Found After A Week

Newsday

A number of great examples here:
1- How being physically fit (youg too) can help in a survival situation.
2- How he could have been in better shape had he had some sort of PSK with him.
3- How he would have saved everyone a lot if grief had he obeyed the rules about not going out of bounds.

Is this guy a hero or a bum?

We've had 8 such mishaps in California with lost hikers, or people going over cliffs recently. I don't think it's hubris, so much as the mass ignorance of, and complacency our society holds Mother Nature in ( and we all know what happens when you don't listen to mother.) We all put ourselves in "Harm's Way" somehow daily. I don't wear helmets riding horseback, the apartment handyman almost lost a hand wearing gloves running a table saw and that black asphalt is a study in stupidity by otherwise decent people.

I vote for NOTA - none of the above. The guy lived, in spite of some strenuous efforts on his part to the contrary. That makes him lucky. If he hadn't, it would have been another entry in the annual Darwin Awards.

He lost both feet to amputation. The Doctors felt they could be saved, but with a long recovery with severely reduced usefullness. We are now in a strong rain front predicted to last several days. My ranch is experiencing mudslides on the burned hills. I hear sirens on the nearby freeway. It's a good night to cuddle up with the G/F and watch CLAN OF THE CAVEBEAR <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

$5-$10 in PSK equipment could have saved his feet; common sense may have as well.
How sad.

I agree with Chris. I don't think it's arrogance or hubris, but a rather a common misconception (among urban/suburban Americans, anyway) that Mother Nature is either harmless (think of all of the people who feed bears in National Parks), or any harm can be eliminated by technology ('I've got my cell phone, what's the problem??"....). Because so few of us live in close proximity to the true forces and whims of Nature anymore, the tendency to romanticize Nature or not see it as a real threat is understandable. Wrong and ultimately dangerous, but understandable. From one who has survived more than a dozen hurricanes, I have no such illusions. Google up a few pictures of the results of Hurricane Camille and you'll see why.

.....CLIFF
"Out there, son, there's two kinds of critters: those looking for lunch, and those looking to not be lunch."

What would be the best way to protect your feet from frostbite? Do you mean a particular item, or just some means to start a fire?

Hands,feet and facial extremities are the first victims to frostbite. Remember that a body will protect the core organs by shutting down circulation. It would be simple to say "keep warm," but there is more going on, with gear, our physiology and the environment. Most people venturing into cold or snow will have wool or pile socks and possibly a liner of poly or silk. This is about as good as it gets. What we put over it (boots) is where things can go wrong. Most boots are very robust affairs for wear and mechanical protection. leather, rubber and other manmade materials work well with various insulators- to a limit. Remember your body is pumping moisture out, and it either vents, or remains. Advocates of the Vapor Barrier school say this is a good thing. It works, until A. you remove the system for cleaning and B. the vapor overwhelms the ability of the insulation to absorb and the bodie's ability to warm become taxed. At @ 20 degrees snow becomes 'dry.' The system I prefer is a porous Muckluk of breathable canvas and leather. My foot is also in a flexible system that encourages mechanical heat and movement. The best of rigid boots become very unyielding affairs in extreme cold. Above 20 degrees external moisture is going to make a mess of things and another boot is required. A suprising strategy by Mors Kochanski can be seen and read @ www.countrywoolenmills.com

My reference was in his ability to start a fire. Yes, I am making the assumption that there would have been some sort of combustable material he could have worked with, dead tree branches, etc, but without the details, I could not be certain.

Thanks for that Chris (and Skater). If I understood properly, its more of a "boot system" you need, which is linked to the climate your physiology and ultimately the rest of your equipment. Put very simply its Wool material for you socks, breathable and fexible material for your boots, all backed up with cleanliness both for you feet and your socks.
It reminds me of a book I read years ago. Written and set in the 19th century tells of a lost soilders trek across country over a period of about a month. (Unfortunatly I can't remember the details) I remember he went into great detail on how he made sure he rotated the two pairs of socks he had, and the care he took of his feet - if only I could remember the name of the author.. <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> It could well have been the "hornblower" novels by C.S.Forester, but I couldn't be sure.

Your link didn't work. I presume you mean't this:
http://www.customwoolenmills.com/country_yarn/
I tracked it down by doing a search for Mors Kochanski who seems to know everything about survival - shelters, plant identification, knives and knots, the list goes on!
Have you read or seen any of his books/videos? Would you recommend them?
Martin

Mors is one of my favourite instructors, and sadly nearing retirement. He has a wonderfull book called ( brace yourself for the unique title,) BUSHCRAFT. There is also a pamphlet series available through the Hollowtop school ( one of the sites that will pop up in a websearch for Mors.) I found some of more interest than others, but all are worthwhile and easy,quick reads. The videos are well made. Bushcraft is a very simple text. Written for the Canadian North Woods, It teaches safe axemanship and secrets of making good feathersticks better than any other reference. The rest is an enjoyable read. Being commonwealth, you should order from Canada if possibe for reduced tariffs and hassle. it's hard not to like an instructor that promotes wool socks and the humble Mora <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. As always, my thanks for the correct Link. Someday I will be computer literate <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />.

A salient point overlooked in this and other 'accidents' is going 'off course.' Sonny Bono went off a designated ski run and was killed by a aggressive tree ( where was his match prepped handgun <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />.) One of the Kennedy's died in a similar incident, so politics can be ruled out. People ignore avalanche zones, ripptides, evacuation orders and the savvy wisdom of the locals. There is a very thin line of safety maintained by ski patrols, lifeguards and other emergency services. People choose to cross over that line as if the experience will be more thrilling or some ethereal match of the individual against natural forces untamed by rules. Then that tall, good looking redhead mother nature goes uh,no and it's now an accident. <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

The sad "erosion" of basic skills needed to stay alive is the result of the high-tech, suburban, wal-mart supercenter, fast food society we live in, in my humble opinion.. Our urbanized lives have all but eliminated the basic knowledge of what my Grandfather referred to as "woodsmanship" . The only jungle most people in our country have ever seen is one made of asphalt, and annoying lights that tell you when to walk, or stop...

I remember as a boy, the ability to make a fire in any sort of weather was a skill that was held in the highest regard. ( and i'm not talking about gasoline, or any other chemically assisted means ) Matches and tinder were the only thing available. Anyone skilled in this was looked upon reverently, and other kids hovered around them trying to learn how to do it themselves.

The same admiration was bestowed upon those who were skilled shots with rifle, bow, or slingshot.. As well as anyone who could make a good sturdy shelter, skillfully use a knike, or trap an animal.

Even the most mentally sluggish kid knew how to dress properly, carry water and at least 1 meal with him when heading into the local woods. It was considered common sense. But that was then and this is unfortunately, now....

Today people who have no experience/skills in the wild watch a wildlife/travel show on cable, or get revved up based on another persons experience and decide to head out "into the green" often resulting in disaster.

Sad....

Matt <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Oh My Lord! That's in Carstairs. That's about an hour's drive from where I live, and I find out about it from a guy in California and another in Scotland. <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

How bizarre.