What Do You Pack In Your Pack?

[RockRacer]

I prefer the brick hammer. I can blast through rock a lot better with it, for some reason.

DOH

[Mike]

Ha a little too late piping in I guess. The rock hammer does better then you've got another hammer to slam against it. But in my experience, the brick hammer seems to do better in regards to working by itself.

[Stuart]

Whatever, its all about the Estwing 22oz rock pick! If I need to "blast through rock" I'll use Gelamite.

[Mike Schriber]

I've always found it's a fine line between the right gear and too much gear. I always seem to be carrying to much stuff for Justin (as in just-in case) and not enough for me! Going to a smaller pack seems to have helped!

So, I carry...

1.5 liters of water
Spare headlamp
Spare lithium tactical flashlight
Spare batteries for all lights and radios
Glow sticks (for marking and emergencies)
Nite Ize "Magic Marker" electronic glow stick
Compass
Emergency whistle
Brunton Sherpa (altimeter, thermometer, anemometer)
GPSr (sometimes)
First aid kit
Space blanket (sleeping bag version)
Daisy chains
Notepad and pen
Sandwich
Energy bars

That's in the pack. On my person I also have/carry...

Harness (with carabiners, slings, descenders, ascenders, etc.)
Backup descender
Low oxygen alarm
Knee and elbow pads
Rappelling gloves
Radio
Very bright LED headlamp
Lithium tactical flashlight
Camera (or two)
Marking tape
Lighter
Leatherman tool
Lockblade knife

From experience, I've also learned to tether everything (don't ask). If that's not already enough we also bring our rope bag with ropes, slings, etc. I have an Estwing rock hammer that I sometimes bring too. The Spot satellite beacon stays in the truck... it works better there!

Sounds like a lot of stuff for Justin to me...

Mike

[Kelly Rees]

Depends on the mine but the full list:

1/2 gallon of water
Granola bars
mini candy bars
12 glowsticks
Extra headlamp
Plenty of batteries
.40 caliber pistol
Rock hammer
gold pan
chisel
first aid kit ( loritab, valium, bandages...the gun comes in to play if things are looking hopeless, I'm eating whoever isnt armed)
Sample bottles
camera
leatherman
lighter
GPS
gloves

If we're doing shafts:
2 or 3 - 70 meter ropes
harness
1 auto brake belay
1 standard belay
2 ascenders
12 quickdraws
misc. pitons/anchors
rock nuts
cams

[Mikezauner]

Depends on the mine but the full list:
first aid kit ( loritab, valium, bandages...the gun comes in to play if things are looking hopeless, I'm eating whoever isnt armed)

Sheesh. remind me not to be unarmed in a mine around you.

[Kelly Rees]

LOL...

On a serious note though. If you have them (legally of course) I highly recommend you have some form of Pain killer or muscle relaxer in your pack. It can make a very bad situation become manageable. Being able to calm a person in a state of panic can make a huge difference.

[Mikezauner]

Yeah, I don't have them or a legal way to have them. There's a great number of things I wish I had access to for safety reasons, but the average joe can't have them since the US is hellbent on protecting us from ourselves, or there's hoops I have to jump through that put things financially out of my reach.