Promises to keep

It's been awhile since the last post and there is no guarantee there will be another post at least until the end of Sept.

So what news Desert Rats and City-zens. Here we go.

In last couple of posts I asked about what you might carry with you. There are after all Ten Basic Essentials that all hikers should carr. They are. Water, knives, whistle, matches, compass and map/GPS, food, first aid kit, ponchos, solar blanket and rope. Ten items that can spell the difference between life and death. No BS. So what do you do with those items, those Ten Basic Essentials. You add an Eleventh Essential.

DesertBandanna.com

The Desert Bandanna - Third Edition. First introduced ten years ago it is a very large survival bandanna with a lot of tips and tricks to help you out when you get into trouble. This year is the 10th anniversary so here is the Third Edition. Hugely expanded to give you the edge with the knowledge you need to get through the one time when things go wrong. The Desert Bandanna is basic nature and survival guide printed on an extra large 26"x26" (66x66cm) high quality muslin in HiDef Black, whatever HiDef black is. The release date is in late September.

The web site is there. At least enough to give you a preview yet still needs to be finished and fine tuned. As of today most links are turned off until I sort out error pages, paypal buttons, security and the rest. You can reach us at iwantone@desertbandanna.com for preorders and bulk sales.

As for mt experience designing a website. Go daddy says it's easy using their Website tonight. It's a big help but I still have to code a lot of this for myself and that's something I could live with out.

Ja~ne

Did you ever figure out what those four items were? Water, a cell phone, knife and a lighter. If you're hiking I would suggest a whistle instead of a cell phone.

"OK", sez you, "but why do I need water in the city"? You ever go to work without a latte or its equivalent? I sure don't. Latte's are made with water and that most life saving of all elixers, coffee.

Last weekend a few of us went to Mt San Jancinto State Park. I met Ranger Cher and we spoke of training and response for the people who get into trouble. It occurred to me that all too often in the past 25 years I've been the first responder in many instances. True to form less than an hour after leaving the ranger station I responded to an incident with a heat stressed boy whose father pushed him up the steep trail to Mtn Station and then allowed his son to drink a fair amount of cold water. As a result the boy vomited and collapsed. Of the 8-10 people standing around no one had any idea what to do. Despite first aid training my friends couldn't handle a retching puking boy who needed help while Dad and co just stood there trying to macho the kid to his feet. With no one doing anything I just did my job, one I don't even get paid for anymore.

Later I was asked, "How did I know it was heat stress"? Easy enough. The boys head was very hot, so was his neck by the carotid artery. The answer is simple cool him down. A wet bandanna around the neck on the artery, a strip of cool water down the middle of his back and on his head. Get him into the shade and wait for him to cool down, naturally in this case. These people didn't wait. The hustled him into the Tram car headed to the bottom of the mountain 6,000 ft below. A sick kid in a hot tram car. I'm thinking that good 'ol dad there had a very sick kid on his hands for awhile there.

If you, the guy or gal reading this, ever have to respond you should know that the area is going to be covered in blood, puke and only the lord knows what else. You are going to have to go in there and get dirty. One of my friends tried to help that boy but told me the smell drove him away. He asked me how I did it. I dunno, I just do. What about you; how will you respond when the time comes?

Tonights post written because I was bored while watching a silent movie starring Lon Chaney.

Who am I. An engineer in the past, a guide with a short time spent as a Tribal Ranger. Today I do eco-tours and adventure day trips in the Mojave and Sonora deserts. "A guide, huh; what can you do"? Drop me into the desert in summer. Allow me my pack and only the water in my car and I'll walk out sit down and wait for rescue. I'll also practice what I preach, that is what I wrote in the "Quick and Alive Tourist Guide to the Desert - Survival and you" out of print, new version soon.

What is this blog about. I dunno really. It's here at the request of a few friends and people who email wanting to know more about the desert and the "fascinating" a quote by others not me DeRanger" Steve.

To which I respond, "Okaaay!!!!"

So after thinking it over between the last paragraph and this one (about 2 weeks) I've decided to do at least the following:

• Write about the desert in general, history, geology, and some of my favorite true stories.
• Post old magazine articles starting with #1 as soon as I figure out how to do it.
• Pass on the lessons that have kept me alive when things went terribly wrong. Which they have more than once.
• Try to sell you "DeRanger" Steve certified stuff we'll get to that another time. That is the crap I use that works under extreme duress.
  
• And a healthy dose of opinion "occasionally even based in fact" as said by Bulldog.
  

So who knows what shall come of this, we'll find out over time.


OK, put your books away it's time for a quiz.

There are Ten Essential items to survival whether in the the desert or elsewhere. Kept in a day pack there are as many different mixes to this list as there are grains of sand. Only one provides the best protection from the desert. Of these Ten Essentials 4 are a must have wherever you go, from your desk at work to BFN; you do know where that is don't you?

Question 1. In order of importance what are those first four items?

Question 2. What are the remaining 6 items. specific list with no particular order

Question 3. Where are these items kept when not in use.

Bonus question. (T/F) This is stupid and I don't really need to pay attention to survival info.

No cheating, no using Google to search for an answer because *pointing* out there, there are no books** or search engines.



**Except one, The Desert Bandanna coming soon.

Je~ne {see ya}