View Poll Results: ARE YOU REASONABLY CONFIDENT THAT YOU HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO SURVIVE?

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  • I am reasonably confident that I will survive.

    50 84.75%
  • I don't have the ability or experience to attempt this yet.

    9 15.25%
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Thread: You Be The Judge

  1. #1
    Quality Control Director Ken's Avatar
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    Default You Be The Judge

    A lot of our threads have raised the question of whether or not we, as individuals, have the ability to survive in the wilderness or are simply armchair wannabes.

    So, I'll give you a scenario and pose the question in an anonymous poll.

    The Scenario

    1. In 2 hours, you will be picked up at your home and transported by helicopter to the most isolated and challenging wilderness terrain, within 200 miles of your home, under the worst weather conditions common for that area.

    2. You will be informed in advance of the location you will be dropped off at, and will have 2 hours to assemble a pack with whatever you choose to carry, weighing no more than 50 lbs., and you can dress as you feel is appropriate.

    3. In this scenario, you will not suffer a life threatening accident (such as a broken back) or a sudden illness (such as a heart attack, stroke, etc.).

    4. You will have no other human contact for 2 weeks.

    5. Once you are dropped off, you can choose to stay in place or to move by foot to another location, but either way, you must remain alone in the wilderness for 2 weeks.

    6. If, at the end of the 2 weeks, you are still alive, you have an EPIRB that you can activate in order to be picked up by helicopter within the hour.

    The Question

    ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO SURVIVE?
    “Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival.”
    W. Edwards Deming

    "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."
    General John Stark


  2. #2
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    Thats easy, Yes. every confidence
    since it would be the desert for me, I would take 40 pounds of water and 10 pounds in a pack consisting of a white tarp for shelter,sleeping bag,food and a good book.
    Last edited by Justin Case; 08-15-2010 at 11:26 AM. Reason: ch

  3. #3
    Senior Member BENESSE's Avatar
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    Default

    Given that it's only 2 weeks and I have some advance notice, then yes.
    I've no doubt that I can make it.

  4. #4
    Administrator Rick's Avatar
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    I think there's a poll coming.

    EDIT************See?!
    Tracks Across the High Plains...Death on the Bombay Line...A Touch of Death and Mayhem...Dead Rock...The Griswald Mine Boys...All On Amazon Books.

  5. #5
    Quality Control Director Ken's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Justin Case View Post
    Thats easy, since it would be the desert for me, I would take 40 pounds of water and 10 pounds in a pack consisting of a white tarp for shelter,sleeping bagefood and a good book.
    That's 43 oz. of water a day. A little over a quart. In the dessert.
    “Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival.”
    W. Edwards Deming

    "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."
    General John Stark

  6. #6
    Administrator Rick's Avatar
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    Of course you can pee it over and over so it's actually quite a lot. (JOKE!)
    Tracks Across the High Plains...Death on the Bombay Line...A Touch of Death and Mayhem...Dead Rock...The Griswald Mine Boys...All On Amazon Books.

  7. #7

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    Justin do you know how to make a solar still?

    Yup, I could make it 2 weeks, if the 200 miles doesn't include being dropped in a boat 150 miles offshore...

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ken View Post
    That's 43 oz. of water a day. A little over a quart. In the dessert.
    I think that would be enough, especially if I am just laying under my tarp reading a book ,,
    Quote Originally Posted by LowKey View Post
    Justin do you know how to make a solar still?
    Yes sir

  9. #9
    Quality Control Director Ken's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Justin Case View Post
    I think that would be enough, especially if I am just laying under my tarp reading a book ,,


    Yes sir
    Looking at what you're taking with you, my guess is you'll be dead in about 5 days.
    “Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival.”
    W. Edwards Deming

    "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."
    General John Stark

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    I voted No.....that I would fail to survive, and the reason is that is the painful truth. The deal breaker is the two hours to prep, and the worst possible weather conditions, and to a lesser extent the 50# max pack.

    To survive in -70* Below arctic weather with 110 mile per hour wind, I would need all I could carry, about 120/140 pounds of gear, and 6 hours to prep.

    Could I do it in the summer.....easy. OK, not easy but doable.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ken View Post
    Looking at what you're taking with you, my guess is you'll be dead in about 5 days.
    How do you figure ? I have a helicopter dropping me off and picking me up, A quart of water a day is plenty if not exerting , a little food and shelter, what else would I need ??

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    Senior Member BENESSE's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LowKey View Post
    Justin do you know how to make a solar still?

    Yup, I could make it 2 weeks, if the 200 miles doesn't include being dropped in a boat 150 miles offshore...
    Excellent point...didn't even think about that, but can relate.

  13. #13
    Quality Control Director Ken's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sourdough View Post
    I voted No.....that I would fail to survive, and the reason is that is the painful truth. The deal breaker is the two hours to prep, and the worst possible weather conditions, and to a lesser extent the 50# max pack.

    To survive in -40* Below arctic weather with 60 mile per hour wind, I would need all I could carry, about 120/140 pounds of gear, and 6 hours to prep.

    Could I do it in the summer.....easy. OK, not easy but doable.
    For me, the location would be on the top of Mt. Washington in the dead of winter. Worst weather in the world.

    Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.

    "Mount Washington, the highest peak in the northeast, is known for its steep slopes, its wild and barren expanses, and most of all, its severe weather. The "Home of the World's Worst Weather," Mount Washington's extreme conditions rival those of Mount Everest and the Polar regions." http://www.mountwashington.org/education/daytrips/

    I've been there. The key is to dress and gear-up properly, and to safely get off that mountain ASAP.
    Last edited by Ken; 08-15-2010 at 11:53 AM.
    “Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival.”
    W. Edwards Deming

    "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."
    General John Stark

  14. #14
    Quality Control Director Ken's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Justin Case View Post
    How do you figure ? I have a helicopter dropping me off and picking me up, A quart of water a day is plenty if not exerting , a little food and shelter, what else would I need ??
    A helluva' lot more water.
    “Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival.”
    W. Edwards Deming

    "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."
    General John Stark

  15. #15
    Lone Wolf COWBOYSURVIVAL's Avatar
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    Sounds like a fun 2 weeks in the swamp to me!
    Keep in mind the problem may be extremely complicated, though the "Fix" is often simple...

    "Teaching a child to fish is the "original" introduction to all that is wild." CS

    "How can you tell a story that has no end?" Doc Carlson

  16. #16

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    Then I have to change my vote... I considered winter, not being tossed in a boat in January, but not dropped on Mt.W.

  17. #17
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    I'll say the top of 20,400 foot Mount McKinley in winter would be worse. -70* and over 100 MPH wind.

  18. #18
    Senior Member Pict's Avatar
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    Given two hours, my gear, and a helicopter ride, plus a few extra pounds of fat to lose, I'd do it for the helicopter ride.

    I'm just going to assume I don't have to obey the law for this trip and can eat whatever I want. Sounds like a cool trip actually.

    Mac
    The Colhane Channel TV for guys like me.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ken View Post
    A helluva' lot more water.
    I will get damned thirsty, but if i limit myself to a quart a day, I think I could do it

  20. #20
    Quality Control Director Ken's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sourdough View Post
    I'll say the top of 20,400 foot Mount McKinley in winter would be worse. -70* and over 100 MPH wind.
    Oh yeah?

    "No New England forecasts or generalizations apply to the weather on Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

    This highest peak in New England (6288 ft, 1917 meters) is said to have the worst weather in all the USA.

    New Englanders delight in exchanging horror stories of the latest report of extreme weather: winds of 150 miles per hour (the record is 211 mph/340 kph!), temperatures of -47°F/-99°C, wind-chill factors that don't seem earthly.

    I have hiked up Mount Washington on the last day in August, leaving a base camp of warm sunny summer weather, only to find the temperature at the summit to be 14°F (-10°C), the winds 114 mph (184 kph), and heavy snow and ice."

    http://www.newenglandtravelplanner.c...ashington.html
    “Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival.”
    W. Edwards Deming

    "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."
    General John Stark

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