Hunter survives five nights of cold, hunger in Idaho mountains

[Legionnaire]

No need to rehash what goes in my pack (good lists here already); suffice it to say I carry a small survival kit regularly, and often inside a backpack with enough stuff to keep me going for some time. Multiple compasses, even if I don't have a map. Keeps one from doing the circle thing.

 

[jerkyman45]

I did a 75 mile 10 day hike with a full 50 pound pack in summertime New Mexico, I think I could handle a 24 mile hike. Its scary when you're alone and that sort of stuff happens, but if you're prepared and keep your cool (no pun intended) you'll be able to make it out alive. I respect this guy for making the right calls and getting out safe.

 

[Manedwolf]

If you're shotgun hunting, I wouldn't think adding some 12ga flares to your pack would be adding all that much.

But it would let you signal a passing aircraft or the helicopter looking for you.

 

[Coltdriver]

Any human can go a few days without their three square meals. In fact a week ain't gonna kill anyone. Water can always be boiled from snow.

Going into the mountains solo and being unprepared is plain asking for trouble.

If he was not hungry enough to eat a squirrel he just was not hungry.

With all of the knowledge we have at hand today it would just be inexcusable to go into the mountains and die after a few days of exposure.

Everytime I see one of these articles, regardless of the outcome, I always think "what a moron"!

 

[ZeSpectre]

Been going into the backcountry since I was a nubbin. Heck I grew up in the backcountry <grin>.

Now I live the urban wonder that is the DC metro area and still I never go out into the woods or on a hike without what I call my "hike pack".

-Some way to make fire (usually just a cheap lighter)
-Some way to make light (small flashlight of some sort, say Inova X1)
-Some way to signal (Fox 40 Whistle)
-Some way to tell direction (a tiny little button compass from REI)
-A container of dental floss (more uses than I can list)
-A good quality pocket knife.
-A bandanna.
-More and more often I throw a "space blanket" into the mix as well.

and most importantly, I always, ALWAYS! tell somebody where I'm going and roughly when I expect to be back.

The whole "pack" is about the size of a deck of playing cards when all is said and done and I tested it by staying out one fall evening with just what I was wearing and the "hike pack" (man was I glad to have the space blanket to reflect the fire's warmth onto my backside).

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Dr Rob---I can see you offering your rescuers a cup of coffee while reposed by the fire---after you've been out for 2 weeks----"just because".

It doesn't take much to keep out of serious trouble---a little knowledge and a cool head count most.

Good boots and hat
Layering System
A quality knife
Lighter
Twine
And a little "smarts" will get you a long way in the woods.

 

[MisterPX]

Now I carry a hand held GPS device

You should have a compass before you have a GPS.

As to the OT, what good is having a map if you're not going to use it? A topo of area "a" isn't gonna do you any good if you stroll into area "b".

 

[ID_shooting]

I have been hunting the woods here in Idaho my whole life. People get lost and die evry year. My pack carries many items but there is one thing I do differently them most of the others that get into trouble, I never go alone. If I don't have a buddy to go hunting with, I stay home.

 

[SoCalShooter]

Yes I am in shape to walk 24mi. OBTW I am going hunting for 7 days not the best thing to read before you go hunting.

 

[Lucky]

If he shot an elk, what was he going to do with it?

 

[Justin]

I've been slowly putting together a car survival kit, but this thread makes it pretty obvious that it would be a good idea to have a small kit that I could toss into my Camelback for when I go hiking.

Oh, and Jeff, your opening to this thread was brilliant.

 

[Correia]

Jeff, pu-leeze, I used to walk 24 miles to get to school everyday, uphill, both ways, in the snow, while being attacked by wolves.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to digging the anti-tank ditch around my house.

 

[pax]

I'm a big fan of survival kits small enough to fit in your pocketses, because the best gear in the world can't save your life if you don't have it with you.

There's just something reassuring about survival tools being carried on-body.

pax

 

[Chris Rhines]

I've had a couple different pocket-sized survival kits. I'm not altogether sold on them. I don't carry one now, because I'm pretty much an urban boy. My immediate survival equipment needs are pretty much covered by a couple sturdy knives, a cellphone, a flashlight, and a couple hundred bucks in small bills.

If I'm going out into the backwoods for a while, I'm going to have at least a daypack or Camelbak with me, which can hold more (and more useful) emergency gear than can fit into my pocket.

That said, if you want a pocket survival kit, the ones that Doug Ritter peddles over at equipped.org are about the best around.

- Chris

 

[rudolf]

When driving around in winter you should always have a good sleeping bag along.
Even on the German Autobahn folks got stuck in a winter traffic jam, had to spend all night cause the cars in front of them let their engines run for heating until the gas ran out, and spent the rest of the night almost freezing dead.

He ate snow to stifle hunger pangs, and occasionally thought of shooting tiny pine squirrels at his campsite.

"I ... decided I wasn't that hungry yet," he said.

At one point, he said, he was surrounded by a pack of howling wolves.

If I were surrounded by a pack of wolves I and had a gun I'ld shoot some, cook one and freeze the others. Why eat a squirrel if you can have a wolf

 

[frayluisfan]

An overlooked point

Coltdriver and one other poster make good points about going in alone. That is a big risk. I've done it, but I have to do a lot of planning and have back up plans A, B, and C firmly thought out before I'll go ahead.

Another point. *Anytime* I go hunting, my wife has instructions on exactly where I will be--both a map and a written description. And she has clear instructions that if I'm not back by X time, something's wrong and she should call someone to come for me. Of course, this requires that a person stay where he said he was going to be (or maybe indicate 2-3 possible areas--if they have to come get you, they can figure out which area you're in by where the truck is) and come home when he said he was going to come home. Accounting for time to dress an animal is a part of this--"Since I have to be home by X time, the last possible time that I can shoot an animal is Y:30."

As for what to pack, Dad told me to just plan on staying the night in the woods. Then if you have to, you have all you need and you don't have to freak out. I've always done it that way. The one thing this guy obviously did was keep his head. Rescue trackers say that running/walking to the point of exhaustion or panic is what gets most people in trouble. This guy sat down, figured out a plan, and kept calm. That's half the battle!

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

mindset

the right attitude is a life saver too. its why some survive great things and others succumb to almost nothin

 

['Card]

If I'm reading the article correctly, the guy had planned on being out overnight. The fact that he got lost just turned a two-day trip into a five-day trip - so I guess I don't see what the big deal is. Who needs a survival kit when they've brought enough supplies (firestarter of some sort, sleeping bag, maybe a tent for all I know) to camp in the woods anyway? He'd need food and water, but if you've got a rifle and you've got fire, neither of those are all that difficult.

 

[Cosmoline]

The whole eating snow thing is a bit of a myth. I've done it many, many times. The dogs do it all winter long--won't touch water. You simply need to have enough caloric energy to melt the snow in you. If you're really on the verge of hypothermia, adding snow might be a problem. But then again you're probably doomed anyway if you're that close to losing your core body temp. If this guy had enough energy to walk 20 miles out on day five, he had more than enough to melt snow in his gut.

If I were surrounded by a pack of wolves I and had a gun I'ld shoot some

If you are surrounded by wolves, you are unlikely to ever *SEE* them. Though you may hear them howl.

Here are some pointers I've picked up:

Don't rely on cotton clothes too much. Never go into the woods in blue jeans and a tee.

Wool is good, but heavy. Nevertheless a pair of wool surplus blankets are a slice of heaven.

Fleece polypro pants are glorious and wunderbar

It's impossible to be totally unhappy wearing a good pancho.

Duct tape is good, but electrical tape often better because it stretches.

Wicking socks are fantastic

Good boots appropriate for the climate are invaluable.

Never try to sleep directly on frozen ground!

Layers, Jerry, LAYERS

People don't wear enough good hats

Walk slowly and watch where you're going. Avoid sweating.

Learn to use maps.

Also, what's all this focus on fire building? People tend to fixate too much on building fires when they should spend the time building their shelter and bed. That fire will go out at three AM even if you get it going good, and you can't sleep in it anyway so 99% of the heat is going to get lost out there. Focus on constructing a bed and shelter that will conserve the maximum amount of your own heat possible.

 

[riverdog]

That said, if you want a pocket survival kit, the ones that Doug Ritter peddles over at equipped.org are about the best around.

The Ritter PSP makes a good base for a kit, add other stuff as conditions indicate. The Rescue Flash™ Signal Mirror is a great signal tool, IMO there are better whistles.

I always carry a knife and when I'm in the backcountry I carry more than two. My kit will also include a map, a real compass and a GPS for navigation. I'll preload landmarks as waypoints in the GPS and add waypoints realtime, points like my truck's location, turnpoints et al. It's much better to stay found than to get found.

In addition to the fire kit in the Ritter PSP I'll have a ferrocium rod and vaseline soaked cotton. That and a knife to make more tinder and making a fire should not be a problem.

A few large heavy duty trashbags go a long way to keeping things dry and they pack very small. I also carry a small (6'x8') sil-nylon tarp. 20' of 550 paracord keeps it all together.

I don't worry about food, but being in SOCAL I've learned to always carry water.

As for being able to walk 24 miles, never had to do that, but I stay in shape. Good navigation should preclude the requirement though. Stay found.

 

[Heywood Case]

Always a fun topic..

It isn't entirely clear that he had no survival gear. He did make it out, so by definition whatever he had with him was sufficient for survival.

Often when in mountains facing heavy snow, it is better to stay put for an extended time even when there is no expectation of rescue. It's harder to find your way, there can be avalanche danger, and on flat ground it is possible to get trapped in deep, loose snow). My tendency is to want to move, but it's not always a good idea.

Lots of good ideas about what to bring and how to get by; these are worth reading even if you think you already know everything. But having all the maps you need, a compass, and good knowledge of the terrain is good even if you do have GPS. As has been mentioned, the attitude is as important as what things you do or don't have.

Climbers call it an "epic" when you get in over your head and have to extricate yourself from a situation where you might not make it. In almost 30 years of climbing I didn't have many epics, but plenty of times when I had to suck up some hurt in order to get home in one piece. If you're 5 days out in the cold and deep snow with no food, it's still a challenge to make it out even if it is a situation that is probably survivable. He got himself home in one piece, and that is a good thing.

 

[No_Brakes23]

More important than all this, I know what plants in this area are safe to eat and which ones will make you sick.

Pardon the city boy question, pax, but how does one go about learning this info?

 

[Cromlech]

Well, I don't know how well I would handle the weather/extreme cold et cetera, but in the cadets I did 35 KM across Dartmoor over a couple of days.

 

[pax]

Pardon the city boy question, pax, but how does one go about learning this info?

No Brakes ~

Play tourist for awhile and you'll see lots & lots of plant books in various tourist stops and visitor's centers. Probably the best basic one to start with in our area is Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast -- can't remember the author offhand, sorry -- which provides clear descriptions, great photos, a fairly easy method for non-botanists to find what they're looking for, and (the important part) information about what the native peoples did with or said about various plants.

You'll also find various books that specialize in specific types of plants: books about berries, about medicinal plants, about edible plants, about wildflowers, etc. Start with a good general book, like the one above, and then slowly add the others.

Most important: Do NOT put anything in your mouth unless you are 100% certain that you have properly identified it. Never guess!

For years, I've made a habit of keeping such books in the van whenever I thought we might be out & about somewhere. When I see a plant I don't know or can't remember pertinent details about, I look it up and then make an attempt to remember the plant name & details for at least the duration of the outing. I'll be walking along, and if I see the plant again, I'll say its name aloud, and maybe also repeat, "It's poisonous" or "Only safe when cooked" or "It's edible." Sometimes the kids & I quiz each other, pointing at the plants & trees as we hike and making a game of it. Loser has to carry the pack!

Whenever I cannot find a given plant in one of my existing books, I buy a new book. Got quite a shelf of them now.

HTH.

pax

 

[ChefJeff1]

Hi, this was in my neighborhood, I feel special. Anyway, it's relentless terrain and cold and snow already. Always have matches and extra food and clothes and be careful out there. At least he did have a gun.