survive in saskatchewan forests

[Ryleyboy]

Last year i got lost at emma lake saskatchewan for 4 days an was really scared.. i was wonderin if this ever happens again i would like to be prepared for this . plz share info

[crashdive123]

I know it doesn't matter to some, but how old are you and what kind of experience do you have in the wilderness?

[Sourdough]

Lost 4 days ........what did you learn......? In the 4 days, I mean....?

[Ryleyboy]

13 not much expirence. thats why im on this site

[Rick]

Can you provide some information on your 4 day experience? As Hopeak said, what did you learn in 4 days. What happened that you were lost that long?

[Ryleyboy]

i learnt nothing .. i went hiking lost my way and sat in one place and every once and awhile i would walk and try to find my way home. nad eventually i found a trail and followed it out to a road

[Rick]

They didn't have a SAR mission with you being gone that long? Folks out looking for you?

[crashdive123]

Cool - thanks. You obviously survived the four days. What went wrong that caused you to get lost? Did you start out your trip as just a walk in the woods, or something longer? Did anybody else know what your schedule was? As Hopeak said, what did you learn? In other words, what did you do during those 4 days to help you get through it?

I know these are a lot of questions, but to figure out what'll work best, let's see what went wrong and what went right.

[Ryleyboy]

well behind are cabin there are horse trails and me and my friend tyler would always walk behind there and chop trees down and just have some. but one day we followed an animal trail because the tracks still had water in them so it was fresh, in no time we wee off track and lost. so all we did was yell help and scream and walked and finnally after the third day we found the horse trail again. turns out we were beside a road the whole time.. we did have our cell phones and manged to get a text to our parents every hour but there was no service. every once and awhile one bar would come in. i didnt learn really everything,, but if i didnt want to survive i woudnt have walked through the swamps ans went through the thick bush. i was lucky to have an axe with me tho because we brought it in thwe day we got lost to chop tres down to build a fort. but a nights we just chopped a tree down and then huddled underneath the leaves. we would just crawl underneath the top of the tree and that was tylers idea. i wasnt very old when this happened so i didnt know any survival techniques. and no nobady asked me questions. this is actually the first time i have told someone..

[crashdive123]

Join and organization like the Boy Scouts (I don't know what is available where you live) would be my first suggestion.

Warning - what I'm about to say to you may be a bit harsh for somebody your age. If your feelings are easily hurt, don't continue reading. If you do, don't complain about it.

Based on this and other post - you have no respect for the wilderness. You go around killing gophers and chopping down trees for fun. Until you learn a respect for the wilderness (that's why I suggested Scouting) you will continue to get lost. Here's what I mean. You can die in the wilderness. You must be aware of your surroundings. When you travel out into it, make sure somebody responsible knows exactly where you plan on going and exactly when you will return. Learn and practice how to use a compass and map. Learn and practice other camping and hiking techniques. You said in one post that you didn't have time to read and learn some information. If you enjoy the wilderness, learning about it should be a fun experience and one that you will be able to look back on someday and be proud of.

[Ryleyboy]

first thing is we do have a gopher problem around here and the town encourages you to snare them and thats not a bad thing because all im doing is balancing there population. second reason .. we chooped donw dead rottne trees that could barley stand . i do enjoy the wilderness because i have grown up with it because of my dad and i didnt have the time that day..

[Ole WV Coot]

Crash gave you good advice, not because of your age but in order to ask an intelligent question you need to know a little about the subject if the information is available, which it is. Use the search function and READ then ask. There is no such thing as a dumb question only a dumb answer if asked decently.

[Sourdough]

Well, it sounds to me like you learned way more than you think you learned. If there was water in the tracks you were following, there should have been water in your tracks, Next time turn around and backtrack yourself.

[Rick]

Ryley - I'm not aware of any municipality that allows snaring except under very controlled situations with appropriate equipment. Since you don't seem to know much about snaring (based on your questions) I can only assume that you know very little about it. I would suggest you take some time to find out the laws in your area because I would guess you are in violation of them.

As for controlling their population. No. Sorry. I don't buy that.

[cameraman]

now im new to the forums so maybe its out of my place to say, but ryleyboy you will never get could with survival skills until you understand and respect your environment and the wildlife in it, and you have to be open to suggestions and critisism no matter how harsh it may be. because beileve it or not most people on this forum actually want to help you

[Rick]

Well put, cameraman

[Bibow]

i would never suggest the scouts though i tried that for about a day some years ago it sucked. i learn alot from books. READ A BOOK don't ask questions that could be answered by a book alot faster and with alot less back talk. but remember just because you've read a book it doesn't mean you know how to do everything you read about. everythings easier read then done

respect the bush and learn from its occupants

[Rick]

Too bad you had a bad experience with the Scouts. I was an Explorer in high school and what a great time we had. Some of the guys did Civil Air Patrol, some did Civil Defense (one I personally did) and all of us spent tons of time outdoors. Don't knock the scouts just because you had a bad experience. Not everyone is cut from the same mold and some just don't enjoy Scouts. It may not have been a good den either. Who knows. The point is there are lots of Scouts out there that do a lot of good things and have a great time in a good way.

If you are just trying to decide whether to join scouting or not, give it a shot. If you don't like then you don't like it. But it might be something you truly enjoy and would have missed out on without at least attempting it.

[Bibow]

i do agree some are great i joined because of being told they were good but i now much rather learning alot by books and experience.

[crashdive123]

Learning from books (or the internt) can provide you with valuable information. They can not replace practical experience IMO.

[Bibow]

yup agreed always like to try stuff out when i have some spare time. As i said before: easier read then done

[Rick]

Not knocking the way you learn at all. Books are good! And Scouts might not have been right for you. As Crash would say, "If it works for you, it works for me".:D

[Bibow]

the only problem that you could ever run into with books is that they can complicate stuff for example: gutting a deer, somebody could write a million books on gutting skinning and butchering a deer. but really all you have to do is sit back and think: ok the guts are in the deer now and they need to be outside the deer when i'm done. everythings complicated in some way but the only way to learn is try. watch how somebody else does it. that's another way i've learnt alot of stuff.

[flandersander]

I agree, respect for the wilderness is a great thing to have, but in my opinion, kick, punch, bash, cruch, swear, beat and kill all you ned to if it means survival. While I agree not having respect for the wilderness is not nessicerily(sp) a good thing, I think he did the right thing, by smashing and killing everything. Assuming this is the case I think it is.

[trax]

ryleyboy, based on what you said, here's a couple of thoughts:

1. I don't know what you know or don't about tracks, but having water in them means they're fresh if it's seepage, had it rained or snowed around you lately?

2. About 99 times out of a 100 if someone's lost and they keep moving, they get more lost. If it happens again, stay put. Following animal tracks, fresh or old, is only going to lead you to where that animal wanted to go.

3. You had an axe, big plus, you could have made a lean-to of some kind out of all those logs you were chopping on.

4. While I appreciate flandersanders enthusiasm, when you're lost you're going to have to think about food and energy displacement. That thing about how long a person can go without food is all well and good, but you can't go more than a couple of days and still function effectively. That's the difference. Don't waste your energy chopping the crap out of things for no good reason.

5. For future reference, any time you and your buddy decide to go a-frolicking in the wilderness, either leave blazes on the trail or just make note of landmarks and check behind yourself as you travel every few minutes. That way you know what your trail is supposed to look like on the way back!

[Ryleyboy]

it didnt rain for about 3 days.. but the trail was beside a swamp so the ground was really moist. we did mark trees buy chopping the bark a little but kinda lost that sfter awhile.. i know we should have stayed were we first found out we were lost but if we hadnt wondered we probably wouldnt be back yet. its heavy bush up north and much of it/

[trax]

it didnt rain for about 3 days.. but the trail was beside a swamp so the ground was really moist. we did mark trees buy chopping the bark a little but kinda lost that sfter awhile.. i know we should have stayed were we first found out we were lost but if we hadnt wondered we probably wouldnt be back yet. its heavy bush up north and much of it/

Well OK then, I'm wrong. I am, however, beginning to understand why the adults weren't out looking for you. I promise not to offer any more of my foolishness next time you ask the experienced people here for advice.

[crashdive123]

Careful there Trax - you're about to be added to the Crash and Rick pfffffft crowd.

[trax]

Careful there Trax - you're about to be added to the Crash and Rick pfffffft crowd.

Then I'll be in dang good company bro. You know, I saw those postings and I'd recalled offering that kid some pretty friendly advice on something once before all that and kinda thought wtf? well....wtf! :D

[Beo]

Ryleyboy,
No one here is trying to offend you or upset you, the people answering your questions are experienced in the wilderness, Trax lives in Canada maybe not near you but the wilderness where he goes is alot like yours.
You were in a survival situation and did what you thought best, good and better you made it out. But LISTEN to them because they are actually helping you with this information. Scouts (good idea btw) or not you need training in the wilderness, you can read all ya want but you need to practice these skills, try it at home first in the back yard or near the home, for safety reasons.
since it was close to home KNOW YOUR SURROUNDINGS, by this I mean get a map of the area and study it, being young I would put it in your pack, yes pack, make one up that you take with you when ever you hit the wilds in your area. Learn the creeks, rivers, and waterways around you (from the map), learn the trails and mark them on the map, land features too (mark them on the map). In this way until you know it like the back of your hand its a quick guide for you.
Take a whistle and light, maybe a mirror or bright panal of cloth (yellow or blaze orange) just for signaling. A few food items (not candy or junk food but protien bars), water bottles, some rope (550 cord is best, about 50' minimum), waterproof matches, and some first aid gear. All this in your pack. THIS A BARE MINIMUM AT BEST SINCE YOUR LEARNING.
But I think you need to find someone to teach you the wilderness and its ways (the mountains have their own ways pilgrim), and stop cutting on trees and killing the animals, so what if there's too many gophers, you're 13 or 14 and its not your problem, glad you wanna help but learn about nature first. I'm sure there are hawks around there, let them take care of the gophers for now and learn to respect, feel, and live in and with nature first. Not being all Tom Brown wilderness spiritual on ya but you need to be taught correctly.
Just my thoughts.
Beo,

And I did a whole posting on trapping, check it out it may help you... may not. beats smacking gophers with nail studded sticks.

[Rick]

If I'm wrong, I apologize but I find it hard to believe that a kid, any kid, would be "lost" for 4 days and an all out SAR mission wasn't initiated. If that happened then something is wrong with your folks.

I think you're just a kid giving us a lot of mumbo jumbo trying to fit in because a lot of what you are saying doesn't make much sense to me. For example, when talk turned to not hurting animals, your story changed to a less barbaric one. When talk turned to eating gophers you suddenly tried one. You don't have to do any of that. Just read through some of the posts and if you don't understand something then ask a question. All of us are willing to help out. But READ the response and try to absorb it. Trax gave you a LOT of excellent advice and you just tossed it aside. That will stop folks from giving you advice in a heart beat. Had you read his piece and actually thought about it you'd have seen some opportunities there that might have been worthwhile to learn about.

Again, if I'm wrong I apologize but I'm just calling it like I see it.

[Beo]

Very true, Weren't your parents worried about you? Why didn't the authorities get involved? And Rick's right no SAR (Search And Rescue) was sent out? I smell something that seems like bs... hmmm...
There is some of the best info on this site that you will ever get, I for one can say if you've been yanking our chain all this time I will ignore your posts. But that's just me, I tend to like honest people not ones trying to impress. Wanna impress me, be yourself, say I wanna learn this or that, search the forums for the info and then ask the questions you have.

[Gray Wolf]

I've been going over all his posts, and I think our chain is being yanked by someone. Rick can you check the IP address? Is it any where near the Saskatchewan Forest? Which he said was right behind his house.... :rolleyes:

[Beo]

Or does it match Sam Reeves or TheFreakinBear.... just curious.

[Gray Wolf]

Did he mean Prince Albert National Park?

[trax]

there's lots and lots of forest in Saskatchewan, guys. I'm not familiar with the lake he named, but it sounds like the countryside in north-central, up towards Prince Albert.

[Gray Wolf]

From Wikipedia,

Emma Lake

Emma Lake is a combined campground, and lake. The area has a population of around 900 in the summertime, and 200 in the wintertime. Emma Lake is 45 kilometers north of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and 5 kilometers from Christopher Lake, Saskatchewan.

Emma Lake consists of three smaller lakes and is located just to the south of the entrance to Prince Albert National Park. It lies within the Rural Municipality of Lakeland 521.

[Rick]

It's Saskatchewan Telecom. I didn't doubt where he was from I just think it's a 13 year trying hard to fit in and not doing it in the right way. No harm, no foul, Ryleyboy. Just don't try so hard.

[LostOutrider]

I don't know . . . I was thinking this was a gimmick account, too, which is why I haven't really chimed in much on the boy. It is nice you guys trying to help him, but most of what he is posting is fantasy. If you really are a kid, R-boy, then listen to the advice others have given.

Looks to me like it's just someone seeing how much they can rattle the cage, though. Maybe someone still sore because Sarge chewed on his "I Gotz a Knife!" thread or something. (My hunch is based on the absolutely unscientific fact that he can spell Saskatchewan correctly, but flubs other things. Kids I work with that spell that bad and that consistently, booger up all words - even their own names and addresses.)

[crashdive123]

Let's ask Flandersander - they said they knew each other. Flandersaner, what's up with Ryleboy?

[flandersander]

Well guys, to my knowledge, it happened. That is as far as I know. I don't know the details, and I agree they are sort of sketchy, but (once again) to my knowledge, its all true. The details I think are not 100% true, not sure if its even 4 days. What I am pretty sure of, is that he got lost and had to spend a night out in the wilderness. Once again, not 100% sure, but I think he isn't lying.

[trax]

[QUOTE=LostOutrider;68470] (My hunch is based on the absolutely unscientific fact that he can spell Saskatchewan /QUOTE]


Saskatchewan...hard to spell, easy to draw

[Beo]

Well he's a good kid so lets cut him a break.

[Rick]

I didn't think he was lying, Flanders. But, at the same time, I'm not sure the entire truth was being delivered.

I'm happy to cut him a break. I WANT to. Nothing would delight me more than to help him. The only think I've ever asked is that he do some investigation on his own (search the threads) and then ask questions if he doesn't understand something in a thread.

[Ryleyboy]

k im not lying i can swear that..and keagan you are right it wasnt exaclty 4 days it was three and a half. and i have been using the search more ,, and i havent ask many questions at all.

[Beo]

I will say that after researching Colonsay it is a real small town so Ryleyboy is looking for help form others.
Colonsay is a community of people offering a variety of services and activities, located 35 minuts east of Saskatoon on the Yellowhead Highway.
Colonsay derived its name from a small island in the Herbrides off the west coast of Scotland. Colonsay is fortunate to have a unique group of residents from farmers, miners, professionals, trades persons and retirees, all of diverse cultures and backgrounds. The population in 2006 was only 425 so his help in some areas of wilderness learning might be limited.
Ryleyboy ask whatever you want I'll try to help you, but don't get offended by
others here, you gotta be thick skinned here as well as in the wilderness. I don't
think your liar, I don't anyone here does, we need specifics when asking questions.

[Ryleyboy]

ok.. your right it is very hard to find the supplies needed to expirement these things on this sight but it is possible to find them you just have to look very very hard.

[Beo]

Uhhh... little brother that was in your defense.

[Gray Wolf]

Ryleyboy, a lot of this might have been avoided had you gone over to the introduction area and told us about yourself, and had listened to those who kept telling you to use the search. Most of us here would be glad to help you, as long as you're willing to listen and read.

[Ryleyboy]

k why is everyone talking about this introduction thing. what is this??

[nell67]

Just for you Ryleyboy,click this link,then tell us about yourself

or just go browse other introductionss and you'll get the idea
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14

[Ryleyboy]

thanks nell..

[nell67]

You are welcome.

[flandersander]

Is everybody good now? I guess nobody was ever mad but you get it. Now back to saskatchewan survival. I personally would classify saskatchewan north woods as "boreal forest" Full of coniferous trees. Would that be an acurate classification or no?

[trax]

yeah flanders, boreal actually means pertaining to north or northern so I'd say go ahead and classify Saskatchewan's forests that way. The areas you and ryley have been describing are very similar to where I grew up in Manitoba btw, just rockier where I was because it was in part of the PreCambrian Shield.