite as much for a few simple outings on you own I have whittled the list pretty well.
I use a watertight box that contains almost everything I need I carry it with me all on all of my trips. A first aid kit, check to make sure everything is up to date and I like to have a few band aids handy on top of the pile. A compass, matches in a waterproof container, a whistle, sunscreen and insect repellent. Don’t forget sunscreen as someone who is on the water almost every day all summer I don’t leave home without a coating and spare containers in the boat. I also store my various licenses and registrations in a plastic bag in that same box. This being the modern age I have a handheld GPS besides another in the boat and all navigation equipment is checked and or updated at least once a year.
For safety and comfort I keep a complete change of clothes in my vehicle. That’s right from socks to a rain jacket. It is overkill but more than once it has come in handy for a client who forgot a jacket or got soaked in a rain shower. Not to mention the times I needed something dry to be comfortable and warm after miscalculating the jump from the boat trailer to dry land.
For me those are the basic safety items that I simply do not leave home without. Take a minute a come up with your own basic outdoor safety kit that you can keep handy throughout the year.
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