Survival

T

Texas_T

Joined
Oct 8, 2002
Messages
85
Well I just have to say that i've been watchin this forum for a while and I can't believe some of the things that people haven't experienced. It seems to me that alot of the comments appear to be from people that have lived in the city all their lives and all of a sudden need to experience the wilderness. Get the hell out of town and try it. Start small and build experience. I guess i'm a little biased and have been listening to a survival expert for over an hour who has never left his house let alone camped. I feel alot of fantisizing going on. All I can say is try it don't talk about it go out and do it. I've been camping for the last year, lost my job last x mas and never got another one mostly cuz I don't want one. If you want to practise survival techniques go for it.

Ok i'm done with my rant I don't expect or want any replies if there are some I probably won't come to town till next week or so and will not reply until then. Like I said I just needed to rant and rave.
 
I agree...but then again living in the mountains I am a bit biased.

Get yer butt out of the city..live alittle:eek: :cool:
 
But for those who are "locked in" to the city for a while, it doesn't hurt to hash and re-hash techniques. I'm an avid outdoorsman, but I confess I don't get out enough to satisfy my cravings. Just being able to converse with like-minded folks helps a lot. Yeah, I practice everytime I have the chance, but in the meantime...
 
I am a full time graduate student and when I am not able to manage my time effectively between working on my thesis, papers and my recreation, I find ways of honing my skills in my backyard. When I can't go camping or backpacking for a while, I practice collecting tinder around the backyard and trying to catch a flame in damp conditions. When I can't go hunting or fishing, I simply observe animal behavior and learn from them. Outdoor experiences do not have to be extreme or expedition length and sometimes the most valuable lessons can be learned from a brief outing. I suggest reading Tom Brown's guide to the forgotten wilderness. He has some interesting ideas how to recapture the essence of the outdoor experience when the ever encroaching suburbia draws seemingly closer everyday. Hope this sheds some light.
 
my wife and I moved to a more rural area from a city and I did more camping in Seattle than I have been able to do here.

debts, jobs and small town life. I got to get out in the woods soon or I will go nuts.
 
I have lived in NW Florida on the edge of Eglin AFB Reservation, for 30 years. The most pristine area of pine woods and swamps left for 500 miles in any direction. It's laced with fresh water creaks and springs, it's remote, natural, protected and where the Rangers play their survival games. We have bear, deer, coons, hog, turtle, fish, fowl, etc. I have to drive 60 miles to the closest Walmart. ha ha
It's hard to tell whos who.......personally I hope they stay in the city unless they respect the enviroment and are serious about it.
Low impact survival camping can be a blast, but be safe and know your terrain first. Buy a map if your going "Deliverance".

Cheers,
Hal
 
If you are reading all these messages and want to try some of this stuff, start small and go bigger and bigger. See what types of plants, animals, knives, terrain, etc is in your local area. What can the trees in your yard, a vacant lot, or some other spot be used for? Is that "weed" actually a medicinal or edible plant? Then take that small knowledge and expand it to a bigger scenario when you get out.

Above all else be very careful about stating something you heard from someone else unless you have tried it or that person is a trusted reputable source. I can tell you how to build a fire from ice and even give you some specifics, but since I have been on a tropical island for 6 years, NO, I have not done it personally. I know at least three guys that have that I trust their word. I look forward to trying it next year back in WA state.

Keep passing the info guys, Merry Christmas and God bless you all!
 
I think visiting the wilderness gives a person the true understanding for survival. Survive what??
T-T, I envy your position.
 
Well this is the first i've gotten to a pc since my post. It's good to see that some of the people here actually live it and don't just pretend. Thank you to those that sincerely replied. Since my last post me camp was tore up by some kids and the next spot I found I was made to leave so i've been looking for a good spot that I can stay in for a while. I think the only thing that saved me when I was made to leave was that I could prove that i'm not a vagerant otherwise I think I would be in alot of trouble. Anyone know of secluded areas near Austin TX where a guy could set up for a while? Also i'm looking for recipes for possum any help would be great.
 
Wow.....someone on the internet with the balls to call 'em as he see's 'em. I've had the same question for many posters, but you put it as well as any I've seen. Well done.
 
I agree with Texas T. I think his thoughts could be applied to some people who talk about knives but do not really use them for anything but cutting the wrapping on Christmas gifts.
 
True and false.
I'm lucky enough to have both worlds. While I live in a major city, I also own a small tree farm in the foothills of NC. Yes there have been occasions where I needed my skills learned over the years while in the woods. But there have been even more times I needed a lot of those skills while in the city.
Just a few weeks ago an ice storm went through the state and left about two million people without electricity. That means no lights, no heat, and no way to cook. That ended up being just a few days for most and up to a week for many.
Then we all remember hurricane Hugo, I went for two weeks in that condition. It adds a whole new meaning to camping in the backyard.
Now I enjoy my time in the woods and even after 52 years of learning skills needed to survive I am still learning.
I consider myself a decent woodsman but at the same time I admire those that are just now starting to learn the skills they may need to "survive". Give them credit for wanting to learn. I have read this forum for a few years and like a lot of us, there are times I want to chuckle at some of the statements made. But it is human nature to want to participate. Most of the people on this forum want to share their thoughts and ideas with others. Yes, not everyone is an expert (even though some may claim it) but I for one can overlook their lack of knowledge in favor of their desire to learn. Yes if you can, head to the woods for awhile and enjoy yourself. If you can't, keep learning while in the city. You don't need trees to make it a "survival" situation.
 
I got into survival camping when I was a kid. My mom would drop my brother and I off at a trail head and pick us up a few days later. As kids we didn't know anything about anything and half the time were unprepared. There was no going back, you just had to stick it out until Sunday night, or whatever.

The trips I did with my brother once we got experience were memorable. We spent 8 days once with only 9mm pistols and a 12 gauge shotgun for for food. We once did 24 miles in 24 hours and about seven miles of that was off trail at night, that was a good test. We did a four day trip between Christmas and New Years in Pennsylvania.

Here in Brazil my work has me involved with people and their problems. I like to take off solo out into the Serra, sometimes only for 24 hours but it really takes the edge off my nerves and puts the edge back on my skills.

I also take groups of young people out to teach wilderness skills. That has met with varied sucess. It depends on the group and their outlook. Mental toughness is like humility. It's the one thing most necessary and the only thing you have to learn on your own. Nobody can teach it to you.

It is a shame that very few people have ever spent 48 hours with their PSK surrounded by 10k of wilderness. Mac
 
I'm not sure what to make of this thread...
I think some folks have a mixed up idea of what survival is.
For me, survival is not camping out in the woods for a week or two--that's what I call fun.
Fishing and hiking and camping are great, but you always know you can pack up and go home.

In my eyes, survival is being lost at sea, or stranded on an unihabited island, or having your ATV break down in the desert, or be in your car at the bottom of a ravine with a broken leg like that guy in Virginia.


I was lucky enough to be raised by parents who loved the outdoors, from the mountains to the ocean. I learned to fish and camp and shoot at a very early age. But when it comes to pure survival, mental strength, commen sense, a strong body, and pure luck are probably more important than fieldcraft.

I'll bet there have been alot more outdoorsmen who have died in the wild than city-slickers. This is mostly because city-folks don't usually go too far off the beaten path and they are'nt too sure of their skills.
But outdoorsmen sometimes become overconfident in their abilities, and bite off more than they can chew.


Good luck,
Allen.
 
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