Hi Runningboar,
I am glad you made it out safely. I also never go into the woods without the essentials, and have even been laughed at because of it. But I don't care because I will have what I need in case the unexpected happens. I think the worse thing is knowing how worried my wife and kids would be. I enjoy solo hikes but must admit I usually don't go as far as if I'm with someone. I think the main thing is to keep a clear head and know your limitations. Also, there is nothing in the woods at night that isn't there during the day (although some nocternal animals are more active at night of course). Oh well, be safe on your hikes everyone.
Spring of '91, my unit was acting as part of the OPFOR during an exercise at the Northern Warfare Training Center, Fort Greeley, Alaska. My platoon was tasked to work in small teams to harass the division level force and simulate partisan activities. My team and I decided to mess with a water resupply truck. We waited at a very tight switchback and I jumped onto the back of the truck while it was going slowly and filled a five gallon container for the team, dropped it to my buddies and then...the plan was to open the "big valve" all the way and the truck would drain while enroute to the "enemy encampment" but the truck hit paved road while I was still clinging to the back of it and I rode it for about eight miles until it slowed just outside the enemy HQ.
The "guerilla" units, to distinguish them from the "good guys", wore their MOPP jackets inside out, showing the black side. As I was trying to make my way back, I got yelled at by this Sergeant Major to get back into uniform and quit fartin' around. I switched the jacket back right side out and just walked away from the HQ.
I made my way back to the rally point before dawn and realized that I was the only one of my team with a map and I didn't have a radio. I was totally on my own. I had my M-203, blanks, some 40mm parachute flares, map and compass, one MRE, two canteens of water, a poncho, an Opinel folder and a Gerber Australian Bowie, a lighter and a couple packs of cigarettes, and an itty bitty psk that I carried everywhere. I also had MILES gear but didn't have my Kevlar helmet because I'd handed it to one of the other guys before jumping on the back of the "water buffalo".
I decided to set up camp at the rally point. I was there for three days. During that time I set up a poncho shelter, got a good fire going, killed a porcupine with a blank round and a rifle cleaning rod, cleaned it cooked it and ate it, found a good water source and whittled some odds and ends around camp. I didn't get lonely because I kept busy and because I kept myself in good spirits thinking about my team-mates.
The evening of the third day. I heard a "firefight" less than a quarter mile away and decided to see if I couldn't hook up with somebody else from my platoon. I ran most of the way because I was worried that the action would be over before I got there and everybody would have moved on.
I came up behind the action, an L-ambush at a dog leg in the road and found that the ambushers were my lost team. I plopped down next to one of them and, scaring the crap out of him, said, "hey, where's my Kevlar?"
We continued the ambush for another three minutes and then faded back into the woods.
All in all...it was a blast. Things could have gone very badly. I could have been injured or attacked by a bear. They could have gotten lost or hurt. All manner of very bad things could have happened. I didn't think about all of these bad things while I was alone.
I've got to look those guys up and take them camping.
