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The Ten Essentials were first appeared in print in the 3rd edition of “Mountaineering Freedom of the Hills Mountaineers”. The point of the Ten Essentials list has always been to help answer two basic questions: First, can you respond positively to an accident or emergency? Second, can you safely spend a night—or more—out? The list has evolved over time from a list of individual items to a list of functional systems; the updated Ten Essential Systems list is included in Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills.
As a rule, expedition leaders and instructors should have the ten essential system with them always. In their car, on day hikes, during class practicals, etc. Over time, you will develop other items that you will consider essential. This course will cover ideas for the ten essential systems.
We will also introduce the student to ideas and considerations when choosing items for the ten essential systems. Later in the course, we will go beyond with considerations and suggestions for expanding your “10 Essentials Pack List”. We will suggest ideas on having the knowledge to create the essential systems, when they are lost, broken or absence. Including considering the pack lists of a couple of organizations.
At Fortune Bay, we do not “require” a “pack list”. It is our firm belief that our organization supplies the knowledge to assemble a useful and effective pack. As outdoor professionals, you should possess the competence to build a pack for any need and be able to articulate that knowledge to others. Pack lists are not a skill set, rather they divert our focus from acquiring knowledge. They are a diversion from true adventure and outdoor pursuit. Even further, many magazines, books and websites tend to focus on gear needs, pack lists. They focus on purchasing and organizing gear – which is not an outdoor hobby – rather, it is a hobby for those who don’t go very far into the outdoors.
That said, at a minimum, you need to weigh and consider all the options and end with at least the 10 essentials and some items from the expanded concepts.
This course will attempt to follow this philosophy by demonstrating the thought process for assembling a basic all around pack.