Your level of preparation is incredible! I was amazed at how you have everything covered, from navigation to emergency and fire response. Your post is long, but it piqued my curiosity to read about all your preparation. It's a pleasure to read about someone who takes safety so seriously before venturing into the forest. Recently, my country experienced two earthquakes, and that has also made us more aware of the need to be better prepared for any eventuality.
I'm sharing a couple of details that might be helpful as suggestions:
For the rain: If your poncho makes you sweat a lot, look for a waterproof jacket with underarm ventilation or a lightweight suit like Frogg Toggs. They allow your body to breathe much better.
Insulation from the ground: Since you're looking for a sleeping mat, pay close attention to the R-value. For those cold nights in the area, you'll need something with a value of 3.5 or higher to avoid losing heat.
Food and bears: Be careful using a store bag and string to hang your food; the bears there have figured out how to use those hanging things. From what I've read, it's dangerous, so be careful. A rigid container (bear canister) or a reinforced bag might save you a scare.
Best of luck on your trip to the woods now that your ankle has recovered!
Yeah, separating the recreational camping and disaster preparedness mindsets is a challenge. I had hoped the poncho would allow enough air circulation, but not enough when I am exerting myself. Frogg Toggs have been recommended by others, so I'll be seriously considering that. And as for bears, I'll be looking for a site where I shouldn't need to worry about whether the bag is bear-resistant, but maybe a serious bear-resistant hard canister will be in order eventually.
That's right, my friend. Doing it for pleasure is one thing, doing it out of obligation is another. Either way, you need to be prepared. Take good care of yourself and good luck!