[bogie]

...let someone, even a neighbor or a cow orker, know where you're going.

A fellow here in St. Louis went bow hunting on Friday, and suffered what appears to be a stroke. He was out in the woods until, if I recall correctly, Sunday. He wasn't unconscious - just disoriented, etc...

[Larry Ashcraft]

Good reminder. Several years ago, on Fathers Day, wife was out of town and the kids were busy somewhere else, so I decided to go fishing by myself. Went to the upper end of Pueblo Reservoir on the Arkansas river, got my gear ready and walked about 3/4 mile from the truck. Heard a funny buzzing ahead of me and thought it was some kind of bug. Got closer and looked down - RATTLESNAKE - about three feet from me. I'm unarmed except for a fishing pole and I'm wearing tennis shoes. I managed to back up and not get bit.

Now somebody always knows where I'll be. AND I'm always wear boots and am armed if I'm fishing alone.

[Travis McGee]

Make sure you take a strobe light or other non-flame type signaling device.

Don't burn down half of San Diego County because you felt like you needed to start a "signal fire" to get your buddy's attention.

Matt in San Diego, thankfully only breathing smoke and not fire.

http://matthewbracken.web.aplus.net/snakelogo.jpg

[P95Carry]

A wise reminder ........ as I say ''expect - the unexpected''!!

If the area and terrain allow .. a cell phone is good too.

[Smoke Rizen]

I just returned from 8 days of Me,two horses and a hunting licence,in the wilderness. I know You take Your chances alone in the wilds,but have enjoyed the solitude of the mountains for almost 30 years. It brings Me closer to Me. I realize I may be injured but that could happen anywhere,so I don't spend much time worrying about that.My wife knows I need to do it this way,so grudgingly allows it. She knows on the map were I am,and when I'll return.She also knows it would be tough to find Me on that big map. Out of consideration I usually come home a day earlier than I'm scheduled to save that last minute worry.If,comes a day, I don't make it out, I'd rather have the Coyotes feeding on My bones than an Undertaker feeding on My wallet.

[quick68]

Dang Smoke, I'm so jelous it makes me want to cry.

[shooten]

Matt in San Diego, thankfully only breathing smoke and not fire.

Amen Matt. It's been a rough week around here.

In the spirit of the thread, a camel back is a great investment. You can pack all kinds of things and have 3 quarts of water to

Scott

[Lennyjoe]

Thats a standard I do not break. I leave the wife a detailed list of where I will be and when she should expect me home. Including map coordinates and travel time as well.

Also take a cell phone just in case. Like the new cell phones with GPS tracking when you call 911.

[Mike Irwin]

Hey guys, I'm going to the can!

I had chili for dinner, so if I'm not back in 24 hours, send a haz-mat team in after me! :what:

[Art Eatman]

I guess I'm sorta like Smoke in my attitude. Thirty years ago, I started meddling around in the far back country in south Brewster County. No other person within fifteen miles. Very rarely did anybody else go back there, except the 16 days of mule deer season.

This was before the days of convenient strobe lights or cell phones. Heck, there weren't even any recent USGS sheets showing the various jeep trails in the area.

I just figured that I'd either be reasonably careful, or I'd get dead. The desert just doesn't care, one way or the other.

My house is on the "wrong" side of Terlingua Creek. If it's in flood and I'm at home, I'm not able to get out to "civilization". (Civilization can't get to me, either.) I was asked about what would happen if the creek was up and I had a stroke or heart attack. My obvious answer? "I'll die."

Which is why most folks live in cities, I guess...

:), Art