My Survival Experience

[Stormstaff]

Great story. Thanks for sharing. I'm glad it all worked out ok!

 

[Gaurdian_A1]

Glad everything worked out! With the ammount of people on these forums we were bound for a good story one of these days. Good thing you were prepaired..what an experience that would have been..wow

 

[PropThePolecat]

I totally agree with you that the common survival skills are of little use cooped up in a mountain hut. Being healthy, fit and not giving up is more important, and so is warm clothing, food and hydration.

I dont know the area youre talking about, nor do i know if it requires specialized mountain climbing gear and skills, and i suspect that it would be suicide trying a tricky descent in 110mph winds.

But you say that the mountain rescue team came up and escorted you out.
Lets say that you had a map of the area together with a compass/gps... do you think you could have hiked out of there, during a lull in the weather, by yourself to a prearranged helicopter pickup-point? That is wearing the same clothing you had on at that time and carrying the same gear.

Maybe thats a way one could prepare for such a situation.

Great story, thanks for sharing.

 

[WolfTracker]

What? A radio hut with no heat?

 

[kr1]

Walking can be almost impossible in over 80 mph wind, it can lift you off your feet even with good purchase when it starts to get around 85 to 100. Even more dangerous then the wind is the blowing snow, even in slow winds, that makes it impossible to differentiate between sky and ground. You can literally step off of the mountain into space.

Hunkering down is the only sensible thing to do in most cases. Of course without that shelter, you are going to die in conditions like that. And areas, like mountain tops, often that have that kind of wind have no real snow on them because it is scoured off by the wind. Probably one of the most inhospitable environments around because of those conditions.

The mountains, even in NH, claim lives with some regularity because of these types of conditions. Its a rough enviroment to survive.

Thanks for a great story. Glad it all turned out OK, with overtime pay to boot.

 

[smersh]

The most important thing is drinking water. Luckily we had snow to melt. In the summer, I will take 2-3 gallons of water with me in case all of the snow has all melted. I was surprised at how quickly I got dehydrated in the winter. I'd always thought of dehydration as a summertime affliction.

The elevation probably contributed to the dehydration -- it usually hits me pretty hard, especially the first day up.

 

[akennedy73]

You have hit on a very important issue.

http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=5197&page=161

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRfLj0Fj7Gc at about 40 seconds...

Marion

Indeed - carrying a little bit of electrolyte can make a big difference. Water isn't the only component of hydration.

http://eletewater.com/

 

[kr1]

The elevation probably contributed to the dehydration -- it usually hits me pretty hard, especially the first day up.

Winter dehydration always a problem and is a major contributor to frostbite. The blood thickens up when you dehydrate and doesn't circulate the way it should, especially to the extremities so heat brought from the bodies core doesn't help keep the fingers/toes/etc. warm and the cell operation is reduced making it less efficient.

The winter air is so dry that the normal amount of water lost through breathing is increased dramatically. It causes no end of problems in the winter. Many dehydrated people in winter will argue that they aren't dehydrated because they haven't been sweating.

At elevations as low as 5000 feet these changes can start to occur but above 10,000 they can be pronounced.

 

[dextersp1]

I've learned more from winter hiking than anything else.
The lessons learned carry over to summer hiking also.

This is my check list and weight estimate - if there was a way to post an excel spread sheet, things would line up better.
Although this is a blade forum; I agree with you that a simple knife is all that is needed - I like a swiss army knive with a sissor and saw.

Total Total 16 Overnight Wear
OZ LBS Feet LBS LBS
49.0 3.06 Boots 3.06
3.0 0.19 Socks - Wear 0.19
2.5 0.16 Socks - Liners 0.16
3.0 0.19 Sox - Extra 0.19
3.0 0.19 Sox-sleep 0.19
4.3 0.27 Gators 0.27
Legs
7.0 0.44 Lite weight bottoms 0.44
10.0 0.63 Midweight bottoms 0.63
14.0 0.88 Hiking Pants(Rain Pants?) 0.88
13.0 0.81 Soft Shell Pants 0.81
12.0 0.75 Heavyweight Fleece?? 0.75
Torso
4.0 0.25 Underwear-Synthetic 0.25
5.0 0.31 Lightweight-Base Layer 0.31
7.0 0.44 Midweight-thermal 0.44
9.0 0.56 Heavyweight-thermal 0.56
16.0 1.00 Fleece Jacket ?? 1.00
16.0 1.00 Soft Shell Jacket 1.00
5.0 0.31 Liner Glove 0.31
7.0 0.44 Shell Glove 0.44
7.0 0.44 Mitts 0.44
Head
3.0 0.19 Hat-Baseball 0.19
3.0 0.19 Balaclava 0.19
7.0 0.44 Glacier glasses w/strap/case 0.44
1.0 0.06 Bandanna 0.06
Equipment
63.0 3.94 Back Pack - 42 liters 3.94
1.0 0.06 2 Attaching Carabineers 0.06
Sleeping
32.0 2.00 Bivy 2.00
64.0 4.00 Sleeping Bag 4.00
14.0 0.88 Thermarest z-Ridge Rest 0.88
7.0 0.44 Bivy under layer 0.44
Cooking
6.0 0.38 Stove 0.38
4.0 0.25 Pot w/lid 0.25
1.0 0.06 Cloth 0.06
6.0 0.38 Fuel - 1 - 100 g 0.38
0.3 0.02 Spoon 0.02
4.5 0.28 Thermo Mug 0.28
Water
11.0 0.69 Water Filter 0.69
7.2 0.45 Camelbak bladder 0.45
3.0 0.19 Camelbak Tube Insulation 0.19
6.2 0.39 Water Bottle - 32 oz 0.39
Light
3.0 0.19 Headlamp 0.19
3.5 0.22 Flashlight 0.22
Navigation
2.0 0.13 Compass 0.13
2.0 0.13 Map 0.13
31.0 1.94 Crampons 1.94
6.5 0.41 Yaktrax w/Tie on ?? 0.41
58.0 3.63 Snow Shoes 3.63
16.5 1.03 Ice Axe w/leach 1.03
19.0 1.19 Trekking Poles 1.19
Other
4.0 0.25 Knife/Multi Tool 0.25
5.0 0.31 Swiss Army Knife 0.31
2.5 0.16 Trowel 0.16
10.0 0.63 Camera 0.63
3.0 0.19 Watch 0.19
1.5 0.09 Stuff Sack - Food 0.09
1.0 0.06 Stuff Sack - Food-Hiking 0.06
3.0 0.19 Stuff Sack - Clothes 0.19
2.0 0.13 Stuff Sack - Crampons 0.13
1.0 0.06 Stuff Sack-Expendables 0.06
1.0 0.06 Stuff Sack-Electronics 0.06
3.0 0.19 Stuff Sack-Boots 0.19
4.0 0.25 Cell Phone 0.25
Other
6.0 0.38 Medical Kit 0.38
3.5 0.22 Emergency Blanket 0.22
5.0 0.31 Fire Kit 0.31
6.0 0.38 Keys/Whistle/CC/Cash 0.38
4.0 0.25 Repair Kit/Duct Tape 0.25
Expendables
4.0 0.25 Extra Batteries 0.25
4.0 0.25 Chem Hand Wamers - 4 0.25
2.5 0.16 Sunscreen 0.16
3.0 0.19 Hand Cleaning Gel 0.19
1.0 0.06 Toilet Paper 0.06
2.0 0.13 Wipes 0.13
3.0 0.19 Tooth Brush 0.19
2.0 0.13 Tooth Paste 0.13
2.0 0.13 Liquid Soap 0.13
3.0 0.19 Para cord 0.19
9.3 0.58 Other/Misc 0.58
683.8 42.74 Subtotal 33.00 9.74
104.3 6.52 Water - 100 oz 6.52
72.0 4.50 Food - 2.25lb/days 2 4.50
860.1 53.75 Total 44.02 9.74

 

[skitertank]

glad to hear everything worked out,i too was once in cold weather survival situation,not as extreme as yours but in the 30s cold.i built a shelter and fire with my knife and firesteel and made it through the night.i had a big old nice survival kit in my pack but never touched it.the best things i ended up having on me was some beef jerky,trail mix,half liter of water,my knife,firesteel but the most important,knowledge and a clear head.after i got out i made a lot of changes to what i now carry which is condensed into a very small military ammo pouch with the bare essentials because in a real survival situation(not camping survival)you have to learn to improvise and adapt.

thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[C_Kyle]

Thank you for sharing your story. This is another example of why "survival" and "survival gear" need to be tailored to you and your environment. A lot of people will say you need this and you need that, which really isn't true. "this" and "that" will make the situation easier; but, all you really need is the ability to remain calm and think.

 

[statius]

I don't remember meeting someone that fits that description, sorry.

BB

Nevermind, I just asked him and he said it wasn't their team.

 

[batosai117]

Wow, I'm glad things turned out okay :thumbup:

This seems to be one of those "stranded" situations we always talk about here, but you actually went through one. Down here in Texas, it's always hot so I plan my pack around being stuck in the heat - seems that I would be in a bind if a sudden shower or cool front were to sweep through (like it did today).

 

[jw2n]

I have been caught in three separate bad situations in my life. From each of the three I learned that what I needed was different for each one. I am frequently ridiculed for carrying a small backpack everyday with my gear. I never explain to them why I do. But I know they will be the 1st SOBs who will expect me to help, or "share".

 

[Paul Green]

Thank you for the good story.

Your experience really supports the need to maintain a PMA in a survival situation.

Cheers

Paul

 

[beeperboy]

But you say that the mountain rescue team came up and escorted you out.
Lets say that you had a map of the area together with a compass/gps... do you think you could have hiked out of there, during a lull in the weather, by yourself to a prearranged helicopter pickup-point? That is wearing the same clothing you had on at that time and carrying the same gear.

Maybe thats a way one could prepare for such a situation.

Great story, thanks for sharing.

One good thing to come out of this is we are reworking policy on remote site work, and have also garnered attention from management above due to the liability issues. There is talk of sending us on winter survival training courses, and there is suddenly money available to expand our survival equipment and clothing.

As you had mentioned, we are also considering leaving topo maps in each of our mountain top sites, with possible escape routes drawn in. Escape route waypoints could also be pre-programmed into our GPS. Some of our sites are accessible by hiking/climbing, and some of our sites are helicopter access only, so this wouldn't be possible in every instance.

BB

 

[beeperboy]

What? A radio hut with no heat?

We aren't spoiled rotten like you guys down south. The only power available is solar panels, so heat is pretty much out of the question. Hauling propane or other fuel up there by helicopter would be cost prohibitive. The equipment we use is designed to work down to -50F, so the radios don't care. It's only the tech that feels the chill.

BB

 

[beeperboy]

glad to hear everything worked out,i too was once in cold weather survival situation,not as extreme as yours but in the 30s cold.i built a shelter and fire with my knife and firesteel and made it through the night.i had a big old nice survival kit in my pack but never touched it.the best things i ended up having on me was some beef jerky,trail mix,half liter of water,my knife,firesteel but the most important,knowledge and a clear head.after i got out i made a lot of changes to what i now carry which is condensed into a very small military ammo pouch with the bare essentials because in a real survival situation(not camping survival)you have to learn to improvise and adapt.

thanks for sharing your experience.

It's funny because I was sitting there listening to the wind howl like a freight train, and looking at my Doan mag block, and I burst out laughing thinking about how funny it would look watching all those little magnesium flakes blowing away in the wind.

The best thing I had was a couple of those cheap LED keychain button cell lights. I had a $50 LED headlamp in my kit, but the switch got bumped and the batteries were dead. We used the keychain LED's a lot, and they still had juice left when I got home.

BB

 

[beeperboy]

Thank you for sharing your story. This is another example of why "survival" and "survival gear" need to be tailored to you and your environment. A lot of people will say you need this and you need that, which really isn't true. "this" and "that" will make the situation easier; but, all you really need is the ability to remain calm and think.

Yes, definitely.

I really could have used some duct tape to seal up the door weatherstripping better, and to seal up the tops of my boots for the walk down. So I've added that to my kit.

I also detested the freeze dried meals I had with me. The half cooked, chewy consistency of them turns me off. I've removed those, and replaced them with MRE's. I find them much more palatable.

I also added a few of those new Starbucks instant coffee packs to my kit. I'm a serious caffeine junkie, and I had a horrible withdrawal headache, on top of everything else. A decent cup of coffee would be comfort food for me. YMMV. A previous poster had mentioned cigars and scotch.

I've been racking my brain trying to find a simple system of warmth, light, and snow melting that I can leave at each site. It has to be something dumb simple, that requires no training, is inexpensive, requires zero periodic maintenance, and safe from CO poisoning. Then I had a flashback to my child hood. Kerosene lantern! It's so obvious, it hurts. It's not going to make the building tropical, but it will prevent frostbite, and provide a decent amount of light at night. I searched the web, and I found this. It's even better than I'd hoped for. This one will melt snow too. I just need to find a Canadian dealer for Dietz.

One of these and a gallon of kerosene in each site, and I'm set.

BB

 

[Marion David Poff]

Hauling propane or other fuel up there by helicopter would be cost prohibitive. The equipment we use is designed to work down to -50F, so the radios don't care. It's only the tech that feels the chill. BB

I am not arguing the situation with you...

And of course, hindsight is 20/20, and us observers always thing we are right...

But, the expense to put a stove in, would be minor, just take it up in a normal trip, and then every person that went up, could take fuel, whether needed or not, and after enough trips not needing it, there would be quite a stockpile.

Just a thought I had.

Marion