Survival discussion

I like the seed vaults, and think it's a good idea. Though if you have a brown thumb now, it might be a good idea to practice with a less survival-y garden so you're ready if you need to set one up.

This is a good advice. I would add a knife and axe to it, to chop wood and for cutting things. Also, learn how to make a fire so that you wont waste all your matches when you really need them.

Edit. Take a first aid course if you can find one. You'll get basic knowledge about treating hypothermia, burning and other wounds, shock and doing resuscitation.

A full change of clothes? Is that necessary, wouldn't extra underwear and socks be enough? 

Well, how much you have depends on what you're planning on using it for.

My list is my usual "Gone for more than 2 hours in back country" pack, which fits into a jacket pocket.

Though I totally forgot a knife. I usually carry one, and it's spot on about having one! If you can reliably get a fire with a flint, it might be a good idea to throw one of those in. (I'm actually vaguely terrible at starting fires, so I usually carry matches and Vaseline-based fire starters. For camping, I usually have a lighter, but for a kit, you probably want something that can survive a dousing.)

I guess it depends on you.  You can have a dry undershirt and socks, but if your overshirt/pants get wet, those dry clothes won't do you a whole lot of good.  But if you dress in materiel that doesn't get wet, then you'll be fine.  While I was camping in the scouts, let me tell you, there were a few times I was very glad to have a dry change of clothes.  And more then a few I wished I didn't have to lug them around.

All in all, it depends on you.  But for me, having a dry shirt, pants, underwear, and socks, would be more useful to have then not.

Food poisoning, I'll bet. Lots of bacteria and hard-partying single-celled life forms live in fresh water.

Edit. Ninja'ed many posts ago by GeneralXIV

Depends on the length of stay, If I going deep, deep into the boonies like for example I am going to the Rockies for a 3 week Elk Hunt, I will prep a change of clothes even if my total time in wilderness will amount to less then half of that. I mean it really depends on what you are going to do out there, if you are like me and are going to basically just find a good perch for hunting, you will stay there day and night for days. If you are doing such I have an internal check list for things to do for semi permanent habitation within the wilderness.

1. Dig a latrine or ditch for waste, trust me it helps with the odor and stench, just be sure to place it down wind of the camp itself.

2. Carry enough materials to make do if you cannot find any on site, for example this can be something as simple as your own fire starter logs or flint, basically don't trust in nature to provide because it will be a total jew and screw you over when you need it. I take a lighter, two starter logs, three straight flints and that's just the fire starting kit, you should apply this to everything, take what you need before you get there, if you find it in field, great but never rely on finding it for survival.

3. Water is fucking heavy as sin but you can never have enough of it. I usually carry around a twenty gallon soft pack of it. Oh and this goes without saying but purify the shit you find the woods unless if you want the runs or worse.

4. This is sort of for advanced survivalists and you need to know what you are doing but check for tracks and other signs you are on game trails, if you are lucky dinner can come to you.

5. Bring two days worth of extra provisions and food plus what you expect to eat and drink on the trip, this goes especially for essentials such as tobacco and liquor.

Somewhat related to survival(horror)...



Trapped in elevator, would you rather be stuck in there with:
Jeff Dunham?



or Lena Dunham?



Don't answer right away. Take a second, let it sink in

In my area (the Smoky Mountains) you pretty much have to be being a dumbass to get attacked by an animal, so the big things to worry about are food, water and shelter. If you actually drive out into the mountains a lot, it's a good idea to throw a kit into your car with some non-perishable food, water, a flare gun and blankets, and if you're very serious a fire starter, water purifier of your choice, tarp or tent, plenty of cordage, water purifier of your choice and a hunting shotgun, but all that really doesn't seem necessary, since I've never heard of anyone coming to serious harm up there after their car broke down. Still, the whole point of the exercise is that it's better to be safe than sorry, and you'd be surprised at how quickly you lose cell reception in the hills, even on the Interstate.

I make walking sticks at times as a bit of a hobby. In my later versions I have hollowed out the top and glued a small compass onto the cap on top of the stick. When you remove the compass part there is room for a few things inside the stick. I put some water proof matches, some fishing line with small hooks and some copper snare wire.