Do you possess a survival mindset?

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bogie

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Was just watching a few minutes of the news before crashing, clicking between the major stations, and the guy on CNN* was interviewing a family that got lost somewhere while they were hunting down a Christmas tree. They talked about taking off and following a road uphill, and building a tree branch shelter (they had a saw or hatchet or something...), and sleeping in a culvert while 2' of snow fell, and a few other things...

Thing is, I didn't hear anyone mention one magic word...

FIRE.

Were these guys so completely reliant upon "tech" that they didn't stop and think "hey, we can create something that is warm?" It's almost like "hey, we reached this conclusion, and then we didn't think any further."

Mods, bear with me...

Now, you and me, we might be a little different. I could wander outside in my bathrobe in the middle of frozen monsoon season (like last weekend...), and in an hour, I might be a little chilly, but I'd have a fire going, and I'd be warming up. It's like these folks didn't even try...

Several lessons can be gleaned...

Be informed. I actually _know_ how to make a fire with two sticks. And I've done it. (first tip - do it out of the wind...)

Be flexible - if you initial plan doesn't work, modify or scrap and develop a new one.

Don't give up. Here's where the mods can relax... In a lot of stress-shooting situations, if you quit, you're in trouble. If you get hit, if you think about it, and worry about it, you go into shock. If you can get past that, and concentrate solely on taking out or evading an assailant, you have a better chance. Remember that you're probably less than 15 minutes from a hospital, and if it isn't CNS or a major artery, you'll hurt, but by golly, you'll live.

Saw a vid a day or so ago of a lawyer who got shot repeatedly outside a courthouse. One of the reasons he lived was that he didn't give up after the first hit - he sought cover, and continued to duck and weave.

Don't give up.

Educate yourself. Not just about firearms. That's part of it, but not everything.

Be flexible. Because the only things that don't change are dead.

* And now 3 people will chime in that they hate CNN - that is NOT what the thread is about. Please ignore those folks...
 
I always carry a folding, locking knife, and if I'm in the woods I always carry a fixed blade and between two or three different methods to make a fire (big mini-lighter, waterproof matches, and firesteel), as well as various other survival gear. I have stuff for constructing a shelter (although given just a knife I could construct one with whatever was lying around), getting food, signaling, etc.

I do know the theory behind making a fire with two sticks, but I've never done it. One of these days I'll have to try it.

I saw that vid with the lawyer, too. I'd have probably tried what he did, but I don't think that tree would have been large enough cover for me. :uhoh:

I'd like to carry a pistol (it might have helped that lawyer immensely; once he got cover he may have had time to draw and fire back, saving him at least a couple of wounds), but right now I don't have the money, and due to Oregon's CCW laws I'm in a bit of a limbo, as they don't like issuing permits to non residents (gotta prove "need" beyond "self defense"; its shall issue for residents).
 
What out of state permits does Oregon honor? Go that way if you can.
Click to expand...

None. Unfortunately.

I could get a Nevada permit (if I had enough money to buy the gun and pay for the classes and fees, anyway), but it'd be near useless because I only live in Nevada a few weeks out of the year, and Oregon doesn't reciprocate with any other state.

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that I'll have to wait another year or so until I graduate college and get a permanent residence. :( Fortunately, the town I'm living in has a fairly low crime rate, so I'm not too worried, but it'd still be nice to have.
 
In addition to my CCW, every day I carry 5 feet of paracord daisychained, a folder, a flint, and some faith.

It's best to think outside the box a little; it can go a long way.

Also, on starting a fire with two sticks: it can be done. But you have to know how, and you have to practice. Takes a long time to get it the first time. Like with everything else, practice before you need it.

Anyone who's interested in further discussion on such topics, please check out my sig line.
 
Easy way out... I, at any given time, have three cig lighters on me--a Zippo, an IMCO pipe lighter, and a Bic. Add in the MRE matches in my wallet, the Leatherman in my pocket, and the Surefire G2, and you've got...

... well, a slightly deluded individual. Might have to look into that "two sticks" thing... :uhoh:
 
Man, CNN is the worst. I totally hate it.;)

Quite frankly, I think they did alright for a bunch of city folks. I usually carry a lighter with me, just for kicks.
 
Well, they at least improvised some shelter... Just seems like some folks are blind to a lot of stuff tho... I just remember doing stuff like going out for dinner with folks, and saying stuff like "hey, maybe we don't really need to park 3 blocks from this downtown pub to save $2 on the garage..."
 
I never go out in the woods without a flashlight, pocket knife, and a way to make fire (usually a disposable lighter).

As for the survival mentality, I tend to move quickly from fear into anger but it's a controlled anger that I can use as a tool. So far in my life this has applied to ALL survival situations I've encountered from getting snowed in on top of a mountain all the way to having someone draw a knife on me.
 
Hmmm...I've not thought of it exactly in the terms of a "survival mentality", but I'd have to say I do.

I lived in Colorado for years and had many excursions throughout the year - including winter.

We always followed some simple rules:
  • Tell someone where your going / your route / and when you'll be back
  • Carry a pack - even a small day pack - with enough supplies to spend the night outside if necessary
  • Always carry a map and compass, or a GPS, or both
The only time we had an "iffy" moment was during a winter snowshoeing trip near Breckenridge. It was snowing quite heavily on the way in, so we knew our tracks would be covered on the way out...but by using a map and reading a compass we made it back just fine. Okay, so maybe it wasn't really that "iffy." :)

Interesting post and question.

Take care,
DFW1911
 
cannon---that's just funny as hell----lolololol

Even in an urban environment I never leave the house without these on my person:

SAK(Farmer)--a bit of cord in the lanyard
Bic
Largish Folder(BM 520)
Surefire LED
Cross pen set
Carmex stick
Galco 1.5in leather gunbelt


Close by in the car:

Leatherman x2
LED Maglight
blanket in the trunk
extra batteries---123 and d-cell
shortie AR-15 and 3 loaded 30 round mags


Other things may or may not be with me---but these items always are.
 
Its handy to keep a tire around. If you can set fire to a tire it will burn for a long time and eventually someone will see the smoke. :)
 
There's a free US Army Survival manual available for download (2.5Mb) from this site (look at the foot of the page) - plenty of good info & pics on shelter, fire, water, food, etc.
 
A simple, efficient way to make fire like right now can be carried in a pocket, and you'll scarcely know it's there.

A centerfire rifle cartridge and a Bic Jr wrapped in a paper towel.
I'd pick a big bottle round...like a .300 or a 7 mag. You can apply a side load on the bullet to get it free of the case, and you have an small supply of hot-burning fuel...dry tinder...and a flame to light it with.

Gather what nature provides in order to build the fire...Dump the powder on top of the folded paper towel...cork the case off with the bullet...add sticks and twigs...Light. Instant hot fire.

The perfect addition to the thinkin' man's emergency road kit. Might not be a bad idea to pack three or four in a plastic sandwich bag.
 
NEVER go into the wilderness without your assault wheelbarow!
Seriously, I never go into the woods for any reason. It scares me!
Just kidding.
 
1911 Tuner,

That is a great piece of advice. One quick question: what do you mean by "side load?" Does that just mean applying pressure perpendicular to the bullet or something similar?

Thanks,
DFW1911
 
Hi bogie,

Maybe you could point to a good informative website that talks about techniques for survival in the wilderness.

I snowboard a lot. My most likely survival scene would be in the snow. I think I could do ok there with a flashlight, knife and lighter. At a bare minimum, I'd pick the lighter. I'm thinking creating a firing using boy scout techniques would be almost impossible in wet conditions.

Regards,
Jake McCoy
 
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OK, guys - true story. A family visiting Mesa Verde Park in SW CO drove off the main road and down into a ravine. The dad feared driving out because the descent was scary. They were less than .5 miles from the main road and while the road they went down (maintenance road) was rough for a passenger car, it was doable and more important, easy to walk.

The family followed the advice of the park rangers - they stayed put awaiting rescue. There they sat in and around the car until thirst and exposure caused them to die one by one. Finally, the last survivor, a daughter, figured she needed to take some action so she walked the 10 minutes up to the main road where she flagged down the first car. Four dead.

Told to me by a Park Ranger at Mesa Verde.
 
Don't forget cotton balls and a few globs of vaseline in a small baggie. A great fire starter.
Click to expand...

Less messy is cotton balls with some paraffin wax dribbled on'em with a candle. ;)

True story: (Can't remember where it happened. Probably about 40+ years ago)

A hunter becomes disoriented in a large game reserve, and becomes lost.
Found dead from hypothermia 3 days later, there was evidence of several unsuccessful attempts to start a fire...down to his last match. He had
10 spare rounds of .30-06 in his backpack...untouched. He had also apparently smoked all of his pipe tobacco, having tapped out the ashes into a
neat pile on top of the tree stump that he was found leaning against inside the makeshift shelter he'd constructed with pine boughs.

He smoked a source of dry tinder, and never even considered the several ounces of volatile fuel contained inside the spare rifle rounds. Like the girl in the previous story...it requires a modicum of clear, logical, and rational throught and action.
 
I always have a bug out bag in the car along with a skateboard. :) Not to mention I carry two pocket knives and a lighter (don't smoke) and a flashlight. I don't know if that is a "survival mindset" but I like to make sure I have the basics incase of emergency.
 
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