Morgan Briggs, 70, set off on Saturday, August 22, 2009 on a four-day backpacking trip through the Great Smoky Mountains. According to Briggs he got lost on the second day of his trip due to heavy vegetation and steep terrain. He then managed to make it to the top of nearby Porters Mountain where he stayed until his rescue on the morning of August 30.
According to WBIR.com Briggs used a t-shirt to signal a ground search party that in turn called in search helicopters on Saturday evening. The aircrew dropped down a backpack with supplies including a radio for the stranded camper and confirmed that he was uninjured. They returned the following morning to airlift Briggs to safety.
Briggs was an experienced outdoorsman and was very knowledgeable of the terrain in the area where he was planning on camping. He had an itinerary laid out of where he was going to be on each leg of his journey and he left this itinerary with friends and family. He also stayed in the same location and waited for rescue, which turned out to be the right decision. Briggs was an older man and attempting to hike out may have caused him to be injured in the steep terrain or stranded deeper in the forest.
Morgan Briggs' story highlights the need for a survival kit while camping, especially while camping in the backcountry. A survival kit is easy to make and should be carried on your person (attached to your belt for instance), not in your pack because you could become separated from your gear on accident.
Some important items to include are:
- waterproof matches - Should be kept as dry as possible. Matches can be used to start a fire for warmth and protection, and also to signal aircraft.
- knife - A knife with both a serrated edge and a flat edge is ideal. The serrated edge will not dull easily and the flat edge can be sharpened finely.
- rope - Military parachute cord (AKA 5-50 cord) is an ideal lightweight, packable rope. Although strong enough to be used for rappelling, 5-50 cord can be used to make fishing lines, animal traps, mend nets, and secure/lash gear etc.
- signal mirror - Used to reflect the sunlight toward search and rescue aircraft.
- iodine - Water purification tablets.
- canteen - Keep one full canteen on your person in case of emergency.
- energy source - Energy bar or other small, calorie-packed food item.
- whistle
- compass
All of these items should be easily packable in a fanny pack or hip style pouch.
Comments
What an incredible story. To be lost out in the wilderness must be very scary at best. I agree that a survival kit can make the difference not only when in the wilderness, but even in urban situations. For instance if you good distance from home and there is a disaster of some sort you will need the tools to be on your own until you are able to return to your home. I carry a survival kit in my car, have one at home, one at work and yes even if I go on a short day hike in the foothills I carry a small kit with me. I have been fortunate enough to come across a store on the internet that sells individual items so I can make my own kits and as it turn out they sell premade kits that are good for general use. The store is www.survivalkitsonline.com and like that credit card commercial says “don’t leave home without it” (a survival kit that is)
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