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I read a August 1966 Popular Science article titled "How to Survive Anywhere" when I had just turned 15. It stuck with me. When I took a field service job in the power industry six years later, I found myself traveling through some pretty remote parts of the country in winter. I was always prepared with a sleeping bag, space blankets, signal mirrors, sterno cans, dried and canned food, whistle, shovel, a camp stove and propane, waterproof matches, coffee pot, extra clothes, hiking boots, and other gear. I never needed it, but it sure did provide peace of mind knowing I could survive.

I liked ideas I picked up along the way about using your car to survive cold: take out your auto headlights and pointing them skyward, burning motor oil in hub caps (remember those?), breaking off your rear-view mirror to use for signaling, and ripping out headliner and seat materials to insulate for warmth.

I found myself traveling through some pretty remote parts of the country in winter. I was always prepared with a sleeping bag, space blankets, signal mirrors, sterno cans, dried and canned food, whistle, shovel, a camp stove and propane, waterproof matches, coffee pot, extra clothes, hiking boots, and other gear. I never needed it, but it sure did provide peace of mind knowing I could survive.

That is pretty close to what I carry, along with flares, flashlights, charcoal and a flat pan (for heating the oil pan when it is really cold (-30) out). Tinfoil, a shovel, spare cell phone battery, flashlights and spare batteries. A couple changes of clothes, extra (thinsulate) gloves, insulated coveralls, wool socks (2 pr), and a pair of pac boots round out the kit.

But then, I live and work in North Dakota and winter here is nothing to mess with.

Up thread someone suggested walking out. Not here. That just makes the body harder to find. Stay with the vehicle unless it is somewhere it absolutely cannot be seen. There is a lot of material in a modern vehicle that can be used for insulation or burned for heat/signal smoke in a pinch. If you set fire to your spare for a signal, make sure you let the air out first (cut the valve stem off).

“I never needed it, but it sure did provide peace of mind knowing I could survive.”

Just saw “Rooster Cogburn” on tv the other day. He’s talking to Hepburn.

“Here let me put my rope around you while you sleep. It’ll keep the snakes and what-not away. Now I know you’re wondering if it really works.

Well - I ain’t saying it does. And I ain’t saying it doesn’t. But it sure is comforting.”