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Hi guys, ok so I'm writing a novel and I need some survival advice. The main characters are in the desert and there's an sandstorm approaching, it's midday and its scorching. They are on foot and there's nothing around for miles. What would be
the best most dramatic way to survive? They do have a tent I don't know if any can withstand a sandstorm and also a reflective blanket. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Find drinking water.Quote:
Originally Posted by maxibon
They have drinking water plenty of it, they just need to ride out the storm that's all.
You just barged in here without any kind of an introduction. We have a site for new members to do that very thing. Then I found an outdoor gear website embedded in your 1st post. If you just came on here to "spam" this forum you won't be here long....:1:
I didn't realise the word blanket couldn't be mentioned on this site. I just came on here for advice not to date anyone so why the need for an introduction? I know your some kind of administrator but you need to treat people with a bit of respect the power may have gone to your head.
1st, I'm sure you read the rules before you came on here. 2nd, you wouldn't just barge into somebody's home without knocking and start asking questions, would you? You talk about respect but would you respect somebody that would do that to you? Also most members don't respond to quick questions from Newbies that show up without an intro. 3rd, I gave you respect by notifying you of the problem and not banning you outright. However anymore smart aleck remarks towards me or any other mods on here could well result in that action....:1:Quote:
Originally Posted by maxibon
Wow....have a little "tude" there, do we?......Quote:
Originally Posted by maxibon
Best advice would be to dig in....I would guess....but I thinking a super-duper, only available @********* sandstorm blanket may be the answer?......Ya Think?
BTW
Hunter63 saying Hey and Welcome....From Wisconsin.
Your premise is they are carrying lots of water. That's 8 pounds per gallon so are they hauling it in something? I'm not sure what you definition of "lots" is.
I can't think of a dramatic way to shelter out the storm. Once you see it, it's going to be on top of you in a short while so you won't have a lot of time to do anything. I'd tie each other together so no one would get lost in it, hunker down and ride it out. I'm not sure what else you could do given the information you've provided.
Thanks for the replies guys much appreciated. Are there any tents that can withstand the force of a sandstorm? Can the sand burn skin if you are out in it?
tic toc goes the clock
Amazing!!!
An author who can google their way here but can not google what our troops were taught about desert survival during their 10 years war in the desert.
I always hate reading books written by authors that have no idea what they were talking about! It's like watching the freekin' History Channel!
Just goes to show that it is not what you know, but how much your editor does not know, that determines if you get published.
A lot of whether or not you and your gear will survive a sand storm will be (obviously) your preparedness and the length of the storm. Some sand storms have lasted for months at a time.
I think this one's going to last a couple of hours lol. Kyratahootee I'll send you a copy of my book see if you like it. I'm sure a lot of authors don't know the field they are writing about but it's the way they write the story.
Should we wait here....or you are gonna let us know when you done?
You are correct, good writers don't need to know everything about their subject.....but being believable helps.....Heck whole solar systems have been made up.....but details actually make them believable.
One of my favorites:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_(film)
Pay special attention to the personnel water recycle system and other desert living methods.
Edger Rice Burroughs wrote the complete Tarzan series having never been to Africa. His description was anything but accurate however most of his reading audience had never been there either and accepted what he said. He also wrote the John Carter on Mars, obviously never been there either and made up the whole geography. Nobody questioned it. That being said I get the idea that you, on the other hand, are striving to be as accurate as possible. Have you sold your book yet, gotten an offer from a publisher, or are going to self-publish? My son has sold a book to a publisher, it's a "Zombie" novel. His research on everything but the zombies was incredible! He googled it and also interviewed many people online that had been to the area that he was using. Sandstorms are a common occurrence in desert areas that are made up of sand, some are not. Creek Stewart has used a non-sand desert in his "Fat Guys In The Woods" series this year on the weather channel. You might also try and email Cody Lundin in Arizona for data. If he's available he's really nice about sharing information. And don't forget Wikipedia! Just some food for thought...:cool2:
Thanks Sarge sorry about the earlier posts. It's kinda hard to explain the situation of the story. I need it to be relatively believable for example one of the characters suffers from asthma so we the rest need to erect a tent to keep him from the dust but then I'm
faced with the dilemma of how big should the tent be to have 4 adults squeezed in there and what tent can resist a sandstorm. I think I might focus more on the interaction of the characters rather than the storm itself. Hopefully I will find a publisher, oh I love zombie books what is it called? Can I get hold of a copy somewhere? Will definitely check out the info you guys supplied. Thanks again.
A bed sheet can survive a sand storm if it is put up properly - think earth berm.
So...Maxibon....Do you have an outline of your story....or just "winging it"?
Sent you a pm with the book info. I like the "asthma" idea, giving the character that problem will make him seem real. Also instead of a tent is it possible to have them packing a large tarp? There's a lot more you can do with a tarp. However just about any tent can hold 4 people, unless it's a backpacking tent, and even then maybe. Actually having the 4 people needing to crowd into a smaller tent can create a nice conflict...maybe there's some discussion about the possibility of kicking the guy with asthma out.(sorry, just watched "Lifeboat" the other night.) What Crash said about a bed sheet is quite accurate, you might also check the internet and read up on what the Arabs use. Just google "Arab Desert Shelters," should prove interesting.....:detective:Quote:
Originally Posted by maxibon
Another thought, if you want to read a true story about a desert trek read "The Man Who Walked Through Time" by the late Colin Fletcher. He hiked the length of the Grand Canyon. Some good info there. Your library might have it or can get it on an "inter-library loan." I buy books like that from www.abebooks.com. You can get them pretty cheap, just keep scrolling down until you find one in really great shape.
A four man tent is going to be pretty heavy to carry across the desert. I doubt anyone will heft it very long.
I thought that I might go down the tarp route as per the previous posts or make them all squeeze into a two man tent what u guys think?
You could always use "asthma guy" as the odd man out.....survival of the fittest, ya know?
4 people too many for the tent?........Bam out the door.....
Any decent tent will survive a sandstorm. Just take the poles out and lay inside it without poles.
You might also consider a Shemagh / Keffiyeh / Scarf as a piece of your character's kit, also a bed sheet would be a good thing to have. when my boys and I go motorbike riding we all carry half of a queen size sheet in our pack for sun shade for wind protection and signaling for help,( happend to find some orange bed sheets at wallyworld. ) good cheap, effective for under $10.00
I vistied a camping shop and the guy there recommended a terranova quasar tent, he said its pretty much bombproof and easy to carry and assemble so I'll base it on that. Like u guys said as long as it is believable.
9Lbs, $900. Well, it IS a fictional story.Quote:
Originally Posted by maxibon
I've had cars that cost less than that. With all the rust they might have weighed in around there too.
Love the quote finallyme. Yeh 9lbs is OK go Carry on ur back isn't it peeps. Money's no object in this book.
Speaking about books and deserts, I read a fantastic book by Bruce Kirkby called "Sand Dance". A 40 day trek by camel across the Arabian Desert. http://brucekirkby.com/project/sand-dance-book/
This guy has done some amazing adventures. Him and a friend became the first two people to hike the Canol Heritage Trail in the North West Territories without a food drop or help across three major rivers. 380km in 17 days. http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-Canol...s-Arpt-NT-2259 This is a link that if you scroll down you click another link to read chapter 8 of an unpublished book that describes some of the hike. Excellent read, I highly recommend it!
Gary
Here is dramatic!
So they tied each other together with a short rope and stumbled aimlessly through the sand storm. As they trudged through the sand they tripped over a dying camel. The camel has been sick and was abandon by his owner and he was on his last breath.
So they gutted the camel and crawled inside the carcass, ate camel meat, ate moist fat from the camels hump and stared at his toes all night!
Hummmmm....sound like a scene for a Star Wars....Luke and the Tauntaun....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXmp1hLK0tY
Camels don't store water in their hump. They store fat.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
[QUOTE=jdbushcraft;465610]Camels don't store water in their hump. They store fat.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk[/QUOTE
There I fixed it.......LOL
They stared at camel toes all night?........Bohahahahaha
staring at camel toes will get you every time.
You guys are sick.
I basically agree this may hold up for a night or two of strong winds if something does not blow up against it and rip it. But my experience is limited to a few weekends at Joshua Tree Nation Park, CA, and a few other high deserts (NV, AZ, NM, west TX bush). Basically a very low to the ground tent or worst case a tarp pined down all around with door/opening on leeward side. Pile sand/rocks etc. all around before the storm hits if possible (just assume winds will get stronger they almost always do at desert, coast and mountains). If you don't have sand pegs make bags with whatever fabric or buckets or deadman out of whatever sticks or gear you can spare or rocks you can get cordage around and bury. Assume wind will rip everything lose even if buried. Then wait it out if for hours or days. Eat food with out cooking don't suffocate yourself.Quote:
Originally Posted by crashdive123
Once at Joshua Tree my mother was concerned that van would blow over even though it was parked up against some tall rocks and that tent would blow over. (Dad was up in Toronto, Canada on business so just 2 Moms and bunch of kids in desert). So since I have been young, grade school I have learned that strong winds are not something to fool with. But on a calm nights we just slept out in the open looking up at the stars, cools off fast that way but worth the view.
I set up a large Noah's tarp (16') at Panama City Beach, FL and dropped the poles down low to the ground before a storm hit. It held up but many of the EZups and other tarps and temporary shelters along the beach were torn to shreds. It is entertaining to watch tourists who don't know the first thing about shelters out in strong weather conditions. ;-) Had a similar experience at a camp grounds where Texas Colorado river meets the Gulf of Mexico. Storm with winds well over 40 mph came, the next morning the dumpster was full of busted up tents and most people had cleared out of the campgrounds, in the camper trailer section several had tipped over. I was fine in my low to the ground backpacker's tent with lots of tie down cords (guy lines).
Tipi holds up well in windy and high wind conditions....and storms in general...went through many, many times.....but you will get a bit wet.
So make me think that maybe a small 3 pole tipi would stand up better than say a flat walled tent?
Very unique and useful topic , thanks for sharing