there seems to be a recurring thread in our scenarios..that of a long distance to travel, limited or marginal quality equipment, and those of us with limited wilderness skills..I really appreciate the responders of this forum that indicate their particular skill level....perhaps we need to look at a new genre (though we've talked about it before)that of a "get home bike"...we are talking about car campers so assuming passable roads.. a double, hitch mount bike carrier...two yard sale hybrid mountain bikes...add a heavy duty rack and extra water bottle carrier...rim kit, patch kit, and bike air pump ...a $400 investment for peace of mind seems pretty cheap, plus it would give you some transportation at your camp site...