Living in the woods in northern MN?

[ideath2011]

Hello I was wondering what would you bring in a pack for a long term survival situation in Northern MM? I would probably travel to Mankato, MN and travel to Duluth and make my way to somewhere where few people travel remote yet somewhere probably a small town where I could get supplies and get help if I needed it. I am planning on doing this in a few years. In the meantime I would practice more survival skills. I am completely aware of how this could end up but I've been thinking on this for a little while. And also the pack would have to be fairly light. I hate to admit it but I am very weak. I am 12 years old please forgive me if I said anything stupid. I just want to hear what you guys would bring for this adventure and what might be a good spot . Also feel free to voice your opinion.
Sincerely,
Ideath2011

[crashdive123]

I must say - you chose an interesting screen name for having the plans that you do.

[1stimestar]

Hello ideath... You've come to the right place to start learning things you will need to know. Start reading the forums here. Watch the how to videos. Start getting your parent/s involved in practicing the skills. Do you go camping very much?

[postman]

I must say - you chose an interesting screen name for having the plans that you do.

LOL, that's the first thing I thought too.

Sorry ideath, not laughing at you we just want you to be safe. 1stimestar has given you some great advice, study and practice as much as you can, reading and watching youtube isn't enough. YOU NEED TO PRACTICE all of these skills before you decide to go on an adventure like that. Join the scouts, you'll make new friends and learn many valuable skills. Ask your folks to take you camping, camp in your backyard, there are many ways to gain the skills and knowledge you will need. Stay on here and ask lots of questions, plenty of nice people that would be happy to help you out.

[hunter63]

Try camping in your yard first.....learn the basics.
Shelter/tent
Sleeping bag/ ground cover/Bivey/blankets.....

See what works for you.

[Canoetripper]

You will need more than you can put into a backpack.
You will need food something to carry water in something to cook in
an axe maybe a saw matches or lighter or
fire steel rope cordage fishing gear hunting gear snares a knife first aid kit
signaling mirror soap tooth paste sleeping bag tarp or tent....................
and above all you will need the skills to use all that stuff.
This is a short list you should start by camping in your back yard.
Maybe try to camp in your back yard starting fri. night and stay outside
till sun. afternoon.

[AZAK]

Do you live near any woods or open fields where you can roam freely? Just spending a lot of time outside and learning to identify local plants, animal behaviors, etc. can take you a long way in terms of gaining confidence in yourself. We are all surrounded by an amazing natural world that most choose to ignore.

Gear, supplies and skills are very important and though I'm new here too I can tell that you will get plenty of great advice in those areas.

If you study up on some cases of people having a bad or even tragic experience in the woods you can sometimes see that what they were lacking was a basic awareness of what they were up against.

[xjosh40x]

You say you're weak. Don't make that an excuse. When I was 17 I was 5'3 135 pounds and I went to the military and was able to carry 110 pound ruck on my back with a weapon for 25 kilometers. Never under estimate yourself. When you begin to expect failure you've already lost. Use your strengths to motivate your weaknesses. Start training up. Do some hiking in the wood with a pack and get yourself ready. Because a long trip will require lots of gear. How I started an I'm sure most of us here is do some two or three day survival trips with minimum gear. Gain knowledge, from here, talking with some people around you, online, but in my opinion no advise from others can out do your own self gained knowledge. You and only you will learn and know your skills, self training, common sense and how you can adapt. Always adapt and overcome. I think what you're doing is great and I think most will agree that living with what the earth and nature can do for you will make you a smart, clear, and grateful person
Remember- Stay Aware, Stay Prepared, Stay Alive!

[Phaedrus]

I would bring a wheelbarrow full of DEET!

[killlshot234]

you still got a few years to get strong, do some power lifting at the gym to develop over all strength, which is good cuz you need to be physically fit when you survive out there

[finallyME]

I must say - you chose an interesting screen name for having the plans that you do.

Maybe it stands for:

"i'd eat h20 11"

[finallyME]

I work with a lot of 12 year olds, I am a Scout Master. First, about you being weak.....that is natural. 12 year old boys generally are a lot smaller than the girls, and are weaker. But, they are also about to start a major growth spurt. You are about to get big...fast. You will probably be full height by 16, but that varies person to person. Also, you are either in the 6th grade or 7th grade. Take advantage of sports. If you aren't all that coordinated, then join track or football. You don't need to do power lifting, but general exercise is needed. You are going to get a lot bigger and stronger in the next few years, naturally, but to do what you want, you will need to go a little beyond the normal. Take long walks through your neighborhood, ride your bike all over town, go on hikes in the woods.

I do advocate joining the Boy Scouts, but that isn't the only option. Look around for youth organizations that go outdoors.

[Wildthang]

Study practice and learn. Keep in mind that you have plenty of time to gain the skills you will need, and plan on taking at least one friend with you. If you can find an experienced person to go with you, your tirp will be a lot safer, and you will have the advantage of learning from an experienced person. Only a seasoned woodsman is safe taking a trip into the wilderness alone!

[ideath2011]

That is my name for everything

[ideath2011]

Hello ideath... You've come to the right place to start learning things you will need to know. Start reading the forums here. Watch the how to videos. Start getting your parent/s involved in practicing the skills. Do you go camping very much?

No not with my parents, my step dad use to go hunting, fishing, camping all the time 10 years ago now he says he doesn't have time for that. I go into the woods by myself most f the time. All the kids in my school are video game freaks. I have also done a figure four and caught a squirrel.

[ideath2011]

LOL, that's the first thing I thought too.

Sorry ideath, not laughing at you we just want you to be safe. 1stimestar has given you some great advice, study and practice as much as you can, reading and watching youtube isn't enough. YOU NEED TO PRACTICE all of these skills before you decide to go on an adventure like that. Join the scouts, you'll make new friends and learn many valuable skills. Ask your folks to take you camping, camp in your backyard, there are many ways to gain the skills and knowledge you will need. Stay on here and ask lots of questions, plenty of nice people that would be happy to help you out.

As for joining the scouts I am fairly positive that cost money and my parents wouldn't like that also it would drive them insane just like basketball. And as I said up there I go into the woods often.

[ideath2011]

Try camping in your yard first.....learn the basics.
Shelter/tent
Sleeping bag/ ground cover/Bivey/blankets.....

See what works for you.

I think I have outgrown camping in my yard. Me and my dad (not step dad) are going hiking in the Bob Marshall Wilderness this summer when I head to MT.

[ideath2011]

You will need more than you can put into a backpack.
You will need food something to carry water in something to cook in
an axe maybe a saw matches or lighter or
fire steel rope cordage fishing gear hunting gear snares a knife first aid kit
signaling mirror soap tooth paste sleeping bag tarp or tent....................
and above all you will need the skills to use all that stuff.
This is a short list you should start by camping in your back yard.
Maybe try to camp in your back yard starting fri. night and stay outside
till sun. afternoon.

This is what I carry with me in the woods. I don't carry everything on this list.

2 person tent
Headlamp
Estwing hatchet
3 rolls of steel snaring wire
Booklet on Edible plants and primitive traps
Satellite view of the woods I go in
Scrap antelope fur
Scrap moose fur
Battery powered lantern
Cotton string
2 stainless still water bottles
Folding knife
Kite string
Waxed twine
Another roll of cotton string
Brass wire
3 candles
Fire steel
Flashlight
Duct tape
Fishing kit
2 pens
Notebook
12 feet of rope
Cheap Walmart knife
Vaselin soaked cotton balls
Yellow feathers I plan to make arrows with these
Small vitronox knife
Cheap Taiwan knife hollow handle it broke while I was cutting down saplings
I wanted a Mora but my parents got me this. Right now I don't have a half decent knife
I plan to get a puuko
2lighters
Matches
Hand warmers
2 rolls of Jute twine
2 carabinier s
Gerber multi tool

Altoids tin:

Flat knife
2 needles
String
Dental floss
Brass snaring wire
2 buttons
2 blades
Tinfoil
2 band AIDS

7 pieces of flint in another altoids tin.
Whistle
Button compass
Thermometer
Sleeping bag
Recurve bow 30 lb
Sleeping bag

I'm pretty sure that's everything

[ideath2011]

You say you're weak. Don't make that an excuse. When I was 17 I was 5'3 135 pounds and I went to the military and was able to carry 110 pound ruck on my back with a weapon for 25 kilometers. Never under estimate yourself. When you begin to expect failure you've already lost. Use your strengths to motivate your weaknesses. Start training up. Do some hiking in the wood with a pack and get yourself ready. Because a long trip will require lots of gear. How I started an I'm sure most of us here is do some two or three day survival trips with minimum gear. Gain knowledge, from here, talking with some people around you, online, but in my opinion no advise from others can out do your own self gained knowledge. You and only you will learn and know your skills, self training, common sense and how you can adapt. Always adapt and overcome. I think what you're doing is great and I think most will agree that living with what the earth and nature can do for you will make you a smart, clear, and grateful person
Remember- Stay Aware, Stay Prepared, Stay Alive!

Thank you I think I'll try hiking in the woods with a heavy load

[ideath2011]

I would bring a wheelbarrow full of DEET!

I think I'll just wear long sleeves