-------My Journey------

Alright, so everyone has asked me many questions on my intentions, what information I've gathered so far, my plotted equipment, skills, practice and practice thus far: Here goes, I hope this gives you all a better picture of what I'm doing....

Allow me to begin with my intentions- This trip ties very closely into my spiritual views, political standpoints, and eventual aims in life. I won't go into a ton of details at this point, but I see many problems in the world. I see that if they keep moving along at the rate they are, things will end up very badly for all of mankind, not must my own family, kids, and community(No, I have no kids at this time). So basically, you could say that my ultimate goal is to make a change, enough of a shift to divert things from the path they're on right now.... I will not come to terms with any "apocalypse", or otherwise hopeless end. I look at my lifespan, and realize that I have a limited amount of time to make this difference. Being how I am only 22, have no kids, no wife/girlfriend, I believe myself in prime position to take on this task before it's too late. I realize that as people get older they get wiser, but more set in their ways- "Revolutions are meant for the young". I realize what an enormous task this is, but if I don't take it upon myself, who will?

So up until now, my goals have been to make change in the conventional way... Education+Money = Power+voice.... But I have had to come to terms with a few problems within myself that prevent this- Bad habits(smoking, bad procrastination, and others) I've had close to 25 jobs now, spanning all different fields, from food service to telemarketing, door-door sales to website design, landscaping to factory work. However, due to unforeseen chaos and my own habits, none of them have worked out as I'd have liked them to........ I dropped out of high school initially, but later developed the need for school, and have been to technical college for several semesters. I have no problems gripping concepts, and completing the work-However, I find that my habits make it near impossible to conform to the system of school that is set up. Somewhat recently I've come to this realization, and know that I may have to take another route to my objectives in life-

I am currently in the military, only about a year in the ARNG. I work as a logistics specialist for the motorpool. The training that I've recieved from my military service(other than knowledge of several tools I'll be taking, such as an E-tool), include map/compass navigation, on-the-go hygiene, and long road marches(full armor, carrying 50-80 lbs of equipment), the longest being a twelve-mile stretch. Other than that, I've picked up a good bit of other random tactical information that may well come in handy.

I was born in Jersey, moved to SC when i was 2 and a half, spent about 4 years total in Arizona.

I grew up pretty much alone, back in the sticks with little to do but enjoy the outdoors- I've done a good bit of camping, usually anywhere from 1-3 days worth of a trip.

I was in scouts all the way from the beginning of Cub Scouts, made it up to about 2 years in Boy Scouts.

I have a knack for business, especially with the internet- have done a good bit of work on e-bay, and I believe business to be my strongest point right now.

So now, what I hope to accomplish by this trip------

My habits are terrible, as I've said. I have a few problems that have prevented me from keeping jobs in the past, due to things like anxiety attacks, but am pretty sure it comes from a deep root that flipping burgers gets me no closer to my goals than when I started, so I get frustrated. Unfortunately I smoke cigarettes, have wanted to quit for a long time now- Even basic training wasn't enough, didn't even make it out of the Oklahoma airport before I had a cigarette offered to me, and lit it up. Had no issues of withdrawals throughout my 12-13 weeks of training, but I think my mistake was not mentally preparing myself for that first chance of lighting up..... So anyway, I believe that a good month or two in the woods is long enough for me to reset my habits. I've heard that it takes 14 days to break old habits, 16 days to make new ones, and it makes sense to me- Now that might actually be a load of horse-shnap, but don't tell me different. It has the best chance of working if I believe it will.

I do not know exactly WHAT it is yet that I'm to do in order to achieve this change I want to make. However, I know that if I stay in the situation I'm in, working for awhile to afford going to school a semester here and there, I'll get nothing done. I don't want to be 35 and finally in a position to make a move, but too set in my ways to take my chances. And who knows, I might even end up with a child or a wife by then, which won't help matters either. By heading into the woods for awhile, I start at basic survival and work my way up- After that, I plan to travel to different parts of the country where there are people that I've met throughout life, and always thought that I wanted to talk with them again before my time on this world ends. I figure that's a good place to start, and somewhere along the way I will figure out exactly what it is that I'm to do. My happiness and personal outcome is of no importance to me- My life is insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and my mind will not rest until I feel that I've done my best.

I will be starting out near Anderson South Carolina, headed Northwest in the direction of O'Fallon Illinois to begin with. The stretch of woods I'll be looking at is around 60 miles, but I'll be taking my time- Remember, I'm hoping to "reset" myself, and build up new habits by the time I get out- So I have no issues with setting up camp for a day or two in order to figure out my surroundings. I'm not doing this with the objective of covering ground quick as possible, but to get the most experience out of my trip as possible. There are also a few other expanses of forest that I'll be going through on the way to Illinois, but I'd imagine the first leg of the trip will be the most important test of all. Throughout, I will be carrying proper ID and have a home mailing address in case I was stopped by anyone of authority.

My equipment-----------------------------------

Shelter- A one-man tent, an army-issue blow-up mat, and a poncho for rain protection.

Self Defense, Tools--------------------------------------

A high-quality Smith & Wesson survival knife(fixed blade), complete with sheath and sharpener. I also have 2 other knives, another cheap fixed-blade, and a Turkish-made bayonet, with a wire-cutter combination between the blade and sheath. I also have a leatherman for miscellaneous uses. I will be carrying a 4 ounce can of mace, for the purpose of bears and random people with bad intentions. I also just went and picked up a decent wrist-supported slingshot(due to a fantastic suggestion I got already on these forums!). I will have separate bags with a few lighters(Bic, no less!), and backup of flint/steel, and wax-coated matches.

FOOD-------------------------
I will not be taking much food- I plan on being in the woods a good while, and I realize that I won't be able to carry the amount of food that I'd need for the duration of my stay away from civilization. So I will be depending mainly on the methods of foraging, hunting, and the various forms of fishing that I'm researching through this site, and many others... I will have a pot to cook in.

WATER-------------------------------
There are lots and lots of streams throughout the mountains, and I'll have a map of the terrain overlay, and will have to judge how much water I'll have to carry to make it to the next source. As far as purification goes, I'm open to suggestions and still looking into it- but I think I'll primarily be boiling it. I'd rather not depend on being able to change filters, or re-up on purification tablets.....

TRAVEL---------------------
Primarily my tootsies:-) But if I come across someone willing to give me a ride, I may take it- However initially I will not, because the idea is to take my time and work on myself first.



So here it all is....... I may have missed a few things here, but if you guys have any suggestions, questions, concerns, or thoughts on this in general, please feel free to let me know- I'll be leaving in about 2-3 weeks. Thank you all for your help so far, and thank you in advance for any further help you may assist me with. And thanks for sticking with and reading such a long post, didn't mean to write a whole book:-)....(but maybe eventually?)

Dave

Oh yeah, I missed the most important thing of all, that should have been in my "tools" section... My MIND. The one thing that sets humans apart from any other species, is the ability to learn and adapt. I will be pushing it to the test, but I believe with most of the right information, I just might pull it off- And it will be more than worth it if I do:-)

That is a lot to take in, but I can identify with your situation. I dropped out of college after my junior year and worked a variety of jobs for a couple years. I spent a lot of ties hiking and camping alone in the Sierra Nevada mountains hoping to see things more clearly. I also spent a lot of time in the flat country drinking beer and continuing my career of trying unsuccessfully to figure out women.

I am troubled that you would write that your, "happiness and personal outcome is of no importance ...." I don't think you really mean that, but I recognize that you believe it is much more important and worthy to selflessly give the gift of yourself to the world. Dave, from my perspective they are two sides of the same coin.

I'm going to think about this some more and watch to see what the community thinks.

Thanks you for your courage in sharing all this.

"...I'll have a map of the terrain overlay..."

I had wondered how you planned to navigate. I can not even begin to guess how many 7.5 topos it would take to cover your route between SC and IL, but it has to be a bunch. So, what kind of maps are you gonna take along on this little hike? How will you obtain new maps as you run off of your current map???

I will have political maps showing cities, towns, and roads... I will also have a terrain map showing the overlay of the mountains, including rivers, streams, and elevation. I will be taking a small amount of money for purposes of obtaining more maps along the way, should it be necessary. I will be using a military compass, to judge my direction and distance. I realize it won't be pinpoint, but it should suffice:-)

Dweste, my happiness cannot be my goal in life until I feel that I've done all that I'm capable of doing. I hope I do get the chance, I would love to raise a family, and live out the rest of my life in happiness.

When I was 18 I pretty much did what you want to do. I spent 6 weeks at a time in the Blue Ridge Mts. At the end of 6 weeks we would go home for the weekend, then it was back to the woods, but I only took a bowie knife and a blanket. I did this for 2 years. There was a few things I really missed. A good sleeping bag, since it gets cold at night, salt,which I really craved, and extra clothes. Other than that it was the best and most peaceful time of my life. Now when I go camping , salt is the first thing I pack. I also had the benefit of having my husband with me, so we divided up the chores. I really can't recommend doing it the way I did it because it is dangerous but I know it can be done.

"...I realize it won't be pinpoint, but it should suffice:-)..."

I wish you luck...

As long as I can survive wherever I end up, EXACT navigation is not so important to me at this point. That is why I'm here. I will hone in on my goal as I get closer, and gain information on the area.

Ata minimum, DeLorme road atlases. They run about 20 bucks a state, and while the topos are nothing like USGS 7.5s, they are better than what you are descibing. Cut out the tourist stuff, and you'll save half the weight/bulk. Fold it up, stuff it in a large ziplock. And you can get new ones as you go and mail home your old ones.

Howdy Chaotiklown,

Haven't posted here in a while -- mostly a lurker these days -- but I saw your threads as I was passing through tonight.

I'll probably get flamed out the wazoo for this, but some of your questions are pretty basic. Namely, if you have to ask them, you might want to reconsider whether your trip is realistic. In my (very) humble opinion, if you don't know how to sling a bear bag, purify water, etc., you might want to do some simple trips before trekking across half the country.

Don't mean to rain on your parade but it just doesn't sound to my ears like you're well prepared for something like this. Might be better to walk before you run.

Ok, back into obscurity for me and best wishes to you.

I have no interest in "flaming" you sir... However I'm aware that I'm not the most experienced survivalist on the planet. That is why I'm going to do everything necessary to gather information that I need before I go. I know that regardless of how prepared I am, things can still go wrong. However this is a chance that I'm willing to take. This is going to happen, as ill-advised as it may be. I'm only here for advice on how to make this more possible. My decision to go has already been made. Thank you though sir, you are quite right in the fact that I'm not prepared at the moment. I only wish to get as prepared as possible before I go- After that, if I make it, I do. If I don't, well.... Morbid as it may sound, I would be happy knowing that I gave it my best shot.

Ah, I didn't mean you would flame me. I'm just very surprised some of the cooler heads here haven't tried to dissuade you from starting a trip like this.

And no "sir" is necessary. You can just call me "bud."

I understand... Well Bud, you may well be right, I haven't had the post up for too long. I hope that nobody does try to persuade me from doing this, however. If it could be done, my family and friends would have done it by now(and believe me, not all of them understand). Although I welcome anyone's take of my situation, my main purpose for sifting and communicating on this forum is for advice on how to survive, because I will end up going regardless, and the more I have in my brain(and notes), the better chance I'll have.

The ancient adage, “Know Thyself,” comes to mind. There are layers and layers of some pretty good thoughts hiding in those two words.

I think Buddhists emphasize it is not just doing good work but finding and doing the right work for you. Selfless nose-to-the grindstone sacrifice for the good of others that does not fit who you are would be a kind of self-indentured slave’s masochistic spiritual suicide.

If what you are doing does not link to what makes you fulfilled and proud and happy, then I suggest you make a different choice as soon as you can. And I pray for you if you cannot.

A GPS would really be golden in a situation like this. May not always work in every situation and you have the power problem (spare batteries, needed to charge them, etc...)

But, would definitely let you know where you are at and you can purchase topo maps to overlay onto it.

On a more practical note:

Without going into great detail, I suggest you pack whatever you think makes sense in each of the functional categories you think are appropriate. I use as categories: First Aid, Shelter, Fire, Water, Food, Navigation, Light. Signaling, Self-protection, Hygiene, and Morale.

My generalized suggestion for gear is that it be lightweight, multi-use, and definitely include water and food so you can move without need to hunt or forage for a few days at least (Rule of Threes: (You may die if you go: 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, or 3 weeks without food).

I suggest you ship / mail ahead maps of the next area to trek through, return shipping / mailing supplies for maps and notes of the just-completed segment of your journey, some or all of the consumables you are likely to need for the next stretch, and at least some treats / morale boosting stuff. Being able to do this is both practical and a test to make sure you have budgeted properly.

Consider a GPS that includes a map chip.

If you family is aware of your plan, then enlist them a bit for some assistance. First, prepare some packages with maps and addresses for a Mail Boxes, Etc. or UPS, they will forward stuff. You carry the ones you need now, receive enws ones as the need for them arises, and send home the used ones, so your weight is less.

Also, it is you putting in a system whereby you'll check in. Want to put your families minds at ease some, give them a way to check in and know where you are and when to expect to hear from you.

Get out this weekend or in the next week and try some things. Put your stuff in a pack, walk into the woods, live there for a couple days, walk out. Any practice is going to help your skills. Bring a book or two while you are there. This will also help you judge your needs, as to what you will need.

Finally, someone up above, Angel, seems to have experience doing what you want to do. I think that's one person who's brain I would seriously be trying to pick.

Yeah, it's scary when I'm the voice of reason... After reading all this my main thoughts are, "Dibs on his knives."

-Blast

Dissuade a 22-year old opinionated guy just out of the service, you must be kidding me!

I hope it all works out but, barring a Blast style cat-astrophe, the most likely problem is that Dave is just going to run out of resources and hike out to civilization.

Before you go, read "Into the wild".

I think there have been numerous voices with some reason in them, but no one's really trying to persuade someone to not do something they seem determined to do. If he's going to do it, then he needs advice on how to improve his chances and make the tasks easier.

Although, I think I could use a new bayonet.

You might want to consider a training hike to help you sort out the gear and other issues that might arise. I would take a 2-3 week hike along the AT and see how you like it. You can resupply ever few days so food won't be a concern. This will allow you time to get accustomed to hiking and your gear in a relatively "safe" manner.

Good luck.

Adam

Here is a few of the things I learned from my treks into the Blue Ridge Mts.
Plan your day, seriously, from the beginning to end. Make sure you don't let the dew fall on you at night, this slows the start of your day. The first thing you want to do is find as much wood as you'll need for the night. Clean your camp up and make it home, find a good bug free log to sit on and something that will serve as a table. Remember, HOME, some assembly required. Spend the rest of your day exploring and finding food. Stay out of the creeks after about 2:00 or 3:00. This will give you time to dry. Camp where there are no animal trails. There's no need for a huge fire, the smell of smoke seems to keep the animals away. Clean your fish or anything else that needs cleaning as early in the day as you can and in fast moving water if possible. Remember to take salt. If you run up on a snake, kill it, it's dinner. I always made sure I ate around 3:00, this way camp was not smelling like food at night. There's also leeks, wild onions and ginsing all over. You can stuff your fish with wild onions and it will keep it from drying out and adds flavor. Stay off the waterfalls, they are slick. Be sure to explore all around your camp during the day. I never needed this one but if you get lost, walk downhill, there's always civilization or a road at the bottom of the Mts.

Angel, that's some geat stuff.

Not my idea but a good one: prepaid postage on Tyvek mailng envelope to send stuff back to yourself if some of the many jurisdictions you are going to encounter doesn't approve of some gear - as an alternative to having it confiscated. It may not always work to propose this alternative but it seems a cheap way to try to save expensive gear.

Agreed.

Better yet, rent the dvd. That's an amazing movie.

There are many lessons in there including don't get yourself in too deep if you can help it.

The dvd is a "must see" before you begin your adventure.

blast loaned me a book that was called something like "the man who walked through time". It was about a dude who walked the length of the grand canyon 20 or 30 years ao. He had an airplane do drops for him on the way. Its a lot like what you want to do, for the same reasons. At times, he even walked naked, just because he could. A bit weird to some, but in the context of the book, I think it fit in with his mental state. I, however, am not condoning that and would not do it myself. But, I think it would be amusing for you to read it since you are talking about doing the same kinda trip, but in a different location.

Personally, I think you should solicit the help of some well meaning people to set up some food caches for you on the way. Perhaps people from this very forum. I am sure you would get help. I'm not talking about enough help so that you wouldn't have to forage, just, something to look forward to morale wise. Whatever it is that would float your boat. For me, it would probably "one good meal" that I would cook myself. Some meat. Potato. And a bit of chocolate for desert. One meal. But man, it would be cool after 2 weeks of roughing it!

Anyway, I'm a bit jealous, but only in a good way. It would be very nice of you could find a way to share progress with us.

I appreciate the perspective shared.

I am a strong supporter of a person "going walkabout" early in life and as often as possible throughout (I'm way overdue for a good walkabout myself). The adventure of self-discovery is important.

Have fun, be careful, and you don't really have to eat bugs (do you?)

I never had to eat bugs. As far as the naked thing goes it feels good up to a point. Clothes were invented for a reason.

Keep a journal. Let us know how it is working out. You might be able to teach us all something.

If you were walking through PA near Valley Forge, I would be more than happy to arrange some moral boosting, but sounds like you will be quite west of me.

I'll agree in principle but in this case, it's like saying, "I want to go for a high speed drive to clear my head. How do I start the car?"

And what about the poor slobs who have to go find, rescue, or recover him when his panicked family and friends call for SAR after not hearing from him for a while? SAR is dangerous work, unless he's going trekking around the Duck Pond in Central Park. (Know how many Medevac crews have died this year alone?)

I just can't agree with putting other people at risk because he doesn't want to take the time to train properly.

+1 to the Fitzoid. I keep thinking the ETS board is yelling, "Jump! You'll learn to fly on the way down!".

-Blast

This reminds me of a post made some time ago. Here is the thread: Survival Help

As Dave has already stated, he has made up his mind to do this. All we can do is point him in the right direction and bring up the proper precautions.

Most of us on this board wouldn't dream of attempting something like this without some serious preperations and trial runs. Even walking the AT the entire length requires some serious planning and that is a well established trail where you have a decent chance of having help when needed.

I agree that Dave appears to have no significant long journey experience, but his first post reflects substantial experience and training relevant to outdoor trekking. He is 22 and probably is better shape than, well, me anyway. Indeed the whole point of this thread, and the several others Dave has started, is his effort to lay out his kit, his plans, and why he is determined to do this in pretty good detail for the purpose of soliciting detailed suggestions to reduce his risks.

Also, those who know the area he intends to journey through indicate civilization will be relatively close all the time, which is much different than a deep-in-the-wilderness scenario. Given the care he has exhibited on this forum, it seems to me that the risks can be reasonably encountered and the most likely untoward scenario is that Dave runs out of supplies and hikes out to town.

Can something bad happen? Sure, just like anytime any of us takes a hike. Could he require rescue and put others at risk? Sure, just like anytime any of us takes a hike.

I'm assuming no one is advocating Dave become a bubble-boy isolated from the world to keep him "safe." So if we have helpful suggestions, let's make them. What type of training would you suggest to help Dave that he doesn't already have?

I haven't seen where he said he didn't want to train properly. Maybe I missed it. Isn't asking questions and sharing ideas part of training?

+2 and not just because I'm a SAR volunteer. It's our job to help anybody in trouble even if they got there because they were doing something they shouldn't have. I have no prejudice against those people. I do what I can to prevent it and that's why I'm here running my mouth of every day

I've been tempted in the past to 'go walkabout' and not tell anybody but it's just really a foolish thing to do. These days I have a wife to worry about and I wouldn't think about straying far without leaving some kind of trip plan behind with at least 2 people.

If you're in an area where there are conservation officers or rangers (or similar), find out where their stations are and mark them on your map or GPS. Pop in and say hi while you pass through. Have a chat with them. If something goes wrong, SAR will have a PLS (point last seen) to start searching from and they might even be able to tip you off about the weather forecast, dangerous animals in the area like cougars, or tell you if a river has flooded, etc. If you're transparent with them and tell them what you're doing, you're likely to get help rather than a scolding unless you're doing something illegal or obviously in over your head.

Should I succeed in my ultimate goals, my own happiness will be fulfilled. Thing is, things like family, kids, good job, money, all those things cannot hold importance to me, until I do figure out what shot I have at my goals.

I have seen "into the wild". Much inspiration in the movie, but it was too close to the typical horror movie's, "I KNOW you're not really stupid enough to go through that door!". He made a few mistakes in his journey that he could've avoided(did the old man he last stayed with not give him a collapsible fishing pole, along with the machete and boots? if you find an impassable river.... Fish in it! Don't eat goofy berries you know nothing of!) However another thing is that he was pursuing his personal happiness. My goals are slightly different. I do not wish to denounce society forever and live in the woods...

Angel, you really do have some great information here- I'm curious of a few other things, however.

Why is it exactly that you bring salt? You mentioned a "craving" for it, but was that all it was? Or was your body getting low in salt, and couldn't derive it from your surroundings(taking the blood from a kill, mixing with water and boiling maybe?)

Staying out of creeks late in the day is an excellent suggestion, makes a lot of sense. Now I will be wearing desert tan army combat boots.... Should I remove them before crossing water, to avoid soaking them and marinating my feet within? or is it really not so big of an issue?

Eyes on animal trails before I set up camp- Great idea, also could make for strategic placement from which to hunt or trap...

Eating early is a fantastic idea too, these "raiders" of the bear world(black bears) could pose a problem if they smell food- Thanks, that one is something to keep in mind......

Stuff fish with wild onions? Please do explain that one... Could I possibly preserve fish for awhile longer by doing this?

Plants, plants, plants! There's also wild blackberries this time of year, poke salad(poisonous until boiled, and NOT the berries, I know...), pine trees contain nutrients in many fashions, and a few more... Any other plant-food suggestions off the top of your head, that apply to the Blue Ridge Regions?

Thanks Angel, keep it coming!

NightHiker,

Far as practicing before I go, I'm afraid I cannot- This is going to be a do-or-die kind of thing, I do not have the time nor resources to waste any more time than I have to. Unfortunately, practice is out of the question, other than what I have as of right now....

Swapping out the bayonet for a multi-tool- Good idea, probably don't need quite so much knife-power as 3 knives. However, if you hand this thing to someone, usually they don't realize that it's a wirecutter, being how it combines the sheath with an inconspicuous slot on the knife itself- It's usefulness and dependability cannot be underestimated, especially if I were to end up losing the Smith & Wesson. I may actually drop the other fixed blade however, it's quality is questionable, and 3 is probably a bit too much....

More than a 4oz can of mace for bears? Hehehe, As much as I'd love to have a rocket launcher strapped on my back(just in case), the mace will even out my chances enough to make me feel comfortable. Also, I'm quite confident in my abilities with a hiking stick and knife if need-be, should a bear shake off a good eye-dump of OC...

I will be keeping touch with my family- I'll give them head's up on where I'm at when I contact them, and where I'm headed...

Thanks!

Thanks clarktx, I'm pretty decent with my inter-personal skills, and I'm more than sure I'll be making friends along the way- But the amount of help that I'll actually accept from anyone(financially) is minimal- Advice, company, a little bit of work maybe, and transport- That should be all. Thanks! I'll check into literature as well...

Unimogbert- Thanks for the support, and I have a feeling I will have a good bit of fun with it:-) Hahaha, and yeah, I can eat bugs if I have to- Last resort though!

Cat tails grow nearly anywhere there's still water. They can be eaten at any stage of their life in one way or another.

I recommend Colin Fletchers book COMPLETE WALKER III.

Everyone here probably has a thousand little things they think you should know with maybe 40% overlap from one to the next.
Fletcher published his approach and recommendations in a well-organized format. (I like to re-read it in the winter to pick up more and more tidbits.)

I prefer to keep my boots dry. Fewer blisters. But depends on what stream bottom is like. I bet Blast wades in boots - snapping turtles and snakes might like bare toes....

Mike,

Illinois will not be my only destination, there are people all over the country that I wish to speak to- I also do have about the best resource that a traveler can have.... My laptop, with integrated wireless! Oh yes, that means that I can pick up on some wireless, throw everyone I know some messages on how I'm doing, and believe me- the advice I've gotten from the good-hearted people on here will stick with me, both in my habits and my appreciation- I'll let everyone on this forum know how I've been, how all the advise has worked out... I'm on no set schedules, so if somebody happens to see a post of mine and sees that I'm near, I have no problems stopping by and having a glass of water with any of you on the porch, and throw around some good conversation before I push on:-)

Bud, please do understand something- it may be a little more than outside the box to think in such a way- But the thing is here, I know my chances, and I am taking them. I've made it clear to everyone involved that I know full and well what could happen, worse-case scenario-wise. I've also made it clear that they might not agree, understand, or see my positions.... But when I am successful, it will all be worth it. Nothing great ever came easily or surely.

Now you have made your point, that you disagree with my rationality of the situation. I appreciate your opinion- But please don't give me reason to come out with an "I told you so" a year or so down the road... Don't you just hate when people do that? :-)

And yes, I am taking into consideration the people that will be put at risk, should I fail. But I'm also weighing in the factor of how many people that I will make life better for, should I succeed.

This is my last post in this thread, as we have seriously crossed into the Twilight Zone.

As far as I know, bear pepper spray is not sold in 4oz cans. The low-level concentrations used for human assailants that come in small cans will probably just infuriate a bear, assuming the spray even reaches it.

And if you think you can fight a bear with a knife and a stick, I suggest you let the authorities know where to send your knives so Blast can have them. (He called dibs.) By the way, banging two rocks together and shouting is infinitely more effective than fighting a bear.

This quote is the real kicker.



Your attitude is not heroic, poetic, or inspired. It is just plain stupid. Sorry, dude, I don't mean to be an ass but there's no way to beat around the bush with some things.

I didn't need to preserve fish, I just made it part of my routine to catch it then cook it fresh. I made a little pool that I kept my fish in and when I would catch one I would just throw it over in the pool. Fresh is always better. When you eat the same foods all the time you start craving something different, salt helps, it's also good first aid for things like a splinter, you can just soak it in hot salt water. I mostly stuffed the fish to keep it from drying out and to add a little flavor.
I always took my boots off to cross the creeks, they aren't that deep and you should always keep your boots dry, just walk easy. The rocks in the creeks are slick. Also you'll need to take a few bars of soap, I suggest Ivory, it floats, and keep it by the creek. You might want to put a point on your hiking stick too. Ginsing grows wild there too and makes a good tea and is good for energy. You'll probably be able to find some crayfish in the sides of the banks of the creeks and if you really can't find any other food at all, you can turn over the rocks in the creeks and find spring lizards. Never tried them and not sure I would, but there's alot of them there.

Hacksaw-

Good point on the dropping in on ranger stations to get their take on the area, animals, weather, point last seen, and so forth... But I have one concern- If they do highly disagree with what I'm doing, regardless of my determination(possible, right?), would try taking me into custody? Up until now I've thought best to avoid rangers for that exact reason...

Just a side note about the ginsing, keep all you find. The roots are what you use and any that you don't use, you can sell. It used to bring a pretty good price. If you dont know what it looks like ask just about anyone there. I think everyone in the area knows what it is.

Now that I read that again I have to agree. You can prepare all you want on paper and in forums but none of that is a substitute for actually doing it.

Exactly. I know it seems like I take a lot of risks, but that wasn't until I had honed my skills to a decent level. I'm not trying to make him a bubble boy, but the earlier analogy to wanting to drive fast without knowing how to drive at all seems very fitting. I just have a very bad feeling about this. I hardly ever get a bad feeling about anything, so when I do I check my six.

Over on the zombie squad forum there's a saying, "We can do this, we read about it on the internet." Learning to survive in the wilds takes time and practice to learn. IDing plants, rigging rainproof shelters, catching/cooking game, purifying water, personally hygine...the info he's recieved on this forum is only a start.


On the plus side, it sounds like he'll be close to help if his stomach remains empty or he comes down with a bad case of beaver-fever.

-Blast

Alright Sir Fitz- With all due respect to your opinion, and I mean no offense, but I really do hope that was your last post-

I will be leaving as soon as I feel I've gathered the necessary information, which can be no longer than 2 weeks due to my situation(in which the details do not matter, the conditions are simply there). I feel that even now, had I been dropped into the woods with some tools, I would not starve to death, and I would survive a good while.

NOBODY can be totally 100% prepared, should something go wrong- even the most experienced hiker there is- I'm doing what I can....

I'm not stupid, but I think it's stupid to assume and underestimate the intelligence and capability of others, or overestimate my own- which is why I seek advice in the first place. Unless you have advice on equipment, food gathering, campsite setup, navigation or otherwise- Please find another thread to stretch out your fingers >:-(

Fitzoid is right about the bears.

Fitzoid is right that the extreme way Dave expresses himself lends itself to the interpretation that Dave is in the "more guts than brains" category.

But unless I have really missed something, the rest of Dave's posts, and the fact that he chose to post, all suggest that he is reasonably practiced and prepared for ordinary hiking and camping.

I agree Dave appears to be rushing final preparations, but no one has made clear what additional training or practice he should do.

I agree protracted time on the trail is way different than what Dave has done so far. But no one has pointed out any extreme and immediate danger that is likely to occur way outside Dave's current experience and gear.

My concern focuses on Dave's lack of judgment. But the trail will teach its hard lessons quickly and it does not appear that Dave will be so far in the back of beyond that he cannot just walk out with the gear he will be taking.

And he's not going to take the few months to train, practice, and upgrade skills and gear, though almost everyone on the forum, including me, would recommend just that. (Longer trips, trying to live off the land for an extended time, etc.)

With reasonable luck and a conservtive approach, I think Dave will survive being molded by the trail, at least I hope so.

Could you clarify what your ultimate goals are?

Also, how will life be better for other people (family) if you survive this journey since you have, I perceive, a disregard for them to begin with? They may be happy you are alive, in general, but I'm not sure the wounds of being discarded will really heal. It seems a little contradictory to me.

These questions are asked only for clarification from the point-of-view of a father with a child who is your age.

Your trek for personal enlightment will be arduous and full of rigor.

I honestly wish you success.

Keep us posted

You gonna charge the laptop battery by solar, or do you have another plan in mind? How 'bout reception? Integrated wireless, or an aircard like we have, probably won't work out in the boonies...

Dave, I wish you well on your quest, as for me lecturing like the others to say do or don't do it is pointless if your mind is set on this. I myself would not do this without a lot of training, practices and trial runs and I would carry a Acr Microfix 406 PLB with me in the event I got myself into something over my head. Carry a good knife and a machete as well as a military grade or equivalent compass and maps. I would suggest doing trial runs before attempting this by going out for a couple a days and try to gather food, shelter, etc.. Then a week next and work it up to where you think you can do this. I really only known of one person that has done this with great sucsess and has moved to the next level is John & Geri McPherson ( http://www.prairiewolf.net/About.html ) and if I was going to even remotely attempt what you are set out to do, I would go learn all I can from this man. He would be the best one to get your skills for what you are going to do. I know of few people with Johns skills and he is (for me) someone I look up to with his ideas. He gears himself to go anywhere in the world, bare naked and can survive beyond a conventional sense to live very comfortably with only his knowledge. He has demonstrated this and is the only one I am aware of who practices what he preaches. Good luck and I wish you well but my advice is training and a safety net in case like a PLB.




http://www.rei.com/product/751974

http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.ph...true#Post126059



When I finally got serious about learning and practicing Primitive Outdoor Skills my one purpose was that I would be able to head “Naked into the Wilderness”. In other words, to enable myself to head into the wilderness and make a comfortable life for myself using nothing but what nature had to offer. Most all of my training and practicing has been in temperate climates which makes it somewhat easier to do this realistically. Tho we get HOT summers and COLD winters there is an in between that makes living under primitive conditions somewhat more comfortable than the extremes. If given enough time to prepare for the extremes then making it thru the tough times is doable.

Over the years Geri and I have made several trips out under Primitve conditions, most times with one or more accomplices, and except for one when the personalities of a coupla members ruined what would have otherwise been a great trip, all have been accomplished successfully. By that I mean that we created or replicated a primitive lifestyle - sometimes from nothing, having headed out with no goods at all and other times embellishing on primitive goods that we took with us. Rules were always the same: 1- no steel of any kind. 2- Modern clothes, if worn, used only to shelter the body - no use of pockets, etc. Rely only on the skills and what resources are offered by nature.
http://www.prairiewolf.net/PrimitiveTrek.htm

I guess we could refer him to the story of Ishi, but we are talking apples and oranges. Ishi just finally got tired of living alone...

:-)Well sir, I am more than aware of the likelihood in my coming across an electree that I can plug my laptop into. Far as charging it, I'll find myself a receptacle somewhere eventually. Initially while I'm in the woods, I don't plan on using the laptop at all. But I'll be moving toward towns towards my destinations, and I'll end up in all sorts of places... Will probably make notes as I go along, making plans on what knowledge to obtain when I do get access, so I end up making good use of my time.

The Verizon card express card that I use right now will no longer be active, so all I'll have is the integrated wireless card. In that case, there are many little cafes and restaurants which have free access, so I can always pop it out and lock in. Also, apartment complexes usually have a few connections, and some will be unsecured.



I read it, and it definitely is interesting- True enough, it's not really a comparison to the purposes of my journey, but it is a good example of what can be done with even primitive tools, lack of technology. I'm gonna have a dang pack full of stuff to use.

There is no way I could go into all of my ultimate goals here-That isn't what this forum is for, I don't want to crowd it up with irrelevant information. If you would like to do that, I can through e-mail or private messages. For the purposes of this
forum, I'll simply say that I see a LOT of problems with society, both specific and in general, that I wish to make change- Exactly how, I'm not sure yet- All I know is what has failed so far... The purpose of this trip around the country is for self-direction.



I have to say first that I have NO disregard for my family. I love them very much. They took care of me from the time that I was born, up until about 16- and they still help me to this day. I see the point in taking care of them when they can't take care of themselves, so I will most definitely be back- I know it hurts them to go now, and not everyone I know understands. But I look forward with the future of possibly being able to make them proud, once I have achieved my goal(s).

Fair enough....

Last comment....As I tell my daughter (your age) that it is more important that she be confident and proud of herself in her own eyes. The confidence and pride from others will follow.

Prepare well; Journey with determination; Enjoy the discoveries.

I wish you great success.

I suggest you read Joseph Campbell's Hero of a Thousand Faces before you start this Vision Quest. The anti authority remarks stop- now.