I recently finished reading In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick. And a couple of weeks ago I read Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. Both book tell amazing real life survival stories in extreme conditions and do it really well. And I highly recommend both books. These books got me to thinking if I was to ever end up as a castaway or stranded on a desert island what would be the top five pieces of equipment I would want to have with me.
Here is my top five pieces of gear, if I was stranded on a South Pacific island:
Katadyn Survivor 06 water desalinator. For the castaways of the Essex, they were lucky to find a coral island that had a fresh water spring during low tide. But the spring only lasted a few days and then was trapped under the seawater.- A way to catch food? I know that is a bit vague, perhaps it means some fishing gear (can you fly fish from a South Pacific island?) or maybe it means some other kind of trap or a rifle. I suppose that one needs more thought. All I know is that food is kind of, well a basic necessity for survival, or so I have read. Shackelton’s men survived on blubber, seal steaks, penguins and scanty rations. I would hope my menu could be a bit more appetizing.
For shelter a Jumping Jack trailer. I know how does a trailer get to a uninhabited island, well it washed up in a cargo container, alright. The Jumping Jack would be awesome, because it has water resistant strong canvas outer covering plenty of mesh windows that can be unzipped to let in cool breezes, it is off the ground and includes 2 beds and mattresses. If your going to be a castaway, you might as well be comfortable.
An Engel Rugged Icebox, perhaps 80 quarts could keep fresh catches, well um, fresh for a bit longer. The fishing could be good one day and then bad for a few so this seems like a logical thing to have.- Finally I would want a SPOT. I would need some way to let the outside World know I was alive and to come look for me. In the case of both Shackleton and the crew of the Essex they had to save themselves, I would to make my survival situation more of a vacation and wait for salvation, why not enjoy it? I guess that sums it up. Not a perfect list, I likely am forgetting something. What would be on your list?
