Survival problems...??

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...


What kinds of "difficulties" have you had when afield that made you wish you had better survival gear with you?

 

[dinosaur]

None in the last thirty years but that's because I got pretty good at it.

 

[ppine]

Chasing deer in the winter and not paying attention to the time. It got dark and a blizzard started. I had a match safe and built a fire, but it was still uncomfortable.

Many other circumstances working outdoors when the weather turned unseasonablly cold. I hate wind and rain in the 30s. Sometimes a trash bag over the torso makes a big difference. I carry more clothers especially in the mountains than I did when I was younger.

 

[Grandpa]

In any situation, there is always something that would make life a little better. But I'm not going to haul a bunch of stuff around just waiting for a situation to use it. What I carry is sufficient to get me home again. I don't need a little caviar to make the trip nicer.

 

[Michael]

Sometimes I forget to pack extra socks. One of the times I did that, I ended up totally soaking my foot when I slipped while crossing a stream. One leg went totally underwater up to my knee. And I had to get home with my foot soaking wet, which sucked.

Now I just keep a pair of wool socks in the bottom of all my backpacks. They just live there in case I need them. Ironically, I haven't needed extra socks a single time since doing this.

 

[Barney]

It sounds ridiculous but I loose my sunglasses all the time which is a big issue since sun is bothering my eyes very much. So I bough a good cord retainer to keep them in place.

 

[Gondor]

I'm always improving my skills, learning and adopting new gear and getting rid of the gear I don't need. I find that my system is becoming lighter over the years.

 

[oldsarge]

So I bough a good cord retainer to keep them in place.

AKA..Poindexter strap

 

[Mudder]

Survival? -- Not much so, since I've never really gone extreme with camping or outdoors though.

But...

1) When I was about 12, I got lost in the very large city park on my mountain bike. I was lost for about 4 hours with no sense of direction. I finally decided to just go STRAIGHT since I knew I'd end up in somebody's backyard eventually, which I actually did. Wasn't a huge deal, but scary for a 12 year old at dusk.

2) I really want to get a right-to-carry permit and carry a powder burning handgun while camping someday.

3) I saved an 11-yr old boy who wasn't wearing his life jacket. He was hanging out by a raft that was tied to another raft that was on a sandbar on the river. He was knee deep in the water and took his vest off. I then see him lose grip, so I had no choice but to go after him. I didn't even put my vest back on -- I ran and swam after him. I didn't even think twice. By the time I caught him, we were 50 yrds downstream. Grabbed him and immediately started swimming towards the bank and towards where he came from. That event ended on a good note.

 

[Davefromva]

Hmm..Well I have had plenty of times where I wish my gear was a better grade but because of a lack of funds I have to make due with what I have. Shoes being #1. I have made several mistakes in the past on choice of hiking shoes/boots. From now on I use Lightweight Hiking shoes and just keep my pack weight under 30lbs. Been happy ever since.

 

[CozInCowtown]

Running convoys in Iraq and Afghanastan, working in Djibouti and running out of gas in Hawaii.
DC

 

[oldsarge]

Running convoys in Iraq and Afghanastan, working in Djibouti and running out of gas in Hawaii.
DC

I'd rather run out of gas in Hawaii than some of those other places you mentioned! Thanks for serving!!

 

[CozInCowtown]

I didn't serve that time, I was after the paychecks.
Desert Shield & Storm along with Just Cause was for God and Country, OIF and OEF were for me.
Most survival situations are a pass/fail situation.
DC

 

[oldsarge]

I didn't serve that time, I was after the paychecks.
Desert Shield & Storm along with Just Cause was for God and Country, OIF and OEF were for me.
Most survival situations are a pass/fail situation.
DC

Doesn't matter. Still put yourself on the line!!!