Little Scenario

[FVR]

You decide to take a day hike back into the mountains, it's this time of year, 50 degrees in the daylight, at night it gets down to 10 degrees.

You hike in making your own trail, you don't have a gun as hunting season is out and since you are on gov. land, this time you abide by the law.

You're 15 miles in, you are at your turn around point, 15 miles in.

Temp dives down, wind picks up and it starts to rain/snow and blow hard.

You have somehow, lost your knife. Be it your pocket knife or sheath knife, don't matter, you have no knife. You did not bring a hatchet as it's just a day hike.

So, temps drop, it starts raining and snowing, wind picks up, you do not have a knife or hawk, your cell battery is dead.

What do you do?

Again, you have NO blade whatsoever!!!!!!!

Whatever is in your pack, let us know and how you use it.

Again, you have NO blade whatsoever.


I tire of those who think a blade equals survival. Let's see what'cha got and how you use it.


Oh, you can make a knife, just tell us how you do it.

[Rick]

Frank - First, I've left instructions with my wife of where I'm going and when I'll be back. I called from the truck and gave her my GPS location so she knows when to hear from me and where I started from. That's just my routine. We also have an established wait time before she calls for help. She knows I can make one night easy enough.

My clothing is appropriate for the weather and my first shelter.

On my wrist is a survival bracelet made of paracord with a cord lock compass.

In my right front pocket, I have a photon light, howler whistle, metal match and striker, tube of wet tinder fire starter along with a folding knife you made me loose along with my straight knife.

I also have a small butt pack with char cloth, magnesium strip with striker, waterproof matches, first aid kit, snare wire, survival blanket, aluminum foil, plastic bags, tincture of iodine, petroleum soaked cotton balls, chicken bullion,
a mini mag light, a poncho. (I think that's it).

I'd find a sheltered area close to water (not too close) where I could build a debris shelter and hunker down for the night.

I don't remember who said it but, "I good camp in a bad location is a bad camp."

[Sarge47]

I'm dead, 'cause I'm naked. have to be to lose any of my knives!

[Rick]

Well, there's another picture I won't get out of me head for a while!

[Sarge47]

Down boy! Down! Quit panting, it's embarrassing!

[FVR]

Like Rick, my wife knows the area I will be trekking.

I always carry flint and steel, char, tinder, blanket roll with wool blanket and canvas covering, buillon, tea, jerky, a little bread, and a few other tidbits.

My wife also knows after what time to call the authorities. Chances are, they will not do anything that day.

In a changing environment like that, first thing make a good shelter out of a water wash path and then try to find some dry wood if it's not too wet. Don't know if it's worth the trade out, collecting wood while getting soaking wet in cold weather. Depends.

Eat my food when I'm hungry, drink when I'm thirsty and wait the night out.

[Rick]

Under your scenario, I don't think I'd mess with a fire. I'd just build a small debris hut, toss my poncho over it to keep out some of the rain, wrap up in my survival blanket and slide in.
I'd have wool on so even if I were wet, I wouldn't stay cold for very long.

[AdventureDoc]

I'm dead, 'cause I'm naked. have to be to lose any of my knives!

Awesome! I know it is the spirit of the post that you have lost your knife, but I would have to be dead also. I have a habit/obsession that I carry a knife (leatherman or swiss knife) at all times. You should have seen the problem of me in a Tux and a buldge of a leatherman on my belt. The wife was not happy

I believe in the "two is one, one is none" rule, especially with important gear like knife, compass, etc.

I like the fact that everyone has stressed that there is a responsible person aware of the route/time/activities before the trip. I see that as a key point.

I also read that Rick mentioned petroleum soaked cotton balls...how do you carry those? Altoids tin? How often do you need to re-soak them, before every trip?

Thanks!

[Rick]

I can get about six or so inside a 35mm film container. I'm a strong believer in multi use items and this is another one I like. If my lips are chapped just a touch of the petroleum fixes it. Chafed or hot spot? You can use the petroleum for that too. It's also good if you are having trouble with some bacterial or fungal growth because of sweat. A thin layer will keep the moisture content down long enough to get you back to town if you don't have anything else with you (anti fungal, etc).

Frank - You did good my friend! After reviewing the items I had in my front right pocket I added a cord lock compass to the set. Slid it right on the chain. Now I have another compass with me at all times.

[Elkchsr]

First things first....

Set about looking for a good place to hunker down for the night under a dense evergreen tree, breaking out (removing branches that would be in the way) a hole large enough to get material in for a bed

Collect enough fire wood to more than last the night and get a fire as close to my bedding area with out catching things on fire

The tree acts like a reflector for the heat

As I'm searching around for fire wood, I would also be looking for a fist sized rock to knap out a small hand ax

After the fire is going, I will start peeling the fluff off from as many branches as possible to insulate me from the ground (about 3-4" works well)

Then start heaping up material along the sides for added protection

The wool/poly clothes I'm wearing will see that I stay warm enough, even if I get wet

Normally I carry a half dozen lighters and a flint stone with me (if the temps drop to low, lighters don't work well, especially when they get wet)

Pulling some of my heater packs out of my day bag (always carry a dozen or so spread around in the bottom and in a couple pockets) Put a heater pack in a chest pocket, one in each of my front pockets, one in a back pocket and one each in my boots

Then just play in the fire all night, catching cat naps, enjoying the experience of being alive and witness a night not many people now days get to...

I've done this before a few times

Washington State is no stranger to this type of weather scenario and Montana is like this during the spring

[pgvoutdoors]

Being properly dressed and equipped for a day hike under those conditions, and to lose my only knife, would leave me well equipped to get though this problem.
I have done some guiding over the years in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I'm sure most of you are familiar with Mt. Washington and the Presidential range. The weather there can change in a heart beat and often catches many people off guard during their day hikes. You can start at the lower foothills (3500ft) and with Mt. Washington just only over 6000ft go from 80 degrees with little wind to a snow storm with some of the highest winds recorded. (135 mph)

If the weather condition are as you stated, I would carry my 40L pack instead of my large lumbar pack so that I can carry more gear. When temperatures can drop that low I would have a sleeping bag and a 10x10 light nylon tarp with me. ( I would suggest this for every two people going) Putting on the proper clothing and staying dry is of the up-most importance. I normally carry a waterproof upper and lower shell with me. In warmer weather I carry a full length poncho with me. Never count on your poncho to be both shelter and personal protection from the elements. Many times you must leave your shelter and will need protection from the wind and rain.
I would look for the closest shelter out of the way of any water flows. The best shelter at any time like this is one you need not put a lot of work into. Natural shelters with little modifications are the best. IMPORANT! Know the hazards of lightning and flash flooding when choosing your site. I would be carrying a fire starting kit and would make a fire a priority if reasonable.

I wouldn't expect to spend more then twenty four hours out. I always leave a trip plan with someone.

[Sarge47]

All ten of my pockets have been ripped off of my BDU's along with my belt, backpack, fanny pack, Wallet and key ring...Yep, I'm naked. AAAGGGHHH!!! Wait, there's a knife that one of the other members of the Wolf-Pack lost, (sobs), I'm saved!

[Ole WV Coot]

I would be arrested for indecent exposure, or die of it. It would mean I don't have pants, the only way I would lose all the blades I have on me. Sorry, I lost my head no neck knife either!!

[sh4d0wm4573ri7]

debris shelter 3' plus thick and ventilation shaft , fire , dry waterproof bed I would use my flint piece as a crude blade if needed or sharpen the flint scraper on a rock into a useable blade

[Sarge47]

I would be arrested for indecent exposure, or die of it. It would mean I don't have pants, the only way I would lose all the blades I have on me. Sorry, I lost my head no neck knife either!!

...We're thinking alike here, Old timer!

[granite]

In my 30 years of hiking and backpacking I have never carried a knife and have never found a reason to need one, and I have gotten into more scrapes. I have a new policy not to tell anyone where I am going, as I had a rather horrible experience with that last May.

So if the temp drops and I am on my own, I will just deal with it. So what would I do?

I never leave home without my emergency kit. I am often on a 3000 ft. mountain so I will use that scenario as a basis. I would hike to near the top of the mountain but not the ridge. Temps often drop significantly in a valley and it rains harder there. The wind will howl on a ridge so I would stay maybe 200 ft. below top elevation. Depending on the severity of the rain I would make a decision about a fire. For raging thunderstorms I probably wouldn't bother, for light rain I'd get some wood together and start some kindling with dry leaves and twigs. I always have 2 boxes of matches with me sealed in a plastic zip lock. In winter I also carry a pack of handwarmers and an emergency blanket. In severe winter I carry an emergency foil sleeping bag. I always have an emergency rain poncho with me. I only wear quick-dry clothing when I hike, so I would be okay there.

I would create a shelter from pine boughs, and if I am real cold I would take dry leaves and put them between my layers of clothing. I'd also try to lie on some pine boughs to create a pad. Then I would try to stay as dry as possible and wait for first light, and then get the heck out of dodge.

If I got hungry I would try to eat some bugs, but bugs are really hard to find in cold temps. I had to forage for food in the Olympics last June, there wasn't much and your burn up more calories chasing the bugs than eating them. I learned I could go a couple of days without eating.

[Rick]

Well, do what you're comfortable with but I think the key to letting someone know is choosing someone reliable. If you needed it, your wait for SAR could stretch into days or weeks instead of hours if no one knows where you are. Skill, cunning, and proper planning can always be defeated by Murphy's Law.

[Sarge47]

Wild times, the animals weren't as bad as some people...go figure!

[Smok]

Do we all use the Altoids tins ?? You would think some one would catch on to this and make a little money with a small tin or maybe I will just eat a tin of Altoids and forget all of this

[Elkchsr]

I have one question...

How many people here are capable of doing a 30 mile day hike?

I know the special forces and guys like me that train for this, but your average guy would probably have a tough time making the 15 miles in the first place

Not raining on any ones parade, just asking a question...