Keys to Adventure

Name: Handstands and Kiteboarding Private Retreats in Puerto Rico
Start: 2025-02-01
End: 2025-04-20
Location: Puerto Rico

Home | Blog | Keys to Adventure

Raquel Hernández-Cruz

What Do You Do With Your Keys

When You Head Into the Wilderness, the Beach, or Even Just to the Local Park?

Choose the best option:

Keep them on your pocket
Toss them in your backpack
Secure them with a carabiner on your bag
Wear them on a lanyard around your neck
Zip them into a secure pocket on your clothing

If you agreed

with any of these options you might want to reconsider.
Here is why!

What seems like a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… Sam and Jason were climbing at Lion’s Head, Ontario. A stunning spot perched high above the crystal-clear waters of the Georgian Bay. The day was perfect. Climbing, laughing, jumping off cliffs into the lake. The kind of adventure that makes you feel young and invincible.

But then, after a 45-minute hike back to their car, reality hit.

No keys.

Not in a pocket. Not in a bag. Probably sitting at the bottom of the lake.

Breaking Into Their Own Car

Thankfully, the back window of their vehicle was already broken (because, well, life on the road isn’t always kind). They peeled back the tape covering the window and climbed into the car, hoping to somehow salvage the situation.

There was just one problem: they still didn’t have the keys.

And they were supposed to catch a ferry back to mainland Canada – a one-hour drive away. With time ticking down, Sam made a bold decision.

“Guess I’m learning how to hotwire a car today.”

No YouTube. No cellphones. Just pure ingenuity and a mischievous glint in his eye.

Hotwiring Turned Out To Be Easy!

Surprisingly, hotwiring the Duck Car (a 1986 Dodge Omni) took only five minutes.

Unfortunately, they hadn’t accounted for one small, crucial detail:
The steering column was locked.

So while the car was running, they couldn’t actually drive it.

Cue another 45 minutes of trial and error, watching the ferry departure time creep closer and closer, until – finally! – they unlocked the steering column and hit the road.

Wohoo!

Race to the Ferry

With high spirits, questionable skills, and a car running on sheer determination, they sped toward the ferry terminal. The decision to catch the ferry was a gamble. The road took them one hour in the wrong direction from where they actually needed to go.

They pulled up to the dock, just in time to see the ferry pulling away.

Missed it. By. Three. Minutes.

Which meant an extra 12-hour drive (plus 1!) to get where they needed to go and the sudden realization that they would have to cross the border in a hotwired-vehicle.

And that was the moment. The moment they swore they would never, ever, bring their keys on another adventure.

Why we don't take keys on adventures

By now, you probably inferred that we learned not to take our keys with us to avoid losing them. But there are even more reasons why bringing keys on an adventure just isn’t a sound idea.

No stress about losing them

Pockets aren’t secure, backpacks get misplaced, zippers fail, and keychain carabiners break. The more you move, the easier it is for keys to disappear. Leaving them behind spares you the frantic trailhead search or that sinking realization that your keys are now at the bottom of a river.
No one person is in charge

The keys aren’t tied to a single person, so if we need to split up, anyone can move the vehicle without a key hand-off issue.
Emergency access

If we need someone - anyone! - to move the vehicle, because of an injury, bad weather, or just a change in plans, we can simply tell them where the keys are and move on.

So, What to Do With the Keys?

Easy. Stash'em!

But don’t go leaving your keys in obvious places. Especially if you’re leaving your vehicle for multiple days at a trailhead. A poorly hidden key isn’t much safer than an unlocked vehicle.

There IS a Wrong Way to Stash Your Keys

On top of the tire

Classic. And way too obvious.
Inside the wheel well

Even more obvious.
Taped under the bumper

Old trick.
Hidden under a rock nearby

That may work, as long as you remember which rock!
Tossed inside the car and leaving it unlocked

Dude, you trust too much.

The Right Way to Stash Your Keys

Here are some safe and reliable ways to stash them:

Use a Lock Box

A combination lockbox (like the ones real estate agents use) keeps your keys safe and accessible. Secure it to your vehicle in a discreet location or to a nearby object that is out of sight. Choose one that can fit your vehicle key or beeper. We travel with this simple one, but it doesn't always fit the keys of newer vehicles.
Hidden Trailer Hitch Safe

This is a great alternative if your vehicle has a hitch.
Install a Hasp and Lock System

This type of lock can be added to any vehicle. It add security and character!

But Combination Locks Aren’t Fail-Safe!

True. But we’re not trying to solve the problem of keeping people out. If someone really wanted to get into our vehicle, they could just break a window.

The problem we are trying to solve is: making sure we – and our friends – can always get back into our vehicle without carrying a key.

A lockbox gives us a reliable, stress-free way to access our keys when we need them. No frantic searches, no lost keys at the bottom of a river, just adventure without the extra worry.

So get a lock box, and go get lost in nature. Figuratively speaking!

If you want more information on how to keep your belongings safe, check out: A complete Guide to Car Camping: Safety and Security Edition.

About the Author

Native from Puerto Rico, Raquel has been traveling the world with Sam for 13+ years and counting, chasing adventure and sharing her love for movement. A seasoned educator and senior YogaSlackers teacher, she blends yoga, slacklining, and acroyoga in the most unexpected places. When she’s not teaching, she’s kiting, climbing, or scheming up the next big adventure. Always with a plan (and a backup plan) in place.