The location of the equipment seems to be random on each save. The only one that seems to relate to the environment is the fishing pole. Once you find the equipment you will retain it on each successive run, despite if you make it to the cabin or not; so no need to worry about losing anything once you find it!

Axe: You will spot a grouping of birch trees. Most of the trees will be stumps and you will see the axe from the trail. Investigate and take it with you.
-This will allow you to gather bark without spending extra hunger. You will still spend the normal hunger to stop at the event. The axe will also allow you to gather additional meat from several events, as well as break into an abandoned cabin.

Fishing pole: While running over ice the musher will mention being uncomfortable on the water. You will see a fishing rack off the trail. Investigate and take the fishing rod.
-This will allow you to gather meat without the use of bullets at any of the fishing holes that you pass on the trail.

Flint: You will spot what looks like an abandoned outhouse off the side of the trail. Investigate and you will find a fire starter in the fire ring ashes. Take it with you.
-This will allow you to create fires at camp without the need for birch bark.

Trap: The dogs will smell something on the trail. Follow it and you will find a pile of bones as well as a trap. Take it with you.
-This will allow you to set up the trap at your camp. You will need to sleep in order to catch anything. If you allow Stilton to choose where you place the trap you will gain two pieces of meat instead of one.

Gun cleaning kit: You will see a pristine cabin and the musher will comment about wanting to curl up there. Investigate and use the kit. You will need the axe to open the door.
-This will increase the amount of meat that you gain from hunting by +1. This tool is the only one that does not show up physically on the shed once unlocked. No need to worry however, the buff does not go away.

Dog boots: The musher will comment on trash on the trail. Choose to follow it and you will find a bag of dog booties. Take them with you.
-These boots (besides making your pups look adorable!) will double the energy your dogs get when you feed them a piece of meat. It will also change the paw icon in the middle of their energy bar to the icon of a bootie.


The first time you find a piece of equipment, the achievement "Find a helpful tool" will be unlocked.
The second time you find a piece of equipment, the achievement "Find another tool that was left behind" will be unlocked.
Once you find all the equipment, the achievement "Discover all the gear" will be unlocked.

See the Natural Beauty
-Saw the plains - Will trigger when you start your first run.
-Saw the forest - Will trigger when you run through a wooded area.
-Ran on a frozen lake - You need to run across the first lake on the map; should trigger if you choose 'Gee' three times in a row.
-Ran by a river - Will trigger when you cross one of the rivers marked on the map.
-Saw the coast - You need to be at the southern end of the map; keep choosing 'Gee' until the notification pops. It should take seven turns from the head of the trail.
-Found home - Make it to the cabin. (Achievement)

Live Off the Land
-Identified a birch tree - Should trigger in any event in which you mention said tree.
-Fished in a new place - As the entry says, you have to catch a fish. (Achievement)

Hanging with my Fluffy Friends
-Fed the dogs a full meal - Give the dogs three pieces of meat in the same meal. (Achievement)
-Pet all the dogs - Pet all the different dogs.
*Each time you complete one of the dog's stories you will gain that particular dog's sticker.

Fox
1) "That hunting dive is incredible" - Follow the fox and watch it hunt. Keep watching and there is a chance it will succeed and find a meal. You need to thank it for the inspiration.
2) "But it takes a lot of patience" - Follow the fox and watch it hunt. Keep watching and there is a chance it will fail and run off.

Bear
1) "Bears need homes too" - Find a sleeping bear within an abandoned cabin.
2) "The cutest snoot boop" - Follow the bear cub, wait, mama bear will appear from the left and snoot boop her baby.
3) "There's always a mama bear somewhere" - Follow the bear cub, wait, mama bear will appear from the right and attack you.
4) "I wonder if I need a scratching tree" - Follow the bear cub, wait and hope you witness it scratching on the tree. (Achievement)

Weasel
1) "Saw the weasel war dance. More cute than scary." - This is part of Bodega's story line. You will spot two weasels running alongside the trail. Choose to follow them and you will witness one weasel doing the war dance while Bodega kills the other.

Owl
1) "I'd dissect an owl pellet again." - There are multiple ways to trigger this entry. Follow the owl when it swoops across the trail, talk to it, and at some point it should puke up a pellet. Inspect it and hopefully it will contain a bullet.
2) "Was that curse real?" - Choose the bad omen option when you see the owl swoop across the trail. Follow it anyway and choose to shoot it, hooting will happen after it dies.
3) "Owl vs skunk. A battle for the ages." - Follow the owl/skunk after their interaction on the trail and watch them. There is a chance the owl will swoop down and carry the skunk away.

Rabbit
1) "I still feel guilty about fluffington" - Follow the rabbit when the musher says "Rabbits are supposed to be a delicacy..." Either wait until the timer runs out or choose to use it as bait. An eagle should swoop down and carry it away. (Achievement)

Moose
1) "Was that a ghost moose?" - The dogs will smell something on the trail. Follow it and you may find an albino moose - do not hunt it!
2) "But who "hooted"?! The moose or the owl?!" - When you hear the owl hooting without seeing it, follow it and you will be run over/injured by a panicked moose. (Achievement)
3) "Time for me to get moooving!" - When encountering a caribou just walking on the trail, choose to watch it. When given the option to stay quiet or mimic a call, choose to mimic the call and choose 'moo'. There is a chance a moose will chase the caribou off.

Eagle
1) "Eagles know the best prey zones." - Follow the eagle swooping over the trail and watch it. A rabbit should hop into the area.
2) "Let's not talk about the bald one" - Follow the eagle swooping over the trail and choose the dialogue options that lead you to shooting it.

Deer
1) "How long was that deer out there?" - When encountering the frozen deer, choose to approach it and do not harvest it's meat.
2) "Great. Judgmental deer." - The musher will utter the words: "Someone is watching us." Choose to hunt and you will find three deer staring at you. Take aim and shoot. There is a chance you will hit the deer but it will live and the other two will run off.

Caribou
1) "Successfully learned to talk to caribou." - When encountering a caribou just walking on the trail, choose to watch it. When given the option to stay quiet or mimic a call, choose to mimic the call and choose 'grunt'.
2) "That wolf came out of nowhere." - A caribou will run very quickly between two snow drifts on the trail. Follow it. Shoot once, it will survive. Then do not choose anything and let the timer run out. A wolf will appear and steal the kill.
3) "You have to finish what you start" - A caribou will run very quickly between two snow drifts on the trail. Follow it. Shoot once, it will survive, shoot again, it will survive and run off.
4) "or else they can end up suffering" - A caribou will run very quickly between two snow drifts on the trail. Follow it. Shoot once, it will live, shoot again, it will survive and run off. You will encounter it again later on in the run. Follow and finish it off.
5) "I can't believe I saw a whole herd!" - When spotting a caribou on the trail it will be startled by you and run off; follow it and it will lead you to a whole herd.

Squirrel
*1) "Look up if squirrels actually have rabies" - Follow the squirrel spotted from the trail. Instead of killing it, wink back at the squirrel - random chance it will attack you. (Achievement)
2) "I will learn to speak squirrel" - Find an angry squirrel within an abandoned cabin and try to talk to it.
*3) "Squirrels would not want meat, right?" - Follow the squirrel spotted from the trail. Shoot the squirrel and don't let Chomper lick it. Later on you will see a squirrel darting between two snow drifts (not a squirrel sitting on the side of the trail, that one is part of Chomper's story). Follow it and let Chomper try to kill it, instead of doing so a bunch of squirrels should appear from the shadows. You should then choose to let the dogs growl at the squirrels (3rd option). There is a chance that the squirrels will attack you and steal a chunk of meat (you will not be injured).
*Note: I would recommend completing these BEFORE Chomper's story as there is a guaranteed squirrel encounter triggered early in the run.

Porcupine
1) "I'll never forget the porcupinecone." - From the trail you will spot a tree with a large creature in one of the branches. Investigate and you will see that it is a porcupine.

Skunk
1) "That spray smells like rotten gasoline." - When forced to run through a cloud of skunk spray, choose to inspect the skunk.
2) "Those skunk bombs are very effective." - Follow the owl/skunk after their interaction on the trail and watch them. There is a chance the skunk will spray and the owl will fly away.

Elk
1) "Going to have to get used to that elk shriek." - This event *can* be part of Slayer's story but can also happen separately as well. While on the trail you will hear an elk bugle twice. Follow it to find the source.
2) "I. PET. AN. ELK!" - You will see an elk grazing right on the trail. Follow it and it will walk up to you. Reach out your hand and there is a chance you will be able to pet it.
3) "They're so majestic!" - You will see an elk grazing right on the trail. Follow it and it will walk up to you. Reach out your hand and there is a chance it will run away and let out a bugle.
4) "Night of the living shed" - You will see an elk off the side of the trail who is shedding his antlers. Follow it and approach.

Ptarmigans
1) "I almost didn't even see them." - The dogs will take note of something on the trail. Following it will lead you to four ptarmigans just hanging out in the snow.

Muskox
1) "Ox have the best hairdos." - When you see a muskox walking along the trail you will slow down and have the option to check it out. Do so and choose to watch it. There is a chance it will turn and charge at you, injuring you in the process. Choose to leave afterwards. (There is a possibility it is afraid of Igloo and won't charge you if you have her on your team.)

Wolverine
1) "I'd like to avoid fighting wolverines. They're claws and fury." - Eventually you will see a wolverine on the side of the trail. No matter what you choose you will be forced into the interaction. Igloo or Bodega will defend the team and no one will be injured.
2) "Got made by a wolverine." - You will encounter a dead caribou and if you choose to harvest it there is a chance a wolverine will show up but not harm you.

Wolf
1) "How do you know if a wolf is stalking you?" - Distant howling will sound when you're out on the trail. Follow it and you will see... nothing. The musher will comment that the wolf might be stalking them and will return to the trail.
2) "I couldn't leave the wolf like that." - This is part of Noodle's story. You must save the wolf when you find it stuck in the trap.
3) "sometimes you have to feed the wildlife" - This is part of Barkly's story. A wolf will run alongside you on the trail and attack. Choose to distract it and you will throw a piece of food at it, allowing you to escape unharmed.
4) "they don't like it when you try to take their kill" - The dogs will take note of something on the trail and you will notice tracks as if something dragged a large object through the snow. Follow it and you will encounter a dead caribou. Attempt to harvest the meat and a wolf will appear/attack you when you approach.

Beaver
1) "Beavers will lead you to open water" - When the beaver causes a tree to crash down onto the trail, investigate and use the fishing hole.
*) "Narrowly escaped a beaver attack" - When the beaver causes a tree to crash down onto the trail, investigate the fishing hole but instead of fishing choose to look for the beaver. The second tree will crash down and narrowly miss you. Do not hunt the beaver. (Do not choose to hunt the beaver from the get go. You will be injured.)

*Despite this causing a notification it does not add an entry to the journal

This section details how to unlock each dog's story. You must make it to the cabin in order to get the achievement/accessory. If not, the dog's story will reset next time you set out on the trail. After making it to the cabin you are allowed to choose who you want to lead the team. In order to make it easier to trigger a specific dog's story you should make them the leader.

Igloo:
Igloo's story is triggered by a random event where a muskox charges your sled. No matter what you choose both you and Iggy will end up getting injured. Patching her up and petting her at camp following this event will reward you with unique dialogue.
Near the end of your run a wolverine will attack. Despite what you choose you will be forced into the interaction. Igloo will fend off the attacker successfully and not get injured. Pet her at camp and make it to the cabin to finish her story.

Stilton:
Stilton's story starts with him spotting something off the trail, you will need to follow him. He will lead you to two ptarmigans and you will need to let him catch his. It is not necessary but petting him at camp will give you unique dialogue.
Later on you will come across a caribou in the middle of the trail, blocking your path. You have the option to ask Stilton if he is seeing it as well and choosing said option will cause him to bark at it. It will teleport to a nearby rock and you have the option of hunting it. Make it all the way to the cabin to finish his story.

Barkley:
Barkley's story begins when a wolf runs alongside your sled. It will attack you but Barkley will intervene and be injured in your stead. Throwing a piece of meat at the wolf will make him run away, as well as give you a journal entry. (This event can happen when Barkley isn't part of your team - you will get injured if this is the case.) Make sure you give him belly rubs for being such a good boy! Then proceed to patch him up and give him pets at camp.
Later down the trail Chomper will spot a squirrel and you will be forced to follow it. The squirrel will be sitting on a log arguing with Chomper. The rodent will then turn its fury on you but Barkley will again intervene and kill the squirrel before it can harm you. You will need to scold Barkley and teach him right then to bark instead of bite. You will need to choose the option "Bark!" in order for him to learn.
Near the end of your run you will encounter a moose on the trail who will very rudely run you over. Barkley will scare off the moose with his new bark and no one will get hurt! Speak to him back at camp and make it to the cabin to finish his story.

Bodega:
Bodega's story is started by spotting two weasels on the side of the trail. Be sure to follow them as this is also a journal entry. One weasel will do a war dance (which is an adorable tactic weasels actually use in the wild to potentially confuse or disorient prey!) while the other weasel tries to steal food from your sled. This is unacceptable according to Bodega, who kills the weasel for its crimes. I'm not sure if it matters but I always let him take a snack as a reward. Be sure to pet him at camp afterwards!
The next event in Bodega's story is not always easy to trigger. Make sure you have at least one piece of food and choose gee three times from the head of the trail and you should be in the right spot. The sled will then fall through the ice and the screen will go black. Just when you think all is lost you will awaken laying on the ice and see Bodega pulling the sled from the frigid water. He will then take a piece of meat as a reward.
Later on, near the end of the run, a wolverine will attempt to steal food from the sled. Bodega will prevent this atrocity and defend your stash. Be sure to pet him afterwards at camp and make it back to the cabin.

Chomper:
Chomper's story starts when you spot a squirrel running across the trail. In order to progress you need to follow the squirrel and let Chomper attack it. He will succeed and have a nice snack. It is not necessary to continue but if you pet him at camp at this point there should be unique dialogue.
After awhile a white weasel will run by. You will be forced into the interaction where Chomper attacks and eats the weasel despite the musher not noticing it and trying to get him to come back to the sled. There will again be more unique dialogue if you pet Chomper at camp at this point.
Later on, another squirrel will be spotted on the trail. You will have the option to let Chomper choose what to do. He will choose what is best for the team and continue on by instead of giving into his prey drive. Yet again, more unique dialogue will be available at camp if you pet him.

Noodle:
Noodle's story begins when you hear a wolf howl while running on the trail. Noodle will howl back and the musher will ask him if he is trying to bring it closer or scare it off. Follow Noodle when prompted and he will lead you to a wolf with its leg stuck in a bear trap. Freeing the wolf will result in a journal entry and a happy Noodle! Be sure to pet him at camp afterwards.
Later on during your run you will hear the wolf howl again. Following it will lead you to the same wolf you freed who has killed a caribou for you as thanks. Nothing is better than a new friend and free food! Make sure to pet Noodle at camp after this encounter.
Near the end of your run the wolf will appear again and you can let Noodle take a break to play with his new friend. Pet him again at camp and make it to the cabin to finish his story.

Fin:
Fin's story starts when she picks up a scent along the trail. Follow it and she will find a skunk who will spray her and run away. (Thankfully smell-o-vision isn't invented yet, amiright?) Be sure to comfort her and make a stop to speak to her back at camp.
After speaking to her, go to sleep and there is a chance she will steal your beanie overnight. Make sure to speak to her again at that same campsite.
From then on you will have the option to give Fin your beanie when you go to sleep. Doing so will make you cold but she's worth it. Willingly giving her your beanie will also allow you to pet her.
After bonding with you at camp Fin will find another scent on the trail. Make sure to follow her and she will lead you to a bullet or two, or sometimes birch bark. All that is left to do now is make it to the cabin!

Gale:
Gale's story starts when she spots a porcupine who runs across the trail. You will be forced into the encounter and can only watch as she lunges in and gets a face full of porcupine quills. This won't be considered an injury so no need to break out the med kits. You will need to pet her back at camp in order to progress.
When you find the porcupine hanging out in the tree Gale will come with you when you investigate. She will try to jump up at the animal who responds by turning its quills on her. You have the option to call her off and when she does you can praise her for learning.
Later on Gale will rush into another encounter with another porcupine but she will contain herself. You are given the option to hunt, leave, or wait. Choose to wait and then pet her make at camp before making it back to the cabin.

Slayer:
Slayer's story starts when you spot an elk off the side of the trail. You need to choose to investigate. However, Slayer will prevent you from doing so and the team will continue on without you losing any energy. In order to progress you must pet her at camp and talk to her about overcoming her fears.
The next time you see an elk on the trail you will need to investigate again. Slayer will come with you and growl; you should choose to give her a treat for being so brave. You can then pet her back at camp again for more dialogue.
Afterwards you will encounter a third elk on the trail. Choose to investigate and just watch it. Slayer will then bark and scare it off, showing that she has found her confidence! You then need to make it back to the cabin to finish her story.

*Fun Fact: As of writing this, the dogs are listed in order here (from greatest to least) by how many people have obtained their achievement!

Once you complete all of the dog's stories you will unlock "Complete all the dog stories" achievement.

Any achievement that is not unlocked by any of the above is listed here.

Set 20 Fires: Self explanatory - set 20 fires at camp.

Pet the dogs 100 times at camp: I would recommend not worrying about obtaining this achievement right away. It will unlock after you pet the dogs while camping. Petting them at the cabin does not count toward this achievement. (Believe me, I tried.)

Gulped down some raw meat: At camp if you click on the meat hanging in the tree you have the option to eat it raw. This will cause you to become cold.

Experienced your first encounter: This achievement will unlock after you complete your first encounter.

Adopted a dog sledding team: I believe that you have to adopt the first four dogs you meet in order to unlock this. The order in which you meet the dogs is randomized for each save.

We've all had one of those dreams: This achievement will unlock after the first time you perish on the trail.