i'm with the wilderness survival group myself,more than
the BOB and "hunker in the house" crowd--so--when i
head out on a canoe trip i not only leave an itinerary
with my family but also a photo of my canoe,tent and
Baker shelter..i'm not as worryed about getting lost
as i am about a medical problem that would force me to
stay put and become overdue..knowing what my camp might
look like would aid in the search as aircraft and boats
would be used---like in " say Joe..way over there--is that
the red canoe,green tent and blue tarp that guy had??"
Joe looks at photocopy--"nope--it was green canoe,red tent,
we don't have to paddle way down there--it's not him"..
my plan is stay put--make a fire--make a shelter--make noise--

Shelter is SO overlooked as a priority.

A lot of my scenarios come down to the fact that you don't realise it is a survival sit until it's too late i.e.
Typically, lost hikers try to find a way out until it is dark.

And I always assume worst case - alone, injured, dark, weather bad. It which point sitting under a tree wrapped in a space blanket may be the best option to avoid hypothermia until I can see what is available to me in the daylight. Given the choice I would be whipping up a lean-to and a big fire - just have to plan for that not being an option.

AMEN!!!!!




Depends on how easy getting to the water is. If it is off 100 yards then sure. But if you're LOOKING for water, you might be dead from heat exposure before you find it (I'm not sure if you are coming from an Louisana or a Los Angeles perspective - if it is Los Angeles, then you'll likely be dead from exposure looking for water before you find it). I still say shelter from the elements is a higher priority.

IF someone is injured seriously AND you have something that can send an electronic signal AND it only takes a minute, probably ought to do that first to get professional medical help on it's way.

OK, so say it's November and cold out and you're in chapparal type vegetation (not barren desert, but not woods either) and you've got to hunker down for the night (unplanned). You're not injured, and you've even caught your navigational error and know you can walk out on your own some time the next day. You've just got your EDC with you. What's your plan?

Exactly why I'm listing details about my gear and car.


Good plans all, and all of them except maybe making noise take time to put in place. The reason I separated out electronic signalling from more conventional types is because I can give a quick shout out, and then get about the business of immediate survival, and then think about signalling.

Absolutely. Whether or not I go looking for water is very situationally dependent.

Since survival is so situationally dependent, I'm kind of trying to put together typical scenarios in hopes that familiarity will minimize freak out if the real thing occurs.



Exactly what I'm thinking.

My dad and I had a discussion about this type of thing last night but it was primarily focused on what is first, fire or shelter, after immediate medical needs and STOP.

My dad said fire is the first because of the radiant warmth.

I argued, and still believe, that shelter should come first so your body's natural temperature regulation can get a chance to do its job. Also, I think that any warmth gained from a fire could be taken from your body by wind or rain.

Obviously in an ideal situation fire and shelter could be constructed and used at the same time.

Dad and I never did come to any sort of agreement.
Patrick

My BOB is set up so that I can get my fire lighting gear or set up a tarp without even opening it up.

I guess my point would be that in any given situation your priorities will be different (hence STOP)

But when I prepare for the unknown, I prepare for worst case.

IMHO gathering enough dry fuel to keep a reasonable sized fire going for a while is a significant task that I can't be sure I will be able to do. (and I am presuming you aren't packing a stove with enough fuel to burn through the night, but you are packing some basic shelter)

But 95% of this is around you being comfortable with your plans, so go with your preference.

Dunno, I'm not even sure what chapparal is other than an old mobile SAM system that was retired from service despite the Army's total lack of an attempt to find a replacement. Let's see what Mr Google thinks chapparal is....

OK, I've got some idea now. Since my EDC bag of tricks has a contractor's bag and my SOL in it, I'm not that bad off. It doesn't look like it should really be that cold- remember, I'm from Vermont- you're cold is probably late summer for us. :P Taking a guess, this time of year you see a low of about 45?

Poke about under some likely looking brush to make sure no one else seems to be camping out there (rattlesnakes aren't cute enough to share my bunk with), wrap myself up in the Heatsheet, and wiggle feet first into the contractor's bag. Might not be the warmest night I've ever spent, but I wasn't wet when I went into the bags I should be ok.