Adventure Magazine

" If the weather had
turned...we would have
had no choice but to
try and make use of the
resources we had."
walk to the helicopter landing site, and although we quickly
warmed up, we were far from comfortable.
We made it with about an hour to spare and took shelter among
the forest canopy, shivering and counting down the minutes.
We listened intently for any sound of a helicopter, but in such a
steep valley with gushing water, it was hard to pinpoint a noise.
Then all of a sudden, the machine burst out above us over the
trees, turned to face us, and touched down. We were safe,
alive, and would soon be warm.
As a guide, it was usually my responsibility to be prepared
for such a situation, and luckily I still had all my gear in my
pack. So I quickly dug into my backpack to find my survival kit.
We both stripped off our top layers of clothing and wrapped
ourselves in emergency mylar blankets before checking our
bags for dry clothes. Luckily, our bags had stayed mostly
above the waterline, so we both had relatively dry jackets.
We sat there to calm our nerves and slowly warm up, grateful
that we were still breathing. We weighed our options and
decided to start moving towards our designated pickup spot.
I had a lighter ready, but as the surrounding foliage was
drenched from the night's rain, it would have taken more
energy to start a fire than it was worth, so we just packed up
and got moving.
The walk was punishing. We started to realize that the water
that had made it into our waders had seeped down to our feet,
and we heard the slosh with every step. It was around a 3km
We were lucky that day, no doubt about it. If the weather had
turned and the helicopter been delayed, or if the event had
occurred earlier in the day, we would have had no choice but
to try and make use of the resources we had. From that day
on, it changed my view on what gear I carry and how I carry it.
That's why I eventually created my own brand of survival kits
and outdoor gear to help us better prepare for our adventures.
Our flagship "KEA KIT" products take all the guesswork out
of creating your own survival kit, and with version 2 launching
soon, we're looking to take this ethos to the next level.
You can see more at www.keaoutdoors.com
The things we did wrong that day were numerous but
inconspicuous. This, coupled with my familiarity with the
weather and location, allowed some complacency to creep in.
Since then, I can say that I am more cautious than ever and
only cross rivers that I am comfortable with. The key is to be
aware of your limits, know when the risk is too great, and take
care, no matter what adventure you are on. Stay safe out there!
DESIGNED FOR ANGLERS
BUILT FOR
ATHLETES
For more information visit www.kilwell.co.nz