Survival Experiences

[wvbreamfisherman]

Had to spend the night out on a mountain top once (when I was 18). My buddy and I were spring turkey hunting and walked wayyyy too far. We couldn't get back to camp before it got dark so we decided to stop and build a fire and a shelter before it got totally black.

We had matches, a bag of hard candy and a a stainless steel canteen with a canteen cup.

We built a fire and a lean-to, and piled up a bunch of spruce branches to get us off the ground. We did fine, even though it snowed that night (it was about 55 when we started out). Stayed up all night feeding the fire, eating butter scotch candies and drinking hot water. We walked the rest of the way out after sunup.

Definitely poor planning on our part (couple young and dumb kids), but it taught me a lot!

Cheap lesson really.

[safn1949]

Originally Posted by ryoga-kun

Like I said, poor planning. lol

I agree,I never got caught out like that again and that was 35 years ago.Man we were stupid back then.

[BritishInvasion]

Once went for a hike with a good friend, a not too experienced hiker/camper. Found a steep rock wall and decided it would be fun to climb it (also, dumb and young). I made it up fine, but as I looked back I saw my friend had lost his footing and was hanging onto a root sticking out of the rocks. Needless to say, he lost his grip and broke his leg. I climbed back down and made a makeshift "cast" (two long sticks on either side of his leg, tied with some peeled bark) and walked him back. Luckily it wasn't a bad break, otherwise we may have been in a bit more trouble.

[dinosaur]

Ryoga-kun, no amount of planning will ever replace dumb luck. Unfortunately, there are two types of luck. No one plans on a plane going down or a well maintained vehicle dying. And, although meteorology is a science, it's not that precise. Sometimes Mother Nature plays cruel jokes.

One's best bet is to plan for the worst.