CONTEST -- How many Survival Mistakes did I make?

[Rotte]

Any survival tools for shelter and/or fire in case you got stranded? A fire was mentioned but you did not mention what you had with you other than a couple knives.

That's a broad question Rocky and I'm going to answer with a photo taken after the fact on my porch:

 

[hector81]

Funny how stuff looks different when covered in snow, eh?

exactly what I was thinking.
sometimes, way too different.

 

[Rotte]

While you made it home safe, you jeopardized the health of your dog without his consent.

I actually had the same thought at one point.

 

[Rotte]

Did you let yourself sweat?
Did you take your phone?
Did you have gloves?
Did you remember to slip your handy dandy PSK in your pocket before you left?

Great questions. See photo above.

I grabbed minimal kit, but that did include a pair of fleece gloves. I didn't wear them at first, even though it was only 19deg F when I left home.

I did have my phone--that's how I took the picture of my dog--but I was snowshoeing in an area with little or no cell coverage. Realistically the phone would not have served to summon help.

I was pretty happy to be out snowshoeing and set off at a good clip. The snow was a bit deeper where I went and some drifts were knee deep. It was fairly hard work, but I was having fun and worked up a pretty good sweat. The sun started to come out, but somewhat unexpectedly, the sky turned grey again. It started snowing some more. And the wind picked up.

 

[Odaon]

You got lost without a compass because the snow changed the area that you were familiar with. Started to sweat. Got cold and wet, had trouble starting a fire or could find no suitable dry wood?

As mentioned above, you didn't tell anyone where you were going, and only took a minimal sized kit. You got wet. You went farther than you should have. You probably should have taken a bit more clothes. When the sun came out you probably pushed harder because you thought is might clear up, then it started snowing more and the wind picked up. That probably kicked up lots of snow and deterred your vision. You (at least as far as I know) did not have any sort of eye covering.

What other gear did you have with you?

 

[Rotte]

What other gear did you have with you?

You're down in Ft Collins, so you must have been hit with the same snow storm. Hope you'll have some fun this weekend.

Per your question: I also had my wallet with me--usual stuff in that--a few dollars, credit cards, picture of dog, etc .... That's pretty much it. Ahhh, since you mentioned it, I did have a small Marbles compass around my neck.

I keep this little compass with me always. Well, pretty much always.
Otherwise, I had just what was in the above picture: SAK, Breeden, PSK , and Zippo. And a Skillcraft ballpoint pen (just happened to be in my pants pocket).

 

[sc2]

Did you bring any water or food... for you and the dog?
no spare socks...
Did you forget you are older and therefore more out of shape, so trekking thru snow is more strenuous?
How about some sort of umbrella? shelter?
Snow shoes for the dog?

How long were you lost??

How long was the trip out?

Steve

 

[Loosearrow]

did you take something to melt snow and keep hydrated. As mentioned before you got cold and wet maybe didn't layer out properly and remove articles when you were starting to sweat. You could start cramping. As mentioned before the exertion factor of snow shoes and possibly the lack of conditioning and dehydration could lead to a heart attack common with snow falls and exertion. Did you leave a note or call someone to tell them where you were going and when to expect your return. Change of socks? Warm hat? Flashlight and whistle. These articles may have been mentioned earlier, I'm at work and sneaking this in. Great thread. Granola bars and some tea?

 

[Rotte]

Did you forget you are older and therefore more out of shape, so trekking thru snow is more strenuous?

Ain't that the truth.

I've now posted pics of all my gear/kit, unless you count the MSR snowshoes. Nothing special there, just plastic snowshoes. They work fairly well, but are small. Being small, they don't provide much flotation for a guy who is over 200#. Less flotation = more work = more strenuous. I did not have a heart attack, but it wasn't a bad stress test to be snowshoeing at a 7500' elevation with an enthusiastic dog.

The dog's gear consisted of a collar and leash. This proves that I'm smarter than my dog, because at least I brought a knife and Zippo with me.

Although to be fair, she didn't think we would be out so long (about 8:00 a.m. 'til 14:00--I didn't have a watch either .).

I'm gonna exercise my 5th amendment right on the being lost question. Let's just say that for a few minutes I couldn't give my exact position if asked. I did have a small compass with me and I'm sure the North star would have come out eventually. And in an effort to preserve a little dignity, let me add that I did make it home in time for an early dinner.

Edit: Loosearrow just reminded me that at the last minute I jammed a Surefire flashlight into the pocket of my Softshell.

 

[MattM_Gilbert]

I actually had the same thought at one point.

Mostly, I was trying to be clever. I will ponder whether a domesticated beast can consent or refuse this type of event. Either way, most of our dogs would rather follow us into face of danger than rest on the tile or carpet at home.

 

[bigcountry1315]

Your mistakes as I see. You didn't layer in a wicking material to pull the sweat away from your body. You did not inform anyone where you were going or when you planned to return. You were in a familiar area but did not take a topo map. You did not have any food or water with you for you or the dog. You did not have a space blanket and only one means of producing fire ( always carry cotton balls in a canister that have been saturated in petroleam jelly). great contest and just my 00.2 cents living in the big woods where we get lots of snow I have made the same mistakes.

Mike

 

[mtwarden]

not telling anyone where you are going or leaving a note is a biggy

your clothing list looks different then what I would choose- cotton t-shirt, cotton sweatshirt- cotton kills is a mantra that is based in fact- add in strenuous activity and cold temps it becomes more so

a good base layer top and bottom is where it all starts- merino wool or synthetic- something that wicks and dries quickly. over that a thicker wool or syn piece- on the outside a wind/moisture proof layer (top and bottom)- add and subtract these layers as the activity dictates

in your pack (you always go w/ at least a small pack) is your insulating layer- down or syn filled coat/vest- this can be put on at rest stops (or save your butt if your caught out)

getting turned around happens to all of us, a map and compass (and the know how to use it) gets us un-turned around- a gps (and the know how) can be added to a kit

also in that pack you didn't have- is a emergency blanket/bivy in the unfortunate event one gets caught out- there is also food, water, a small stove, cup- the ability to melt snow in the winter is very important- a hot drink or meal can be very beneficial as well

in that pack goes a small first aid kit in the event your injured (or even your dog)

lots of folks forget sunglasses and suncreen in the winter- I've seen some terrible burns in the winter- no sunglasses and snow and sun can be very dangerous

you didn't get lost, but if you did- did you have any way to signal- mirror, whistle, cell phone (a smoky fire is better than nothing)

on the plus side you had fire starting material, a good knife and the know how to get back to square one

 

[Rotte]

Your mistakes as I see. You didn't layer in a wicking material to pull the sweat away from your body. You did not inform anyone where you were going or when you planned to return. You were in a familiar area but did not take a topo map. You did not have any food or water with you for you or the dog. You did not have a space blanket and only one means of producing fire ( always carry cotton balls in a canister that have been saturated in petroleam jelly). great contest and just my 00.2 cents living in the big woods where we get lots of snow I have made the same mistakes.

Mike

Best guess so far. I've got some other mistakes in mind as well, but you are on the right track. I'm really beginning to worry that I'm going to look like a complete jackass and greenhorn over the course of this contest. But it's funny when you look at a small event like this and realize the potential for a bad situation.

I'll add at this point that I injured myself during this little trek. One of the joys of snowshoeing is bushwacking off-trail, cross-country, without benefit of trail or path. So the terrain was less predictable. And it's hard to see through 6-24" of snow. So I'm walking along, in unfamiliar terrain, looking for a couple points to orient myself. I don't see the big hard thing under the snow as it catches my snowshoe and throws me down a slight incline.

At first I'm just embarrassed (fortunately the dog is the only other being to witness my crash and she hasn't mastered laughing out loud yet), but then I realize I've twisted my right knee and it's starting to hurt more. That would be my good knee. My previously considered to be good knee. It's a mild sprain and will heal up in a week or so. But I'm lying in the snow looking up at the gray sky with snow falling, the mercury around 25 deg F, without an exact location, and a dog who's wondering what I'm doing taking a break several miles away from the truck.

As I'm lying there, I begin to think about several small mistakes I've made today, none of which seem too significant, but could have added up to a bad day. Hence this contest.

 

[Rotte]

not telling anyone where you are going or leaving a note is a biggy

your clothing list looks different then what I would choose- cotton t-shirt, cotton sweatshirt- cotton kills is a mantra that is based in fact- add in strenuous activity and cold temps it becomes more so

a good base layer top and bottom is where it all starts- merino wool or synthetic- something that wicks and dries quickly. over that a thicker wool or syn piece- on the outside a wind/moisture proof layer (top and bottom)- add and subtract these layers as the activity dictates

in your pack (you always go w/ at least a small pack) is your insulating layer- down or syn filled coat/vest- this can be put on at rest stops (or save your butt if your caught out)

getting turned around happens to all of us, a map and compass (and the know how to use it) gets us un-turned around- a gps (and the know how) can be added to a kit

also in that pack you didn't have- is a emergency blanket/bivy in the unfortunate event one gets caught out- there is also food, water, a small stove, cup- the ability to melt snow in the winter is very important- a hot drink or meal can be very beneficial as well

in that pack goes a small first aid kit in the event your injured (or even your dog)

lots of folks forget sunglasses and suncreen in the winter- I've seen some terrible burns in the winter- no sunglasses and snow and sun can be very dangerous

you didn't get lost, but if you did- did you have any way to signal- mirror, whistle, cell phone (a smoky fire is better than nothing)

on the plus side you had fire starting material, a good knife and the know how to get back to square one

Well said, all points are on the mark.

 

[dipbait]

Did you eat and hydrate yourself before heading out?

 

[dougo83]

You went outside when it was 19 deg F that!! For a Central Texas boy that is all it takes to cause a survival nightmare...

 

[Toucan Oasis]

Did you spread Vaseline on your zipper so in case of severe shaking from hypothermia ' something" wouldn't get caught in it during a call from nature ?

 

[TreeChopper]

choker collar on the dog = deadly if he/she becomes separated and it catches on something.

was the dog fit enough for the adventure?

are you or the dog on any meds and did you have any extra with you? I recently made this mistake with myself and another time with my dog who is diabetic.:foot:

 

[Rotte]

Did you eat and hydrate yourself before heading out?

I had had a couple of eggs and a lot of coffee that morning.

 

[Rotte]

choker collar on the dog = deadly if he/she becomes separated and it catches on something.

was the dog fit enough for the adventure?

are you or the dog on any meds and did you have any extra with you? I recently made this mistake with myself and another time with my dog who is diabetic.:foot:

I use a Martingale collar for my dog--it does have a chain loop, but it can only close down so far; so unlike a regular choke collar the chance of her being strangled by it is much less than with a regular chain collar. But, like any collar I suppose, there is a chance it could get snagged and choke her. The rest of the collar is nylon and could easily be cut with a knife--I prefer the Martingale and always carry a knife when I walk my dog for just this reason (call me paranoid if you must ).

In re canine fitness: she could me more fit--my bad for not getting her out often enough, but she did great. I was a little worried that the snow could be hard on her paws, but it had been a cold, light snow and there wasn't any icy crust (for the most part). Sometimes when it becomes very cold, snow will stick to her toes and clump up causing her some problems, but that did not happen this time. (Sorry dougo83, 19F isn't considered very cold here ) I've thought about getting her some little dog booties, but have never used them before.

As for meds, I don't take any on a regular basis. Great thought though-especially for some conditions like asthma or diabetes. When climbing up in altitude, altitude sickness can become an issue (unlikely at 7500', but certainly up over 10,000'). I that case pre-planning some meds may be a good idea.