Oh my.
My original 10 essentials has changed over time, and so has the list concocted in the '30s by the Mountaineers Club in the Pacific Northwest. But these (newer) guidelines might spark people to think about what they should have with them, especially in the context of camping alone.
The old list used to be:
1 -- map and compass
2 -- sun/bug protection
3 -- clothing for cold/heat (sweater/hat)
4 -- raingear
5 -- flashlight
6 -- emergency response (first aid kit, emergency shelter/blanket, alert whistle, cellphone)
7 -- waterproof matches & small candle in waterproof container (film can)
8 -- pocket knife/multitool
9 -- food
10 -- water/purification tabs
and the 11th essential, always understood--common sense.
My 12th essential, especially since camping with dogs, was and still is baggies for cleanups!
I used to combine #4 raingear and #6 emergency shelter/blanket by carrying a disposable plastic bag-style rain poncho big enough to make into a small bivy sack in a pinch. Everything (except the common sense) could fit in a SMALL fanny pack. The idea was that you always had the essentials on your person or very near by, so I taught the kids that they were supposed to carry their pre-packed 'essential' waist packs any time they were off of our campsite.
They each had a lanyard like mine with a whistle/compass combination and a tiny microlight. When they were big enough to handle knife skills, they could carry one of my small penknives. They had to wear their lanyards all the time.
Instead of specific things, most 21st century 'ten essentials' lists focus on areas to consider and provide for--and provide some suggestions from the same group that is rumored to have made the original list:
THE TEN ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST FOR SAFETY
To ensure you can deal with an emergency and spend an unforeseen night in the backcountry, experts from The Mountaineers advise you carry the following at all times while traveling in the wilderness:
[ ] 1 -- NAVIGATION
Along with your navigation aids, you need the knowledge of how to use them, including accounting for declination, or the difference between true north and magnetic north if using a traditional topo map + compass. The map should be carried in a waterproof container (a large zipper-lock plastic bag.) These days, a lot of people carry some kind of GPS.
[ ] 2 -- SUN PROTECTION:
Sunscreen should be rated at least SPF 15.
I include bug juice after spending a lot of time in the Adirondacks during black fly season. This might be a good spot for the bear spray, too.
[ ] 3 -- INSULATION:
Insulation should allow you to survive the worst conditions that can be realistically expected. Use synthetics such as polypropylene and nylon, or blends of the same with wool or silk. This category includes full rain gear – pants and jacket – and my advice is to not skimp on the quality of these, especially if you hike year-round. Curious fact: A hat provides more warmth for its weight than any piece of clothing.
[ ] 4 -- ILLUMINATION:
LEDs do not throw a beam as well as traditional flashlights, but they’re lighter and more efficient because they do not burn out batteries as rapidly. I'm a big fan of the Inova Microlight LED, which actually uses a replaceable watch-type lithium battery and has a locking ON/OFF switch in addition to press-to-light. I have one on the same lanyard with my dog whistles and e-collar controls. http://www.aolights.com/catalog/product ... HgodODbg5w
[ ] 5 -- FIRST-AID SUPPLIES:
Maybe the best prep is to take a first aid course now and then. And in a camper, you can afford to have a decent kit. But I used to make small hiker first aid kits, from a cub scout project book, where everything needed for a basic hike fit in containers like film cans, travel soap dishes, bandaid boxes and small ziplock bags. The first aid box I keep in my truck all the time is a double-sided tackle box.
[ ] 6 -- FIRE:
Also good: disposable lighters, and for firestarters, a small candle, chemical heat tabs, canned heat or resin-soaked, chipped-wood blocks.
[ ] 7 -- REPAIR KIT AND TOOLS:
Some people like to carry a multi-tool--I still stick to a simple Swiss Army Spartan. It has a true essential--a corkscrew--along with a blade, a screwdriver, a pair of tweezers. It's not a 50-implement knife...it's very light and compact, maybe 10 or 11 things on it.
Other things that make this category include safety pins, spare pack clips, cable ties, cordage and good-old duct tape...maybe a few feet of duct tape wrapped around your water bottle. Again, since you've got the trailer, a toolbox with some critical tools (hammer/mallet, real screwdrivers, a good pair of channel lock pliers and/or a vise grip--you get the idea.
[ ] 8 -- NUTRITION:
In a trailer, something in your galley cupboard should require no cooking and store well: granola, jerky, nuts, candy, dried fruit. It should be enough to hold you over for a day or so.
[ ] 9 -- HYDRATION:
Now, a pocket filter for the water bottle is an option.
[ ] 10 -- EMERGENCY SHELTER:
The trailer should cover the shelter part...but a good tarp and some spare guyline-weight rope is a fine plan.
I'd still keep common sense as the 11th essential.
