Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, July 22, 2023

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, July 22, 2023 


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges [www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

Fluffy FONTINA

You’ll never run out of cheese 
with this little cutie! Fontina 
and her cheesy siblings, Brie, 
Jack, and Cheddar, are just the 
cutest! 

See them all at www.lifelineforpets.
org, the Very Young page. 
Choose 2, or 1 if you already have a young feline friend at 
home. They are almost 2 months old and will be already 
spayed/neutered, tested, vaxxed, chipped, and more. 

The adoption application is on our website, as well. Pick up 
your favorite cheeses now! 


WHAT ARE THE TEN ESSENTIALS?

 [Nyerges has been teaching outdoor survival skills and preparedness since 1974. He is 
the au-thor of “How to Survive Anywhere,” “Guide to Wild Foods,” and other books. He 
can be reached at www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com, or Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041.]

 

We’ve all heard about the “ten essentials,” right? The stuff that we should 
always carry in our pack in case we get lost, or simply because we should 
always have certain things when we’re out in the wild.

The 10 Essentials goes way back to the early days of the Sierra Club, and 
it has evolved over the years. I have seen lists of somewhat non-essential “ten essentials” at 
backpacking stores that weren’t particularly designed for you on the trail, but for the widgets 
the store was selling.

In other words, you can find many versions of the “ten essentials.” Most outdoor instruc-
tors that I know have found it more fruitful to look at this in terms of ten systems, not ten 
individual items.

 

SYSTEMS

Also, is your kit for long-term or short term? Are you travelling openly, or incognito? Is it 
a bug-out bag or a get home bag? Or, is it the last bag you’ll ever have as civilization sinks 
into the west?

NAVIGATION

In today’s world, this can be handled with a modern smart phone with its built-in GPS sys-
tem. However, would that be up and running in the aftermath of a major disas-ter? Maybe, 
but maybe not. It’s a good idea to keep a copy of a topographical map of your local area 
handy. “Handy” as, in your pack, folded neatly, along with a standard compass. The map 
and compass has stood the test of time.

SUN PROTECTION

This refers to such things as a hat, sun glasses, chapstick, sun lotion. These are somewhat 
personal and individual choices, depending on your needs. A bandana could also fit into 
this category for a headband.

INSULATION

Everything that keeps you warm from the cold falls into this category, including even things 
that insulate you from the sun and wind. So, the very clothing that you choose to wear is the 
first line of defense. A space blanket – though woefully inadequate for any se-rious insulation 
needs – seems to find itself into every survival kit. It is small, compact, and cheap, but 
only marginally valuable as insulation

ILLUMINATION

Yes, fire can be illumination, but this refers to your light stick, flashlight, and perhaps can-
dles. Good flashlights these days can be very inexpensive, and very bright with the latest 
LEDs. Suggestion: Don’t buy any with hard-to-get batteries. Stick to AA (and maybe AAAs 
and Cs). 

FIRE

This is an important category, and should include several butane lighters for a quick light. 
Lots of folks carry matches – and I’d carry stick matches over book matches – but also at 
least a magnesium fire starter. A ferrocerium rod is OK, but it’s already built into the magnesium 
fire starter. 

FIRST AID

There are many portable first aid kits available for purchase everywhere from supermar-kets 
to pharmacies to on-line sources. Buy the kit that fits your particular needs. Remember, 
your knowledge of how to handle basic medical emergencies is far more important than the 
stuff in your kit. So get a kit, but also enroll in an emergency first aid course where you will 
learn real world skills. 

TOOLS/ REPAIR KIT

This rather broad category includes your knives and other fix-it gear. For me, this means at 
least one Swiss Army knife, a Leatheman, and at least one sheath knife. This category can 
include a small amount of duct tape, a repair kit for glasses (if you wear glasses), and some 
rope or twine. I sometimes carry a roll of paracord, and sometimes a roll of jute – depending 
on the circumstances. 

NUTRITION

You probably can’t carry 
all the food you need for 
an undetermined, indefinite 
period of time. So in 
an emergency pack, you 
should carry some protein 
bars which will last a long 
time. You should plan for 
your immediate nutritional 
needs, as well as intermediate 
length of time. Just in 
case your situation drags 
on, you should have some 
basic fishing gear (a small 
pouch can hold line, hooks, 
and a few sinkers), and 
some snares.

WATER PURIFICATION

You should carry a water container of some sort, either plastic or metal. You should also 
carry a means to purify water, whether it’s a small Sawyer water purifier, or one of the pump 
models, such as a Timberline or MSR. Additionally, consider the possibility of carry-ing 
a water key, the small keys that you buy at any hardware store which will turn on wa-ter 
spigots anywhere.

OTHER

This category includes anything else that you might need to carry, in your situation. One 
suggestion that you should not overlook is the necessity of carrying some actual cash – paper 
and/or coin, as much as you can afford to have handy for emergencies.


Pet of the Week

 
Handsome Austin is a three-year-old Belgian Shepherd who 
is just looking for someone who wants to play ball! Austin is 
very smart, affectionate and ready to go on adventures. He likes 
going on walks and hikes and then settling down to relax in the 
grass. 

He has lived with a small dog and appears to be housetrained. 
He also knows several commands and is happy to 
show off his repertoire of tricks, especially for treats! He is a 
master at “sit” “down” and “shake”. Austin’s favorite thing to 
do is play fetch! He loves chasing a tennis ball and will diligently 
bring it back and then toss it to you, so you’ll throw it 
again. And again. Austin bonds very quickly with the volunteers 
at Pasadena Humane who have gotten to spend time 
with him. He is surely going to be someone’s BFF soon! The 
adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay 
or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines. New 
adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal 
Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet. 


View photos of adoptable pets and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.
org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption 
appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. 


 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone 
calls or email. 


177 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 550, Pasadena, California 91105 
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