Don't leave home without the '10 essentials' for safe wilderness adventures Now is the time when many of us are planning summer adventures in the wilderness. This is also the time to prepare for what could go wrong. Wilderness instructor recommends ten essential items that anyone can put together and carry. 5:48 am, Apr. 3, 2021 × JR Hunte is a wilderness rescue instructor and volunteer with K9 Rescue Midwest. He can be reached via email at jrhunte01@gmail.com Photo courtesy of JR Hunte JR Hunte blames it on bad planning on his part. He had underestimated just how hot it can get when he picked July to make his solo hike in South Dakota’s Badlands National Park.