The October issue of Backpacker (on stands now) is focused on survival. While I haven't looked at it in depth, there is a pro-PLB blurb by Doug on p103.

-john

I have read and reread it several times. I am loving it. A ton of useful stuff. I like the rubbing banana skins on poison ivy. Anyone ever heard of that before?

yes my mom used to have us do that when I was growing up in Indiana "it really works" <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I guess that I could break down and buy a copy. I stopped subscribing to BP after its new editor, Jonathan Dorn, wrote an article about lightweight backpacking. His idea for a first aid kit was to take NOTHING, and borrow what he needed from other backpackers who were better prepared. That was so irresponsible I stopped reading his rag...

I would be soooo tempted to let him bleed to death...
Pour encourager le autres.

Interesting. Certainly the overall theme of this issue appears to encourage preparedness. Dorn even has a blurb about some "extra" emergency gear he takes with him (p13). It's a bit wimpy from my perspective (no firestarters, first aid, for example). I'll try reserve judgement since it is possible he always has that as part of his other "normal" supplies. At least it does seem to avocate being prepared. [Edit: Oh, I see he says he stashes his extra stuff *in* his FAK.]

I read the article "Lost+Found", about John Donovan last night. I couldn't help but think that the tone of the article frowned on Donovan's ultralight philosophy.

Certainly I feel that he should have been better prepared and can't help but feel that if he had a few more supplies he could have hunkered down and rode it out a bit more sucessfully.

Of course, it appears in the end it was his lack of skills that really did him in. While he had firestarting materials, it didn't seem he was able to keep a fire going, and certainly didn't seem he was able to make one that could serve as a signal fire.

And of course, lack of naviagational tools and skills.

I guess my feeling is that if you are well prepared, you should be able to make it out under your own power as long as you are not injured. When you go *into* the woods, I just don't see the excuse for not being prepared.

What is even more amazing is he spend so much time in the woods without picking up the needed skills.

In any case, despite the tragedy of that story, I find the story about the two young people who found his pack and built a signal fire even more amazing. Their complete lack understanding of the situation and complete lack of any survival sense amazes (but doesn't supprise) me.

-john

Expertise is far different from experience. A man who goes out 999 times on ultralight hikes is no wilderness expert if he freezes to death on # 1000.

You can't have expertise without experience, but you can have experience without expertise.

Me too.

Just for kicks, I looked for the issue last night, could only find last months issue. Guess the new one hasn't reached Prince George, BC yet...

Naw, just charge him HMO ( Hand the Money Over) prices and make him sign a medical release absolving you of any liability- in triplicate.