Hunter survives five nights of cold, hunger in Idaho mountains

[Jeff White]

This topic probably won't be as popular as the What gun for civil unrest thread, after all no one will get a chance to live out their Walter Mitty fantasies imagining themselves standing over a pile of dead rioters in the early morning fog while their ever admiring less prepared neighbors cower behind their broad shoulders and promise their undying devotion to the new leader who has single handedy saved them from losing all their possessions, the virtue of their women and only being able to get the Reality Channel on satellite TV....

This is a situation that is actually possible and even probable that a member may find themselves in.

How do you prepare for this situation? Do you carry a pocket sized survival kit?

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/ne...E973C1D2E838C8F8862572110018B1FF?OpenDocument

Hunter survives five nights of cold, hunger in Idaho mountains
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
10/24/2006

STANLEY, IDAHO — A wrong turn changed an overnight trip into nearly a week of shivering and hunger in the snowy Sawtooth Mountains for a hunter who finally made it to safety on his own.

Bill Helfferich set out on his two-day solo elk hunt on Oct. 15, but several hours after parking his truck, he took a wrong turn and found he was outside the area covered by his topographical map for a section of central Idaho near the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.

After snow began falling, Helfferich decided to wait out the storm, hoping rescuers would soon be on his trail when he didn't return to his home and family in Eagle, Idaho.

That first night was one of the worst of his five-night ordeal, he told the Idaho Statesman.

"I shivered the whole night long," said Helfferich, 53.

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.

By Friday, Helfferich decided help wasn't coming, so he opted to try to hike out of the woods on his own. He found some researchers studying pine beetle damage, and they gave him a ride to Stanley.

He estimated that he had covered a total of about 24 miles on foot.

Are you in shape to walk 24 miles out?

Jeff

 

[carterbeauford]

Are you in shape to walk 24 miles out?

No way!

Glad the guy made it... if I were hunting somewhere that remote there is no doubt I'd be carrying a backpack full of survival goodies.

Probably no cell phone service out there.

 

[Daniel964]

I think I could make 5-10 miles a day with very little trouble. When I go deer hunting I'm never more than a mile from where I park.

But I carry a rain poncho, 3-6 granola bars, some hard candy, an apple, tissue just in case I can't make it back to the car and home, short length of rope, knife, spare ammo, small flashlight, hand warmers, body warmers and toe warmers, 2-4 of each.

Also carry a lighter, a bottle of water, ibuprofen and antacids. I also have a cell phone.This is all in a knapsack. I also dress very well for the winter weather. I have been know to fall asleep sitting beside a tree and wake up covered with fresh fallen snow and still be comfey warm.

So I don't know how well I would do in a situation like that but I try to be prepared as much as I can without going overboard.

 

[Mainsail]

Are you in shape to walk 24 miles out?

Well, I day-hiked a bit over 20 recently, so in a survival situation I don't think that would be too much. Being 'prepared' means more than owning a magical 1911.

 

[itgoesboom]

Just picked up hunting last year, but I do keep a survival kit in my pack. I can make shelter, purify water, make fire, signal rescuers, apply first aid, repair my pack/shoes/clothes and even trap small game if I needed to.

In addition, in my pack I keep water, some extra snacks (above and beyond what I expect to eat for lunch and regular day snacks), some hand heaters, and my 'snivel gear' (fleece gloves, face mask, cap etc), and a compass.

Might take me a couple days to make 24 miles, but I could do it. First day of my last hunt I did about 10 miles (still didn't get a deer :banghead: ).

I.G.B.

 

[itgoesboom]

Being 'prepared' means more than owning a magical 1911.

+1

That sums it up perfectly, IMO.

I.G.B.

 

[Mannlicher]

golly, y'all act like surviving a few nights in the open is some great achievement. With what I carry in my fanny pack, and the years of experience I have in hiking, camping, and being in the outdoors, I could make due for much longer than that. Its called 'being prepared'.

 

[WayneConrad]

In the end, he made it. That's the important part.

Eating snow is usually a no-no. Hypothermia will kill you faster than dehydration. Eating is usually a no-no if water is an issue, and if the only water he had was frozen, water was definately an issue. It may have been good that he left the squirrels alone.

Sounds like he didn't have any way to make fire.

More topo maps than you think you need (even if it's just a large scale overall map of the surrounding area) can be good, just in case.

The article doesn't say if he had a poncho, plastic tarp, survival blanket, or any of other other things you can use to improvise shelter. I'm gonna guess that if he couldn't make fire, he didn't have any of that stuff, either.

On the other hand, he was there, and he lived. I'm too fat and lazy to hike that far even in good weather.

 

[pax]

I don't hunt, but I always carry water and have a tiny little kit that gets dropped into my pocket when I hike. In it is a film canister full of vaseline-soaked cotton balls, a metal match, a large black plastic garbage bag (emergency poncho / rain shelter), some water-purifying pills, some duct tape, and a short length of para cord. Not in the kit, but always with me, is a mini-light (on my keychain), a decent knife or two, and a cell phone.

More important than all this, I know what plants in this area are safe to eat and which ones will make you sick. Food is rarely necessary in most "lost in the woods" situations -- you'll die from thirst or exposure long before you starve -- but being able to pluck sustenance from a nearby bush is a great morale booster, and helps you focus on the more important bits like, "Stay warm, stay dry, drink water, signal for help, don't run in circles."

pax

 

[Lou629]

"In shape" enough to walk 24 miles in five days?? Call it five miles a day in 12 hours of daylight out of 24 hours. That comes to what, 4/10 mph? Maybe 700 yards, in an hour. Anyone with a pulse ought to be able to make that without cracking a sweat, even in very rough terrain.

 

[TallPine]

Well, my strategy is to not get lost in the first place

First of all, I don't hunt any farther from the truck than I'm willing to drag out a deer. That isn't very far anymore, but far enough considering most hunters around here won't even leave the road.

Are you in shape to walk 24 miles out?

Until recently, yes. I'm not out of shape at all, but having some problems with my legs and knees - dang growing older, anyway!

I used to hike all over in Colorado and never even carried a map or compass. I'd look at a map after I got back to figure out where I had been.

Downstream nearly always takes you to a road, though maybe not the one you wanted.

Nowadays it seems most folks can't go out of sight of their pickup without GPS

 

[redneck2]

we've turned into a society of wusses

Indians lived in the wilderness their whole lives without Gore-Tex or metal matches. I can start a fire without any modern aids, but it ain't easy. Still, I can do it.

Would I whack a piney to eat?? Hell, yes.

If you're gonna hunt, particularly in the mountains, you need to have a few basic survival skills and carry some basic stuff.

 

[Eyesac]

In an area like that matches are all anyone needs for a 5 day survival trip, and even then boot laces would get ya though it. Glad he survived.

 

[zahc]

"In shape" enough to walk 24 miles in five days?? Call it five miles a day in 12 hours of daylight out of 24 hours. That comes to what, 4/10 mph? Maybe 700 yards, in an hour. Anyone with a pulse ought to be able to make that without cracking a sweat, even in very rough terrain.

No kidding. It's amazing what people consider 'in shape' nowadays.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Some folks say I carry too much stuff in the woods... well maybe I do, but it's enough to survive a night or two if I have to.

The kit depends on the terrain and time of year but usually fits in a fanny pack or camelbak-carrier... no more than a few pounds.

You need a multiple ways to start a fire. Bic, waterproof matches, metal match etc. It's easy to start a fire when its dry and sunny, it's a pain when its snowing sideways.

You need water, and a way to purify water. A shallow cup or bowl is useful.

You need a quick shelter and the means to reinforce it. (Emeregency space blanket and a swiss army knife witha saw blade or similar sturdy saw for cutting boughs)

You don't need food, but staying warm burns calories, and can keep your mind off real hunger. Some hi carb 'energy' foods like a Carnation 'breakfast bar' can sustain you for a good while, they are light and pack easily. "Gorp" is another favorite as is jerky. DON'T snack on your survival rations.

You don't need toilet paper but you'll be glad to have it.

You should have a map. You should know how to use it.

You should have a compass. You shouldn't rely on GPS alone.

If it's too cold and wet to burn the toilet paper and map, you now see why a hexamine tab (cheap military grade wax fuel for a pocket stove) might be a good idea, calcium carbide in a film cannister is even better. CC+ water = acetylne gas, you can even set a snowball on fire.

You HOPE you won't need a first aid kit, but you should have some basics. Triangle bandage, aniseptic, asprin, sewing kit, etc.

You should have several signalling devices, from a whistle to a firearm to a flare... note that during hunting season firing three shots won't bring anyone running.

You SHOULD have a flashlight. Conserve your batteries but a flashlight isn't just a navigation aid, it's a signalling device, and a bit of comfort in the dark.

Dress in layers that you can stack on or remove. the fanny pack or day pack should hold your extras. Your outer jacket should be waterproof. Wool and polarfleece are good insulators... a mix of old tech and new tech makes for a very good set of garments. Always keep a wool stocking type cap for wearat night.... you lose a tremendous amount of heat through your head at night.

ALWAYS pack dry socks. If your feet get wet, you are in a world of hurt. You can dry a pair out while you put on a fresh pair. Wet socks = blisters, jungle rot and hypothermia.

Try and spend a night outside when it's NICE, you'll figure out in a hurry there are 15 things you could have brought that you didn't.

My list is never complete.

Walking 24 miles? You bet. Just hope you didn't walk 24 miles in a circle.

 

[Phenom]

I think I could make it. At the very least carry a Leatherman Multi-tool and some matches or better yet a Zippo.

 

[GRB]

Tis is only my guess, but I probably have more survival gear with me, than this guy had with him, everyday that I drive into new York City to go to work. When I go hunting solo, I have enough in my day pack to last me anywhere from at the very least 2 days, up to 4 - 5 days if rationed wisely.

That this guy apparently had little or no know how on how to make a shelter, and no fire starter for warmth, is beyond me, and is amazing for an outdoorsman especially since he was hunting solo. Maybe it was better he did not endanger anyone else by briinging them with him.

Edited to add: by the way, I am 51, overweight, but surely could walk 24 miles in 5 days. My last run/walk on the treadmill was over 5 miles in much less than 24 hours. So 5 miles or so a day would be a piece of cake. If you cannot walk a few miles at a pop, up and down hill, then rest, then do it again shortly after, you don't belong hunting solo out in the woods in the first place.

All the best,
GB

 

[itgoesboom]

golly, y'all act like surviving a few nights in the open is some great achievement. With what I carry in my fanny pack, and the years of experience I have in hiking, camping, and being in the outdoors, I could make due for much longer than that. Its called 'being prepared'.

No, it ain't such a big deal for those of us who have spent the night out without shelters, or have wilderness survival training, but for most Americans, it probably would be a big deal. I doubt most Americans have the skills to last more than a couple days, if that.

Indians lived in the wilderness their whole lives without Gore-Tex or metal matches. I can start a fire without any modern aids, but it ain't easy. Still, I can do it.

I can start a fire without modern aids as well, but, if I am lost in the woods, or have some other emergency, I would rather save myself the effort and use matches or lighters if I have them. Same with cordage. I know how to make cordage out of natural materials, and can use that for snares or making shelter. But, that takes effort and energy, and instead, I can carry some paracord.

A few extra items that weigh next to nothing can really make things easier on you if you do ever get lost or have an emergency. Some of my supplies might be 'snivel gear', but if I do get in a survival situation, it will make me more comfortable, and will be worth it's weight in gold.


I.G.B.

 

[1911Tuner]

Survival

A good knife and a folding saw...A couple of small bottles of fruit juice...a way to make a fire...A compass...High-calorie eats...and a pocket water purification system capable of at least a gallon. For starting a fire with damp or green tinder, carry a few rounds of .30-06 or similar ammunition, even if you don't have the rifle. Light, handy, and easy to pack, the powder charge will burn hot, like right now. The long case and pointy bullet offers good leverage for breaking open even without a suitable tool, and if you're careful, you can reinsert the bullet to save part of the charge for later. Ditto on dual fire ignition systems. Waterproof matches...A butane lighter...and a flint striker kit are all small enough to tote. A small packet of dry wood shavings or sawdust is good.

Toilet paper! Save the last foot or so on a few rolls, and mash'em flat, cardboard core intact. pack'em in a zip-lock bag, along with anything else that needs to be kept dry. Unsalted peanuts. A pair of dry socks and a dry undershirt. A dozen One-A-Day vitamins. Fishhooks and line. A waterproof poncho and a foil space blanket. A small garden spade. A small makeup mirror for signaling. A stainless steel skewer for roasting small game. Antiseptic ointments and wipes.

All this can be carried in a small knapsack and weighs less than 25 pounds.

 

[Tokugawa]

A tip on lighting a fire, for those interested in such things. ( assuming you are out of diesel fuel and other hydrocarbons)
A rotting old stump of any evergreen tree will supply you. Dig into the mess of rotted material and there will be shafts or dikes of unrotted wood, solid as can be. Splinter off a few pieces, it will burn like a candle. The reason it didn't rot is that it is saturated with pitch.

 

[1911Tuner]

Pitch

Tokugawa...yes! I forgot about that one. Burns pretty hot, too. Good tip.

 

[smitty03]

I never go very far from the truck without my Camelbak Mule. I've got about everything Dr Rob recommends and then some... I probably carry too much as well, but fully loaded the pack is barely noticable.
More importantly; even though I never know what's going to happen out there, I still make sure my wife follows a game plan if I don't come home one evening (hopefully I'm not at the pub). She knows that I'll tough it out the first night and find a suitable shelter. (that also buys me time in case I decide to start walking back) She knows to tell the authorities that I'll be signaling during the dead of the second night.

 

[GRB]

Toilet paper

No, no, no - allow me to suggest about 10 to 15 sheets of paper towels in a zip lock bag. Better than toilet paper if you get the runs, much better than toilet paper to start a fire.

 

[gezzer]

I could use 2 weeks lost without food, it would be the only diet I could follow. With my luck on the 3rd day I would shoot a moose and eat it gaining another 15 pounds before being found!

 

[ezypikns]

Unless you've been lost in the woods...

I wouldn't joke about it. Or be too overconfident. I got lost briefly in the mountains of eastern Oklahoma while deer hunting a few years ago. If you've never been there, it's fairly mountainous and VERY heavily wooded. Also it was overcast that day so I didn't have the sun. I don't believe I was actually in any real danger, but when you've been walking for an hour or so and you can't find the road you KNEW was supposed to be there, it shakes your confidence a little. I found another deer hunter who knew where HE was, and he pointed me in the right direction.
Now I carry a hand held GPS device. There shouldn't be any excuse for that again.