Stranded

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ian McEntee on May 12, 2009 at 23:27

I'd never be in that scenario cause I don't have my license and I don't drive XD

Lol, seriously though, whenever I do eventually get a car I plan to keep some sort of large fixed blade either in the glove box or under seat. Something like a USMC KA-BAR, or maybe a RAT-7, plus whatever is on my person which would be my Leatherman Wave and a small 2-3 inch folder(Currently a Leatherman C33, later an Ontario RAT-1). I'm a smoker so I would have a lighter to start a fire until I can build a bow drill.

As for if I would know what to do, I'd be better then most people, I think. I'm no expert, and much to my dismay I don't have very much practice at a lot of the bush crafting knowledge I have. I know how to do a decent amount of stuff, but I've never done it, really only fire building. Which is bad.

No idea how long I'd last, probably as long as it would take me to starve. Since It's snowy and winter, there would be no lack of fresh water as long as I can keep a fire going and find something to boil in(likely something in my car cause I'm a slob, lol). No idea what I'd do for food, I don't know the wild edibles in my area(bad), and I've never killed or skinned an animal, though I have a vague understanding of how. Unless this happened while I was on my way to archery practice(most likely, considering my routines), I probably wouldn't have anything to hunt with, and even if I had my bow, I'm not that great of a shot and I probably wouldn't be able to take something small like a rabbit or squirrel until I had lost most of my arrows in the snow(ceder shafts, white fletching. Hides in snow really good).

Overall, I'd probably last a day or two longer then someone who has no idea what to do, but I still wouldn't last long without proper equipment.

Permalink Reply by Antonios Kekalos on May 13, 2009 at 6:53

I would try my best to avoid being discovered by a woman, living alone in the area, and a nurse by profession. Even though she might provide me with shelter and sustenance if she were to take a dislike to something I did or did not do she might turn out to be something other than my benefactor. Hmmmm, or maybe this is something from a movie I once saw?

Permalink Reply by Jordan Edwards on May 13, 2009 at 9:17

I'd probably have died on impact; I drive a Toyota Yaris. :P

But more on topic...
Down here in TX, it ought to be pretty pleasant out that time of year. Absolute worst case scenario... cold front. I have never been one to dress for the cold, so being stranded in a t-shirt and jeans would likely work against me... at the same time, I am more comfortable than most in the cold due in no small part to this "training." I do have a large towel and a set of "Frogg Toggs" (waterproof jacket and pants) in the the back for warmth, though.

In addition to the two items mentioned above, I always keep some essentials in the car. A folding knife, flashlight, basic fire starting materials, cordage, trash bags and water. No food, but I would imagine water would be an issue long before that.

What I would do? Well, first thing's first: make the wrecked car as visible as possible, put out some attention getters along the road, find a rock and write on the road, etc... If I absolutely have to leave the immediate area for food/water, I'd leave a note to any possible passerby detailing where I have gone, a plea to contact authorities, then turn on the flashers and leave.

I would attempt to stay with the car as it would provide adequate shelter (horray for the hatchback!) and offers the best chance to be seen, but if it were by some freak occurrence it were rendered unusable, I could probably whip up a quick, waterproof lean-to with the trash bags.

Now, how long could I "survive?" Well, I guess that depends on how you define survival. I define survival as being able to continue making efforts to improve your maintain or improve on your situation. Failing that, you are no longer surviving, but waiting to die.
By that definition and without finding a water supply... maybe three days.
With a water supply, but no food... five days?
With both water and food... a month due to limited firestarting aids.

But that's all just speculation.
I am planning to try living out of the Yaris for a week later on this year, so we'll see how that goes.

Permalink Reply by Wilma Slicer (Lynsie) on May 13, 2009 at 13:26

wow! see this is something to think about!

you really put a lot of thought into this one!

Permalink Reply by Wilma Slicer (Lynsie) on May 13, 2009 at 13:29

This is really cool! i could see it all in my head!

you need to document your living out of car experience!

Permalink Reply by Tom Cai on May 13, 2009 at 16:27

I'd have to agree with Jordan Edwards... on dying from the crash. :D

But....

Let's look at this realistically if I didn't die...

Knowing that it's winter, I'm pretty sure I'd have good set of layers and blankets. That and bottled water in the trunk. Maybe a little food (but not much, as I would probably be expecting to make food at where I was going).

I will probably have my CamelBak and the usual stuff that I have (plus an actual med-kit)

Being in SAR, I'm suppose to have my search pack always in my car... which isn't all that realistic for most folks... so let's say I don't have it.

I think with the Camelbak (usually full with 3 liters of water, plus couple of energy bars) I could probably survive long enough until I was found by a SAR team.

I do have all the tools too get a fire going, get wood, and (if I have enough energy, food, water) a shelter (but I'd stay in the car). I would potentially see if I could trap a like a snow hare or something, but that let's say that doesn't happen.

You can go for 4 weeks without food, but only 4 days with out water.

I have blankets to keep me warm. And I do have water in my Camelbak and bottle water in the trunk (usually a case). I'm guessing I could go for a week or two before I go totally crazy. :D

Though realistically, I'm sure a family member would call, someone would notify the forestry department, and a SAR team would eventually get there before things get really bad (but that's not always the case, I understand that).

Permalink Reply by Matt K on May 13, 2009 at 19:12

I built myself a car survival kit for just such a scenario.

For years, I had been reading about this and that couple or family that invariably followed this formula: (1) got stranded far from civilization (2) man leaves to look for help (3) man dies first from dehydration, hypothermia, sun stroke, etc (4) rest of the stranded group either dies or is eventually spotted and survives, barely.

Well, I was determined that I would study up on what I could do to prepare myself if, God forbid, my family falls into a similar scenario. I'm still working on my kit (much that has to be improved, but only so much $ at a time to improve it). Here is my kit-in-progress [individual items marked ** are going to be updated in the future, as money comes in to do so.]:

My entire car survival kit

Most of my fire-making items
[Top row (L to R): ziploc bags of (1) lint, (2) dry coconut fibers from the husks, (3) dry pine needles & cones]
[2nd row: waxed paper, cheap firestarter sticks, FireRibbon]
[3rd row: 2 prescription bottles (one filled with matches and match striker -- the other with petroleum jelly impregnated cotton balls), more lint & PJ-cotton balls, waterproof matches, LightMyFire (Scout) firesteel and Fox40 whistle on neck lanyard]
[4th row: (3) 9-volt batteries w/ electrical tape covering terminals, steelwool, BIC lighters, magnesium bar & flint and hacksaw striker, charred cloth]
[5th row: Germ-X (obviously a mult-use item), vial of Potassium Permanganate (aka KMnO4 -- mixed w/ a little of the antifreeze taken out of the radiator, becomes an instant firestarter {instant exothermic reaction}), generic cotton balls and small containers of PJ]

A fantastic product by Ultimate Survival Technologies: BlastMatch firesteel, StarFlash signal mirror, WetFire tinder, SaberCut emergency survival saw, JetScream whistle

Esbit stove (and fuel tablets) and extra survival kits (take these with me when I go backpacking -- otherwise they stay with the car kit)

[Top left: standard cheap mess kit filled with Emergen-C (each folded and taped to minimize space)]
[Top right: 24-tealight candles, Gorilla-brand duct tape (there is none better), extra duct tape wrapped around a plastic card]
[2nd row: 300 ft. new 550-paracord, lots of garbage & trash bags]
[3rd row: rudimentary First-Aid kit**, 8" cable ties, vials of salt & sugar]

[Top row: Mountain House freeze-dried meals**(nothing wrong with this or MRE's but I've just discovered MainStay Rations, which are less bulky and provide nine pre-measured 400-calorie bars, i.e., 3600 calories total), 2 bandanas, 3 pairs of gloves]
[2nd row: 4 solar blankets (the ones produced by Adventure Medical Kits are excellent)]
[3rd row: toilet paper (why not?, lol), OFF! towelettes, Anti-bacterial wipes]

[Top right: Bag**(where everything except blanket goes), Reynolds Oven Bags (excellent water storage -- you wouldn't believe how robust these bags are), plastic canteen]
[Botttom right: Fleece blanket**(will still keep this but I need to get some wool blankets)]
[Books: SAS Survival Handbook by John "Lofty" Wiseman (excellent book -- carefully tabbed. Even though I've read this front and back, a great number of sections many times, under duress I don't want to feel forced to recall much of what is written from memory) -- A smaller, more carry friendly version is also available
Edible Wild Plants by Lee Allen Peterson (there are many books out there like this -- I won't pretend that this is the definitive volume to pick up on the subject...but it has proved useful to me)]

[Top row: bastard file, Leatherman Kick, hatchet, CheaperThanDirt Rough Use knife**(need to get something more dependable), Gerber folding shovel, small can WD-40]
[2nd row: emergency razor blade (orange) and saw (black), CRKT Stiff Kiss, basic sharpener, Benchmade Houdini (this actually stays in the car's center console), Cold Steel Roach Belly (took my Dremel and tiger-striped the handle to get more traction), semi-custom Svord fixed blade (made by a buddy from New Zealand -- 'knivesandstuff' on YouTube)]
[3rd row: Stanley folding saw, LED flashlight (have others in the car as well)]

LOL!! My mini-survival kit on my keychain. Included are: keys, kubotan (on S-biner), modified BIC pen (on S-biner), Split-pea lighter (from countycomm.com), LightMyFire Mini, LED's, Byrd Starling knife (on S-biner)

Finally, this is an extremely helpful book if one is curious about customizing survival kits from small EDC kits to gargantuan home kits:

Sorry this is so long. But I hope it helps. I'm still learning myself but I think it's a good start...
Matt

Permalink Reply by Matt K on May 13, 2009 at 19:33

Hey Tom. Love the Sawvivor! After a complete revamp on my painfully substandard First-Aid inclusion (As money becomes available, I'm going to make a separate bag entirely for the medical kit), I'm going to upgrade to the Sawvivor. Like your kit!

Permalink Reply by Wilma Slicer (Lynsie) on May 13, 2009 at 22:29

THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I totally want to build an awesome kit like this/these!!!

I have a split pea lighter and byrd starling on MY keychain as well! cheers!

Permalink Reply by Jordan Edwards on May 14, 2009 at 11:10

Oh, nice... is that a Kyley custom Svord I see in there? :)

You mention you are still building and tinkering with your kits. Is it safe to assume that not everything shown here is in the car at all times? Seems like a bit of excess in the blades/tools dept, as well as with the fire starting implements.

Thanks for the photos. It's always better to see it all laid out.

Permalink Reply by Matt K on May 14, 2009 at 11:57

Yep, it's a CKC (Custom Kyley Cutlery) hiker [that's what he's calling it now]. Kyley is awesome!! He just joined iKnifeCollector this morning after I sent him a link to this thread.

As far as your following questions go, yeah, all this does in fact stay in the car. I know that the blades may seem a bit overboard but everyone of us have had blades fail us before (One of the reasons I want to replace the CheaperThanDirt knife with a more robust beater -- maybe a ScrapYard?).
I actually use the different knives for different tasks:
-Kyley's knife will just give me piece of mind knowing I have another strong knife to carve/process thin pieces of tinder, should I need to.
-The thin blade on the Roach Belly helps me process thin, toothpick-like pieces (which is laborious, if not impossible, with thicker blades) of dry wood from the center of standing trees -- especially during a downpour.
- The skeletonized CRKT Stiff Kiss will make an excellent head for an improvised spear.
- The Benchmade Houdini is a fantastic extractor device and helps to safely remove clothing from an area where an injury needs to be treated...it also has a spring-loaded carbide tip to break the window (e.g., when car is submerged in water).
- hatchet (for obvious reasons)
- Leatherman Kick...I think we've all seen what Les Stroud can do with one, lol!
- The CheaperThanDirt knife is for batoning/processing wood and for heavier tasks that I don't want to subject any of the other knives to (hence my current apprehension on using a $10.00 knife for this purpose -- and I've had one of these fail me before...only so much $ though)

As far the fire-making resources, you're probably right. Options are always good though, as far as I'm concerned. Depending on the severity of the situation, I'd use a different method. If I have to provide my wife with immediate heat, I've got something for that (e.g., emergency stove and fuel tablets, that is, if the car is no longer operable) -- meanwhile I can go and gather materials together to build something more sustaining/substantial. If, for whatever reason, I have to go and get us some water or some other resources, necessitating my need to venture a little ways from her and the car, I'll take some of these with me...just in case. I just want to make sure that, running through every possible "what if..." scenario in my head, I have another option ready & available.

Not only that, but many of the fire-items are multi-use. The best example is the Potassium Permanganate [KMnO4]. I can use it as a firestarter, sure -- but it can also perform the following functions:
(1) water sterilizer -- adding just a pinch to water such that it turns bright pink
(2) antiseptic -- adding even more KMnO4 to the water until it reaches an even deeper pink
(3) antifungal solution -- adding even more KMnO4 to (2) -- water becomes full red -- excellent for athlete's foot
Other items like the Germ-X, coconut fibers, and cotton balls can also be called upon to fulfill other purposes.

But yeah, once I slowly perfect (year by year) the system, some of the items may no longer be necessary. For example, Kyley suggested this morning that I put everything into a SealLine Waterproof Bag (he said that not only does this kind of waterproof bag keep everything dry from outside but it works to dehumidify the inside too). I thought that was an excellent idea!, definitely worth looking into. So yeah, I'm always open to suggestions.

Thanks for the kind words Jordan,
Matt

Permalink Reply by Matt K on May 14, 2009 at 14:48

I've received a few personal messages asking me whether or not everything really does fit inside that wee little duffel bag. Believe me, it takes every nook and cranny, but I do get it all to fit. In fact, I just finished getting everything back in, so I figured I'd show everyone what the bag looks like when it's full:

Bag, blanket, and the only child of my wife and me so far (lol!). She's a 2-year-old pomchi named Karli...she loves her daddy!

With regard to heft, it's no featherweight. Weighs in at about 25 pounds (a little over 11 kilograms).

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