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1 week in the woods clothes on your back and 1 item
- Thread starter psy-ops
- Start date
sevenedges
BANNED
- Joined
- Sep 14, 1999
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- 992
I chose the knife (preferably a Busse Steelheart) for the following reasons:
With a knife I can start a fire by means of making a firebow drill set. With fire I can boil my water for consuption. With a knife I can cut firewood to make a firebed which is nicer than a blanket when properly made, and I can cover myself with branches if needed. (although with my choice of clothes this is entirely optional.)
Any lastly you can make shelter If weather permits.
So there you have it, a knife can take care of all of the other three options listed
With a knife I can start a fire by means of making a firebow drill set. With fire I can boil my water for consuption. With a knife I can cut firewood to make a firebed which is nicer than a blanket when properly made, and I can cover myself with branches if needed. (although with my choice of clothes this is entirely optional.)
Any lastly you can make shelter If weather permits.
So there you have it, a knife can take care of all of the other three options listed
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2001
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- 18,423
Sorry, I gotta be odd man here.
Water filter.
without it, in a week you will just be a corpse with a knife.
Remember it's the clothes on your back and 1 item...what are you going to boil the water in???
Water filter.
without it, in a week you will just be a corpse with a knife.
Remember it's the clothes on your back and 1 item...what are you going to boil the water in???
- Joined
- Sep 27, 1999
- Messages
- 3,164
I am still weighing possibilities.
the tarp is pretty high on my list. I think for weather and heat it might be the best.
the water filter is also up there depending on what kind of water source is around. how would one drink? giardia might not kill you in a week. hyperthermia might be the biggest threat?
still up in the air there is 7 days on this poll so I am gonna think a bit.
LC, chad and 7 have great points and funny ones too!
the tarp is pretty high on my list. I think for weather and heat it might be the best.
the water filter is also up there depending on what kind of water source is around. how would one drink? giardia might not kill you in a week. hyperthermia might be the biggest threat?
still up in the air there is 7 days on this poll so I am gonna think a bit.
LC, chad and 7 have great points and funny ones too!
Water filter.
I can
flake blades/tools, depending on local materials,
make/find shelter,
and bow a fire.
I can't rig a water filter that does the job- even halfway.
Then again, I may be oversensitive to the water issue- once had to go a week on manuevers with only 4 quarts (not allowed to carry civie tablets, and our "supply line" was cut- In Korea, so using local sources was not an option).
Knife is second choice- because it makes fire/shelterbuilding so much easier.
re: what to boil water in- a rabbit skin.(from those snares you made with your knife's assistance.) just turn it inside out and make sure you don't get it too close to the flame.
I can
flake blades/tools, depending on local materials,
make/find shelter,
and bow a fire.
I can't rig a water filter that does the job- even halfway.
Then again, I may be oversensitive to the water issue- once had to go a week on manuevers with only 4 quarts (not allowed to carry civie tablets, and our "supply line" was cut- In Korea, so using local sources was not an option).
Knife is second choice- because it makes fire/shelterbuilding so much easier.
re: what to boil water in- a rabbit skin.(from those snares you made with your knife's assistance.) just turn it inside out and make sure you don't get it too close to the flame.
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2001
- Messages
- 157
tarp.
Where am I? What season? In both cold and or dry extremes, the filter would be mostly useless. In hot extremes, a fire becomes much less desired than in cold extremes. If it's cold, is the clothing on my back sufficient to sleep a night in, or will I need to construct a warm shelter?
In a moderate climate, with sufficient clothing to need little extra protection, and sufficient open water in my environment, I know I can survive a week with only the water filter, even if I don't eat. I might not enjoy it, but I'd probably even end up a bit trimmer than I started.
In any frozen climate, I think I'd vote for the firestarter. Again, for water purposes. I could probably succeed in starting a fire without it, but I can build a shelter without a knife easier than a fire without a firestarter.
In a desert-type environment, I'm torn between the tarp and the knife. Water I get will be from digging or from plant life, and a knife would help me accomplish those tasks. OTOH, a shade shelter might be difficult to create out of natural elements, and the tarp would be helpful.
So, I guess I want all of them. Oh well...
Stryver, back for a bit
In a moderate climate, with sufficient clothing to need little extra protection, and sufficient open water in my environment, I know I can survive a week with only the water filter, even if I don't eat. I might not enjoy it, but I'd probably even end up a bit trimmer than I started.
In any frozen climate, I think I'd vote for the firestarter. Again, for water purposes. I could probably succeed in starting a fire without it, but I can build a shelter without a knife easier than a fire without a firestarter.
In a desert-type environment, I'm torn between the tarp and the knife. Water I get will be from digging or from plant life, and a knife would help me accomplish those tasks. OTOH, a shade shelter might be difficult to create out of natural elements, and the tarp would be helpful.
So, I guess I want all of them. Oh well...
Stryver, back for a bit
- Joined
- Sep 27, 1999
- Messages
- 3,164
the area is american woods.
there are trees and a stream or lake. it is fall or spring so the weather can go any direction to cold or hot, wet or sunny.
I wanted it to be open to a wide range of possibilities.
I am wobbling between the tarp or water filter.
if it is rainy then you can collect rain water off the tarp, and you can also store your body heat with the tarp.
if it is sunny, then the water filter.
I still haven't voted yet
there are trees and a stream or lake. it is fall or spring so the weather can go any direction to cold or hot, wet or sunny.
I wanted it to be open to a wide range of possibilities.
I am wobbling between the tarp or water filter.
if it is rainy then you can collect rain water off the tarp, and you can also store your body heat with the tarp.
if it is sunny, then the water filter.
I still haven't voted yet
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2001
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- 18,423
re: what to boil water in- a rabbit skin.(from those snares you made with your knife's assistance.) just turn it inside out and make sure you don't get it too close to the flame. [/B][/QUOTE]
Only if you can catch and keep the rabbit with a snare built with raw materials in about 2 days. By then lack of water is going to begin weakening you to the point of incapacitation.
3rd day you are really in trouble.
4th day you are dead.
Only if you can catch and keep the rabbit with a snare built with raw materials in about 2 days. By then lack of water is going to begin weakening you to the point of incapacitation.
3rd day you are really in trouble.
4th day you are dead.
In most circumstances in the woods in America
you should be able to find a spring within a
day or two. Dig around it to get relatively
safe water. If there's dew out, you could drink
that to help keep you going til you find a spring.
If its in the woods and fall/spring-time, you
could rake up large pile of leaves and get into
it to keep warm.
Fire would be difficult to get started, but without
the knife to help you obtain food, the fire may not
even be needed.
For shelter, presume you could cut leafy boughs of
trees and pile up for some shelter in case of rain.
After all, at one time people used piled up grass
/thatch for roofs.
With the knife you can do a # of things.
It gets my vote.
you should be able to find a spring within a
day or two. Dig around it to get relatively
safe water. If there's dew out, you could drink
that to help keep you going til you find a spring.
If its in the woods and fall/spring-time, you
could rake up large pile of leaves and get into
it to keep warm.
Fire would be difficult to get started, but without
the knife to help you obtain food, the fire may not
even be needed.
For shelter, presume you could cut leafy boughs of
trees and pile up for some shelter in case of rain.
After all, at one time people used piled up grass
/thatch for roofs.
With the knife you can do a # of things.
It gets my vote.
Given the situation, the water-filter is the easy winner for me.
A fire and shelter I can make without the knife.
I also think that most of your food is going to be plants and small creatures like frogs and crayfish and turtles.
You can also use your shirt and two sticks to make a scoop for tiny pond-fish (it takes alot of patience but very little energy).
And if you can catch a turtle you can use its shell for cooking.
A fire and shelter I can make without the knife.
I also think that most of your food is going to be plants and small creatures like frogs and crayfish and turtles.
You can also use your shirt and two sticks to make a scoop for tiny pond-fish (it takes alot of patience but very little energy).
And if you can catch a turtle you can use its shell for cooking.
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2001
- Messages
- 1,438
I think the knife may be the most versatile tool listed. I'm a big fan of having my water purifier/filter with me when I'm in the backwoods but I could live with boiling the water as long as it was far enough from society that it didn't contain nasty toxins. Fires could be bow started. but with a knife trees could be felled for shelter and snares set. firebows can be cut with it. Also re: what to boil water in. Confederate is right about animal skins. Also if you can get larger game,bladders would work. Plus you can burn bowls out of wood with the fire you made with the firebow you cut out. I've never tried a bowl, but I have made a cup and spoon so I know it works. Takes some practice though. I do agree that if you know what you're doing obsidian knives can be homemade and are about the sharpest things out there.
Lagarto
Lagarto
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2001
- Messages
- 18,423
The thing that keeps sticking in my mind is that the original question was:
"1 week in the wilderness"
Food while nice won't be all that relevent for just 1 week.
So all the plans of slaying game with a knife or spear is burning alot of calories for very little payoff.
Lack of water is dead in a few days. And no matter how far out from "civilisation" you are, there is very little safe drinking water left in the USA in the wild.
Granted that in a real situation, you won't have anyway of knowing that it will last only a week, but I still think of the items we were givin to choose from, the filter in easily the best choice.
"1 week in the wilderness"
Food while nice won't be all that relevent for just 1 week.
So all the plans of slaying game with a knife or spear is burning alot of calories for very little payoff.
Lack of water is dead in a few days. And no matter how far out from "civilisation" you are, there is very little safe drinking water left in the USA in the wild.
Granted that in a real situation, you won't have anyway of knowing that it will last only a week, but I still think of the items we were givin to choose from, the filter in easily the best choice.
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2001
- Messages
- 202
MFS
The conditions are spring or fall.... still somewhat vague - therefore assume the worst and find a way to deal with it.
The enemy is cold... you will die quick unless you can maintain body temperature. If your body temp is 87 F you will soon die unless there is immediate help from others. Best choice of the materials to keep warm is FIRE MAKING MATERIAL. Just because you can make a fire-by-friction set at home in dry ideal conditions does not mean you will be able to do it when out in the wet cool woods.
Interesting to see the various responses of the folks who chose the water filter, yes bad water may kill you but it won't kill you for several days. You can live without water for at least 4 days unless in a stifling desert. You can filter water by digging a hole ( use a piece of wood tfor digging stick or a rock ) near the shore of a lake or stream also you can add charcoal from your fire to the water to absorb the impurities. Charcoal is very good at absorbing impurities.
The knife can be substituted by pieces of broken rocks or use the rock as an abrader to accomplish some of what a knife can do. The fire can dry out pieces of green wood thereby making the wood somewhat harder and can be substituted as a knife for some used.
The tarp is my second choice. It provides immediate shelter but little insulating value unless it is quite warm out. Shelter can be made out of dead wood, and leaf or branch debris that can be gathered by bare hand or rock assisted hand chopper. If made thick enough and steep enough the roof of your lean to will keep you dry , add a fire reflector wall and you are toasty warm.
I think the various answers reflect the geographical location of the respondents. I'm from BC, so the surface water will not make you drop dead on the spot, it may make you have stomach cramps and diarrhea but that takes at least a week to kill a healthy adult. You can die from cold in BC in the spring or fall unless you can maintain core body temperature, therefore FIRE is my first choice.
The enemy is cold... you will die quick unless you can maintain body temperature. If your body temp is 87 F you will soon die unless there is immediate help from others. Best choice of the materials to keep warm is FIRE MAKING MATERIAL. Just because you can make a fire-by-friction set at home in dry ideal conditions does not mean you will be able to do it when out in the wet cool woods.
Interesting to see the various responses of the folks who chose the water filter, yes bad water may kill you but it won't kill you for several days. You can live without water for at least 4 days unless in a stifling desert. You can filter water by digging a hole ( use a piece of wood tfor digging stick or a rock ) near the shore of a lake or stream also you can add charcoal from your fire to the water to absorb the impurities. Charcoal is very good at absorbing impurities.
The knife can be substituted by pieces of broken rocks or use the rock as an abrader to accomplish some of what a knife can do. The fire can dry out pieces of green wood thereby making the wood somewhat harder and can be substituted as a knife for some used.
The tarp is my second choice. It provides immediate shelter but little insulating value unless it is quite warm out. Shelter can be made out of dead wood, and leaf or branch debris that can be gathered by bare hand or rock assisted hand chopper. If made thick enough and steep enough the roof of your lean to will keep you dry , add a fire reflector wall and you are toasty warm.
I think the various answers reflect the geographical location of the respondents. I'm from BC, so the surface water will not make you drop dead on the spot, it may make you have stomach cramps and diarrhea but that takes at least a week to kill a healthy adult. You can die from cold in BC in the spring or fall unless you can maintain core body temperature, therefore FIRE is my first choice.
- Joined
- Feb 19, 1999
- Messages
- 2,959
No question about it, the water filter.
Everything else can be improvised.
However, to purify water one must first carve a wooden bowl, start a fire, fill the bowl with water, keep circulating hot rocks through the water until it boils for 15 minutes per quart, and then let it cool enough to drink.
All in all, I'd rather have a Katadyn and a rough flint knife than a great knife and Liver Flukes.
(Off to find Spark and get him to change the domain name to www.waterfilterforums.com )
Everything else can be improvised.
However, to purify water one must first carve a wooden bowl, start a fire, fill the bowl with water, keep circulating hot rocks through the water until it boils for 15 minutes per quart, and then let it cool enough to drink.
All in all, I'd rather have a Katadyn and a rough flint knife than a great knife and Liver Flukes.
(Off to find Spark and get him to change the domain name to www.waterfilterforums.com )
Rob Simonich
Big Bear
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- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 2,294
I cant believe all the votes for the water filter. American Indians lived here for the last 12000 years or so and never had a water filter. I have drank out of some pretty questionable streams, springs and such and have nebver been sick from the water. That brings up another question though. Do some people have a natural resistance to giardia and other bad things in the water? I think it is possible as I have drank where ever there was water for as long as I can remember.
I picked the knife. With the knife you can make shelter, fire making tools, traps, dig for roots, and make a water container to boil water in if needed, such as the rabbit skin mentioned earlier.
I picked the knife. With the knife you can make shelter, fire making tools, traps, dig for roots, and make a water container to boil water in if needed, such as the rabbit skin mentioned earlier.
Given your criteria I would take the water filter to avoid dehydration and giardia. Here in the northeast there are relatively few uninfected water sources. Everything else can be made in the wild. If it were the dead of winter I would switch to the tarp to avoid hypothermia seeing the water filter won't work (freezes) anyway. I'd use my two shoe laces to tie the ends of the rolled tarp to keep my body heat inside. I've used nylon tubes (~ 3' dia.) in 0* weather and with four of us in it we brought the ambient temperature up to about 50*. We drank the snow after it melted.