This is a handout for anyone interested in the 10 essential items I recommend a person should always have on them during wilderness pursuits. These items are most commonly carried on our Advanced Survival Course when few items are allowed to be carried by our students on a challenging field exercise. With these items, you are able to accomplish many tasks and live somewhat comfortably in the wild.

1. Kevin Estela Survival Instructor Wilderness Learning Center 435 Sandy Knoll Road Chateaugay, NY 12920 (518) 497-3179 www.weteachu.com The Ten Wilderness Travel Essentials

4. The Wilderness Learning Center School Knife Bark River Knife & Tool Fox River A2 Carbon Steel Convexed Edge 4” Blade Black/Green Micarta Handle

6. Swedish Firesteel Carried on School Knife Sheath Note the lanyard looped around the bottom of the firesteel to prevent it from slipping out of the loop. Lanyard made out of 550 reverse-wrapped paracord.

8. Nalgene/Guyot Standard Bottle and Klean Kanteen 40 oz. The Nalgene/Guyot will fit all standard Nalgene accessories and will nest a 16 oz. stainless cup on the bottom. It is safe to boil in as long as it isn’t the double wall version. The Klean Kanteen is available in either narrow or wide mouth. It is somewhat lighter than the Nalgene but is stainless and also safe to boil water in. Available in a variety of sizes.

10. Three Essential Signaling Devices Easily Carried in a Pocket Kit

12. 550 Cord and Duct Tape Folded Onto Itself For Compact Carry

14. Suunto MC-2D Compass

16. USGI Poncho Shelter

18. Petzl Headlamp and Surefire G2 with LED lamp Note wrist lanyard out of 550 cord to prevent loss. Petzl Tikka Headlamp Scary eyes of someone who just collapsed a tent on unsuspecting campers

21. Large and Small Fishing Kits Contents include small floats, 50# spiderwire line on sewing machine bobbins, ice fishing jigs, gaff hook, small LED light, sewing needles, asst. hooks, sinkers and swivels and much more. Note the Dime for Size Reference

25. Misc. Notes

26. About the Author Photo Credit: Garret Lucas Accessed from The Wilderness Learning Center’s Biographies page Kevin Estela has been interested in outdoor survival since he was a child. Entertained by stories from his father’s jungle survival in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation of WWII, Kevin grew up with a desire to learn more about the outdoors. At a young age and throughout adolescence, his father taught him many practical survival skills. He grew up hiking, skiing, fishing and woods bumming with friends and family. He spent over 10 years working as a seasonal kayaking and canoeing guide on the Farmington River in Connecticut and 5 years working at a busy outdoors retail sporting goods store. Kevin’s formal outdoors education includes off-road driving, winter mountaineering, hunting and firearms safety, wilderness first-aid, primitive survival skills, traditional bushcraft skills and of course wilderness survival through the Wilderness Learning Center. Kevin is a certified PADI scuba diver, avid power boater and saltwater fisherman. Kevin’s passion for education translated into teaching High School History full-time in Bristol, CT. Kevin spends as much free time as possible getting out on the water or in the woods in anyway. Whenever possible, Kevin loves to share knowledge and know how with anyone willing to listen, practice and learn. Kevin worked for one full year with us and has earned the title of Instructor. He is also a moderator on knifeforums.com and bladeforums.com where he contributes equipment reviews and shares his expertise with all. Although he isn’t officially a resident of New York, Kevin considers the Wilderness Learning Center his second home and Marty, Aggie, Bobby a second family away from his own. Kevin is a great asset to the school. His teaching style, personality, and knowledge are appreciated by all.

27. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us!