2 Months in the Wilderness

Dreamer said:
For the people who love to make lists, this thread is for you. I don't see much attention paid to food storage, preparation, re supply, water purification, etc., etc. Knifes are great tools, but not the only tools one needs to last 2 months in the woods. I would pack a generator, gas and the satellite dish. Two months is a long time to be disconnected from the system.
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I have been disconnected for more than 2 months, you get used to it and it is not bad at all.

You are right knives are not the only tool I need, I need my shotgun.
 
Riley, you ARE a tool. :D Make sure they have ID, though, or you might wind up camping where you'd rather not be. As in, "You in heap o' trouble, boy!" Bring plenty of soap, deoderant, and shaving gear, too, or you won't enjoy each other's company in a few days.
 
Just kidding guys, Didn't mean to offend anyone. And besides if anyone saw me they could testify that any self respecting cheerleader wouldnot come within 100 yards of me....well unless they needed a mascot or something :)
 
When Chris “Alex” McCandless set out alone to “live off the land for a few months" in the Alaskan wilderness in April of 1992, he took 10 lbs of rice, a .22 rifle and 400 rounds of ammo, matches, a sleeping bag, canteen, mess kit, a machete, a Swiss Army knife, fishing rod and a bunch of books to read, one of them a guide to edible wild plants. For navigation he had only a gas station road map - no compass and no means of communication with the outside world.


You can read his story here:


http://outside.away.com/outside/features/1993/1993_into_the_wild_1.html





Frank
 
Frank,
I don't get your point, are you just telling us about Chris or are you saying it can't be done. I am very familiar with the McCandless story and frankly think he was arrogant, ignorant, and it killed him. For example he didn't know the difference between a caribou and a moose and had no idea how to preserve the meat after he killed one. He was an urban idealist whose ego put him in an early grave, or bus if you will.

2 months is not that long, barring any severe bad luck it would not be that hard with a minimum of the right gear in a familiar environment. Chris

EDIT: In all these gear lists no one mentions a gig, conibear traps or net, a few pieces of gear that are fairly light, easy to use and will consistently put meat in the pot.
 
No point, just an interesting true story – I am not saying that it can’t be done at all.


BTW, the thing about the caribou was a mistake Jon Krakauer corrected in his book “Into the Wild” after he examined the moose bones himself.



Frank
 
I didn't know about the correction, but he still lost most of the meat. When he had all the wood in the world to build racks and a fire to dry it with.

IMO there are lots of people that over simplify the great outdoors or simply think they are better than they are and it gets people hurt or killed all the time. I think Chris Mccandless was one of these people, although it is a very sad story I find it hard to be very sympathetic except for his family. Chris
 
runningboar said:
In all these gear lists no one mentions a gig, conibear traps or net, a few pieces of gear that are fairly light, easy to use and will consistently put meat in the pot.
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I meant to throw in some snare wire but forgot to add it to the list. :D

typical :rolleyes: :D
 
McCandles, was overly romantic and purposely took chances on his adventures, but he was no stranger to living off of the land, having done so in some of his previous adventures and he did do research, spending several days studying wild edible plants at a university in Alaska.


His two biggest mistakes, in my view, were that he didn’t bring a topographical map which would have showed him where he could have safely crossed the river and walked out and where there was a road used by forest ranges and that he eat wild plants (one of the wild plants he was eating poisoned him – it turns out that the “edible” plant is poisonous during parts of the season but not others – something that no one knew at the time). Of course, telling someone where he was going and when to expect him back and having some means of communication with the outside world would have likely saved him as well.




Frank
 
frank k said:
McCandles, was overly romantic and purposely took chances on his adventures, but he was no stranger to living off of the land having done so in some of his previous adventures and he did do research, spending several days studying wild edible plants at a university in Alaska.


His two biggest mistakes, in my view, were that he didn’t bring a topographical map which would have showed him where he could have safely crossed the river and walked out and where there was a road used by forest ranges and that he eat wild plants (one of the wild plants he was eating poisoned him – it turns out that the “edible” plant is poisonous during parts of the season but not others – something that no one knew at the time). Of course, telling someone where he was going and when to expect him back and having some means of communication with the outside world would have likely saved him as well.




Frank
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Agreed, word for word.

There is no doubt that Chris was very smart and educated but had very limited outdoor skills IMO. Nature is a very cruel mistress, and it is a lot of fun to sit at our keyboards and hypothesize. Chris might have been fine and walked out none the worse for the wear if it hadn't been for the one plant he ate. Chris
 
fallkinven A1
a John Foxwell custom :)
SAK
a Bow with cheep arrows and spare string
sharping stone
bivi
sleeping bag
30M 550 paracord
PSK of course
few books
topo maps of the surrounding area ( even if known well )
water purification gear

and of course food, cloths and bathroom stuff
 
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