NEGAUNEE TWP. -- At first it seemed like a feasible idea.  Head out into the woods with the kind of things one might find in a cluttered car, with one plan in mind, use non-traditional items to survive the U.P., with an expert's guidance.

A meeting with a Eroll Lukkarinen, a special operations officer from the Marquette County Sheriff's office, was a reality check.  Apparently a wire hanger, ear phones, and a book actually aren't that useful on their own, and if this were a real-life situation, things would get serious fast.

"You'd want to be prepared," says Lukkarinen, laughing at the contents of the survival bag.

The Marquette County Search and Rescue Unit is called out on a mission about 30 times every year, but it can take days before they locate a person in need of assistance.

Spring temperatures in the U.P. will vary, but Lukkarinen says some things are universal survival 'must haves,' such as military fire starters as well as food, water, and a first-aid kit.  But non-traditional materials can come in handy when used with the staples.

"A lot of people carry with them, and might not think, they got lip balm or Vaseline," he said.  "That's a petroleum product, you can use it to help start your fire."

At Wilderness Sports in Ishpeming, a basic survival kit can cost as low as $20-$30 and can virtually fit anywhere.

"Some people just carry them in a little pack about six inches or so; some in water bottles and stuff like that," says Wilderness Sports Gunsmith Zach Quayle.