Could You Survive Lost in the Wilderness?

CNN ^ | 12-11-13 | Shane Hobel

[smokingfrog]

Video: Do you think you could survive if you were trapped in the wilderness? Survival expert Shane Hobel says planning ahead could potentially save your life.
Nevada Rescue: How They Made It

[rlmorel]

Rule number 1 above all others: Don’t Panic.

If you don’t, you have a chance. If you do and conditions are harsh enough, you’re finished.

[rlmorel]

I always think of Jack London's short story "To Build a Fire"

[Billthedrill]

Where I live isn't exactly Manhattan. In the unlikely event that we should, say, lose electricity and the county road not get plowed, we're pretty much in wilderness. That hasn't happened for a couple of weeks, though.

It's good to have certain basic survival supplies close to hand, in your home if you aren't traveling, in the car at least if that's how you're traveling, on your back if you're on foot. More important is the knowledge of how to use what you have.

[Red in Blue PA]

US Army Survival Guide.....free download for Andorids:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androidtrainer.survive&hl=en

[Kartographer]

Seen them on line. Seem to have a niche of their own, but as I have battery recharging capable equipment and mutilpe options for cooking already I haven’t looked into them more than looking them over on line.

[Nervous Tick]

I don’t have time to get lost in the wilderness; I got my hands full struggling to survive here in what passes for civilization. :-)

[rlmorel]

"...More important is the knowledge of how to use what you have..."

Swiss Army Knife. Carry it.

[mad_as_he$$]

The recent Nevada rescue was COMPLETELY over done due the stupidity of the male subject. This idiot put six people into a vehicle with FOUR seat belts(including FOUR small children) and did NOT go to where he said he was going. He was about 30 miles from where he said they were going. There was no need to spend two nights there. They were within easy walking distance of cellphone service (in an area readily covered by ham repeaters) AND the vehicle could have been righted with some minimal tools and effort.

Yea, I am pissed. Many folks including yours truly expended time effort and safety risk to find this fool.

[dainbramaged]

Way back in the 1960's our scout troop would do an overnight survival hike in the Cascade mountains of Washington state. We were allowed to bring a blanket, poncho, waterproof matches, a knife and fishing gear. This was always in the late summer so the huckleberries were everywhere and our scoutmaster passed out Snickers bars just before the 3-5 mile hike back to the cars.
He was a master fly fisherman and had a whole mess of trout hanging from a branch for our communal dinner until a black bear decided to take them.
The main lesson was shelter, fire, water, then food.

[CivilWarBrewing]

Yes.

I've got my Food Insurance back pack and a magnesium fire starter with a zip lock bag full of lint for kindle.

[CivilWarBrewing]

The real show stopper is water. And yes, I would drink my own pee as a last resort.

[redfreedom]

The question being “Could your survive in the wilderness?”

Answering the question within the context of this CNN interview where they are discussing a family surviving after an apparent vehicle mishap in the middle of nowhere, my answer would be yes, we’ve been there, done that.

Carrying necessary winter survival items is just common sense, but even more necessary is staying with the vehicle.

The folks that survive winter mishaps up here in the frozen tundra are the ones that stay put to be found later.

An Alberta Clipper driven blizzard can last for days with zero visibility where people left their vehicles, only a quarter mile or so from a home, and died.

[Rebelbase]

They had four perfectly good tires to burn on different days to attract attention but didn't.

[Kip Russell]

Anytime I'm in the wilderness, I always have enough supplies that I'm confident I could survive for a few days without any problem.

Longer than that, and I'm going to start getting hungry...

[Tijeras_Slim]

They intrigue me, if I get one I’ll get you a review. I could care less about charging a phone (LED flashlight is another story), but the TEG powered fan to force air into the combustion chamber seems a good idea.

[IYAS9YAS]

In the case of the Nevada rescue - at my age I would never have been in the situation they found themselves in - I hate the snow and cold and would never had made that trip to play in the snow.

I read that the vehicle flipped and the engine wouldn't start. I'll bet it was new enough to have a safety shut-off for the fuel, and it would take pushing a button somewhere to allow the fuel to flow again.

They did a good job. Stayed together, with the car, and stayed warm.

[CivilWarBrewing]

Wow, I didn't realize their jeep had overturned. You'd have to remove the tires but only if you have the wheel lug key and socket bar. You wouldn't want to torch those on the vehicle for fear of losing your living quarters. I guess there wasn't enough muscle to push that Jeep over and upright?

[BenLurkin]

absolutely.

Step one: Don’t go into the wilderness.

Step Two: Definitely don’t go into the wilderness during the winter.

See — you have just survived.

[redfreedom]

I watched the “To Build a Fire” video until I got to the point where this fellow built a fire and stopped watching.

Now I know there are people that have done this, much like the video portrays.

I’ve tried many times, taking frozen moisture absorbed twigs from under the snow to build a fire. First just getting the match to light and staying lit long enough to start a twig is a problem. For that twig or birch paper to want to light it first needs to be warmed enough by the match to want to light and free enough of moisture to stay lit.

[count-your-change]

Not a problem so long as the satellite t.v. works in the cabin and the MRE’s have plenty of beer to wash them down.

After about a week I’d need to pick up some supplies at WalMart to remain lost in the wilderness.