[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]biglifter wrote:
We didn’t come this far just to go back to the stone ages for kicks. If I’m roughing it for longer than a weekend, there better be a cash prize upon my return.[/quote]
^First to die on 2012 Armageddon Day after all electricity goes off.[/quote]
Haha! I will miss my nose trimmer. Plucking those fuckers is a real monster of a task.
Dual Survival in on NetFlix streaming. I am through episode 7 now and I love it.
But at the same time “surviving” in the wild would suck. When I hunt Elk in Colorado I don’t even leave camp without a gun, day pack(food, survival knife, matches, tinder, rain gear, mylar blanket, compass, topo map) binoculars, etc. You name it I pak it around.
Those guys have 20 years of training and still have a tough time. I would surely die if you dropped me off in Louisiana swamp land with a knife and a broken boat, which I believe was that last episode I watched.
Also, read Deep Survival if you like this sort of thing.
Great book.
I feel that urge from time to time and was quite fond of the idea when I was younger, but let’s be realistic about it. The skills needed to live like that are widely varied, and not easily found in this day and age.
How many here think they could build a half decent cabin, repair or make their own clothing? Or some of the more mundane things we never really think about, preserving food, making soap, or more than the most basic first aid? Keep in mind most if not all of which would have to be done under less than ideal circumstances with materials at hand. What if a tool breaks, do you have the ability to repair it make a replacement? Can you do the same things with the repaired tool/replacement that you could before?
As a kid, I tried to sharpen a stone without out any tools once. I spent days on it before giving up. Even with tools it was a bitch, as just as it seemed like it was getting a decent edge the stone would split or a chunk would break off.
With the right resources, you could probably find someone that could teach you how to do these things, but few would have the time or inclination to practice so it was second nature. Or more to maintain those skills over time.
I’ve gone backcountry camping for a week at a time, and each time I realize how much I love modern living.
After a few days, everyone starts to miss toilet paper and soap. Moss and leaves are poor substitutes.
And then there is the unexpected. Injuries, extended bad weather.
[quote]fraggle wrote:
I feel that urge from time to time and was quite fond of the idea when I was younger, but let’s be realistic about it. The skills needed to live like that are widely varied, and not easily found in this day and age.
How many here think they could build a half decent cabin, repair or make their own clothing? Or some of the more mundane things we never really think about, preserving food, making soap, or more than the most basic first aid? Keep in mind most if not all of which would have to be done under less than ideal circumstances with materials at hand. What if a tool breaks, do you have the ability to repair it make a replacement? Can you do the same things with the repaired tool/replacement that you could before?
As a kid, I tried to sharpen a stone without out any tools once. I spent days on it before giving up. Even with tools it was a bitch, as just as it seemed like it was getting a decent edge the stone would split or a chunk would break off.
With the right resources, you could probably find someone that could teach you how to do these things, but few would have the time or inclination to practice so it was second nature. Or more to maintain those skills over time.
I’ve gone backcountry camping for a week at a time, and each time I realize how much I love modern living.
After a few days, everyone starts to miss toilet paper and soap. Moss and leaves are poor substitutes.
And then there is the unexpected. Injuries, extended bad weather.
[/quote]
Of course some creature comforts would have to be given up.
DeWalt wouldn’t be available at all but yes, I feel confident I could put together a crude shelter allowing survival.
I would smoke meat, which isn’t all that difficult with a little wind blockage.
Soap, schmoap. Nice to have but not really necessary to smell like an Irish Spring. You could jump in a river and rub flowers all over yourself. Personally, I’d choose to live near a coast, or an estuary actually. I’d bathe in the ocean and let the salt do it’s job.
Tools would be primitive for sure. I don’t know about sharpening rocks, but if you take two pieces of flint and bang them together… voila, super sharp edge on the shards. You can shape it if you want, or not. “Sharpening” is not required.
You can also rub said flint on any piece of metal you scavenge and create sparks for fire.
I occassionally miss mosquito free environments when out hunting or camping but I have to say when it’s time to go home I’m a little bummed. Of course we use toilet paper and are accustomed to it but, for the sake of being a wild man, why not shit in the woods and jump in the river or ocean and clean yourself up?
Honestly you’d probably be cleaner than a few swipes with paper would get you. And who cares if your arm pits stink.
I’d be damn sure my lady had a razor or very sharp piece of flint to shave though.
Injuries would be a bitch but that’s part of the thrill.
Daniel Boone lived mostly alone in the Wild’s of Kentucky for two years (1769-1771), when he was one of the first white men to ever set foot in that territory. All he had was his rifle, and as many tools and supplies as he could carry on his back and on his mule. He really didn’t carry much food, mostly just lead and powder so he could shoot his own.
Deer, bear, elk and even bison were abundant, at the time, but mostly he was hunting Deer for the hide trade. He was also trespassing on Shawnee territory, so add the constant danger of attack and you’ve got a pretty bad ass survival story.
By the way TexasGuy, you’re wrong about the flint. Any old piece of metal won’t do, you really need hardened carbon steel. Thank me when you’re eating cooked meat and not freezing to death.
[quote]Uncle Gabby wrote:
Daniel Boone lived mostly alone in the Wild’s of Kentucky for two years (1769-1771), when he was one of the first white men to ever set foot in that territory. All he had was his rifle, and as many tools and supplies as he could carry on his back and on his mule. He really didn’t carry much food, mostly just lead and powder so he could shoot his own. Deer, bear, elk and even bison were abundant, at the time, but mostly he was hunting Deer for the hide trade. He was also trespassing on Shawnee territory, so add the constant danger of attack and you’ve got a pretty bad ass survival story.
By the way TexasGuy, you’re wrong about the flint. Any old piece of metal won’t do, you really need hardened carbon steel. Thank me when you’re eating cooked meat and not freezing to death.[/quote]Thanks, but how about flint and flint then? That makes sparks too.
Unfortunately just jumping off in to the Pacific NW or the SW, anywhere with large swathes of unpopulated land, it’s illegal to just hunt whenever. So we will intentionally cut this particular point out of future comments.
[quote]HoustonGuy wrote:
Thanks, but how about flint and flint then? That makes sparks too.
Unfortunately just jumping off in to the Pacific NW or the SW, anywhere with large swathes of unpopulated land, it’s illegal to just hunt whenever. So we will intentionally cut this particular point out of future comments.
[/quote]
If you want to get technical you just can’t build a log cabin/shelter in a national forest either.
Reality kind of ruins this whole thread.
Holding a note that reads: â??I have had a happy life and thank the Lord. Goodbye and may God bless all!â?? Chris McCandless, August 1991
Yeah, we all want to go Les Stroud sometimes, but eventually you’ll make one itty bitty mistake and you’ll die.
[quote]HoustonGuy wrote:
[quote]fraggle wrote:
I feel that urge from time to time and was quite fond of the idea when I was younger, but let’s be realistic about it. The skills needed to live like that are widely varied, and not easily found in this day and age.
How many here think they could build a half decent cabin, repair or make their own clothing? Or some of the more mundane things we never really think about, preserving food, making soap, or more than the most basic first aid? Keep in mind most if not all of which would have to be done under less than ideal circumstances with materials at hand. What if a tool breaks, do you have the ability to repair it make a replacement? Can you do the same things with the repaired tool/replacement that you could before?
As a kid, I tried to sharpen a stone without out any tools once. I spent days on it before giving up. Even with tools it was a bitch, as just as it seemed like it was getting a decent edge the stone would split or a chunk would break off.
With the right resources, you could probably find someone that could teach you how to do these things, but few would have the time or inclination to practice so it was second nature. Or more to maintain those skills over time.
I’ve gone backcountry camping for a week at a time, and each time I realize how much I love modern living.
After a few days, everyone starts to miss toilet paper and soap. Moss and leaves are poor substitutes.
And then there is the unexpected. Injuries, extended bad weather.
[/quote]
Of course some creature comforts would have to be given up.
DeWalt wouldn’t be available at all but yes, I feel confident I could put together a crude shelter allowing survival.
I would smoke meat, which isn’t all that difficult with a little wind blockage.
Soap, schmoap. Nice to have but not really necessary to smell like an Irish Spring. You could jump in a river and rub flowers all over yourself. Personally, I’d choose to live near a coast, or an estuary actually. I’d bathe in the ocean and let the salt do it’s job.
Tools would be primitive for sure. I don’t know about sharpening rocks, but if you take two pieces of flint and bang them together… voila, super sharp edge on the shards. You can shape it if you want, or not. “Sharpening” is not required.
You can also rub said flint on any piece of metal you scavenge and create sparks for fire.
I occassionally miss mosquito free environments when out hunting or camping but I have to say when it’s time to go home I’m a little bummed. Of course we use toilet paper and are accustomed to it but, for the sake of being a wild man, why not shit in the woods and jump in the river or ocean and clean yourself up?
Honestly you’d probably be cleaner than a few swipes with paper would get you. And who cares if your arm pits stink.
I’d be damn sure my lady had a razor or very sharp piece of flint to shave though.
Injuries would be a bitch but that’s part of the thrill.
[/quote]
I was looking at it from a colder weather climate, and wasn’t really considering living near the coast either.
I was also under the assumption you meant permanently living away from society, no interaction. If not, then yeah, much more doable.
I have never had that much luck finding good flint in the wild, but you’re right, you can get a piece of flint sharp without too much effort. Good luck felling a tree with whatever you can scrounge off the ground though.
Soap was more about antiseptic properties, such as something is contaminated, you get an open wound, or eat something with grubby hands. I wouldn’t have thought ocean water would be good enough to properly disinfect, but I guess it is possible.
In the right areas, it is a much more feasible idea than others.
UNLESS, you are in a survival situation, then you can do whatever you need to do to stay alive.
Reminds me of a story of a guy lost in the woods for 48 hours. When search and rescue found him he was half dead and had hypothermia. When they asked him why he didn’t start a fire using the matches in his day pack he said he didn’t want to break any laws as there was a burn ban in effect.
[quote]pushmepullme wrote:
Holding a note that reads: “I have had a happy life and thank the Lord. Goodbye and may God bless all!” Chris McCandless, August 1991
Yeah, we all want to go Les Stroud sometimes, but eventually you’ll make one itty bitty mistake and you’ll die.[/quote]
Part of the thrill though, the whole “survival” thing and all.
Flint and flint? Never heard that. I see hypothermia in your future.
When you strike steel with flint you’re shaving off tiny pieces of steel, which ignite in air. Really, steel is the important ingredient as there are many stones that are harder than steel and therefore can be used to make fire. Flint’s popular because it’s not as brittle as most.
[quote]Uncle Gabby wrote:
Flint and flint? Never heard that. I see hypothermia in your future.
When you strike steel with flint you’re shaving off tiny pieces of steel, which ignite in air. Really, steel is the important ingredient as there are many stones that are harder than steel and therefore can be used to make fire. Flint’s popular because it’s not as brittle as most.
[/quote]
I need to revisit the cubscout handbook. Pretty sure it’s in a closet somewhere.
[quote]Uncle Gabby wrote:
Flint and flint? Never heard that. I see hypothermia in your future.
When you strike steel with flint you’re shaving off tiny pieces of steel, which ignite in air. Really, steel is the important ingredient as there are many stones that are harder than steel and therefore can be used to make fire. Flint’s popular because it’s not as brittle as most.
[/quote]
Maybe he’s thinking of quartz. I have several pieces of quartz in my backyard that spark when hitting 2 together.
[quote]HoustonGuy wrote:
[quote]Uncle Gabby wrote:
Flint and flint? Never heard that. I see hypothermia in your future.
When you strike steel with flint you’re shaving off tiny pieces of steel, which ignite in air. Really, steel is the important ingredient as there are many stones that are harder than steel and therefore can be used to make fire. Flint’s popular because it’s not as brittle as most.
[/quote]
I need to revisit the cubscout handbook. Pretty sure it’s in a closet somewhere.[/quote]
I have this, very comprehensive.
I like that show. I can’t wait for season 3.
You guys ever watch “Man, Woman, Wild”???
That show is pretty funny. The guys wife cracks me up. Bear Grylles (sp?) show is entertaining because he does way “crazier” stuff because he’s not actually out “surviving.” he films his pieces and then rolls back to the hotel, that’s why he can do things like jump in freezing water all the time. Dual Survival is cool but Survivor Man was the best because it was the most accurate. That would be a SHITTY job… No wonder he got a new show lol