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Survival Scenario down under
- Thread starter Forrie
- Start date
You are not taking this too seriously are you, Dartanyon?This does not look like true desert to me. It looks like part
of the dry season, because some leaves are brown and some
leaves are green. I see no heat waves or mirages but a
photo might not pick up heat waves.
I overlooked the foreground detail where there seems to be
a vehicle and people. For the fun of it, assume they are not there.
Those mountains look 40+ miles away to me, way too far, and
they are uphill, up a dry looking slope. Yes, there may be water
at their base, but the large valley looks better and closer.
The large valley looks 15-20 miles away. I see a river and white
structure to the right of it. In the foreground, the slope runs
right to left, and this drainage may intersect that big valley,
somewhere to the left of this photo boundary. Or this drainage
may lead somewhere else, like a salt flat or salt lake.
There appears to be a road, 1.5 inches long, on the left edge of
the picture. Appears to be 3 miles away. It may be better and
safer walking: ( less turned ankles and easier to see and avoid snakes).
It could lead somewhere or get you a ride, or it could lead you
off into the desert. Judge the freshness of tracks. A well used
dirt road has a flour-like dust. Judge accordingly.
A 10x monocular would be real nice in desert country. Look for
bird flights indicating water and dust clouds indicating vehicles.
If it were hot and dry, I would consider walking at night; I would
use stars and moon for directions.
Full moon is always 180 degrees from the sun. In the Northern hemi,
it crosses due South at Midnight, so I assume it crosses due North
at Midnight in Australia.
A quarter moon is 90 degrees from the Sun, either behind or ahead
of the Sun. calculate accordingly.
Watch for Orion, could be seen from Southern hemi, I think.
Remember the outline of those mountains, they may be visible
as a dark mass against the stars.
Night travel and snakes go together in US deserts, in summer.
Extra clothing wrapped around lower legs might be good. A walking
stick, OK, but snakes are not usually seen until they strike, too late.
Walk so as to stay in the open, not walking next to cover.
Assuming no mirror, keep you eyes open for one, on a broken down
vehicle or trash pile. Likewise look for cans, jars, etc that could be
used for water containers.
Edit: Always look for snakes first, when moving around old buildings,
cars, and trash piles. A stick with a cane-like, right angled branch,
is handy for pulling and moving stuff.
of the dry season, because some leaves are brown and some
leaves are green. I see no heat waves or mirages but a
photo might not pick up heat waves.
I overlooked the foreground detail where there seems to be
a vehicle and people. For the fun of it, assume they are not there.
Those mountains look 40+ miles away to me, way too far, and
they are uphill, up a dry looking slope. Yes, there may be water
at their base, but the large valley looks better and closer.
The large valley looks 15-20 miles away. I see a river and white
structure to the right of it. In the foreground, the slope runs
right to left, and this drainage may intersect that big valley,
somewhere to the left of this photo boundary. Or this drainage
may lead somewhere else, like a salt flat or salt lake.
There appears to be a road, 1.5 inches long, on the left edge of
the picture. Appears to be 3 miles away. It may be better and
safer walking: ( less turned ankles and easier to see and avoid snakes).
It could lead somewhere or get you a ride, or it could lead you
off into the desert. Judge the freshness of tracks. A well used
dirt road has a flour-like dust. Judge accordingly.
A 10x monocular would be real nice in desert country. Look for
bird flights indicating water and dust clouds indicating vehicles.
If it were hot and dry, I would consider walking at night; I would
use stars and moon for directions.
Full moon is always 180 degrees from the sun. In the Northern hemi,
it crosses due South at Midnight, so I assume it crosses due North
at Midnight in Australia.
A quarter moon is 90 degrees from the Sun, either behind or ahead
of the Sun. calculate accordingly.
Watch for Orion, could be seen from Southern hemi, I think.
Remember the outline of those mountains, they may be visible
as a dark mass against the stars.
Night travel and snakes go together in US deserts, in summer.
Extra clothing wrapped around lower legs might be good. A walking
stick, OK, but snakes are not usually seen until they strike, too late.
Walk so as to stay in the open, not walking next to cover.
Assuming no mirror, keep you eyes open for one, on a broken down
vehicle or trash pile. Likewise look for cans, jars, etc that could be
used for water containers.
Edit: Always look for snakes first, when moving around old buildings,
cars, and trash piles. A stick with a cane-like, right angled branch,
is handy for pulling and moving stuff.
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2003
- Messages
- 1,850
Ok guys and gals lets say you only have one fixed-blade under 6 , no hatchet and main pack is lost.
Location:
Need I say more about location
Lets cover all points cheers guys
Ill leave the rest up to you cheers forrie
There seems to be a river , and maybe a building a bit right of center in the pic , the squared out green and brown patches look like its farmed in the valley .
thats all good . it means there is a road down there , the farm machinery and the farmer got there somehow , farmers these days dont walk to their paddocks much anymore , if youre lazy , its just a matter of waiting for mr farmer to show up , staying alive till he does . Or maybe setting up camp of making an obvious attention getter on the road so the next car that passes will stop for you
If youre keen you could use some of the fence wire and a nice stick to make a fishing spear , or you could if the water is shallow just grab some yabbies , there is usualy plants along the waters edge you can eat , mostly not bad tasting .
Its likely that in the building there may be people , possibly mr farmer , or at least a pair of pliers thall make using his fence wire easier , also cups , a kettle or billy and assorted smoko gear . Not a certanty but a maybe .
Its not such a bad situation realy I have seen worse , like when the injector line on the bus broke , on the nulabor plain . FOr the few moments after it broke and I realised what it was , I looed around there is just NOTHING out there , no water , no shade , no windbreak , nothing ... and LOTS of it . and rabbits , theyre breeding up again .
I always carry spares , so it wasnt a big deal , but for the first few moments its downright scary
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2002
- Messages
- 2,177
Actually looks a bit more Pilbara than Kimberley to me (that's if it is indeed in West Oz) The main difference being a less wet, wet season but an equally brutal dry season.
Point 1 - If you are dumped here under the conditions Forrie has described you are in a world of trouble. A worthy test of our knowledge and skills Forrie you evil fiend.
Point 2 - That's a creek line in the distance about 3/4 way to the hills. If there isn't flowing water there it will be easy enough to dig for it. Only problem is it could be a days hard walk away - almost impossible without water.
I'm assuming there is no vehicle to stay with also.
First thing I would do was say a little prayer of thanks for all the training I'd been doing - making me stronger, more heat tolerant and with a larger fluid volume to resist dehydration.
Next I'd use the knife to make a Nulla Nulla (walking, digging stick). I'd then use the spinifex to make a simple shelter under one of the trees to wait out the heat of the day.
Around 3:30-4pm I'd head for the creek line. Taking it real easy. If I didn't make it that night I'd use some pandanas grass to make a warm little hootchie to spend the night. I'd also have a go at making a fire with a fire-board and drill, but wouldn't waste too much energy there on the first night. It would be an uncomfortable night as the temperature would probably drop close to 0 deg Celcius but Ive shivered through nights like those before and I reckon Id be ok with a bit of shelter.
Assuming I made the creek line on the second morning I'd: sink a soak for some water if there wasn't any surface creek running, build a more solid igloo out of spinifex and pandanas grass, persist with the drill until I had a fire, then build it up nice and big. The wood in those parts is all extremely dry so making a fire that gives off decent smoke is a challenge - I guess that's where the big knife will come in handy, chopping some green branches.
If my stay turned multi day it would start to stretch my skills and knowledge. I guess Id dig around for some tubers and witchety grubs (Ive eaten these before and they arent too bad) and have a go a knocking over a Kangaroo or Wallaby never done that with a spear or throwing stick before but heres hoping necessity would become the mother of invention.
Point 1 - If you are dumped here under the conditions Forrie has described you are in a world of trouble. A worthy test of our knowledge and skills Forrie you evil fiend.
Point 2 - That's a creek line in the distance about 3/4 way to the hills. If there isn't flowing water there it will be easy enough to dig for it. Only problem is it could be a days hard walk away - almost impossible without water.
I'm assuming there is no vehicle to stay with also.
First thing I would do was say a little prayer of thanks for all the training I'd been doing - making me stronger, more heat tolerant and with a larger fluid volume to resist dehydration.
Next I'd use the knife to make a Nulla Nulla (walking, digging stick). I'd then use the spinifex to make a simple shelter under one of the trees to wait out the heat of the day.
Around 3:30-4pm I'd head for the creek line. Taking it real easy. If I didn't make it that night I'd use some pandanas grass to make a warm little hootchie to spend the night. I'd also have a go at making a fire with a fire-board and drill, but wouldn't waste too much energy there on the first night. It would be an uncomfortable night as the temperature would probably drop close to 0 deg Celcius but Ive shivered through nights like those before and I reckon Id be ok with a bit of shelter.
Assuming I made the creek line on the second morning I'd: sink a soak for some water if there wasn't any surface creek running, build a more solid igloo out of spinifex and pandanas grass, persist with the drill until I had a fire, then build it up nice and big. The wood in those parts is all extremely dry so making a fire that gives off decent smoke is a challenge - I guess that's where the big knife will come in handy, chopping some green branches.
If my stay turned multi day it would start to stretch my skills and knowledge. I guess Id dig around for some tubers and witchety grubs (Ive eaten these before and they arent too bad) and have a go a knocking over a Kangaroo or Wallaby never done that with a spear or throwing stick before but heres hoping necessity would become the mother of invention.
