I am heading out tomorrow for a nice long vacation in the woods and was wondering what is the longest that people here have survived in the woods? I love hearing about others adventures. I'm not exactly sure what the longest time for me was. I know I've gone several times for two months or more and many, many times for two weeks or more. Also what gear did you take with you when you went? Most of the time I took only a knife, some paracords, and a hammok, but there have been times when I didn't have anything and a few times I had more gear such as machete, hatchet, tarp, rope, mess kit, flashlight, firesarters, and other items that are currently slipping my mind. I'm curious to see what kind of gear people have used and how effectively it performed. I'm not necesarily talking about strictly survivng, but camping, hiking or other outdoor activities that would require prolonged periods of isolation within a hostile (or not so hostile) environment, Of course survival stories are more than welcome.

I think the longest I have been away from civilization was 1 week.
As my latest hiking experience have shown, good boots that are well broken in prior to the trip are super important. (helps you avoid nasty blisters) <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Survival? Well only a overnight emergency when I was nine. That is wat got me into survival and the outdoors.

Well, I go camping sometimes, not as much as I would like.

What I absolutely would do is go to Canada. Beautyful nature. But that is going to be just a dream I guess.......

No intention to knock on Canada, but whatever you want there, you can get in the United States.. I never knew how beautiful this country is until I did a cross country road trip from NYC to California. Simply amazing.

One thing that Canada does have, if you like winter, lost in survival mode.... Canada is great for that!! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Intentional hiking/camping? 2 weeks.. Survival? 1 night summer, not bad, I wasn't alone which makes it better! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

For intentional extended trips, I think the one thing I relied on heavily is probably the water filter. I personally believe purification tabs are onlyused in dire emergencies.

I would too. Reserve the MP1's for emergency use.
One word of caution: FILTERS ARE NOT PURIFIERS. They will not remove viruses. When you purchase one, be sure to acetain which of the two it is.
If it is a FILTER, you still need to use a purification tablet post filtration.
Process is: FILTER - TABLET- wait 20 mins - NEUTRALISING TABLET.
You can, if you wish, delay adding the neutralising tablet untill you wish to use the water. That has specific advantages in terms of safeguarding your water from contamination.
With a PURIFIER, you have no such worries. Just follow the manufactures instructions.

In case of Jim, he's from Europe so I guess going to the USA of Canada won't make a big difference for the problems that he might face getting there.

Maybe he could try some of the more nothern country's in Europa e.g. Sweden.

Scandinavia would also be nice.

That's a very good point. Never really thought about it till you've brought it up. I usually drink after putting it through a .2 micron microfilter.. Never had any illnesses.. Thank Goodness... I always thought the microfilter was "good enough", now you're making me re-evaluate!! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I have personally never used a filter and never gotten sick. We have an abundance of streams, creeks and springs so fresh water is always available. The water is filtered through limestone so it's amazingly clear. As for microbes and other micro-nasties, that's never been a problem around here. People make special trips to come and get the water because most of the time it's better than city water. If I absolutely had to though, there is no problem distilling it and taking everything out of it. It's just a big hassle though.

If you have safe to drink water from a spring or well then you are a lucky ......
NOTE TO THE GENERAL READER: Situations like the above are very rare. 99% of the fresh water on this planet is most definatly not safe to drink. That is why to have to purify it by one means or another. In a survival situation it is simple prudence to assume that the water supply is contaminated. And act accordingly.
Imagine the worst case of the two-step that you have ever had, and then think about what that would mean in a survival situation.

Most of the time, the filter will be enough. But a belt and braces approach does not hurt.

Where are u from? or better, where are u going in this trip?

I go alot of places throughout the south, but my main hangout is Alabama. I have camped in several places though. Most of the streams in Alabama are quite clean I suppose. I've never had to filter the water nor have I gotten sick and I have drank face first from streams all from one end of the state to the other, literally. Although I agree there are many places that do need filtration. I do recommend filtering if you don't know the area and have no prior experience with the water in the area. I do take unnecesary risks sometimes, but I have never had a probem with it so far. I've had the Hershey squirts before and I can handle it. If I ever do have a problem, I know how to distill water using several different methods so I don't worry about it too much.

True enough, but I have read (don't remember where, possibly in this very forum) that viruses are quite uncommon in the USA. So, you could likely use a filter and be pretty certain of being just fine.