I would like to see what skills and PSK items you guys would use in a specific survival situation.

Imagine you have driven to a remote location that is a pine tree forest. You get out of your vehicle to explore. When you got out of your car the sky was clear and it was about 76. You have your PSK with you. You are dressed in sneakers, jeans, a polo style shirt and a hat. You have been wandering around for some time. There is about two hours before sunset. The sky has grown dark and it is getting windy. It is starting to rain hard and you realize you are lost and going to have to spend the night where you are. It will rain on and off all night. The temperature will get down to the low 40s. You are in danger of hypothermia. If you do not do something to stay warm and dry you will be dead by morning. If you survive the night, in the morning you will climb a hill and see the sun’s reflection off of the glass windows of your vehicle, it is about two miles away. You will take a bearing with your compass and walk back to your vehicle and drive home.

Given that you have to do something to stay warm and dry to survive what skills and what items from your PSK will your use? Keep in mind it is now wet, windy, and raining. I’ll give my answer in another post.

Thanks!

I assume nobody is looking for me and my cellphone is not working.

The first thing I do is break out my $.99 poncho from my PSK and put it on. While it is still light I then gather twice as much wood as I think I am going to need for a fire. I cover this firewood with my space blanket to keep it from getting too soaked. I then use the remaining daylight to build a debris shelter consisting of deadfall, pine boughs, and the 20' of paracord I have. When that is done I uncover my firewood. While I use the space blanket to catch rainwater into my 3 breast milk bags, I then make a small fire at the entrance using my premade tinder. I then use the space blanket as a reflector for the fire. Finally I make some hot boullion in my BCB tin. I think 2 cups will be sufficient. I replenish my water supply at some point during the night with the aid of my Photon 3, making sure I have enough for 2 cups of hot coffee in the morning. I shiver all night, but in the morning I'm alive.

First I would break out my .99 rain poncho; than I'd dig into the pine needle a bit to find some dry ones to stuff my pants and shirt with needles. I'd pitch my Space blanket into an pup tent style configuration. I'd stuff it with three feet of pine needles; get in and pack it down, put in another three feet or so, than dig into the middle of it all and sleep as snug as a bug in a rug. (It may be a bit itchy at first, but I'd be warm and dry).

I like the other follows idea of catching rain water too.

Than in the morning, it’s off to Starbucks baby!!

Amen Norad.

I would add that since i checked the forecast (you should always do that in CO) I was prepared for cold, rainy weather and had the appropriate gear in my Camelback. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I guess I'm gonna hijack this.

[color:"red"] What if you had a PLB? Would you use it in a situation like this?[/color]

I guess I wouldn't right away, partially because of the embarrassment and potential cost of having SAR dispatched, and partially because I have spent nights out in that sort of weather. But that could all change at some point durning the night.

The ground rules were given, and PSK was with you. If you have a PLB in your PSK, then why not use it?

If I was truly lost, had been walking for miles in the forest, nobody knew I was there, and temps were dropping to 40? Of course I would probably try to hunker in first, but there are a LOT of factors that make me think a PLB might be the way to go. Why have it if not for use in an emergency.

Of course, it's HIGHLY unlikely any such situation would arise with a person carrying that equipment in the first place. Not impossible, but it seems to me someone with the knowledge to purchase a PLB either has way too much cash on hand or would be prepared to go on that little trek in the first place.

My call would be "Do I think I can get myself out of this?" If I do, then I would hunker down for the morning sun. If not, I guess I'm paying for a rescue effort. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sounds about like my plan, but I'd use zip ties on parts of the shelter, and use my second contractor bag as part of it.

If I can find a good source for it, I want to get a 5'x9' chunk of tyvek house wrap. If I can fold it up small enough, I'll add it to my kit. Reinforce the corners with ducttape and put in some rivets, and instant shelter.

Great answers! Keep 'em coming!

This is a chance for you to think about how you would actually use your PSK.

No cell phones, PLB or simple outs. Everyone here has picked their PSK items with care. How are you going use these items to stay warm and dry so you do not get hypothermia?

The different uses for a Space Blanket are great! I just wonder how it would really work when it is windy. I have played with mine when it is windy and it is a real pain to control it. They tend to tear very easily. Also what and how can your attach it so it will make a heat reflector or wind break? Duct tape on the corners will allow you to tie cord to it and the cord to something. I'm not sure a Space Blanket can break the wind without tearing? I'm talking the thin kind, not the HD Space Blanket.

I switched my space blanket to the adveture med. Heatsheet® Two Person Survival Blanket. I wourks great and doesn't go into self destruct. (http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/) The switch was based on Doug's review and I would never go back.

I would be using my AMK blanket as a rain shield.

I would try at least a few sets of three blasts on my whistle.

If no response, build a fire. If its already raining, I would probably pass up the Spark-lite, and use my storm matches and a Spark-lite tinder tab. I would prepare additional tinder and try to scrape some wood dry using my knife. After fire is going, I would look for more wood, but not leave site of the fire. After I have enough wood for the night I would try to constuct some sort of shelter using the duct tape, AMK blanket, p-cord, and surroundings. Throughout all of this I would keep blowing my whistle at regular intervals, ya never know, ya might be just over the hill from a campground. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />