Walking in the woods - don't die...

[Mrs-M]

Bae. What is your opinion on red strike-flares/fusees in an emergency/day-pack?

[Jilly]

Hey...Bae...I still would really like to know what the upgrade on the space blankets might be.

[bae]

Bae. What is your opinion on red strike-flares/fusees in an emergency/day-pack?

I carry some of these (or similar) if I am doing more than just hiking in my familiar woods around here, not for fire-starting, but for signalling, especially if I'm off on one of the smaller uninhabited islands:

[bae]

Hey...Bae...I still would really like to know what the upgrade on the space blankets might be.

I've had good luck with this one, and some of their other products (like their "emergency bivy"):




http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/...hp?product=147

[Spartana]

Another little tip is to carry some very tightly bunched up cotton pads (or cotton tampons talked about in another thread) soaked in rubbing alcohol in a sealed container. They can be used to start a fire or fend off infections and can help purify water by acting as both a sieve and an anti-bacterial agent. Plus it takes up very little space. I also carry a few GU packets for a sugar blast as well as a portable (and very tiny) water pump. Also iodine tablets. Because I do trail running, I have to have things down to just the bare basics to keep weight down (but still need to carry lots of water) so even a small pack won't work for me, but as long as I remember to bring my "survival" fanny pack with me (which I often don't :-)!) then I'd do OK for a day or two. I was reading about a guy who got lost for 9 days on a multi-day trail run (ultra marathon - Marathon Des Sables) in North Africa (Sahara) and used a piece of mesh he had for something (jacket? face shield? tent?) to capture bats to eat and drink their blood (and his own urine) when he ran out of water (blech!!). He survived and did the race again the year after but probably had to get a few rabies shots.

[befree]

The story of the family is so very sad..and scary. There but for the grace of God....I don't consider myself foolish or dumb, but I did the exact same thing once. Went on a long, multi-mile trail, but my friend and I packed only a picnic lunch and water bottle since we planned to walk only a short trail and loop back after a mile or 2. Guess we were talking too much and not paying attention. Missed the turn-off. Kept walking and walking the trail till it got dark. Spent the night along the trail, walked out the next morning. It didn't rain or freeze that night; otherwise we might have ended just like this family. Thanks for the words of advice, bae.

[Mrs-M]

Thanks for weighing-in on this, Bae.