READERS COMMENTS

Outdoor survival is about preperation before you go out. Not my website, but the best resource for outdoor surviaval I've seen, real world advice, not this building shelters and starting fires with sticks nonsense.

www.outdoorsafe.com
Posted: Jan 25, 2010 JW

"When you started out, the late-October sky looked leaden, and the air felt chilly."

So, naturally, you dropped most of your equipment to trundle off into the wilderness for a 7.5 mile sightseeing hike into bad weather with no gear.

Your best bet is to remove most of your clothing, sprinkle salt on you so that when the bear comes to finish you off, you're nice and tender, and then congratulate yourself on helping to dramatically improve the gene pool. Lay down and die as quietly as possible so as not to spoil the view for everyone else who's IQ is higher than their pack weight.
Posted: Nov 23, 2008 buckwheat

Ok, you set out to go to Charlies Bunyon, then started back. Now that conditions are darkening, you are not so sure of yourself. Let me share something that always helps me. Daniel Boone was once asked if he ever got lost, to which he replied, "I was never lost, but once I was a mite bewildered for seven days." It makes me laugh every time I get turned around.
First of all, think! Where are you? You are following the AT. Remember the trail "roughly" follows the ridge line. Remember your map. The distance is 0.72 miles from Mount Kiphart to Masa Knob and only 0.46 miles from Masa Knob to Charlies Bunyon. But before scampering off, assess what you remember about the landmarks you passed on the way up and on the way back. You did turn around periodically to view the return route, right? Good. If you are way off course, you either over shot the destination or got off on a side trail. Now, if you realise that you need to stay put for the evening, find or make shelter. Staying dry and insulating is a key for a comfortable night. I have slept outside in 10 degree weather quite comfortably using dry leaves piled up in a hollow underneath a tree. Adding a bivy sack, poncho or tarp and you can stay very cozy. Lucky for you the rain turned to snow, which can be a great insulator. Cold and wet is like kyptonite, so stay dry if possible to retain body heat. Keep your head and neck covered. Protect yourself from the wind. Don't forget to move to keep the blood pumping. These are all things to do before breaking into the survival kit. Probably the best advice is to practice these skills when it's not an emergency. Then, it becomes a challenge and adventure. Once you have figured out the shelter part, then make your fire and enjoy your protein bar as you think about Daniel Boone and the adventure of telling your wife or hiking companions.
Posted: Oct 13, 2008 Steve C.

It's a good thing that so many people decided to add onto this article... If you follow the horribly lacking advice from this article you will probably die from hypothermia in about 3-5 hours, but dehydration would probably not be a severe threat untill well into the next day
Posted: Aug 28, 2008 Judah

My top pack becomes a day pack and that is where I store my most important survival gear: a few Clif bars, a first aid kit(also has purification tablets and aluminum foil) a Bivy space blanket, storm matches in a watertight compass/whistle. a chem light, paracord, knife, poncho, and an extra generic "area" topo map.

I VERY often get excited about an area to climb and will stash my pack at the base off trail and do some free climbing or bouldering but take the time to put the day pack around my waist...
Just my Humble opinion though...


Posted: May 27, 2008 Philly Tom

With so many "outdoor survival" books and schools out there, it is almost deserved for those who go off unprepared to have something unfortunate happen!!! I keep gear in my vehicle at all times, and carry a Cody Lundin based belt pouch pack with me anytime I take even a short hike or nature walk!!! Even the Boy Scouts teach "Always Prepared!!"
Posted: May 06, 2008 Cormach

I agree with all that has been said. I'd like to add that I carry a knife and flint/steel/tinder daily. You do need to practice your skills with your equipment so that if the day should come, you'll know what to do. There is not much worse than finding yourself in a situation in which you think your prepared only to find that you can not make the fire you thought you could, or the shelter you've seen made, but never really tried to make yourself. Or better yet, did make 10 years ago while camping (which seems like 2 years ago...)...You get the idea. Safe Journeys
Posted: May 06, 2008 Jim

Those two trails aren't blazed so snow could cause problems. I think that it would be nice to have a synthetic sleeping bag, food, and a poncho or equivalents. A sleeping pad would be icing on the cake. I would look for a good place to hunker down out of the weather, get on dry clothes, get in the bag and get rested and warm. You would then be rested...maybe a little chilly, but be able to make a more rational decision.
Posted: May 03, 2008 Tommy

On multi-day trips, don't be without a basic survival kit. These kits can be to fit into small fanny packs, a Nalgene, or even quart sized zip loc bags.
Read this Book: DEEP SURVIVAL by Laurence Gonzales. Gonzales talks about various incidencts where people get/find themselves in trouble and the processes our brain goes through that keep us alive or allow us to make decisions that could kill us.

Posted: Apr 19, 2008 Jacob Blackwelder

Don't forget to always carry a simple fire starter kit (ziplock sandwich bag with lint, waterproof matches, and a small piece of fire log is always with me in the backcountry). Not only will the glow of a friendly fire help your morale, it will also help searchers find you and if you are wet, ward off hypothermia.
Posted: Apr 09, 2008 Jeff

learn basic skills, once you have the knowledge, any situation is more manageable. Often these instances of being "lost" can quickly turn into an adventure if you learn basic skills and keep your head about you.
Posted: Apr 05, 2008 yeti

Chief Instructor
HUNTER Outdoor Training
Leigh on Sea, England
Posted: Apr 01, 2008 Barry Howard

Remember to increase insulation from the ground - sit on your rucsac; ensure also your ankles, wrists, and neck are covered as these are the natural thermostatic points for the body. If you get too hot (unlikely) ventilate at the neck first. Don't JUST sit still all night - undertake some movement to aid circulation. Keep morale high...make up stories...songs...anything to make you smile and keep that mind active.
Barry, Leigh on Sea, England.
Posted: Apr 01, 2008 Barry

Stay put, layer up and fill up your water bottle? Come on. The hypothetical situation you just described requires a lot more recommendations than that, or you would be hypothetically dead. Having been caught in a snowstorm in the Smokies I would recommend a much stronger emphasis on finding makeshift shelter.
Posted: Mar 31, 2008 Sheltowee

One of the easiest and often overlooked skills in the outdoors. Look around. What do you see that you can use as an emergency shelter? You don't have to be a skilled woodsman or survival expert to find a suitable shelter. Use your imagination; what do you have in your pack or on your self to use or aid in a shelter construction. In the region mentioned in the example there are laurel patches that you can crawl into to get out of the wind and rain. Look for natural shelters near you before you start cutting down branches or trees. A natural shelter can be anything from a downed tree limb to a natural depression with a rock outcrop overhead. Just remember to keep a cool head about you and use your imagination, you just might find yourself sleeping sound without a sleeping pad or tent.
Posted: Mar 17, 2008 swampfox

Shelter would seem to be the next priority.
Some tips on what might be available to you in that
location would be helpful.
Posted: Mar 10, 2008 Striker

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