PPP: No, not Pole, Pedal, Paddle. You may have heard the old saw: Prior proper planning prevents piss-poor performance (and profound problems). Be educated and prepared before you embark on any adventure, especially when venturing into this positively pristine land of ours and beyond.
Let’s start with The 10 Essentials, which have been around since the 1930s, although the list was first officially published in 1974 by the Seattle-based Mountaineers. These include navigation, sun protection, extra clothing, first aid, light, fire, repair tools, extra food, extra water and shelter.
Packing a First Aid Kit
This is the most complex essential, and can be highly subjective! Everyone has their opinion about what needs to go in the red bag with the white cross.
Do you always carry one? Admit it – you should, but do you really want that extra weight when hardly anything ever happens? A balance must be struck between not being properly equipped and having too many supplies that won’t be used. Each trip, from a hike to No Name Lake, a multiday raft trip on the Lower D, a winter backcountry Three Sisters traverse or an adventure further afield, should have a customized kit. Factors to consider when packing a medical kit are:
-Purpose of trip
-Length of trip
-Destination
-How many in group
-Medical conditions of concern in any group members
-Age – extremes are at risk- very elderly (although in Bend, people are timeless) or very young (I saw several infants being papoosed up to Moraine Lake this summer – awesome!)
-Bulk, weight, and cost of kit
-Training and certification
Tons of ready-made wilderness kits can be purchased in outdoor stores or online, but you can DIY one. All members of any trip should carry a personal kit, which should include the essentials mentioned above, and a supply of their personal medication such as over-the counter drugs, an albuterol inhaler, or Epi-Pen — unless weight is a big issue and you’re able to divvy up some items. Some basic supplies are:
-Wound care –Band-aids, gauze, dressing. QuikClot or surgical glue? Not without proper training. Topical antibiotic (like Neosporin) only if out for days – simple cleaning with potable water should do the trick
-Pain – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and acetaminophen (Tylenol)
-Allergy – Antihistamine like Benadryl (although this is falling out of favor) or Claritin, Zyrtec; tube of travel toothpaste to immediately neutralize a sting
-Gastrointestinal – Tums, Pepto-Bismol tabs, loperamide for diarrhea (but not always)
-Skin – hydrocortisone 1% for rashes, poison oak/ivy oil remover like Tecnu or Zanfel
-Eye – Lubricating drops, especially for contacts wearers
-Trauma – ACE bandage, triangular bandage, and you can improvise!
-Tick tweezers if the pests are in season
And don’t forget first aid for doggos – trauma, stings, and temperature extremes are the most likely issues.
Train for play
Get training if you get out a lot: CPR and a Stop the Bleed course are mandatory; basic first aid or wilderness first aid courses are a good start; Wilderness First Responder is the next level. If you are a health care professional or have a Wilderness First Responder or other certification and are caring for a group, make sure you have the proper certification to administer meds out of a group kit.
Your smartphone is even smarter than you think
Even though you like to think you’re off the grid (and now there’s Starlink), everyone brings their phone on their adventures. Newer iPhone and Android phones have excellent safety features, as outlined in a recent article in The New York Times (if you don’t have a subscription, you can access it free from the library). And don’t forget the backup power bank.
Preparing for the most challenging trip: A go bag
This pristine land of ours also presents particular problems, namely wildfires, the most likely reason for a forced evacuation. September is National Preparedness Month. FEMA’s “Ready Campaign” encourages everyone to make a plan and provides these excellent resources: https://www.ready.gov/plan-form; building an emergency kit https://www.ready.gov/kit.
A few extra nuggets:
Water is the #1 priority. Fortunately, we’re surrounded by it here. But remember a reliable water purification device and don’t forget containers to put it in.
Prescription meds – bring a surplus in case you may be out of your home for a while. Some medications are dangerous if there is a sudden withdrawal — think of how you feel when you don’t get your regular cuppa joe (caffeine is the #1 consumed drug in the world), so bring instant coffee packets or caffeine pills/gels too.
-Create lists of medical conditions, medications and instructions for use, allergies, etc. for every family member
Remember PPP – Prior Proper Planning and Prevent Profound Problems. Doing so, you’ll have a splendid adventure or will keep you and your family safe during these unfortunately more frequent times of jeopardy.
–Nancy Pietroski is a wilderness medicine and travel medicine pharmacist, ski patroller at Mt. Bachelor, EMT and volunteer USFS ranger, and sits on the board of the Central Oregon Mushroom Club. An author and editor, she’s currently the executive editor of Wilderness Medicine Magazine.
This article appears in the Source October 1, 2026.
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