Well - coming into final planning stages. Picked up a few more friends including Canoearoo - so that's exciting.

In my day/ditch bag I plan to put everything in a dry/stuff sack...

complete change of clothes/sox
- small bundle of wood
Birch bark
Matches/lighter
Flare
Mylar Blanket
Dry shoes

What else would you pack?

Silky 6" or 7" folding saw.

For an emergency I'd bring a whole tin of lighter fluid - might not be legal - bring anyway just in case. Big fire maybe better than a flare.

Chocolate. (chocolate chips easier to eat when frozen than a bar).

I would carry my Essentials bag with me which contains:

Headlamp and extra batteries
Compass
50 Ft paracord
orange bandana
small First aid kit
fire starting kit - first starters, Swedish fire steel,matches. Lighter is on a key chain cord around neck to keep warm
Extra knife
whistle
TP & hand sanitizer
sunscreen
lip balm
small twig stove and mug

I also bring some 18 inch square pieces of closed cell foam to sit on plus some trash bags to keep my butt warm and dry when sitting down.

Also if you are snowshoeing bring a small repair kit.

Things I would add:

1. Chemical hand/body warmers
2. Fat wood to start a fire
3. Strike anywhere or Storm Proof matches (these are far easier to deal with when you are shivering than lighters)
4. Something to melt snow in along with a stove to boil water
5. Extra premade food like trail mix or bars.

Things I would add:

1. Chemical hand/body warmers
2. Fat wood to start a fire
3. Strike anywhere or Storm Proof matches (these are far easier to deal with when you are shivering than lighters)
4. Something to melt snow in along with a stove to boil water
5. Extra premade food like trail mix or bars.

Fixed blade knife
Whistle
Compass and map
Matches in waterproof case/lighter
Birch bark and a waxy type fire starter
50 feet of cord
Mylar blanket
Gargage bag
Lip stuff
Food/snacks

If traveling farther from camp (like several lakes away)
Flashlight in case I get stuck after dark
Extra socks
Mors pot

In my rucksack for day trips goes my down parka and mukluks and dry socks the pack has a foam sheet in the backpad; so I can sit warm and dry on it if I am forced to be stationary.
Matches, Thermos with hot water- I will add snow to it if I need to stretch it.
A serving or two of flaps and some sweets. Neck gaiter, extra mitten liners, and lightweight gloves. Leaving room to shed my wind shell upper if it gets warm. one extra layer for the top if I get cold. Headlamp. aspirin and a few other bandaids. I always travel in wind pants. Map and compass if going places I do not know. Sunglasses and cheaters. Wax and scraper for skies.

i'd pretty much ditto what dancooke said above. i'm unsure if you are skiing or snowshoeing, either way it is important to keep your pack as light as possible. also as mentioned you need room in your pack to stuff the clothes that you will inevitably shed as you travel. if you are breaking trail it is much tougher than you would expect. it is very easy to work up a sweat in zero degree tempts. that sweating is when your traveling can become dangerous. even with high quality clothing it should be your number one concern if you are away from your base camp. hypothermia sneaks up on you. a heavy pack filled with extra non essentials adds to your work load. i have never heard of people carrying fire wood along on a ski trip, you're in the forest, if it is an emergency it is very easy to get a survival fire going with all the dead limbs you find on the low branches of spruce trees. no tools should be necessary.