where can I practice surviving?

[Kjack42088]

Ok I live in Florida and have most of my life. Surviving hot weather and island living is second nature to me, now it's time to lower the temp a little bit and get more inland. A buddy and I would like to plunge ourselves into the wilderness somewhere with minimal gear just enough to hunt, cook, and sleep and try to make it a week on our own. I was hoping maybe someone here would have some suggestions on places that that we could do this with a very low chance of crossing paths with other humans. We're trying to stay around Georgia or the Carolinas so temps aren't too low and we don't have to travel too far. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks folks!

-Kevin

[Sarge47]

Oh no! (Face palm)...

[TXyakr]

There are many threads on this here at W.S. and other sites. I prefer private ranch land but not much of that in the East I assume. So avoid State Parks, check out National Forest, Wildlife Refuges etc.:

http://www.fws.gov/refuges/

Be sure you know the rules and regulations

I camp in 100+F degree weather so am not sure why you are all concerned about that, I use a tarp and hammock (NOT tent). If you make a debris shelter most places require that you completely return everything to its original condition so this takes time. Even if not required it is rude to leave a mess behind. BLM out west is my favorite. Very cool at night if you camp in high desert, Northern NM is great in July and August, also AZ and UT.

I don't know much about SE, I've been to Great Smokey Mountains, and A.T. but during summer it was elbow to elbow with people as far as the eye could see. Felt like I was in a freaking shopping mall. OMG just shoot me now. West is SOOO much better. Continental Divide Trail or some less traveled like Rio Chama trail, or travel down the actual river in canoe or raft during work week then side hike up side canyons spend a few days there in Douglas fur forest. Very cool place. (Below El Vado) 100's of other wilderness places like that 100's of millions of acres in the USA, long drive but so worth it. BWCA in MN is great! SOOO much better than A.T.!!! IMHO. The deeper you go the fewer people you see.

[LowKey]

You are going to Georgia for colder??? LOL.
Like TX said, you need to go norther and wester.
Wherever you go, check the hunting regulations and weapons carry regs too while you're at it.

It's only for a week Sarge. Not like they are running away to the wilderness forever.

[MrFixIt]

You are going to Georgia for colder??? LOL.

LOL indeed, we've been having a record breaking heat wave for June. The heat index has been averaging 103 degrees.
If you are looking for cooler temps, try the mountains. Maybe you won't melt there.
Good luck in your endeavor, and above all, be safe!

[natertot]

K jack, hit me up in the fall and we'll start planning for February!

Actually, there is a decent national forest near me that would be ideal for what you are wanting. If you are looking to experience some colder Temps that are easily survivable then November would be a good time.

Let me know.

[Rick]

You want to practice camping. You can't practice survival. That's what you do when things go wrong.

[finallyME]

I will just say, the high desert in Utah in July and August......sucks! We go to the desert in the early spring and late fall, or dead winter. But in the summer....go to the mountains...alpine.

I am sure you will have a hard time finding a place east of the Mississippi that is public, and void of people.

[natertot]

You want to practice camping. You can't practice survival. That's what you do when things go wrong.

But every time I practice camping things go wrong so technically every time I camp I am surviving right? I mean, I haven't come back dead so far. Wait, maybe that is why my wife can't hear me most of the time........

Semantics aside, it seems like Jack has things down for where he is at and is looking to expand his experience and capabilities. At least he seems sensible and I can respect what it is he is trying to do. On the bright side, he is looking to go for a run at it for a week and not rottw for an absurd reason. That alone is a breathe of fresh air around here.

[Rick]

Unfortunately, it's not just semantics. There is a huge difference between the two and it seems our lexicon is quickly blurring the two. Romanticizing a survival experience sets the wrong impression for those trying to learn how to operate in the wilderness. Let's call it what it really is so the expectation of a survival experience is something to be avoided at all costs and something that is to be feared, which it should be. Adapting our camping/hiking experience and knowledge to a survival situation is a good thing. Thinking we can go off and practice survival is not.

[Sarge47]

Unfortunately, it's not just semantics. There is a huge difference between the two and it seems our lexicon is quickly blurring the two. Romanticizing a survival experience sets the wrong impression for those trying to learn how to operate in the wilderness. Let's call it what it really is so the expectation of a survival experience is something to be avoided at all costs and something that is to be feared, which it should be. Adapting our camping/hiking experience and knowledge to a survival situation is a good thing. Thinking we can go off and practice survival is not.

Thank you Rick! It always rubs me the wrong way when I see the term "survival" used incorrectly. Practice those outdoor skills and you might be ready to survive. Here in Illinois right now we're having massive thunderstorms, flash flooding and tornadoes. Kentucky is getting hit really hard at the moment as well. You want to practice surviving these areas just might be the place! Low Key, this is what I was referring to! I keep saying that survival is NOT the latest extreme sport, but a matter of life or death!....

[kyratshooter]

I see several suppositions running through this thread that seem to be due to preconceived notions or the every delightful confusion of semantics.

The first thing I want to address is the mistaken notion that it does not get cold in Georgia when winter sets in.

I know for a fact that you can freeze to death in north Georgia in the area around Delonica. It also gets so dark there you can not see your hand in front of your face on a moonless night. They also have bears. Big bears!!! And most of them do not hibernate that far south.

The other thing I would address is that the same area is the jump off point of the Application Trail.

My advice, past the point of defining the survival experience, is to factor in the era we live in, the place you will be and the laws that cover all your actions and settle for a "near death experience" by leaving the guns at home, taking a weeks worth of food with you and hiking a section of the AT in North Georgia (do I hear banjo music) in mid January to mid March.

But in 2012 I drove down to Tampa for a 2 weeks camp, so I could escape the North KY glacier, mid January, and temps went to freezing every night of my trip, so you really do not have to leave home, you just have to catch the right frontal system moving through Florida!

Once you leave your home state you are looking at land use restrictions, out of state hunting and trapping licenses, crowded public lands and a whole gambit of problems that will irritate you, or if you ignore them will put you in a small backwoods county jail far from home.

Most of the southeastern US is just as crowded as Florida, and you will find that if you hike deep into the woods and sit quietly on a log you will be able to hear traffic on a road within a few minutes, even on the AT. (been there, done that)

The southeast is filled with National forests, State forests, designated wilderness areas and wildlife management areas, so the job of finding a place is just a matter of doing one's homework and CALLING THE LOCAL RANGERS for legal definitions.

And always remember, the raccoon raiding your cooler is always twice as big at night as he is in the daytime and black bears reach epic proportions when night arrives ! So "survival", however you define it, also depends on the time of day an incident occurs!

And yes, I also consider these "practicing survival" scenarios to be willful self abuse, which brings in the mental health questions we all try to avoid, especially that one about be a danger to self or others!

I have been watching Alone for the past two weeks and it is amazing that all those "survival instructors" who have been "practicing survival" for years are blowing the big one when placed in an unfamiliar location with real hard luck weather and terrain.

[Rick]

Since survival beyond illness or injury is 90% mental, at least for a week, all one really has to do is lock themselves in the bathroom. They will be alone and still have safe water and "facilities". Sleeping in the bathtub will be nearly the same as sleeping on the ground. If you want to up the ante unleash a few female mosquitoes. Once someone masters that then can try their back yard. One step at a time is my philosophy.

[MrFixIt]

The first thing I want to address is the mistaken notion that it does not get cold in Georgia when winter sets in.

I know for a fact that you can freeze to death in north Georgia in the area around Delonica. It also gets so dark there you can not see your hand in front of your face on a moonless night. They also have bears. Big bears!!! And most of them do not hibernate that far south.

Indeed. I've worked with folks from "up north" who ventured into GA. 99% of them told me that the coldest they had ever been was while in GA during the winter. I was quite taken aback by this and asked why. They ALL said it was due to the humidity here.
Mind you, it doesn't get below zero, but I guess the humidity is a factor...?

[Lamewolf]

You're not surviving unless the temp is below 30 degrees !

[Rick]

Simple. Turn the thermostat down.

[kyratshooter]

Fact is that cold weather survival is more difficult in the southeast than any other section of the country I can imagine.

You have cold and wet but no snow. No snow caves, now snow insulation, no easy tracking of animals, no deep preservation freezing of food supplies.

Just frozen mud and leafless trees everywhere with the wind howling around your ears and not a stick of dry wood for building and maintaining a fire. You are going to get wet, then it is going to freeze, then it is going to thaw just enough for you to be wet again, and then it will freeze.

That is why I live in Kentucky but still own three different kinds of waterproof foot gear and a pair of bunny boots!

[hunter63]

..........a buddy and I would like to plunge ourselves into the wilderness somewhere with minimal gear just enough to hunt, cook, and sleep and try to make it a week on our own. I was hoping maybe someone here would have some suggestions on places that that we could do this with a very low chance of crossing paths with other humans. We're trying to stay around Georgia or the Carolinas so temps aren't too low and we don't have to travel too far. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks folks!

-Kevin

What everyone else said....
Ansd.....get hunting/fishing/camping and foraging licenses and permits for the area you pick....
Plan well......remember you can survive with no food for a week, not so with water...get your water filer and carrying systems down prior your trip.

Good luck.

[Batch]

If you replace the words practice surviving with practice bush craft things make more sense. Like saying your going to go practice falling when you mean your going rock climbing.

[kyratshooter]

Batch, one of these days I'm going to drive down to Florida and buy you a beer!