Great story, lots of lessons.

Regarding the couple, good on them for doing their best despite poor planning. They say that good judgment comes from bad experience, so I expect their judgment has just gone up a notch.

So glad it's sleepy season for the bears. Imagine being wrapped up in a fresh, messy moose skin when a bear shows up... ugh.

Reminds me of my maternal grandfather, from Bay Roberts, NFLD who used to sing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aunt_Martha%27s_Sheep

They ignored the Basic Rule of survival: If you take survival gear with you, you won't need it; if you don't, you will. Don't tempt Fate.

Sue

I teach my daughter (and practice myself) NEVER walk away without your fanny pack (contains survival gear) on, not even to go pee in the bushes...

Even after preaching that for years went on a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota and left my fanny pack in the canoe while we got out to drag the canoe up some small rapids.

I slipped in knee deep water and soon as the water hit my flotation vest, I got swept down stream. My daughter (further down stream from me) fished me out with a paddle as I floated past her.

Didn't travel far at all, but how quickly I found myself out of control (except being able to turn myself around to fend off rocks with my feet), wet,and away from my gear with nothing but my minimal survival gear in my pockets (knives, multitool, lighter, magnesium block, compass, etc) scared the hell out of me. Now I NEVER (REALLY) take my fanny pack off.

Experience is a harsh teacher.

Moving water exerts tremendous force. You were smart to have that gear on you. It would have been uncomfortable, but you probably could have survived with just those few things for a while.

Great info SamHain, thanks for sharing that. Glad you were OK.

A thought: how secure are the items in your pocket against getting washed out when tumbling in fast water? Something to consider.

i keep a big ditch kit in my PFD,more about that later.
while not as bad as the mountains the canoe country up north can have a lot of hazards.i'm surprised that more are not lost or killed.

Really glad you were OK Sam!

"Deep Survival" has numerous stories about how this type of tunnel vision when under stress is hardwired into us.

Preparations do go far, but, as the book describes, emotion is a far more powerful determiner of our responses than reason. "The best laid plans o' mice and men. . ."

Susan, I've got a similiar saying: You won't need it till you don't have it.


Samhain, My lesson was somewhat less painfull then yours. I went out with only a flashlight looking for an overdue hiker. It died as soon as I got into the trees. I made it back to basecamp, and he spent the night out. Thankfully he was a gear hog and didn't have to rough of time.