jaime-
I think comparison of survival skills may be a waste of time, though I do thank you for your kind words. The issue is broader than being able to find shelter, warmth, food and water, and finding what you need when it is needed. For example, I chose my place of exile. Had I not done that, could I have succeeded? Perhaps not. The broader issue is: can a person not "wilderness tuned" reliably and repeatedly demonstrate the specific skills called for by the situation- situation to include a broad range of environments, climates, etc.
By wilderness tuned, I mean a person acclimated to this kind of living, and in sufficient physical and mental condition to sustain themselves. There are hardships uncommon to the common man in such an exercise. The simple fact is, mankind in general has softened. There are immediate remedies available for almost every discomfort from pain to cold to loneliness to hunger to thirst and most importantly, to illness. We think nothing of exercising our option to employ these remedies the moment we encounter discomfort. Part of the problem I see is contained in the fact of simply "KNOWING" a remedy exists and we have willingly isolated ourselves from it. That fact alone softens us. Ancient man had no such knowledge. He therefore was more inclined to accept a situation and move forward. An old quote I like is: "Comfort enters as your guest, remains as your host, and becomes your master". I like it for somewhat obvious reasons.
I think we should all have the requisite skills to survive a wilderness encounter of, say, two weeks. That would "prove" anything needed to be proven- not to anyone else- but to yourself. In that time you could discover things you did not know and resolve to increase your knowledge. My "exercise" did serve me well in a later incident that I did not choose. I can tell you that I was even less prepared and way more at risk, so I guess it was useful.
Were I to consider long-term living in these conditions ever again it would be with a very complete medicine kit including antibiotics and I would have a doctor who was himself skilled in wilderness medicine assist in putting it together- because I would need prescription drugs, needles, syringes, suture, hemostats, etc., and because they could anticipate things I could not. To my original gear, I would add (for a 4 month stay) 4 pair sox- wool, 5 lbs of lard, 20 lbs of salt, 20 lbs of carbohydrate (like rice), some spices, 2 pounds antibacterial soap, some lye (for use in brain-tanning hides, (yes, I know it can be manufactured)), an axe and saw and better knife, ferrocium rod, and a survival rifle- like a .22/410, ammo (not much, really), some cheap lotion high in lanolin, and a close friend who had proven skills (of the opposite sex would be nice
).
You may find my choices interesting- even a bit odd. But those are my choices.
-carl
). That is why I say you must be a very skilled man, because for a few days being only tough is enough. Chapeau again!.
