Now that it's winter...

J

jackknife

Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
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What is the latest thoughts on staying with a stranded car in a winter snow storm. I was thinking about James Kim and his family, and how his wife and kids survived in the car, while he died trying to walk across country to find help.

I only really thought of this as we had a strange case of an elderly couple freezing to death near here in Jefferson Maryland. They went off the road for some reason, across a field and down in a ravine. They froze to death trying to walk out, while there was house lights in plain view in the not too distant area. It was a really cold night, and I only can wonder if they had stayed in their car until daylight, would they have been rescued. Instead they left the shelter of the car and died.

After doing some experimenting, I was surprised at how just a single candle lantern can warm up the inside of a Honda Element. One candle and some old heavy wool army blankets made it fairly comfy in the car on a sub freezing night. With food and water, I guess one could hold out quite a while.

So, has the mainstream survival thought of staying in the car still hold true?
 
Having lived in Canada's north for several decades, we never venture out without survival gear in the car: space blankets, aluminum survival suits, jumper cables, tow rope, breaker bar (to loosen a frozen hub nut at -40?), 5 tonne jack, sockets, matches, flashlight and spare batteries, cold weather sleeping bags (rated to 0 F.), ax, shovel, food, water, tarp, spare toque and warm gloves, long-burning candles, and of course, assorted knives (Blackjack Campanion). And a cell phone, although those are mostly useless in the Yukon. It also helps to be clothed appropriately for cold weather.
 
Just like pretty much any survival situation, it depends. Are you near a well travelled road and likely to be spotted? Or are you stuck on a remote logging road in the mountains that isn't likely to see any other travellers in the near future? Is it feasible to walk out, or should you set up camp, wait it out, and try and signal for help? Are you well-enough equipped to hike out? Are you well enough supplied to stay at your car? Will anyone know youre gone? And if they do, do they know where you went?

Too many situational variables to say for sure. You'd have to evaluate the situation as it happened.
 
I think that staying in the car is definitely the way to go at the beginning of the situation. I suppose it would get more difficult as the days pass with no rescue.
 
We just had someone die 200 feet away from our house on Christmas Eve. He was found in a creek off the side of the road at 4pm (daylight). The reports said it was hypothermia and that people should be carful walking in "rural" areas.

I do live in the country but this area isn't as rural as the media made it sound. There are dozens of houses in sight and short walking distance from where this man died, mine being the closest. They never released a name or any other details about why the guy was there.

We thought he may have been drunk or something, it was all very strange.

I know this is kind of unrelated but it's been on my mind for a while.
 
6shooter said:
Just like pretty much any survival situation, it depends. Are you near a well travelled road and likely to be spotted? Or are you stuck on a remote logging road in the mountains that isn't likely to see any other travellers in the near future? Is it feasible to walk out, or should you set up camp, wait it out, and try and signal for help? Are you well-enough equipped to hike out? Are you well enough supplied to stay at your car? Will anyone know youre gone? And if they do, do they know where you went?

Too many situational variables to say for sure. You'd have to evaluate the situation as it happened.
Click to expand...
+1 on this - also, do you know the area well enough to get to shelter without severe injury from the weather.
 
Here in BC's millions of logging roads, its best to STAY with the vehicle. Its far easier to spot a vehicle (hopefully one has left a trip plan before heading into the bush) ) from the air than it is to spot a person.

I have strips of reflective truckers tape (like on big rigs) all over my truck, including a patch on the roof, and yes, even UNDER the truck, in case the truck flips over. It reflects the dimmest of lights and shines like a white sun when a searchlamp is shone at it.

a well stocked truck, food, blankets, water, etc etc etc etc beats walking out any day. Instant shelter and a source of materials, tools etc.
 
my vote also goes with staying with the truck (suv in my case).

ive got food, emergency supplies and first aid in my suv most of which i CANT carry out with me.

i have a separate bug out bag with me which should give me enough to walkout in an urban area. but if i was out on the logging roads here i'd most likely stay with my suv. there's usually someone passing by (conservation officers, rcmp, loggers, fellow 4x4 enthusiasts or dirt bikers).

while staying with my vehicle i would try my best to make myself visible from the air. the reason i say this is because there are alot of helicopters flying over the bc forests (mining, forestry, fish and wild life, etc etc)

a good way to draw attention to yourself is to place one of the adventure medical heat sheet blankets orange side up on the roof of your vehicle with the hood on your vehicle up.

cutting green boughs and making an X in the middle of the road by your vehicle may also help.

a signal fire ready at hand would also be good, the smoke might draw forest fire helicopters into your area to survey the situation and hopefully find you.

like bushman said, its important to leave a trip plan so if SHTF there will be someone who can notify the proper authorities to come looking for you.

just as a side note here the things i carry in winter time, most of its probably overkill but heck we're all preparedness freaks on the W&SS arent we? :D

heres what i carry:

truck bag:

1x 13,500lbs snatch strap (3 times the weight of my suv)
2x tow shackles
1x assorted wrenches
1x can of jig-a-loo (spray lubricant)
1x hammer
1x set of screwdrivers
1x jumper cables
1x compressor
1x stanley fubar
1x D cell maglite
3x spare batteries
2x wool blankets
1x mechanix work gloves
4x 12 hour glow sticks
5x tea candles
2x box of matches
1x lighter
4x 1L bottles of water
1x 72hr mainstay ration bars package
3x mountain house freeze dried meals
1x 2qt cooking pot
3x road flares
1x assorted container of zip ties/zap straps/cable ties (includes 24 inch heavy duty ones)
1x common spare parts (things like hose clamps and fuses, etc etc)
1x package of coghlans fire sticks
1x set of thule tire chains


then theres my b.o.b. which i would use in a last ditch effort if i had been stuck for a long time with no signs of rescue.
 
I think Tom Brown Jr once recommended turning your car into a debris shelter by filling it with leaf matter and snuggling inside in that type of scenario.
 
I have often thought on this but in my case it involves either losing traction and driving off the road, losing traction and being on the road,or simply breaking down. Throughout almost my entire commute there are guardrails so barring a high speed crash, my car would only end up on the shoulder.

My dilemma is that if I lost traction/control, someone else can too and run right into me. Two years ago my old car's timing belt went, In December. It was on a highway with no real shoulder so staying in the car was not an option. I lit three flares and placed them at 50, 100, 150 feet, plus a triangle. Here's the thing, I shouldn't really have been prepared for this. That is to say, it was only because I had gone camping the previous weekend that I had a sleeping pad, wool blanket, and extra wool hat and gloves. Otherwise my arse would have froze.

Lesson learned. In my case, most of the time I would have to exit my vehicle. I carry an axe, blankets, several means to make fire and high calorie food.
 
I do a lot of off road motorcycle riding (on road-off road) and almost always alone ,,out of cell range and just taking turns at they come. So a flight plan is out of the question. I had two options in getting help a "spot" gps beacon or a PLB ,, since the spot requires a montly fee and the plb does not I choose the PLB
The one I purchased is the McMurdo fastfind which has world wide coverage. I bought this one at Mountain Equipment Co-op. At the time i bought it there were few options and since then there are a lot more players in the field.
Can't say how well it works since I have never used it and hopefully will never have to use it. Cost about 350 canadian and battery is good for 5 years. Cheap insurance to know that no matter where I am I can call in the helicopters lol
 
in the desert always a blanket & candles plus 5 gallons of water & 3 qts of oil. in the pacific north west , blankets, water ,snacks, candles, hydralic jack plus a tractor jack.
dennis
 
Don't forget to let someone know where you're going, when you'll be back, and what route you plan to travel.
 
shaker said:
I do a lot of off road motorcycle riding (on road-off road) and almost always alone ,,out of cell range and just taking turns at they come. So a flight plan is out of the question. I had two options in getting help a "spot" gps beacon or a PLB ,, since the spot requires a montly fee and the plb does not I choose the PLB
The one I purchased is the McMurdo fastfind which has world wide coverage. I bought this one at Mountain Equipment Co-op. At the time i bought it there were few options and since then there are a lot more players in the field.
Can't say how well it works since I have never used it and hopefully will never have to use it. Cost about 350 canadian and battery is good for 5 years. Cheap insurance to know that no matter where I am I can call in the helicopters lol
Click to expand...


you can set up a test of you PLB with the Canadian Beacon registry (joint venture between the Gooberment & the Canadian Forces) (you are required by law to register a PLB anyways with them, might as well test it)

http://www.canadianbeaconregistry.forces.gc.ca/Logon.asp
 
I do not live in a country with extreme winters
My main concern is Hypothermia, so I carry a Snowsuit and Rain gear in the trunk of my car.
This will take care of me for an extended wait.

I would definitely stay in my car.
 
Im glad to see so many say stay with their car. So many Situations I've dealt with go much worse when folks leave their vehicle, especially here in northern Alberta.

I can't go through everything I keep in the 4X4, but a go bag and medical kit is included, Everything from band aids for the Nephews to VOK kits for last minute hunting trips or Excursions to the woods with guns.

Good job guys, Its the opposite people of this board that keep me employed. :D
 
I am sure some here will remember the monster storm that hit out west during the week of Thanksgiving 1992. I was driving from AZ to MA, and imbedded myself in a large drift in Amarillo. It was night and I was purposely picking up speed in order to grt up a small hill. Cresting it, wham, right into a big drift. I had plenty of food, water, and clothing. I spent one night and a good portion of the next day in the car. Once I got out, I retraced my way back to a convenience store I remembered passing about 1/2 a mile back. Needing coffee, I stopped and overheard the staff discussing a dead businessman's body being found right down the road. His car had gone off the road and he had tried walking to safety clothed only in a suit.
 
I drive a VW T4 Syncro (4x4) camper van... so... well... no worries! Winter clothes, winter sleeping bags, full blownk propane kitchen, water tanks and best of all... static heater that works without having the engine runnign! Yeah! I think I am all set for getting stranded in the winter arround here... XD XD...

Mikel
 
Bushman5 said:
you can set up a test of you PLB with the Canadian Beacon registry (joint venture between the Gooberment & the Canadian Forces) (you are required by law to register a PLB anyways with them, might as well test it)

http://www.canadianbeaconregistry.forces.gc.ca/Logon.asp
Click to expand...
Ive never tested it but I did register it as soon as I got it . Gives a good piece of mind knowing that if it all goes ka-ka I can call in the helicopter lol
 
shaker said:
Ive never tested it but I did register it as soon as I got it . Gives a good piece of mind knowing that if it all goes ka-ka I can call in the helicopter lol
Click to expand...

Hey Shaker, being a big fan of MEC, and not happy about a spot2 subscription.. would you still buy the same model of PBL or go with a different one (even tho you said you didn't tests it) ?

and while we are at it.. SPOT vs SPOT2 .. any big improvment maybe..
 
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