- Joined
- Mar 2, 1999
- Messages
- 666
It's What-If time again.
Just for chuckles, let's say you have $100 for a survival kit. Here's the scenario...
Oh boy, did the airline screw up. You'd been planning this hunting (or camping/fishing/birdwatching) trip "Up North" for months. You're standing in the airport when a 24-hour delay in your connecting flight to "Up North" is announced. All of your gear is happily making it's way to your destination because a good buddy who was familiar with the location (you aren't) helped out.
The airline attendant is trying to be helpful and suggests in the interest of time that "Fred's Air service" can get you there in 6 hours. Fred's hangar is a short taxi ride away and is across from Ma & Pa's General store. "Fred's a very good pilot," you're assured by all you ask.
You think it prudent to get some gear "just in case" for the flight and fortunately, Ma & Pa just happen to stock every knife, gun, and piece of gear ever made. They don't take credit cards, but you've got a Ben Franklin tucked in your shoe. So you spend the $100. Fred even loans you a pack to put it all in.
It turns out that Fred's a great talker but a poor pilot. He takes you up over a remote pass ("I like this route, no one EVER goes here.") He doesn't file a flight plan.
It's late summer, you're in over a mountain range somewhere in the 10,000-14,000 foot elevation range.
The motor conks out. You're dropped in a very remote northern woodland-type area in the plane crash. Fred puts her down in a deep lake, going down with the ship in 75 feet of water. All you had time to pull out was your backpack. All else is gone. You're alone and wet, but unhurt. The sun is setting.
Your exceptions, things that "don't count," include two layers of clothing, boots, a hat and the pack. They aren't part of the $100 cost. Everything else is.
You can spend all of your time second-guessing the scenario and "your" decisions, but for now, you're in a fix.
What is in the pack? Include prices to keep everyone honest.
My attempt:
$20 - US Pilot's Survival knife
7 - 4 mil plastic sheeting 10' x 25'
5 - Magnesium fire starter
2 - 1 liter sports drink
2 - whistle
2 - signal mirror
7 - 100 feet milspec 550 cord (edited. Thanks Bugs.)
7 - potassium permangenate water purifier
2 - steel wool for tinder
5 - compass
2 - 22-gauge steel wire
10 - Emergency space blanket (the thick one)
2 - fishing hooks
2 - sinkers
2 - 100 yards 10-lb. test monofilament line
15 - basic first aid kit
8 - map of the region
Just for chuckles, let's say you have $100 for a survival kit. Here's the scenario...
Oh boy, did the airline screw up. You'd been planning this hunting (or camping/fishing/birdwatching) trip "Up North" for months. You're standing in the airport when a 24-hour delay in your connecting flight to "Up North" is announced. All of your gear is happily making it's way to your destination because a good buddy who was familiar with the location (you aren't) helped out.
The airline attendant is trying to be helpful and suggests in the interest of time that "Fred's Air service" can get you there in 6 hours. Fred's hangar is a short taxi ride away and is across from Ma & Pa's General store. "Fred's a very good pilot," you're assured by all you ask.
You think it prudent to get some gear "just in case" for the flight and fortunately, Ma & Pa just happen to stock every knife, gun, and piece of gear ever made. They don't take credit cards, but you've got a Ben Franklin tucked in your shoe. So you spend the $100. Fred even loans you a pack to put it all in.
It turns out that Fred's a great talker but a poor pilot. He takes you up over a remote pass ("I like this route, no one EVER goes here.") He doesn't file a flight plan.
It's late summer, you're in over a mountain range somewhere in the 10,000-14,000 foot elevation range.
The motor conks out. You're dropped in a very remote northern woodland-type area in the plane crash. Fred puts her down in a deep lake, going down with the ship in 75 feet of water. All you had time to pull out was your backpack. All else is gone. You're alone and wet, but unhurt. The sun is setting.
Your exceptions, things that "don't count," include two layers of clothing, boots, a hat and the pack. They aren't part of the $100 cost. Everything else is.
You can spend all of your time second-guessing the scenario and "your" decisions, but for now, you're in a fix.
What is in the pack? Include prices to keep everyone honest.
My attempt:
$20 - US Pilot's Survival knife
7 - 4 mil plastic sheeting 10' x 25'
5 - Magnesium fire starter
2 - 1 liter sports drink
2 - whistle
2 - signal mirror
7 - 100 feet milspec 550 cord (edited. Thanks Bugs.)
7 - potassium permangenate water purifier
2 - steel wool for tinder
5 - compass
2 - 22-gauge steel wire
10 - Emergency space blanket (the thick one)
2 - fishing hooks
2 - sinkers
2 - 100 yards 10-lb. test monofilament line
15 - basic first aid kit
8 - map of the region