New Contest... "true" survival tales...

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You know, I wish I had some great, impressive survival stories to tell, but I don't. I've never been in a life-or-death survival situation where I survived with just a Swiss Army knife and some dental floss. However, I was thinking :eek: and I realized that I've used my survival instincts and common sense to keep me out of nasty situations.

I can't really think of a specific time or situation that I've been kept out of. But, I know that because of my good judgement, I've kept myself out of many a hairy situation. By always being aware of my surroundings, going with my gut feeling, listening to those who know more than I do, and trying to do what's right...I've avoided many survival situations.

So, I don't have any stories that will win the contest...but I sure enjoy learning from the rest of your experiences.
 
I'm not sure that this qualifies, but here goes...

a couple of lifetimes ago, a close friend owned a local strip club (I still don't get why they call these "Gentlemen's clubs"). Being young and single, a few friends and I spent a fair amount of time at the club after hours. One such Saturday night, we were hanging out with some of the performers, when suddenly, for some inexplicable reason, my heart started racing, I experienced some shortness of breath, and I became a bit disoriented...

I frantically tried in vain to recover my bearings, but gave up after 1.5 seconds.

All turned out okay, as by early morning we were able to stumble out of the back door of the club...in search of breakfast. Ironically, the back door openned up to a view of a local church:eek:

Eventually, my friend lost his liquor license. Undaunted, he made the heroic decision for the club to go non-alcoholic/full nude...this lasted for a very short time, ending in my friend's arrest and closing of the club. My friends selfless act of courage (IMHO) surely save many of our lives...

The lesson that I learned from this experience is when disorientation/panic starts to seep in, DO NOT run, as you may end up in a much worse place than you were at...:D
 
This photo was taken before we were sent to run the 18 miles back to town in Bri Bri Costa Rica.


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We were doing a jungle navigation/leadership course with a missionary group. The guy on the left was indigenous to the area and was helping lead the ordeal with me and a few other people. We had a group who's leader failed to check in so we had to track them down in the middle of the jungle.

The only reason we found them was because of the guy I was with. He was an amazing tracker. We jogged non-stop until we found them. It took us probably 5 hours to get to them.

In a fall, the leader who had the radio for check in, broke the radio and her ankle. Because of the severity of the break, she was going in and out of lucidity. The other members in the group panicked. When we got to them it was a complete mess.

After we had her stabilized and had shelter set up for the group, we radioed for medical support and began running back to get canoes to bring everyone back. The river looped around behind where we had them set up so it was a much quicker way to get them out.

I had no idea how understaffed this place was. I wasn't even supposed to be leading the group. I was supposed to be going along for the training. At the end of the day I could barely walk from all the running and the pain that was brewing in my gut.

I ended up getting amoebas in my stomach from not treating my water properly. I had iodine pills that I was using, but I ran out along the way. On the way home I listened to the indiginous guy and pulled a Bear Grylles. I drank straight out of a stream that he said was clean.

It ranks up there with the list of dumbest things I've ever done. Within 2 days I had a 102 fever and Montezuma was getting his revenge on me.

Within 4 weeks I lost 15lbs from the illness. I was treated, but the damage was done. For some reason my digestive system just didn't work properly for months after that.

I wish I could say that I triumphed over the whole ordeal but in the end, we ended up in the situation we were in because we were under prepared and I stupid. What could have been a bump in the road turned into a nightmare.
 
One more thing-- I want to join the RAT pack (if you find me worthy)

I've been absent on commenting for a bit, but I love the products and I contribute when I'm in the country.

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Kaiteur Falls, Guyana
 
I read through the stories and thought "pity I don't have any survival stories", but I suppose I do have one.

A few years back I was at a friends place playing computer games over the weekend - the house was out in the country. On the Sunday I Packed my gear into my car and headed home - it was after 10pm. It had been raining earlier in the day but the weather had cleared and the road was dry. I was driving a bit fast as I approached a tight corner, I braked and the wheels locked, I remained calm and released the brakes and then applied them again, but the wheels locked again - I became less calm because the corner was tight and I was going way too fast to make it. I decided that turning hard, sliding off the road and rolling several times was probably a bad thing to do, so I opted to go straight off the road and through a farmers fence onto a paddock. I went off the road, but there was a bit of a drop and the nose of the car dropped, then the car flipped end over end and landed upside down in a creek.

Luckily I had been wearing my seatbelt and I was unhurt - had I not been wearing a seatbelt and been knocked unconscious then I would not be alive today. But I was in a car that was upside down in a creek and was filling with water. I undid my seatbelt and tried to open the door - I think the door had somehow became locked. I moved to the passenger side and opened that door, but it only opened a fraction - there was obviously some obstruction. The interior had completely filled with water and I was holding my breath. I remember thinking "no, no, no - I don't want my life to end here & now" I would have been in my early thirties at the time.

So anyway I pushed as hard as I could on that door, but it still was only open a fraction. I was keen to be out of that water filled car and go back to breathing - it was something that I had come to enjoy doing. I didn't have time to fumble for the lock on the drivers side and there was no guarantee that door would open anyway. So I squeezed through the small gap in the passenger door and got myself halfway out - stopping around my hips. The creek wasn't deep and the car was only just barely covered with water so there I was with my chest upwards out of the water - I could breathe and I cannot describe the relief I felt at that point in time! It was pitch black and I could not see anything at all, but I had grabbed the car keys which had my Streamlight Microstream attached. I wasn't bothered about using the flashlight though, I thought it might be worth getting the rest of the way out of the car first. I squeezed and pulled and managed to climb up onto the underside of the car, then I turned on my flashlight and jumped to the bank of the creek.

I came out of that fine with nothing more than a few scratches from some bushes. I checked the road the next day to see where I had gone wrong - there was a steep driveway going up from the road and the rain earlier in the day had washed dirt from that driveway onto the road. I had locked the wheels trying to brake on loose dirt rather than the dry tarmac that I thought I was driving on. Luckily I was fine and I had full insurance and I was able to carry on living my life. It did teach me to use more caution when driving at night though.
 
4 years ago I was still working as a sport fishing guide. This one particular lodge I worked for was only accessible by water, so we brought in all of our supplies and guests via an 18' work boat. On this particular day, I took the boat and proceeded to the landing (about 3km away) to pick up some guests who were arriving to fish. As I left the dock I noticed that storm clouds had started to gather and that the wind had picked up. It didn't overly bother me, as I knew the lake well and had many years experience handling boats in all sorts of weather. By the time I'd gotten half-way to the landing however, the wind had really picked up and whitecaps were forming on the waves. It was here that I remembered I still needed to cross a large open section of the lake, notorious for its wicked cross-wind. As I hit the open stretch I could see the waves pounding heavily on the opposing shore and felt the boat begin to buck as it encountered the larger waves. About mid-way through several things occurred simultaneously. First, my ball cap, which I normally took off and shoved into my life vest (important detail!) was whipped off my head. I half turned in my seat by instinct to grab it and at that moment a huge wave smacked the bow of the boat. This combination of my body motion, the wind and the wave action all served to catapult me out of my seat, over the gunwale and into the cold water! Boots, clothes, glasses still on, I went over the side. While in the water I felt something (the boat??) pass right over me. After what seemed an eternity I bobbed to the surface buoyed by my life vest. Yes! the very same vest I always wore and was kidded for by the other guides. This vest that I am convinced, to this day, saved my life. I came to the surface and looked around. As I cleared the water from my eyes I saw the boat idling in the waves about 15' from me.How? Who knows? No matter how many times I go over it, I still do not know why that boat stopped. I didn't have a kill switch lanyard on or anything like but the boat stopped of its own accord and somehow, somehow kicked into neutral, instead of continuing full speed or maybe coming around again to chop me into fish bait. Maybe I hit something as I went over. So, freezing and shaking from adrenaline I dog paddled over to the boat and carefully used the motor to climb back in, as the side was too far above my head to pull myself in. As i collapsed into my seat the clouds opened and it POURED rain. I shook myself, screamed a few choice curses and kicked the motor back into forward gear, heading again for the landing and my waiting guests . . . .
 
last summer we had a cold rainy day at the children's camp I work at. Being that most of the kids are of more urban background, and less comfortable while cold and wet, it was time to act fast to keep the little snappers happy. the wood pile was well saturated, but I had the plan. I quickly split some of the logs, and grabbed the 80,000BTU roofing torch I had on hand for just such emergencies. within a few short minutes a perfect s'more fire was going, and the little ones were back to happy. Of course my RC-3 helped open the marshmallow bags, because that just looks cooler than ripping them open.
 
Good stories here guys!!!! LOVE the picture account!!!!!

Told my dad I posted this and pretty sure he wanted to whalop me!! having ti be saved by his kid?!?! the big mountain hunter, lol.....

After talking to him about it he said he sent the story into a magazine and they sent me a certificate and some gear???!?!?? WTF?? I never seen that!!! damn miser! (or I forgot about it).
 
Doesn't involve a RAT knife but I thought I'd share anyway.

Back in the winter of 97/98 I think it was we had a big ice storm up here in Maine, the kind that knocked the power out at my dad's for a week and a half. I was 18 or so with nothing to do. A combination like gasoline and matches.

I loaded my old book bag with a piece of plastic, my pocket knife, two packages of rawmen noodles, a bic lighter, a roll of string and my father’s lightweight cotton sleeping bag. I wore uninsulated boots, cotton socks and t-shirt, a flannel jacket and a big hat I made out of cardboard and tin foil.

So well prepared for any situation I headed out into the woods. It started sleeting out and the only thing that saved me from getting soaked was my big tinfoil covered hat. It got dark before I got to the location I was headed for and soon I was lost.

I had no flashlight and it was one of those nights that was so dark I couldn't see my hand. Being quick witted and sharp as a marble I knew instantly that I needed to build a shelter. I couldn't see anything so I set my book bag down, felt around inside for my string and tied one end of the string to my pack and held the roll in my hand. Feeling around in the dark I searched around until I found a sapling and cut it down and then followed the string back to my stuff. After a bit of this I had enough laid out to sit on and prop the plastic up above me.

By now the ice had built up to about half an inch on all the trees and they started to crack and pop all around. I stayed up most of the night wondering if I'd be crushed by ice and limbs.

When I woke up the next morning I was pretty wet and shivering from the condensation coming off the inside of the plastic. I searched around for my boots and found that I had pushed them out from inside the plastic while I was sleeping and they where now filled with ice and slush. I was weak from shivering all night and decided to eat my rawmen noodles raw when I realized I hadn't brought a pot. Mmm crunchy.

I walked around bare foot collecting firewood and was just starting to dry off when the sun got high enough to start melting the ice out of the trees.

Soaking wet and tired I packed everything up and looking around. I still didn't know where I was so I just started walking. Eventually I came out to the road and walked home.

I think I was luckier back then.
 
Wow, some serious stories. I guess if you spend enough time in the woods you're bound to find yourself in a bad situation or two. Thanks for sharing.
 
OOOOOOkkkkkkkkkkkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay folk, contest closes tomorrow, and we'll let ya all know who da lucky winner is.... so get your stories in now if you haven't already!
 
Here's my story, posted on NWHikers.net: http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14373&highlight=

That thread was started by some concerned hikers and my partner found the post. Originally, my login there was "Gallant", but I have since changed it to "McGavin". You will find my first post and the beginning of the story on the middle of page 2. My hiking partner and girlfriend at the time is "Zale".

I hope you don't mind me linking to another website, rather than copy and paste the entire episode into this forum. I will if you want me to, but it will take A LOT of space.

ETA: If you take the time to read through my posts on that linked thread, I think you will like it. I will go back and read everyone's stories now :)
 
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I tried finding the pictures from this trip but can mainly find the ones of scenery rather than of us... Anyway, this happened back in July 2004. A little bit o' background first: my cousin and I grew up together and did everything together. He got me into rock climbing and slot canyoning and we had a lot of good times together. This particular trip is the one we refer back to simply as the "trip from hell" and was aptly named. In 2003 (I think) there was a nasty blizzard in Denver and the whole city shut down. One of my roommates was engaged and his fiancee's siblings wanted to go sledding. We took them out to a park that had a couple little hills and I went down one particular hill with her 15 year old brother who weighed in around 250lbs; there was a little jump and he kicked his legs out, kicking mine out in the act, and my legs went under the sled as we landed. My feet stayed there but we kept going and I messed up both knees pretty bad. I didn't have medical insurance so I just wore braces and iced them constantly and had lots of acupuncture to help with the pain. They gradually improved but still gave me some problems on stairs or steep inclines. Anyway, June of 04 my cousin called me up and asked if I wanted to do some endurance hiking on some trails we had talked about hitting up for years. I was a little hesitant as this would be a 3 day hike consisting of 34 miles the first day, 28 the second and 15 the 3rd. I decided, against my better judgment, to go with him and got my gear ready and drove out the middle of July.

The trailhead was about 10 miles in from the highway in the middle of a desert. We drove to the area, left gear/food at our nightly destinations (you can go a lot further if you know that unless you make your destination on time you won't have any food) and parked the truck at the trailhead. We hiked a couple miles in and then you drop into a series of slot canyons. The drop-in section is steep sandstone that you have to traverse back and forth to finally reach the bottom. Walking with my feet rotated like that really started to bother my knees (I was wearing braces) so we hurried to get to the bottom. My cousin was wearing a pair of chacos: sandals he had for a while and had done a lot of hiking in, but never hiking where you go from water to sand to water to sand... I was trying not to complain about my knees even though I was getting a little worried about them.

About 15 miles in my knees were starting to lock up and I was slowing down quickly; that's when I noticed the wet footprints in front of me. My cousin hadn't said anything but the sand had gotten under the straps of his sandals and had rubbed down to the flesh and his feet were soaked in blood. I knew at this point there was no way we could reach our goal for the night. It was still mid-afternoon and there was a rock face we could climb out to get back to our truck. We knew we'd need ropes on day 2 so we left our ropes/harnesses at our check point for the night and didn't have any with us. We decided our only option was to climb out without any gear. I'm going to leave part of the story out here because 1-most of you will call BS (I would too) and 2-I really don't like re-living it. Let's just say I thank God every day that I'm alive.

So, we get to the top of the rock face and start the trek back to the truck - hiking in the sand on the top of the plateau. We get back to the truck and it's getting pretty darn late in the evening. We start to drive out to the highway but while we were hiking the wind had blown just enough sand on the road that we kept getting stuck, even in 4WD and we ended up running out of gas about 5 miles from the highway. We discussed our options and decided to walk to the highway and try to hitch-hike into town (about 10 miles) to get gas. By the time we got out to the highway it was about 10pm and only a few cars passed us. Needless to say, none of them stopped for the bloodied and pathetic looking 22 year old kids on the road. At about 2am we decided to go back to the truck to try and sleep. At 7 the next morning we decided to try again and after about 3 hours somebody finally gave us a ride - in his horse trailer full of hay, piss and horse crap but we were happy none-the-less. He dropped us off at a gas station and we bought some much needed food/water and a gas can. As we were filling the can a lady in a new full-sized Chevy pulled up and started filling her tank next to us. She kept giving us weird looks (go figure) and finally asked us what the hell we were doing. We told her the short version and she insisted that she drive us back to the truck. We were more than happy to accept and started climbing in the bed of her truck and she politely told us that we'd better get inside the truck or she wasn't going anywhere. We told her we were coated in sweat, blood and horse piss/crap but she didn't care. She drove us to our truck and made sure it started. She gave us both a hug and told us that God loved us and got in her truck and drove off.

My cousin and I haven't hiked together since. We talk about going all the time but it never seems to work out. This was honestly the scariest event in my life and one that will be impossible to forget. I've had knee surgery since and I think they're worse now than before, and my cousin has scars in the design of the chacos straps on his feet that don't look like they're going anywhere soon.

Moral of the story - if you aren't in 100% shape to do something and all the red flags and sirens are going off inside your head you should probably listen to your instincts instead of your ego.

Some pics of the trek:

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