Survival Guide

[GloryDaze]

So this weekend I was watching the movie "The Edge" with Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin and most importantly Elle Mcphereson- If you haven't seen the movie, they get stranded in Alaska after a plane crash and have to survive on their own while being stalked by a man-eating Kodia Bear. Anthony Hopkins plays a genious who has all the knowledge in the world how to survive but does not know how to put it to practical use.

This got me wondering as I a currently am preparing for my annual 3 night 4 day solo pilgrimage to the BuffaloRiver in October. Should I forgo some of my comforts with the idea of "survival" on my mind? However, if I do- does anyone know of a great "Survival Guide" that could help me along the way? Something that is pocket-size with very practical survival techiniques and topics covered.

Here is what I am thinking about leaving at home: (maybe I'm crazy, but darn I love a thrill!!)

- Shelter- and all the comforts that go with it... bag, pillow, etc...

- Food, except for beans..

- Fire-starters

- Extra clothes, I would bring bare minimum

Anyone have any thoughts on a "MUST HAVE" book?

[zander]

There was a segment the other day on NPR about different useful survival books. The only one I can remember was the SAS manual, but they said that one is really big and so probably not what you would want to bring along. You might want to look at NPR's website and see if you can find a pod cast about it, it was within the last week.

[patfish]

Wow, GD, those are some big ticket items to leave behind on a solo trip. Especially the fire starters. I personally always carry at least two sources of flame, and I'm usually with others.

If you do the "minimalist" thing, I would suggest taking a small point and shoot camera (extra batteries and memory cards too) that takes video and a little gorilla pod. Not for any other reason than the fact I would really enjoy seeing your journey. Ever watch Survivor man? Your kids and grand kids will cherish it.

Safe travel brother, have fun.

Peace.

[hoglaw]

My "must haves" always include peanut butter, a water purifier (or pre-frozen bottles if you're carrying a cooler), a functional tent with rainfly or tarp/air mattress, multiple sources of flame in multiple locations, a cell phone, ibuprophen, and some kind of drug to put me to sleep at night if sleeping conditions get uncomfortable. Sunblock and hydrogen peroxide wouldn't hurt either. Of course, this is canoe survival.

Out of curiosity, when is your trip down the buffalo? I presume you're doing the lower wilderness. As it happens, I've accepted a job with a great firm and the change of employment will leave me with 9 days to myself at the end of September/beginning of October. I intend to do the lower during this time, water conditions permitting.

[GloryDaze]

OK- so after a little thought, maybe I will bring a source for fire. (By the way, I will have some back-up items just as a safety precaution, but will only use them if necessary) I will bring a cell phone- after all this is the guy who just fell off a rock on a recent 4 mile trip with my wife and dislocated my shoulder and had to be taken to the ER.

Hoglaw- not sure when I'm making the trip- I plan special events for a living so my work schedule can change on a dime. I'm looking at the 22-25th as of today. The lower wilderness is option #1- I have floated from Ponca all the way to Rush. So I would like to do from Buffalo Point to the White.

[zander]

Birch bark is the best fire starting stuff ever period. Soaking wet it will still catch on fire. Howling wind it still burns. When I used to do a lot of super primitive hiking like you are talking about I always carried a good sized zip lock bag of it in the top of my backpack. Go find yourself a river birch tree (Betula nigra) and get some of its bark and that will be one less thing you'll have to worry about.

[hoglaw]

When I was in boy scouts, we poured parafin wax over dryer lint for portable fire starters. Never heard about birch bark though.

[fishinwrench]

[zander]

The birch bark is naturally loaded with waxes and oils so it basically does the same thing as far as flame but it also because of the cellular structures allow for embers to form. The river birch tree that grows along streams around here has bark that is constantly shedding off. You can go up and get you a couple of handfuls, doesn't hurt the tree a bit. I used to hate getting fires ready looking for dead greenbriar vines, dry grasses and stuff because inevitably there wouldn't be anything that I could use whenever and where ever I needed it. Birch bark changed all of that. It is as light as paper and easily compressed so it doesn't bog you down or take up lots of space. Whether you want to start a fire like a caveman (bow drill) or not, it is the best. A Bic and Birch Bark is all you need. You can literally (and there are videos on youtobe showing it) dunk it underwater, take a match to it and it lights right up.

[mosouthpaw]

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/ItemDe...&item=33105

this is the tried and true basic survival handbook. Other books can and will go into detail but this book covers the basics.

Had one when i was younger.