Informative and very valuable thread!. As I'm sure by now, all here are aware of my job working exploration in the wilds of North America and foreign locations.
I learned a very good lesson over 45 years ago that put me on a more prepared path. In the dead of winter, en route to a very remote location just into the Arctic circle north of the, then, rough, crude, and unpaved Alaska highway. I came across a fellow who was trapped in a rolled over truck on a remote "goat trail" off of a sharp turn heading to my location. He was suffering hypothermia and in a bad way. Back then, with no cell phones, sat phones, and only early iterations of ssb radios we used at the time, I couldn't summon help. I was terrified but managed to extricate the fellow after an hour of jack-all, come along, pry bar work, bandaged and stopped his bleeding, as best I could, a protruding and broken clavicle, broken arm, and rushed him the rest of the way to the rig where we managed to get a helicopter out to transport him to Fort Nelson.
After this event it shook me so badly that I took St John ambulance, off road driving, survival training, {all mandatory these days}, courses I could in the event this might, {and it has}, happen again. {7 deaths in 45 years}
I know I don't race like you folks but the conditions we encounter are the same. Since that time, I carry every possible "emergency" tool that I can think of from flares, radios, medical, survival, mechanical et al. No, I don't use them regularly as conditions, communication, accessibility, etc have thankfully improved and I seldom require most of the "kit" but if only once, do I use them, it can make the difference in that "golden hour" that can change the outcome. I support ALL comments promoting these safety / survival suggestions as I do know the difference they can make. Great posting guys.
I have a commercial "off road" insurance policy thru Wawanesa that covers off road incursions and ends liability issues. As roads in our business can be, private, provincial, federal, it eliminates any hassles when / should an unfortunate event occur, insure I am covered. {yes I have used it}
I'm sure I will catch flack from our younger posters for being an overly cautious "Old Dude" but I know, as many here, once you see damaged, dying, or dead peers that you might have saved "if only I had a......", your perspective changes.
Just Sayin.
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