You make a good point. Sorry if I came off as overreacting. I am not one of those base jumping, cliff diving crazies, but I am all for testing the limits in a controlled environment.

Most of my favorite things to do involve the outdoors. I don't go there to court disaster, but I have always thought that part of the fun is the possibilty--remote though it may be--that I might end up dancing with death. Truthfully I face a far greater danger, statistically speaking, when I get into my truck and drive home every night. And I don't enjoy commuting whatsoever. So I think the allure might consist more of facing "the unknown" rather than death.

A gear test would be ok (not to mention fun), but I would never intentionally place myself in a true survival situation. Too little margin for error for my taste.

Regards, Vince

If anyone here thought I was suggesting deliberately putting yourself in a dangerous situation for "fun", I didn't mean that. That's stupid, plain & simple.

Dealing with a challenge that is bestowed upon you, seeing how you handled the real thing, that's what I meant. Looking over the situation and thinking, "It's okay, I can handle this" & having the knowing of it help settle you down. And afterwards, knowing that you came out of it mainly by using your head. A trial by fire that was offered to you and you did good. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Sue

I think that you may be on to something. Facing a survival situation, knowing that your life is at stake, and then coming out of it ok has got to "innoculate" you to a point; you are innoculated against the fear that, in the final analysis, is the most deadly thing you face anyway.

In the case of a gear test, I was thinking about a winter overnighter up in the mountains with just my hunting gear and my newly-revamped wilderness PSK. I would leave word where I was and would have my vehicle handy for emergencies. I would not be risking my life. But I would probably be risking a case of frostbite. Thus, I think such an exercise would have some value, at least in my case.

It bears thinking about anyway.

Regards, Vince