I spent a month on a NOLS course in Wyoming. Of course, in the Winds, as the instructors told us, there are two seasons - winter and the 4th of July. And that year, it snowed on the 4th of July. But yeah, wilderness living is hard. Especially back then, when NOLS had you pack out the last four days without food (something they no longer do). But it was a good lesson - for short-term survival of a few days, food is not critical.
The chairforce has benefits.
I was doing the mountain man thing for my own edification. 3 months in a tent, building the 8x12 shack, and then about a year living there without running water, commercial 'lektrikity, etc... I did make a run to town (an hour each way) every month or 2 for salt, coffee, tobacco, etc...
It wound up with me being carried off the mountain in a blizzard after a slip/fall accident (airlift was out because of the weather) and then 2 weeks in ICU after an airlift from the local (1 hour away) hospital to ABQ.
It was enlightening in many, many ways. I didn't leave my heart in New Mexico, but I darn sure left a spleen and kidney.
/johnny